You’ll never guess what Abu Garcia’s intentions were with its new line of Beast casting and spinning rods and reels. Actually, you might have guessed it quite easily — it’s to over-power any brutes you hook into. Quite literally, go beast mode with it. Keep in mind that Abu Garcia has produced Revo Beast and Revo Toro Beast low profile reels in the past, but this new series is entirely separate from those reels.
The new low-profile casting reels — available in 200, 300, and 400 sizes — handle swimbaits, A-Rigs, even muskie Bondy Baits. Beast spinning reels — sized in 3000, 3500, 4000, and 5000 models — have similar capabilities, perfectly able to work and retrieve swimbaits and crankbaits. In salt water, presentations like popping corks or oversized topwaters fit the bill too. Think big baits, strong backbone and plenty of drag power. Plus, Abu Garcia designed specific rods for each of its new reels.
We fished Abu Garcia Beast spinning and casting gear over the last two months, mostly in Florida’s fresh waters. The casting setup we tested was a Beast 300 Low Profile Reel paired to a 7-foot, 9-inch Beast Casting Rod (Heavy Fast). For spinning, we used a 3000-size Beast Spinning Reel rigged to a 7-foot Beast Spinning Rod (Medium Light).
Reaction Time: A Beastly Introduction
The cranking power and smooth casts were obvious as I launched swimbaits into deep holes in different sections of the St. Johns River. Big bass were the target, but I wouldn’t have turned down a lost striped bass or tarpon. You’d be amazed what fish prowl the stained river in search of warm-water springs in cold weather.
Swimbait fishing is not my top technique, but for the anglers that have mastered it their results produce big bass on average way more often than most other techniques. Whether it’s a jointed bait full of trebles or soft bait with a single hook, swimbaits require a beefy rod that can launch a hefty presentation. In fact, we interviewed bass pro John Cox about some of his favorite swimbait techniques recently.
With enough power in the low-profile reel to ponder taking it bull redfishing, I realized why Abu Garcia called it their Beast series. Each baitcasting reel is constructed with a durable X2-Craftic aluminum frame. They are equipped with an oversized, double-bowed aluminum handle featuring power knobs and GullWing sideplates. My baitcaster felt comfortably solid in my hands. The brake systems are model specific: the 200 model utilizes the IVCB-6 centrifugal brake, while the 300 and 400 models incorporate the Magnetic and Centrifugal Hybrid Infini Brake System.
Abu Garcia’s entire Beast casting series utilizes an oversized Brass Duragear system engineered for strength and retrieval power. The 200 model uses the Gen II gear system while the larger 300 and 400 models are equipped with the oversized Gen III gears. Its proven design enhances gear longevity, boosts cranking power, and improves overall gear efficiency, according to Abu Garcia.
With enough drag and power to handle most green fish, I had to try flipping some creature baits into the water-hyacinth and lilly pads that crowded a nearby shoreline. I didn’t catch any monsters, but I was able to catch a few bass that pulled from their hidey holes rather easily. In the main lake area, crappie fishermen were doing doughnuts on my perimeter, trolling rods that looked like legs from a spider. If they got too close, I was ready to slow them down with my baitcaster too.
Abu Garcia Beast Casting Reel Features
- 7 stainless steel HPCR bearings + 1 roller bearing
- A-Symmetric ergonomic body design
- X2-Craftic aluminum frame and handle side plate
- Next Gen Power Stack Carbon Matrix Drag System
- Drag: 25 pounds (200 size), 30 pounds (300), 31 pounds (400)
- Double-bowed aluminum handle with oversized power knobs
- IVCB-6 Centrifugal Brake System (200 size)
- Magnetic and Centrifugal Hybrid Infini Brake System (300 and 400 sizes)
- Brass Duragear Gen II (200 size)
- Oversized Brass Duragear Gen III (300 and 400 sizes)
- GullWing sideplate
About the Beast Rods
Both spinning and casting rods feature 30-ton graphite construction with Powerlux 200 resin, and carbon-wrapped butt sections for added strength, increased durability and sensitivity, according to Abu Garcia. My rod I tested had stainless steel guides equipped with zirconium inserts for reduced friction and better line flow through the guides. Further, the rod incorporated a carbon cross-wrapped butt section.
What stuck out to me was the clean feel of the carbon grip in my hand. My 7-foot, 9-inch rod also incorporated a 2-piece ferrule locking mechanism. Breaking down the rod into two when shipping, or traveling in a truck or boat, is definitely the way to go. And it was so easy to take it apart and put it back together. The two connecting rod pieces were secure and reliable when on the water; not once did I notice any give, weakening or movement of any type with the rod while fishing.
Abu Garcia Beast Rod Features
- 30-ton graphite blank with Powerlux 200 resin system
- Carbon-wrapped butt section
- Stainless steel guides with zirconium inserts
- Purpose-built tapers for large baits and serious loads
Win With Spin
Abu Garcia’s Beast spinners are available in 3000, 3500, 4000, and 5000 sizes, but I utilized the 3000 spinner and 7-foot, medium-light Beast rod for wacky rig fishing and drop-shotting. Maybe not the intended purpose? My thought process was that a surprising amount of large fish are caught drop-shot fishing, and I wanted to see if my Beast setup had light touch mixed with enough power to handle the task. I ended up using this rig almost exclusively when fishing lakes in the month of October. Down here in Florida, the weather’s still hot then, so I fished deep, looking for bass, crappie and bluegills that might have been hiding in the cooler depths.
Features of the Beast spinning reels include an ergonomic A-Symmetric body, X2-Craftic alloy frame, and salt shield bearings for protection against the elements. It delivered consistent stopping power with help from what Abu Garcia calls its Power Stack Carbon Matrix Drag System. Spinners also include reinforced components like oversized Duragear Gen III gears.
The spin setup performed exceptionally well for me, with a strong drag that helped bring fish quickly to the boat. I felt subtle bites and not so subtle chomps equally well. So many bass anglers, when using spinning gear, reel against the drag. It’s a recipe for disaster — either let the fish run or tighten the drag, no between. I kept my drag pretty tight, especially when catching mostly 2-pound bass on a lake filled with fish that size. I would have felt entirely comfortable casting stickbaits and jerk baits with the 3000-size reel, with plenty of line capacity to handle long casts and potential drag pulling.
Abu Garcia Beast Spinning Reel Features
- 4 stainless steel HPCR bearings + 3 Salt Shield bearings + 1 roller bearing
- Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
- A-Symmetric body design
- X2-Craftic alloy one-piece frame
- Power Stack Carbon Matrix Drag System
- Oversized aluminum Duragear Gen III
- V-Rotor and V-Spool design
- Rocket Line Management system
- Rocket Spool Lip Design
- Stainless steel main shaft and components
- Aluminum handle with oversized co-molded soft-touch knobs
High Expectations
I expect to see tournament pros quickly incorporate Beast rods and reels into their arsenals, if they haven’t already. The tackle is purpose built for the styles of fishing that land big fish in tournaments. It’s that simple. For me, I’ll continue to experiment with more tactics for both setups, shying away from only the ultra finesse stuff. And I’ll also have to head to the salty Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) too in search of redfish and trout. Abu Garcia points out the Beast series are built for all-water scenarios.
