Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our Megabass Destroyer F8.5-711X Warhammer against the historical averages of our flipping and big bait rods separated by power

The point is I'm often in a bad position to set the hook and most of the time, I just kind of lift the rod and let it do all the work. A stick with the length and power of the Warhammer come in handy in these situations.

Checking out that taper

In typical fashion, there were several instances where I was out of position, felt the bite, and swung to set hook, but not with any real conviction. As long as your line isn't super slack, the Warhammer does an excellent job of keeping those fish buttoned. When I did have the wherewithal do things properly, that Gamakatsu Finesse Heavy Cover hook was difficult to get out of the fish's mouth. The Warhammer is aptly named.

This tapered grip design trickled down to the current Orochi XX series

Design & Ergonomics: Given the Warhammer's length and power, it handles really easily. In actual metrics, if we go back to the deflection chart in Fig. 1, you'll see part of the reason this stick felt so powerful is because it is.

The Warhammer is a full power or more on the plus side of our flipping stick historical average. Yet despite this upgrade in power, its weight is right in line with that average even if it's a little more tip heavy than a typical flipping stick.

Double footed guides all the way up

Some sticks have such excellent handling characteristics, especially in casting and pitching, that they feel shorter than they actually are. The Warhammer is far from cumbersome when you pick it up off the deck, but you rarely feel as though it's shorter than 7'-11." I'm not sure I've ever fished a flipping stick that does. That short rear handle is often so disproportionate, it serves as a reminder to the rod's length.

The Warhammer is a nice handling stick

Of course, length is a good thing with a flipping stick because you want to feel you have the reach when pitching and flipping to just drop your bait where you want. But back to that rear handle, I really like the use of cork on both sides of that metal winding check in the middle of the Warhammer's grip and the way the grip tapers down from both ends to that winding check. The only thing I wish this stick did have is spiral wrapped guides like Megabass's traditional "Seven-Eleven" designs.

The only thing I wish this stick did have is spiral wrapped guides like Megabass's traditional "Seven-Eleven" designs, Zander disagrees and prefers the more traditional layout

Price & Applications: Megabass of America offers their F8.5-711X Warhammer at $415 and it is really a prototypical flipping stick. I find its taper a little fast for punching applications but for those who prefer a faster taper for that application, the Warhammer certainly has the power to keep a fish that's buried in the weeds buttoned or have a very stern conversation with that fish and convince it to come out. If you, like I, enjoy pitching, the Warhammer excels at this presentation.

Conclusion: I'm sure I came off as a bit aloof, or privileged, at my mention of purchasing the Warhammer just so I'd have a stick with which to fish the Spicy Beaver. I apologize for that but the truth is, I really admired the Warhammer's build and cosmetics the first time I laid my eyes on it during our original introduction to the USDM Destroyers back in 2017. I just had little need for a new flipping stick at the time and there were other rods in the lineup that felt more compelling to test.

I liked fishing the Warhammer so much, I may soon be on the hunt for more, new soft plastics to tie to the end of the line and "test"

So, when my rack of those and other rods to review was suddenly empty, and the Spicy Beaver debuted, The Warhammer suddenly had a worthy raison d'etre in my arsenal. Trouble now is, I liked fishing this rod so much, I may soon be on the hunt for more, new soft plastics to tie to the end of the line and "test." If your game is flipping and pitching soft plastics or jigs and you need a powerful stick fill out your arsenal, the power of Megabass's Warhammer is worth consideration.

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