After ultralight fishing for many years, I wanted to see if the grass was greener on the other side of the fence. I desired to be one of the guys casting a monster lure with a beast of a rod and reel, hauling in ginormous fish.
I paired the Abu Garcia Beast 200 low-profile reel and the Abu Garcia Beast casting rod to launch a giant glide bait, umbrella rig, and other big lures while searching for a big ole bass this winter. What I discovered about this rod-and-reel combo surprised me.
The Beast rod and reel were in my hand while fishing my pond, a nearby lake, a local river, and anywhere else I thought a big fish might call home.
In short: The Abu Garcia Beast rod and reel live up to their name. They are beasts. The combo didn’t falter, no matter the presentation. It bombed accurate casts with big lures and handled fish well. It was sensitive when I needed it to be, and it has held up to the abuse of bouncing around in my truck and riding in my rod box on my kayak trailer. However, I didn’t reach for it as often as I initially thought I would, which only made it more challenging to justify the expense.
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Trusted brand -
Well-made and durable -
Launches casts -
Handles giant lures and fish very well -
Sensitive enough to feel every bite
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Expensive -
Niche uses -
Casting is a workout after a long day
Abu Garcia Beast Baitcasting Combo Review
I have needed a tough combo that could handle big lures and big fish for a while. When I spotted the Abu Garcia Beast baitcasting rod and reel, I knew I’d found the setup I’d been looking for and eagerly awaited its arrival.
The low-profile reel came in a slightly bigger box than I expected, but that was to accommodate the larger reel handle and knobs. The 7’9” rod came in two pieces, so the box was smaller than I expected. The two pieces seamlessly lock together, making it challenging to tell that it’s a two-piece rod. As I expect from Abu Garcia, the rod and reel look great paired together and feel good in my hands.
Build Quality
I’ve used Abu Garcia products for many years. I started with the cheaper combos, which eventually broke after several years of hard use. However, I haven’t had any issues since I’ve begun using the mid- and top-tier rods and reels.
I had high expectations for this Beast combo, especially considering the name and all the latest features and materials packed into the rod and reel.
The Beast baitcasting 200 low-profile reel utilizes the Power Stack Carbon Matrix Drag System, which provides up to 25 pounds of smooth drag pressure. The Duragear III is 21% larger, helping it last longer, be more efficient, and deliver more cranking power. Lastly, the A-Symmetrical Body keeps the reel from feeling too bulky in your palm, despite the larger gears.
The Beast casting rod is designed around a 30-ton graphite body with a cross-wrapped butt section and Powerlux 200 resin featuring stainless guides, all ergonomically balanced. Knowing that Abu Garcia designed and manufactured it this well, I headed to the water, wondering if it would live up to the hype.
On-the-Water Performance
After spooling the reel with 30-pound braid and a 12-pound fluorocarbon leader, I tied on a Berkley Powerbait Chop Block and began casting it around my pond. After about an hour of fishing, I didn’t get any bites the first time I used the rod, but it handled the large glide bait very well. I could cast accurately as far as I needed to, and the reel was smooth, whether I reeled in my lure slowly or reeled and paused.
On another trip, I used the Berkley Triple Minnow Rig, which is similar to an umbrella rig, but a little lighter and less flashy. I felt a very light bite on one of my first few casts, but when I set the hook, the fish had bitten one of the soft plastic lures without a hook (which is why I’m not a big fan of this lure).
However, that’s no fault of my combo, and I was impressed by how sensitive it is, thanks in part to the direct contact with the blank on the handle and high-quality materials used to construct it.
I took it out on several other fishing trips, but I found myself reaching for it less often because I just wanted to catch some fish, not only target giants. This is more of a reflection on my impatience than any performance downfall of the combo.
What the Abu Garcia Beast Does Well
The Abu Garcia Beast is the ideal setup for using large lures and catching big fish, which is exactly what it was designed to do. It lives up to the Abu Garcia name and quality standard. Over the last several months, it has withstood the abuse of bouncing around in my truck and in the rod box of my kayak trailer, as well as the rigors of fishing big, heavy lures in varying conditions.
I’ve had zero issues while casting, retrieving, or fighting fish, and I look forward to reeling in my PB with it for many years.
Where I See Room for Improvement
I knew most of the issues coming into testing this combo, and that it was one of the most expensive combos I’ve ever owned, especially for such a niche application. I also expected it to be a tad bulky and heavy; it is called the Beast, after all.
What surprised me was how often I would opt for another rod. I thought I wanted to catch big bass regularly, but I typically just want to catch anything, so I opt for small lures and setups that get more bites. To ensure I use this rod more often, I have some catfish and striper fishing trips planned, so it’s not as niche as I initially thought.
I’m used to casting a combo for many hours, but even I get a little sore after several hours straight with the Beast combo. It’s a decent workout casting heavy lures and handling the rod and reel, even if you don’t catch any giants.
Who Should Buy It
I’ll be the first to admit that as an average angler, I didn’t need this combo, but it’s sure nice to own, just in case. Guides, tournament, and big fish (musky, pike, and big bass) anglers will get the most use out of it. If you’re an angler who only throws large swimbaits and glidebaits, then the Beast is an excellent combo.
Conclusion: Abu Garcia Beast Baitcasting Combo Review
The grass is, in fact, not always greener on the other side, but I’ve had a blast testing to see if it was with this combo. I’ll continue to use the Abu Garcia Beast baitcasting combo on my fishing adventures, but it won’t be glued in my hand as much as I originally thought. I know it’s expensive for such a niche use, but the quality and performance are there to back it up when you’re targeting freshwater beasts.
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