Abu Garcia Fantasista Beast FB79-6 Casting Rod Product Review

Rod Review

Abu Garcia Blends Flagship Status with Big Bait Aspirations

Date:	1/26/17
Tackle Type:	Rod
Manufacturer:	Abu Garcia
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 7.49 - GOOD

Introduction: We were pretty excited when we caught wind that Abu Garcia was introducing their coveted Fantasista line to the North American market several years ago at ICAST. Originally designed for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), this series is known for aggressive styling and high end components. But rather than bring over the pre-existing lineup, Abu has customized actions, and more importantly, lengths to suit how we fish on this side of the pond. Nowhere is that more evident than in the Fantasista BEAST casting lineup. Today, we take a look at our first stick from this lineup, the FB79-6.

Abu Garcia Fantasista Beast FB79-6 Specifications
Material	Tetra Axial Carbon Blank
Length	7'-9"
Line Wt.	25-50lb
Lure Wt.	1-4oz
Pieces	One
Guides	9+Tip (Fuji SS/Alconite)
Rear Handle Length	13.5"
Power Rating	Medium Heavy
Taper	Fast
Rod Weight	7.3
Origin	Made in China
MSRP	$299.99

Quality/Construction: Abu Garcia's Fantasista Beast FB79-6 is a one piece, seven foot, nine inch (7'-9") broomstick of a rod built for chucking big baits. It features Abu's exclusive Tetra Axial carbon blank (basically a blank with crossweave carbon reinforcement) built for strength and has Fuji stainless steel framed Alconite guides all the way up. The rod has a gloss coat finish on its lower third but is a raw sanded blank the rest of the way up. The grip is made from EVA foam and features a full foregrip, but a split rear grip.

Introducing Abu Garcia's Fantasista Beast FB79-6.

The blank on our test model is straight with perfectly aligned guides and very good epoxy work around the thread wraps. It's a nice build on a stick built for the serious business of chucking and winding big baits.

Quality Ratings for Abu Garcia Fantasista Beast FB79-6
Finish (1-5)	Grip (1-5)	Epoxy (1-5)	Blank (1-2)	Guides (1-2)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
4	5	4	2	2	17	19	8.95

Performance: There's really only one reel worthy of this beast of a rod and that's one of equal stature - Abu's REVO Toro Beast. We shared the exploits of that reel back in March of last year and now it's finally time to tell the story of that reel's counterpart.

Paired with the REVO Toro Beast and ready for big bait action.

Casting: The FB79-6 is rated from one to four ounces (1-4oz) in lure weight and really, honestly handles that lure range perfectly fine. I didn't test the rod's casting ability at the low end of this range other than to confirm it can cast one ounce lures. My real interest with this stick was its upper end and with the right technique (i.e. a lob cast), this stick can easily go six ounces in lure weight and its long (13.5") rear handle really helps with two handed lob casts.

The 13.5" rear handle is just long enough to facilitate powerful 2 handed casts.

Conversely, the FB79-6 is not a great pitching stick primarily because that afore mentioned handle. With practice, you can get by that obstacle, and once you do, it handles pitching duties rather well thanks to its overall length. Just keep in mind, this is not really how the stick is designed to be used.

The reel seat on this rod is stout and ready for big reels like the REVO Toro Beast, yet it's still an exposed blank design - nice touch.

Sensitivity: Considering I fished this stick with twenty pound (20lb) nylon monofilament, I'd rate the rod's sensitivity to about average and maybe a little over. It's hard to find sticks as stout as this one that are super sensitive primarily because of the heavy duty nature of all the hardware and components built up on the blank, but the FB79-6 holds its own. It gives you enough feel to sense those "something's not right" hits and of course responds well when the fish simply slam your bait.

This cross carbon weave pattern extends up through the first third of the rod's length.

Next Section: Stout and Powerful...