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Enthusiast Review


Bearing Down on Megabass : The F5st-611X7

 

Date: 10/29/15
Tackle Type: Enthusiast
Manufacturer: Megabass
Reviewer: Cal






Total Score: 8.06 - ULTIMATE ENTHUSIAST AWARD!

Introduction:
Since the merger of Megabass USA together with Megabass Japan to create Megabass of America, the influx of new product has been dizzying. From several different new rod lines to new lures to new colors of old lures to variations of new lures and colors, the accessibility of Megabass product has been a classic case in point of be careful for what you wish.

 


Just as I was getting ready to write up the F5-611X Bearing Down, Megabass has to go and come put with a Type X!

 

During all this time, we’ve had several Megabass rods in the queue to review and just when I was getting ready to write up the most recent incarnation of their steadfast “Bearing Down” (F5-611X), Megabass announces their new X7 Destroyer line with a new Bearing Down Type X. The difference here being this version of the rod has that intriguing Stinger Tip. Formerly reserved for finesse applications, how in the world would a stinger tip benefit a heavy powered rod? You knew we had to find out, so here now is our look at Megabass’s F5st-611X7 Bearing Down TypeX!

 

Megabass F5st-611X7 Bearing Down Type X Specifications

Material Megabass Core Implex X7 Graphite with Yoloy wrap
Length 6'11"
Line Wt. 10-25lb
Lure Wt. 3/8-1oz
Pieces One
Guides 10+tip Fuji KSeries Minima Ti/SiC
Rear Handle Length 10.25"
Power Rating Heavy
Taper X-Fast
Rod Weight 4.6
Origin Mixed Origins China & Japan
MSRP $685

 

Quality/Construction: As with most sticks from this manufacturer, the F5st-611X7 has a lot of delicate transitions between materials in its grip assembly. In our test model, all these transitions are perfectly aligned. The rod's blank is for the most part unfinished and the epoxy work around the thread wraps is clean and precise. The ten near minima sized guides appear perfectly aligned, but there is a very slight lean to the left of the rod's blank at the tip.

 

Quality Ratings for Megabass F5st-611X7 Bearing Down Type X

Finish (1-5)
Grip (1-5)
Epoxy (1-5)
Blank (1-2)
Guides (1-2)
Total
Possible
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
5
5
5
1
2
18
19
9.5


So what's so special about this version?

Performance: I matched the F5st-611X7 up with the Megabass FX68L spooled with 30lb Daiwa Samurai braid and topped with a 12lb Seaguar Tatsu leader for its tests. Primary fishing grounds were Clear Lake, California and also the California Delta.


It's a heavy powered stick with a stinger tip!

Casting: Given my past experience with Megabass stinger tipped rods, I started out in great trepidation with this stick and what I came to discover is that it fishes just fine. Casting takes one or two swings to get used to as that tip has very unique loading characteristics. For the most part, I stayed within the rod's recommended lure rating and really found myself favoring it for small topwater plugs and small, shallow running crankbaits.


So time to restart the review process.

Pitching, on the other hand, is a little tricky because the tip does not load like that of a typical heavy powered stick so adjustments in your presentation need to be made. Once you adjust, it again becomes second nature.


Despite the rod's unusual tip, it still makes a good pitching stick.

Sensitivity: Of course, with a stinger tip on a heavy powered rod, this is where things got interesting. You really have to adjust your presentation when trying to do something like drag a jig across the bottom. The stinger tip is so giving that you can't quite get the same movement you might be accustomed to. Instead, what the stinger tip allows you to do is gradually put pressure on the line to the point where you can be sure your jig is sitting upright on the bottom and the trailer and jig skirt are doing their thing waving around in the current.


The rod's blank is unsanded and wrapped in Megabass's Yoloy material.

Then it's a matter of watching that tip for unexpected movement or just feeling the bite because a lot of times those green fish will just hammer that jig or soft plastic. The Bearing Down Type X is almost like a bubba-sized shakey head stick.


Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our
Megabass F5st-611X7 Bearing Down against our baseline Creature Fever stick, G.Loomis's MBR844C GLX.

Power: Once you do detect a bite, leaning back into the rod to set the hook is a familiar feeling. That stinger tip is now an afterthought as the Bearing Down Type X's backbone is very reminiscent of a classic heavy powered stick. Looking at the RoD Deflection Chart above, you can see this on the water experience agrees with our findings in the lab as the last part of the F5st-611X7's curve lines up perfectly with our baseline rod and the non-stinger tip version of the same stick.

Performance Ratings for Megabass F5st-611X7 Bearing Down Type X

Pitch (1-5)
Cast (1-5)
Sensitivity (1-5)
Hook Set (1-5)
Control (1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
4
5
5
5
5
24
25
9.6


Power? Yes, this rod has that to spare.

Of course, once the fish is next to the boat, thoughts of that stinger tip return and I was very cautious and conscious to avoid steep angles between the rod and the fish. Having a partner in the boat to either lip or net the fish for you in this instance is highly recommended.

Lab Results for Megabass F5st-611X7 Bearing Down Type X

Model
Avg RoD (2-48 oz)
Taper
Measured Weight (oz)
Balance Point (inches)
Balancing Torque (ftlbs)
F5st-611X7 Bearing Down Type X
1.89
X-Fast
4.6
8
0.19
F5-611X Bearing Down
1.65
Fast
4
8.5
0.19
MBR844C GLX
1.48
Fast
4.7
7.5
--

Next Section: Features worthy of a premium rod?

 

   

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