Abu Garcia Fantasista Premier FNPS70-5 Spinning Rod Product Review

Rod Review

The Surprising Fantasista Premier FNPS70-5 from Abu Garcia

Date:	12/28/17
Tackle Type:	Rod
Manufacturer:	Abu Garcia
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 8.17 - GREAT

Introduction: What’s better than seeing new and intriguing product each year at ICAST? When that same product shows up at TT HQ with little to no warning. Such was the case with Abu Garcia’s brand new, intermediate tier, flagship series of rods Fantasista Premier. Shortly after ICAST, the manufacturer sent over both a casting and spinning rod from this lineup for our 2017 review season. Here now is our look at the FNPS-70-5, the seven foot (7’-0”) spinning rod built with the more budget minded tackle enthusiast in mind.

Abu Garcia Fantasista Premier FNPS70-5 Specifications
Material	Tetra-Axial Carbon Composite blank with 3M Powerlux 500 Resin
Length	7'-0"
Line Wt.	8-14lb
Lure Wt.	3/16-5/8oz
Pieces	One
Guides	9+tip (SS frames, Zirconium inserts)
Rear Handle Length	9.5"
Power Rating	Medium
Taper	Fast
Rod Weight	4.5oz
Origin	Made in China
MSRP	$299.99

Introducing Abu Garcia's Fantasista Premier FNPS70-5.

Impressions: Abu Garcia’s Fantasista Premier line of rods are all built on their proprietary tetra-axial carbon blanks rolled with 3M’s Powerlux 500 resin system. The FNPS70-5 specifically is a 7’-0” spinning rod featuring a split rear grip made of EVA foam and custom Fuji reel seats that look and feel like an extreme version of the company’s TVS spinning reel seat. Guides on the FNPS-70-5 are proprietary to Abu Garcia and feature titanium frames with zirconium inserts.

This reel seat is custom designed by Abu Garcia.

The rod's blank appears to be unfinished and the entire stick feels relatively light and well balanced in hand even without a reel mounted in the reel seat. It's a really nice build for a stick nestled within the company's intermediate tier of their Flagship brand.

But manufactured by Fuji.

Real World Tests: The biggest struggle any tackle enthusiast experiences when holding a new rod in hand is which reel to pair with it. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have a lot of reels from which to choose and when it came down to it, my Daiwa Ballistic EX 2500H was a natural choice. Its understated black finish with key, red highlights are a good match for the semi-aggressive styling of the Fantasista Premier FNPS70-5.

Detailing at the back of the reel seat.

Casting: When it comes down to it, the FNPS70-5 is a medium powered spinning rod but I fished it primarily as a finesse stick. Spinning rods and finesse applications just go hand in hand with me and it was hard to shake (no pun intended) that stigma with this stick because it feels like a finesse rod. The rod's lure rating goes down to three sixteenths (3/16) of an ounce which is just a hair above one eighth (1/8). Hardly finesse ready yet I was able to cast drop shot rigs with a one sixteenth (1/16) ounce weight pretty easily with this stick. It has a really, nice, light tip.

The rod's butt end is contoured for two handed casting.

Sensitivity: So great, it casts light baits just fine, but can you actually feel something that light at the end of the line with this stick? The answer is yes.

The Abu Garcia FNPS70-5 exhibits really good sensitivity and something I'd expect much more from a rod one or two powers lighter.

Note, I was using six pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon line with this rod so that may have had an effect. Nevertheless, it's obvious to me this rod has better than average sensitivity.

Next Section: Fantasista Power?