Re-Test : Megabass's F4st-69RSDti Hedgehog Evoluzion!

Total Score: 7.61 - GOOD

Introduction: In 2006, I fished a rod that met up with the most unfortunate demise in the F4st-69RSDti Orochi Hedgehot Evoluzion by Megabass and documented this occurrence in the product's incomplete review. Several years ago while sharing some time with then Megabass pro Aaron Martens, I was surprised to find out this rod was his go to drop shot stick. I told him about my experience with the rod and he shared that he's never had that happen. Whether he was being truthful or not the fact that a BASS Elite Series pro could have this stick in his daily arsenal and depend upon its durability to keep him in the money opened my eyes that perhaps I should give this stick another chance. The trouble is, I wasn't about to fork over another $600 to find out.

It's time to give the Hedgehog Evoluzion another chance.

As fortune would have it, with Megabass of America's move of their headquarters to the San Francisco Bay Area we now have more direct access to product and product announcements than ever before. Shortly after their arrival here in the Bay Area, we me with Yuskei Murayama, now president of Megabass of America, Inc., where the subject of our F4st-69RSDti's premature death came up. They wanted to give us the opportunity to complete the review on this rod by sending one over direct from Japan. I told him we'd be happy to do it, but if it breaks again, this won't fare very well for the product or the company. They were willing to take that risk and a week later, I had another copy in my hands. Then, early last year, after finally finishing the retest for this stick, I was told the rod was discontinued, so the review was shelved only to have a few select numbers of this exact rod remade late last year. So... given the resurrection and possible resurgence of this stick, here now is a closer, more complete look at Megabass's vaunted F4st-69RSDti.

Quality/Construction: The Orochi Evoluzion was, at one time, Megabass's most expensive spinning rod for targeting black bass. With so many introductions over the past couple of years, I'm not certain it still holds this distinction. Nevertheless, it is exquisite in every detail.

Over the bottom third of the rod's length, its blank features a glossy clear coat, but over the remaining two thirds all the way up to the tip, the rod's blank features a clear, satin finish. The middle and top portion of the rod's grip is made of cork. Just below the cork is the reel's locking mechanism made from a decorative carbon tube. The rod's butt is a high density EVA foam. There are accent pieces throughout the rod's grip design and everything is aligned perfectly.

It's all about that stinger tip.

Epoxy work over the guide's threadwraps is generous but not excessive and there are no uneven drips or crooked lines at the edges of the epoxy. The rod's blank is straight and the guides are in good alignment..

A little difficult to see, but the stinger tip gives the F4st-69RSDti an extra fast taper.