Abu Garcia Fantasista Regista Rods

[Stephen B]

4 hours ago, Tywithay said:

I have the 7' MH. It's not a rod that I use often, because I don't care for split grips. That said, it's really light and very sensitive. Performance-wise, I think it's in the IMX Pro/Legend Elite range. Though, the build quality isn't quite as tight as those brands.

Interesting. I have had similar experience to yours in that I have never seen impressed even the slightest with Abu Garcia's rod build quality.

[Tywithay]

On 9/8/2018 at 5:53 PM, Stephen B said:

Interesting. I have had similar experience to yours in that I have never seen impressed even the slightest with Abu Garcia's rod build quality.

It's not a poorly built rod, by any means. But, with a $400+ retail price tag, the attention to detail was lacking, in my opinion. For $200 or less, it's an absolute steal.

[FishTank]

On 9/8/2018 at 6:53 PM, Stephen B said:

Interesting. I have had similar experience to yours in that I have never seen impressed even the slightest with Abu Garcia's rod build quality.

I have looked at several Abu Garcia rods and you're right, most that I have seen have been kind of sketchy when it comes to the quality control.  The rod I purchased (Fantasista Regista) is a different animal.  I have found zero issues with this rod and I would compare it to my G Loomis MBR783 GLX.  The build may even be slightly better. 

[new2BC4bass]

On 9/8/2018 at 2:54 PM, OkobojiEagle said:

Anybody able to make a 1st hand comparison with personally used Fenwick Techna AV's?  My fishing preferences have changed to the point my 6 Technas sit in the corner in favor of the slower action HMGs.

 

 

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I have a 7' MF and MHF Techna AV and the new 7' MF Regista.  However, by the time I will be able to make comparisons on the water I will have forgotten this post. 

 

Not really an apple to apple comparison because the 7' MF Regista is 1/4-5/8 oz. while the 7' MF AV is 1/4-1 oz. which puts in in MH territory AFAIC.  What I can tell you from pressing the tips against the floor is that the Regista definitely has a faster action.  The AV bends quite a bit further into the blank.

[Westcoast]

I have the 7’ medium fantanista regista. It’s a great rod, I got it for $200 on close out too. Abu rods get a bad rep sometimes but I have the FR and a couple villian 2.0 that I find to be just fine and do everything I expect them to do. I wouldn’t  trade them for any of my Loomis rods though as the blanks just don’t have that same light refined feel

[Choporoz]

1 year update....(Fantasista Regista 7' Med Really Fast)

 

Still agree with my initial assessment...quite sensitive,  but never much got used to the way it loads and casts.  Tip too stiff for my liking.  Been used almost exclusively for jerkbaits and small swimbaits like keitech on about 1/4oz heads.  

 

One year to the day after ordering, I snapped it in two while high sticking a snag. 

 

Big shout out to AG Cust svc - one email with pics and explanation, one short phone call and $10....and they had replacement in the mail to me less than a week after it broke.

[FishTank]

8 hours ago, Choporoz said:

1 year update....(Fantasista Regista 7' Med Really Fast)

 

Still agree with my initial assessment...quite sensitive,  but never much got used to the way it loads and casts.  Tip too stiff for my liking.  Been used almost exclusively for jerkbaits and small swimbaits like keitech on about 1/4oz heads.  

 

One year to the day after ordering, I snapped it in two while high sticking a snag. 

 

Big shout out to AG Cust svc - one email with pics and explanation, one short phone call and $10....and they had replacement in the mail to me less than a week after it broke.

I have been using it every week since I got it.  It sort of found a permanent way into the rotation of rods I use.   The tip I had on mine did break but it was user error on my part, not the rod's.  I was able to get another one shipped from STP.    

 

As far as the how fast the tip is, compared to my other rods I would say its really not that stiff at all.  I can actually load this rod quite easily and when I am bringing fish in you can notice the parabolic arc is greater than other rods of the same power.  I would say its actually a true fast rod.  I am comparing this to the following rods though.....  St. Croix Avid 7' M Fast, St. Legend Elite 7' M Fast, G. Loomis 783C GLX,  and a G. Loomis 843C GLX.  

 

I have been using a Abu Garcia AL-X with this rod and it balance perfectly.  I like the reel but it has it's limitations.  You can definitely tell it was made for this rod. 

[Choporoz]

One more update.....

Received warranty replacement from AG on Aug 26.  Pretty good customer service all around.

 

One small wrinkle....Since the Regista is discontinued, I got a Premier.  No issues from me, since the fit/finish looks even better, IMO....and I wasn't perfectly satisfied with the Regista.  Easy to imagine some not happy getting a "$300 rod" to replace a "$500 rod"

I'll get it broken in on Friday and see if I find if it fishes as well or better