Abu Garcia Fantasista Info

[1984isNOW]

Anybody out there have any experience with these rods and can offer any insight?

 

Thanks

[msgf91]

Which generation?  I just picked up one of the out going gens from TW a month or so ago. 

[1984isNOW]

@msgf91 yeah that one haha. The discount is enticing, but that's still a Lotta gwop for me

[1984isNOW]

Oh, and I'm lookin to get the 7ft medium heavy extra fast- just thought I should mention.

[Choporoz]

A number of us have bit on Fantasista sales.  Search this site for a few discussions.   I have 7 MF Premier and it has been a great jerkbait rod.   AG sent it to replace a Regista that I snapped pretty soon after I got it.

[1984isNOW]

@Choporoz I did search but nothing came up so I made the thread, but I just searched again. I feel like the search is finicky here sometimes.

 

@CrashVector   How'd your mhxf work out, that's what I'm looking at.

[msgf91]

There was one weekend where they were down to $150 so I picked up the 7'3 MH f. The drawback is now I want to start getting rods just as nice 

[1984isNOW]

@msgf91 Any feedback on the feel and use? How's it been so far?

[CrashVector]

3 hours ago, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

@Choporoz I did search but nothing came up so I made the thread, but I just searched again. I feel like the search is finicky here sometimes.

 

@CrashVector   How'd your mhxf work out, that's what I'm looking at.

 

It's working out very well so far.  I have mine paired with a 4th gen SilverMax reel and 20lb Hercules braid as a kayak combo.

 

Would be lighter with a better reel, but I bought it for like $150, so my MGX reel is on my newer Fantasista X rod.

[1984isNOW]

@CrashVector i can dig it, what techniques have you used it with? Do you have any experience with similar price points to compare it to?

[islandbass]

5 minutes ago, msgf91 said:

There was one weekend where they were down to $150 so I picked up the 7'3 MH f. The drawback is now I want to start getting rods just as nice 

That’s one catch about better gear. It is very difficult to go “backwards” (ie, gear quality, function, performance, lighter weight of object, etc. ). If you start hearing a cage rattle in your subconscious, that’s your bait monkey attempting to mind control you or at the very least, use his powers of suggestion and persuasion. ?

[CrashVector]

Just now, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

@msgf91 Any feedback on the feel and use? How's it been so far?

 

 

Wasn't asked of me, but I'll give my opinion on it:

 

The newer Fantasista X is superior without a doubt.

 

However, the premier *IS* a higher end rod than 99% of what you'd find at $150 lol!

 

The fit and finish on mine is stunning.  It's easily the best looking rod I own.

 

Sensitivity is on par with the Veritas tournament edition rods....which is to say...excellent for $150.

 

However, if I'd paid $300 for it, I'd be kinda ticked lol

1 minute ago, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

@CrashVector i can dig it, what techniques have you used it with? Do you have any experience with similar price points to compare it to?

 

 

Yes.  I mostly use Abu Garcia rods.  I mostly use it for light Texas rigs with 1/8oz tungsten weights.

 

I'm a finesse guy.  95% of my fishing is finesse fishing, so I'm SUPER picky about rod sensitivity, etc.

 

The Veritas Tournament rods have about the same level of sensitivity as the premier,but they're over $150.

 

It's gonna be really really hard to find a rod for $150 that's gonna beat the premier.

 

My Fantasista X definitely beats it...but it's $330.

14 minutes ago, msgf91 said:

There was one weekend where they were down to $150 so I picked up the 7'3 MH f. The drawback is now I want to start getting rods just as nice 

 

 

I got the MH/XF.

 

It's about on par with the Veritas TE MH/XF I own, so you can go that route for $180 if you like the feel of the premier and want similar feeling rods without breaking the bank.

[1984isNOW]

@CrashVectorThanks for the input, so like definitely worth 150 or should I try to catch another rod on sale? I'm in no rush, but the deal looks good for sure. But if it's worth waiting for a better rod to drop on price I can.

 

You said it was the MHXF right? With 1/8 oz

What makes the x version better?

[CrashVector]

12 minutes ago, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

@CrashVectorThanks for the input, so like definitely worth 150 or should I try to catch another rod on sale? I'm in no rush, but the deal looks good for sure. But if it's worth waiting for a better rod to drop on price I can.

 

You said it was the MHXF right? With 1/8 oz

What makes the x version better?

 

For $150, it's *definitely* worth it.  Mine is 7', MH/XF.  And yes, I use it mostly for casting 4" powerbait pit bosses on a 3/0 EWG gamakatsu hook with a pegged 1/8oz black tungsten weight.

 

The X is lighter and uses a higher percentage of the high-modulus graphite throughout the blank, so it's thinner and therefore lighter. The premier user it primarily in the butt section, with the bulk of the rod being 32ton.  The X is a 36ton blank throughout.

 

I've fished them both side by side.  The X is definitely more sensitive, but at $330, it's more than 2x the price of the premier right now, and isn't 2x better if you know what I mean.

 

Let me put it this way: I bought my Fantasista X first.  If I would have bought the Premier first, I probably wouldn't have gotten the X, and went straight for a Zenon instead.

[msgf91]

41 minutes ago, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

@msgf91 Any feedback on the feel and use? How's it been so far?

The rod is amazing so far.  Its hard for me to describe since its the nicest rod I've had.  I'm coming from Omen blacks, vendettas, Veritas, and TFO rods.  So far it feels true to its rating, plenty of power and a fast tip.  Like CrashVector has said, fit and finish is stunning. I have tomorrow off so I'm going to try and go fishing and use it some more.  

 

1 hour ago, islandbass said:

That’s one catch about better gear. It is very difficult to go “backwards” (ie, gear quality, function, performance, lighter weight of object, etc. ). If you start hearing a cage rattle in your subconscious, that’s your bait monkey attempting to mind control you or at the very least, use his powers of suggestion and persuasion. ?

I'm fighting it lol.  But I made the mistake of watching some of Tackle Advisors videos...... so now I have 2 MGX reels (really nice Gen 1 and a boat rashed gen 2) I got from someone on a local fishing forum, and now I'm looking  for a Tatula or Curado next.

[1984isNOW]

Thanks for all the info fellas. So whattaya think between  the 7ft Mh XF or the 7'6 MH F?

[1984isNOW]

I think after all this I'm going with a Kistler Helium 7ft 4.5 pwr xf for $200. $50 more seemed like it took the edge over the fantsista.

[CrashVector]

3 hours ago, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

I think after all this I'm going with a Kistler Helium 7ft 4.5 pwr xf for $200. $50 more seemed like it took the edge over the fantsista.

 

That rod will definitely serve your needs very well.

 

Kistler makes excellent rods.  I prefer them over st Croix 

[Choporoz]

11 hours ago, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

I think after all this I'm going with a Kistler Helium 7ft 4.5 pwr xf for $200. $50 more seemed like it took the edge over the fantsista.

Helium for $200?!

 

All day every day....and buy 2 on Sunday.