Abu Garcia BEAST LP Reels Product Review #abugarciabeast #abubeastreels

Reel Review

Upsized for Battle: Abu Garcia's New Low Profile Beast Trio (continued)

Design & Ergonomics: With the new BEAST LP reels, Abu Garcia borrows from their design efforts with the latest Revo5 leveraging that asymmetrical front bar that leans towards the handle side of the reel providing a nice, comfortable thumb nest for those who habitually palm their reels. Of course, palming is comfortable with the 200, possible with the 300, but unless you're related to Shaq, likely more than a challenge with the 400.

The 300 was surprisingly easy to palm

Similar assessments can be made regarding weight, but really, if you're after the 400 and to some extent, the 300, your motivation is line capacity, not all day fishing comfort. Fortunately, Abu Garcia offers these different sizes (and retrieve ratios) so that, hopefully, you're specific need can be met. The biggest relief for me, ergonomically, was discovering those oversized knobs are actually very comfortable to fish.

The swept aluminum handle

The 200 sits nice and low in the reel seat

Beyond that, these reels are built with a stout, aluminum frame and brass gears. The non-handle sideplate is attached to the frame and pivots away so no fear of losing it should you need to open the reel up on the water. Even the material choice in handle (aluminum) is made with durability and likely abusive treatment in mind.

Prices on the new BEAST LP reels range from $250 - $350 depending on model

Price & Applications: Abu Garcia's BEAST lineup of spinning and casting reels are built for applications that demand robust, durable, beastly performance. Think saltwater inshore, freshwater musky and pike, striper, salmon, steelhead, and more.

The Hatch Match Godzilla Goby fished great on the smaller Beast. By offering three sizes Abu allows big bait enthusiasts to match their applications perfectly

For those of us who stick mostly to those green fish with big mouths, these reels answer the call for those who enjoy slinging larger and heavier than conventional baits. With prices ranging between $250 to $350 depending on the model, the low profile BEAST reels in particular, slide right into many a big bait angler's need without taking too big of a hit in the pocket book.

Zander likes the new Beast reels so much they are hitting the road this season in search of some bigger green fish

Ratings:

Abu Garcia BEAST LP Reels Ratings (?/10)
Construction/Quality	Solid all around. Each of the new Beast LP reels feels cut from the same cloth and are built with quality components inside and out.	9
Performance	Every bit as capable as the REVO but in an upsized and more robust platform. These reels handled everything we threw at them including slinging giant swimbaits and winching in San Francisco Bay stingrays. The gears and drags on these new reels live up to the "BEAST" moniker	9
Price	Given the size and capability of these reels, very much on par. They aren't cheap but they are not too expensive when you consider the overall build and performance of these upsized reels	7.5
Features	Brakes tailored for intended use, refined drag system, stout main gear and frame, and those oversized knobs (if your into that sort of thing)	8
Design (Ergonomics)	It's more about line capacity with the BEAST and those knobs were surprisingly comfortable. All the knobs and dials feel precise and have all the clickies, making them very satisfying to adjust. The only downside to these reels is the power comes at a price when it comes to weight and the larger two sized reels weigh in over 10 ounces	8
Application	Three different sizes, options for retrieve ratio, BEAST LPs are designed to support a wide variety of angling pursuits	9
Total Score		8.42
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable! For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus	Minus
+ Three sizes from which to choose	- Only one retrieve ratio option in the 200
+ Everything on the reels feels robust, from the frame to the knobs. Plenty of power under load thanks to larger main gear	- Larger Beasts do get a bit big to palm but asymmetrical design helps
+ Super stout drag	- 300 and 400 sized reels tip the scales over 10 ounces
+ Generous line capacity across the range
+ Reels look the part. They have a menacing look and feel from the frame to the knobs, nothing finesse about these Beasts
+ Knobs are actually quite comfortable and do not require upgrading for big handle/knob enthusiasts
+ Not cheap but reasonably priced considering the build and performance
+ Versatility. Good for big bait anglers in fresh and inshore applications

Conclusion: With the debut of their BEAST platform, Abu Garcia completes the refinement of their catalog (at least for now) into distinctive categories in support of clear angling objectives. MAX for affordability, REVO for conventional, ZENON for higher end and finesse, Ambassadeur for legacy, and BEAST trio have been sized up for down, dirty, serious work.

There's more to the Abu Garcia BEAST story, next up : the rods...

When these reels first arrived in our lab, I thought for certain, the 300 and 400 would be afterthoughts. Then with that bat ray fishing opportunity and then the Fall striper run on the CA Delta, turned out, the 200 was the least used reel out of the bunch. Sometimes, you don't know what value a particular piece of tackle might hold until it is in your grasp. For Abu Garcia's new BEAST LP reels, the possibilities are quite vast especially when paired with their equally robust combo-mate fishing rods.

... and hitting the road in search of some rat eaters

Speaking of which, stay tuned for the continuation of this story as Zander and I put the reels to work this season slinging big baits. There is no doubt Zander will be casting some of his favorite XL Illude rats with these Beasts. In the meantime, the reels, even with their oversized knobs, have earned our Editor's Choice Award. These upsized Beast reels feel great in hand, offer plenty of versatility with the three size options, and are built tough to handle big bait fish in both the fresh and saltwater.

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