Abu Garcia has been a longtime innovator in bass fishing rods and reels. So it stands to reason that their premium lineup, housed under the name Zenon, would be some of the best on the market. And that’s what we found with the Abu Garcia Zenon MG-X Spinning Reel. Of the 22 spinning reels we tested for our Best Spinning Reels shootout, the Zenon MG-X outperformed them all and took home the honors of Best Overall.
I’ve been fishing with the Zenon MG-X for 11 months, and it continues to impress me. The reel is as capable as it is light, strong, and stylish. And it certainly should be all of that for the price tag. At $470, this is the most expensive spinning reel I’ve ever tested, but it is also the best. Here’s why.
Zenon MG-X Spinning Reel Overview
Specs
Size tested: 3000
Gear ratio: 6.2:1
Weight: 5.7 ounces
Bearings: 10+1
Available sizes: 2500, 3000
Pros
Bait keeper
Smooth as butter
Strong
Compact
Lightweight
Cons
Expensive
Limited sizes
The first thing I noticed when I pulled this reel out of the box was the lightweight design. I have the 3000 size Zenon MG-X, which comes in at an astonishing 5.7 ounces. I could only find two other spinning reels in this price range—both were heavier. However, lightening up a reel can be detrimental if it compromises its strength. That's not the case with the Zenon MG-X. It is crisp, rigid, and strong.
Instead of using a traditional-style handle that’s typically two pieces of hinged, molded plastic, Abu went with a skeletal system, using a stronger material to make most of the handle. This not only lightened the load without jeopardizing the strength, but it made the handle stronger. The design also allowed Abu to turn the handle upwards at a sharper angle, keeping it closer to the spool and creating a more compact reel. A comfortable and fairly standard knob caps off the handle.
One of the features that really sets this reel apart is the bait holder on the cap that screws into the reel opposite the handle. This is a genius use of what’s already on the reel to solve an extremely frustrating problem. While most rods have bait holders, very few, if any, have an adequate way to store a drop shot. If I hang the hook on the rod’s bait keeper, my drop shot weight flops around and the line between the hook and the dropshot weight tangles. No more with the Zenon MG-X. I can easily slip my line through this bait keeper on this reel, snug my weight up into it, and then perfectly store the rod every time in the rod locker, on the deck, in the truck, or wherever. The Zenon MG-X also comes with a zippered case for safe storage and protection.
On the Water Performance
For three days, I took nearly two dozen spinning reels out and tested them side by side. I whittled that bunch down to 15 first and then eventually 10, awarding winners and honorable mentions for the Best Overall, Best Value, Best $100 reel, and Best Budget. The Zenon MG-X landed on top of the heap as the best of the best because it simply is that. Of the spinning reels I’ve tested so far, none have been smoother, stronger, or lighter, nor have they had a more sensitive drag or anything nearly as revolutionary as the bait keeper on the cap. Top to bottom, this is the best spinning reel available.
I can’t tell you how many fish I’ve caught on this reel in the last year, but it's what I use the most. In that time frame, I would switch to other reels, but I always came back to the Zenon MG-X. The reel is super smooth, light, and strong. All of these attributes are noticeably better than the other spinning reels I’ve used over the years.
For $470, this is the most expensive reel I've ever tested. But, if you have the budget for it and are a northern angler who regularly battles big smallmouth, or any other such individual who fishes a spinning reel enough to justify the price tag, you will love this reel. The Zenon MG-X has proven itself as the most capable, well-built, and lightest spinning reel that I’ve ever fished with.
