Primal Revel CS 9’ 6” 6wt Review | Rebecca Bailey
Being an avid fly fisher I’m always keeping up with the latest gear so it was no surprise that the new Primal Revel CS caught my eye. It may be new on the market but it didn’t take long for me to see that it punches well above its weight so I was keen to take it out on the water.
Whether you’re just starting out on your fly fishing journey or you’re an expert fly fisher it is so important to have a versatile rod to suit you which is why the Revel CS has quickly become my go-to rod for more than one reason.
The Revel CS is a fast action rod which packs down into a compact four piece and comes in a range of weights and lengths from a #3 weight which is perfect for creeks and twigwater up to an #8 weight to wrangle with those larger species, not to mention those heavier weight rods are equipped with a fighting butt for better handling.
I landed on the Revel CS 9’6” #6 weight and couldn’t be happier with it. The Revel CS blank includes Carbon Scrim technology which gives it not only added strength but a sleek refined look.
This rod can handle any situation you throw at it with ease from a soft dry fly presentation to those windy days we dread casting a fly line - you’ll thank me later. The Revel CS has a fairly soft tip section which protects lightweight tippet from breaking easily. I opt for Trout Hunter tippet due to the fact it is strong, true to its knot strength and doesn’t coil which means I’m not tangling and tying new rigs all day.
I have put this rod through its paces, from throwing a rig of three tungsten wooly buggers on the lake to casting a nymph under dry to rising browns in a creek. I was impressed with this rods strength and lightweight feel yet the ability it has to make a fast recovery.
I paired the rod up with my Lamson Liquid reel with an Airflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper fly line. I’m a big fan of the Lamson reels as their spools are easily interchangeable, so if you’re fishing a lake using a sinking line you can easily swap spools to fish a floating line for that evening rise. Win win!
While making those short distance accurate casts it had me forgetting I was using a #6 weight, I can only imagine how the #3 weight feels in those conditions.
We can’t overlook its ability to slide into anyones budget, sitting at under AU$400 you have no excuse! It honestly feels like a top end rod with a sleek design to boot. (Not that I’m surprised). I have a few other Primal rods in my collection but I feel they have out done themselves on this one.
We welcome you to the Primal fam! 
About the author
One of Australia’s female fly fishing trailblazers, Rebecca Bailey is a humble, unsung groundbreaker, who always has some invaluable insights into all kinds of fishing. Catch her on Instagram here.