Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our Evergreen International Combat Stick RCSC-78XH against the historical averages of similarly powered rods we've tested over the past twenty years

Similar to all the sticks in Evergreen's US Combat Stick lineup, the RCSC-78XH features a camo patterned EVA foam grip

Design & Ergonomics: The RCSC-78X is now the fifth rod in Evergreen America's Combat Stick lineup I've fished and all of them have been pretty average as far as weight and balance are concerned. At the series' price point, right around $200, that's a good thing, and actually, the most important aspect with the RCSC-78X ergonomically, given its specialty is its rear handle length.

The polarizing Fuji ACS reel seat

Measuring fourteen inches (14") from the back of the reel seat to the very end of the rod, the Evergreen RCSC-78X's handle is just long enough for true big bait duties. This is one of the more critical elements when designing a stick for big baits. You really need that long, rear handle to gain the leverage required to launch these larger lures with a two handed cast.

Detailing at the reel seat's hood is not very intricate, but it is very, very clean hinting at the rod's JDM roots

The heavier the max lure rating on a particular rod, the longer that handle needs to be. For a rod rated up to four ounces in lure weight, 14" is about the minimum rear handle length for comfortable two handed casts.

A nice crankdown fish on Monka Lure's FP Rat

I found it difficult to put this combo down when matched with Spro's Rat 50

Price & Applications: With it's mod-fast taper and lure rating up to 4oz, though technically built for big wakebaits, the RCSC-78XH is a rod that can handle any type of treble hooked moving bait you want to throw. Be it medium to deep diving cranks like Megabass's BigM series or Strike King's 10XD or smaller swimbaits like the Storm Arashi Glide or GanCraft Jointed Claw series, the RCSC-78XH is a very good choice. Priced at $249.99, it's one of the more expensive rods in the Combat Stick series, but that's because of its length and power.

Conclusion: When I shared with them our plans, Evergreen International's America division was one of the first to jump on our Rat Rumble bandwagon by donating a stick to support our focus on these specialty wake baits. They felt they had "just the stick" for the occasion. I take all proclamations such as that with a grain of salt, but when I saw the RCSC-78XH actually states "Wakebait" on the blank, well, I fished it with an extra critical mindset and you know what? The only thing I could find wrong with it was the lack of a hook keeper to help stow those extra large baits when not in use. But hook keepers are not something Evergreen International or Evergreen America does. A quick visit to my stash of Fuji EzKeepers later and that issue was resolved.

The RCSC-78XH Wakebait handled every bait I tied to the end of the line from casting, to swimming, to hookset, to landing, and it did so as if it were born for the occasion - which it was

The RCSC-78XH Wakebait handled every bait I tied to the end of the line from casting, to swimming, to hookset, to landing, and it did so as if it were born for the occasion - which it was. It may not be as fancy or gifted component wise as its JDM counterparts, but it does bear a lot of the performance characteristics I've come to expect from a fishing rod with the name "Evergreen" on its label. Through their Combat Series, Evergreen has done a nice job building a solid series of sticks with just a tiny bit of flair for US anglers to enjoy. If you're looking for a stick with which to swim a rat or two, or fish your stash of small to medium sized big baits, Evergreen's RCSC-78XH is worth a look.

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