Megabass F3-610DGS Specifications |
Material |
Hi8X Graphite |
Length |
6'-10" |
Length from Front of Reel Seat to Tip |
72" |
Length from Back of Reel Seat to Base |
8 1/2" |
Line Wt. |
4 - 12 lbs |
Lure Wt. |
1/16 - 1/2 oz |
Pieces |
One |
Guides |
Titanium Framed Guides ( 8 + tip) |
Power Rating |
Medium Light |
Taper |
Medium Fast |
Rod Weight |
4.2 oz |
MSRP |
~$405 |
Impressions: Needless to say, we were very excited when Megabass made available to us, this new weapon named after one of the most talented anglers on tour. But no information they could have shared would have prepared us for the complete and utter awe of the package when we pulled this masterpiece out from within its mauve colored velvet sheath. More on the artistry that is the F3-610DGS a bit later. Let us first look at how an over four hundred dollar production spinning rod performs.
The F3-610DGS is named after 2005 CITGO Angler of the Year and 3 time Bassmaster Classic runner up Aaron Martens
Real World Test: As one would expect from Megabass, the rod is well balanced with a very solid, sword-like feel to it. With a reel mounted in its seat, the combination balances best when held at the bottom of the foregrip. A position that's growing more and more prevalent amongst those who employ the
technique of drop shotting. Armed with what felt to be a perfectly tailored finesse fishing rod, we headed out for a series of on the water tests with our new stick.
Presenting the exquisite, 2005 F3-610DGS Aaron Martens Limited from Megabass shown here with our Daiwa Certate
2000
Setup: We matched up our F3-610DGS with our Daiwa Certate 2000 and spooled the reel with 6lb Yozuri Hybrid. Our target applications were drop shot, split shot, and some light jighead fishing. What better place to test these techniques than some of the clear water reservoirs of Northern California, the proving ground of finesse techniques?
One of the most unusual features of this rod is the eccentric, upside down first guide - a feature which Megabass claims to aid in casting distance especially with superlines
Casting: One of the most unusual features of this rod is the eccentric first guide. It is mounted to the rod upside down putting the guide closer to the reel in order to aid in casting distance. While an interesting theory, this rod loads so easily during casts it's difficult to isolate the true benefit of this single feature in real world conditions. We can say that once released, our line flowed almost effortlessly though the guides as our offerings sailed out to their targets. Despite this sensation, our feeling is the casting performance of this rod can be attributed more to how well the medium fast taper blank loads and releases energy during casts more than to the eccentric guide setup. One thing for certain is the fact this package, taken together, delivers when it counts.
A closeup of the Ti framed SIC guides on our Megabass F3-610DGS