Megabass of America 2017 Destroyer F10-711X Onager Casting Rod Swimbait Product Review

Enthusiast Review

Megabass of America's 2017 Destroyer - Ownage is Onager

Date:	8/23/17
Tackle Type:	Rod
Manufacturer:	Megabass of America
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 8.75 - ULTIMATE ENTHUSIAST AWARD

Introduction: For several years now, Megabass of America has been nurturing the North American Angler with a taste here (Orochi XX) and a taste there (Levante) of the Megabass experience. Those who were unsatisfied with these appetizers naturally moved up to the JDM menu where the full breath of Megabass could be sampled. However, with limited supply and constant refreshes of those JDM rod series among other shortcomings, many were left to wonder if Megabass of America would ever step up and offer a high end rod series for the North American Market.

The Onager is Megabass of America's biggest, baddest, big-bait stick ever.

Well, if you follow the brand, you already know the answer to that question, and if you follow our site, you've seen us tease the entire lineup. But today, we present you our first in depth, full blown review of a Megabass of America Destroyer Series rod, and what better way to kick things off than with perhaps the biggest, baddest Destroyer stick ever to be assembled. Introducing Megabass of America's F10-711X Destroyer Onager.

Megabass of America Destroyer F10-711X Onager Specifications
Material	Megabass Hybrid Graphite System
Length	7'-11"
Line Wt.	20-40lb
Lure Wt.	4-8oz
Pieces	One
Guides	7+tip (Fuji titanium framed SIC inserts)
Rear Handle Length	15.5"
Power Rating	3x Heavy
Taper	Mod-Fast
Rod Weight	6.9oz
Origin	Final Assembly in Japan
MSRP	$425

It features a full rear grip made from a mix of EVA foam and cork tapered at the threshold and accented with a metal winding check.

Impressions: Having had the distinct opportunity to handle these rods long before their official release, I can confidently say that among all the rods in the Destroyer lineup, the one that made me take a second and third look upon handling it for the first time was the Onager. Not because of its length or its power or its intended purpose but for the simple fact this is the singularly most well balanced rod in the entire series.

Under the reel seat is stamped the rod's name.

This is a seven foot, eleven inch (7'-11") stick built to throw baits up to half a pound (8oz) in weight and yet it practically floats in your hand. Megabass has never built a big bait stick that was balanced this well - not the Leviathon, not the White Python, not even my favorite Megabass big bait stick up to this point in time the F8-78DG Orochi Super Destruction.

Here's a closer look at that junction between materials on the rod's handle.

Add to the rod's phenomenal balance, all the usual Megabass aesthetic treatments and double footed guides from bottom to top, and you have the perfect blend of a stick that's built not only for the discerning eye, but the difficult to impress performance requirements of any angler accustomed to throwing big baits.

The ITO Headlock System is essentially a custom made lockring at the top of the reel seat.

Real World Tests: Megabass's F10-711X Onager is so well balanced, you can match it with anything from a Shimano Conquest 50 series to a typical 300 of 400 sized reel and have a fun combo to fish. My first match to the Onager was my Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast - a reel with the intestinal fortitude to match that of the Onager.

The Onager is rated for baits from 4-8 ounces but can easily go down to 2 ounce baits and maybe even less.

However, that reel lacked the enthusiast qualities to hold its post as a compliment to the Onager. Instead, I need something with a bit more oomph, so I dug around my collection and lo and behold, I rediscovered my stealthy, take no prisoners Daiwa Ryoga Shrapnel. I immediately woke this reel, removed it from seclusion, and mounted it on its new home on the Onager. Spooled with 20lb Sunline Super Natural nylon monofilament, we were ready for action.

Initial tests were conducted with an Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast.

Casting: The Onager is rated from four to eight ounces in lure weight so naturally the first bait I tied onto this stick was the GanCraft Super Magnum 303 Jointed Claw Shaku-One - a bait that measures twelve inches and weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of nine ounces. This is over the Onager's lure rating but the rod was able to handle this bait respectably through gentle, sidearm lob casts. However, not something I'd recommend on this stick long term.

That reel soon gave way to Daiwa's Ryoga Shrapnel.

Next up was the much more reasonable Megabass I-Slide 262T, a bait that measures just over ten inches and weighs approximately six ounces (6oz). This bait is right in the Onager's wheelhouse, so that eight ounce upper end threshold feels about right with this stick. With the Onager's lure weight ceiling well established, it was time to go fishing with some lighter baits.

The top two thirds of the rod is unsanded and unfinished.

This is where I rediscovered my stash of Triton Mike Bucca's BullShad baits and immediately tied on a new 6" Bull Shad Knocker bait he had sent us a few months prior. This bait weighs all of two ounces and with such heavy line, such a big reel (I was using the Revo Toro Beast at this time), and the rod's lower end lure rating, I wasn't expecting the Onager to really load well enough to launch that bait, but I was wrong. This stick handled that two ounce bait just fine and I found myself fishing other baits in this weight range throughout that first day with this stick too.

Double footed guides adorn this rod from bottom to top.

Given this stick's performance in this area, I wouldn't hesitate to put a smaller reel on here with maybe fourteen or sixteen pound line and pitch smaller, paddletail swimbaits up under docks or around some laydowns or so similar structure. The Onager really feels a little more versatile than a stick for just big baits.

The rear handle is just long enough to tuck under your arm during retrieve.

Next Section: More than a heavy hitter...