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Swimbait Rod Wars Installment #12: Megabass's Orochi F8-78DG Super Destruction
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Date: |
6/22/08 |
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Tackle type: |
Rod |
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Manufacturer: |
Megabass |
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Reviewer: |
Cal |
Total Score: 8.17
+ EDITORS
CHOICE!
Introduction: Rounding out the exotics in our Swimbait Rod wars is our second entry from Megabass. If you recall, the previously reviewed White Python ran away with one of our first Ultimate Enthusiast awards for 2008 so this stick has a pretty lofty rod sock to follow. Judging by its name alone, it's more than ready and built to take zero prisoners. Introducing Megabass's F8-78DG Super Destruction.
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Megabass Orochi F8-78DG Super Destruction Specifications
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| Material |
Megabass D.N.A. Graphite |
| Length |
7'-8" |
| Length from Back of Reel Seat to Base |
13" |
| Line Wt. |
14 - 36lb Test |
| Lure Wt. |
1/2 oz - 4 1/4 oz |
| Pieces |
1 (Telescopic Blank) |
| Guides |
9 + Tip (Fuji Ti/SiC spiraled left) |
| Power Rating |
Heavy |
| Taper |
Mod-Fast |
| Rod Weight |
7.7 Ounces |
| Manufacturing Country |
Japan |
| MSRP |
$510 |
Impressions: If you recall the review of our White Python, there were a few attributes I really wished that rod had like a full hypalon grip instead of mixed hypalon and cork and maybe some spiral wrapped guides. I'm sorry to say both these features are present in the F8-78DG Super Destruction. Though borrowing more from its darkside sibling, the Mephisto, than the enlightened White Python, the Super Destruction is, simply put, sick.
Introducing the Orochi F8-78DG Super Destruction from Megabass
Lab Tests: But where does it fall powerwise, in our group of sticks? We strapped it up to our RoD WRACK to investigate.
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Lab Results for SB Rod Wars All Purpose Sticks
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Model
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Avg RoD (2-48 oz)
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Taper
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Spine
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Measured Weight
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Balance Point
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| Dobyns Rods 795ML SB |
1.27
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Fast
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Top
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8.5 oz
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5.5"
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| Fenwick EDSWB79H-F |
1.24
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Fast
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L&R
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6.4 oz
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11"
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| G.Loomis SWBR955C |
1.20
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Mod-Fast
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Bottom
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8.5 oz
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8.5"
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| Kistler KBSBS80 |
1.17
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Moderate
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Top
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7.2 oz
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11"
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| Megabass F8-78DG |
1.11
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Mod-Fast
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Top
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7.7 oz
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8.5"
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| Lamiglas XC807 |
1.04
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Moderate
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Bottom
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9 oz
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10"
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Rate of Deflection (RoD): The F8-78DG Super Destruction falls right between our two previously reviewed Rod Wars representatives from Kistler Custom Rods and Lamiglas. All three of these rods represent the more
powerful of our "All Purpose" swimbait sticks. What does this mean? Well, we've come to find out that rods in this RoD range are capable of handling big baits in the range of one to four ounces very comfortably and can even be asked to cast five ounce baits if in a pinch.
Fig. 1 : This RoD Deflection Chart shows the deflection characteristics of the Megabass Orochi F8-78DG Super Destruction (yellow curve) against several similar sticks.
Spine, Weight, and Balance Point: The Super Destruction comes in at a weight of 7.7 ounces, quite respectable, and with a balance point of eight and a half inches when taken from the middle of the rod's reel seat up towards the tip - not perfect, but comfortable. We found the rod's spine at the to of the blank and its taper appears to be moderate fast.
The Super Destruction features spiral wrapped Ti/SiC guides...
... and a moderate-fast taper.
Real World Test: Early on, I fished the Super Destruction paired with a Shimano Calcutta 401TE. The combo actually did not see much use as I still find it a bit cumbersome throwing baits with a 400 sized reel. When the Daiwa Zillion HLC came out with its purple highlights, I knew immediately with which rod it was destined to be paired, but in the end, that reel proved a little small for serious big bait duty. I finally settled on a Daiwa Luna 253LA to fish with this stick and I have to say, the matchup is just about perfect for me.
The Super Destruction's sweet spot for casting are baits in the 3.5 ounce range
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Complete Field Test Set-Up for Megabass Orochi F8-78DG Super Destruction
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| Reel(s) |
Shimano Calcutta 401TE
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Daiwa Zillion HLC 100HL
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Daiwa Luna 253LA
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| Line |
175yds 20lb Cuda
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100yds 19lb Sunline Defier
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100yds 25lb Toray Bawo Polyamide Plus
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Casting: True to its ratings and RoD tests, the F8-78DG handles a good variety of baits all the way up to its four and a quarter ounce threshold. In fact, it has a very similar feel to the Kistler KBSBS80 and possesses the same sweet spot as that rod with baits at roughly three and a half ounces or namely, 3:16 Lure Company's experimental 2-up.
It loads more like a fast action rod...
In fact, once I tied on the 2-up to the end of the line on the Super Destruction plus Zillion HLC combo, I found it difficult to fish this rod with anything else. The Slant Bridge handle together with the rod's spiral wrap configuration made this rod handle and cast more like a seven foot rod rather than one that was almost eight feet in length. Side arm roll casts can be delivered with almost deadly accuracy.
and can deliver baits with surprising accuracy.
But of course, there was one more rig I had to try with the Super Destruction before sitting down for this review - Don Moorman's Double Hudd rig. Matched with the Daiwa Luna 253LA, I tied on this rig to experiment on the Super Destruction and bingo - yet another perfect match. It's quite surprising the versatility this stick delivers.
Unlike other rods in the Megabass lineup, the F8-78DG's foregrip is fixed and not part of the reel seats locking mechanism.
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