Megabass Levante F3st-610S Stinger Shot Spinning Rod Product Review

Rod Review

MB Levante Part 2 : Stinger Shot (continued)

Features: On the list of standard features we look for here at TackleTour, Megabass's Levante F3st-610S comes with the afore mentioned EVA foam split rear grip, Fuji stainless steel framed guides with Alconite inserts, a Megabass enhanced Fuji reel seat, open ended hook keeper located at the exposed graphite portion of the split rear grip, and no rod sleeve. That's right, a Megabass rod with no supplied rod sleeve! No doubt a move to help keep the cost of the rod down.

All Levante rods by Megabass are built with Mitsubishi's Pyrofil graphite.

Features Ratings for Megabass Levante F3st-610S Stinger Shot
Grip (1-5)	Guides (1-5)	Reel Seat (1-5)	Hook Keeper (1-5)	Rod Sleeve (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
4	4	4	4	1	17	25	6.8

The Stinger Shot is equipped with stainless steel framed, Alconite guides by Fuji.

Design/Ergonomics: The Levante Stinger Shot's overall weight compares favorably next to our WTF baseline sticks but its balance point and torque numbers are just a hair above that baseline. Overall, it's a very comfortable rod to fish with certainly no worries of having it as your go to stick during a full day of fishing.

Lab Results for Megabass Levante F3st-610S Stinger Shot
Model	Avg RoD (2-32 oz)	Taper	Measured Weight (oz)	Balance Point (inches)	Balancing Torque (ftlbs)
Megabass Levante F3st-610S Stinger Shot	3.07	X-Fast	3.7	9	0.19
DSR820S GLX	3.02	Fast	3.9	8	0.15
SMR822-SP GLX	2.75	Fast	3.7	7.5	0.15

The rod's graphics are very stealth-JDM as opposed to opulent-JDM with the overall color scheme being black with a few silver trim highlights and graphics in either of two shades of grey.

Design & Ergonomics Ratings for Megabass Levante F3st-610S Stinger Shot
Grip (1-5)	Colors / Graphics (1-5)	Balance (1-5)	Weight (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
4	5	3	3	15	20	7.5

The Stinger Shot is a good choice for a variety of finesse applications.

Application: When it comes down to it, the F3st-610S is a light to medium light powered spinning rod capable of being used for a variety of applications, but excelling, of course, in drop shot situations. However, if you're in a bind and have some small jerkbaits or cranks you need to throw, you can do so with the Levante Stinger Shot. Just be mindful to stick within the rod's ratings. Likewise if you wanted to throw a baby popper bait or some other miniature topwater bait, this stick is capable.

Bass Rod Application Ratings for Megabass Levante F3st-610S Stinger Shot
Rip/Jerk (1-5)	Steady (1-5)	Lift & Drop (1-5)	Drag (1-5)	Twitch (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
3	3	5	5	3	19	25	7.6

Megabass for under $200.

Ratings:

Megabass Levante F3st-610S Stinger Shot Ratings (?/10)
Construction/Quality	Typical MB quality	9.47
Performance	Really nice stick for drop shotting	8.0
Price	$200 for MB... now we're getting spoiled	8.0
Features	A relatively standard array of features minus the rod sleeve	6.8
Design (Ergonomics)	Light and fairly well balanced	7.5
Application	Really stick for finesse applications	7.6
Total Score		7.9
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable! For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus	Minus
+ JDM quality at domestic affordability	- Megabass for $200? It's a gateway to JDM tackle product!
+ Really nice choice for finesse applications

Conclusion: I said it before at the conclusion of the Levante Diablo's review and I'll say it again here, if you've been resisting the allure of Megabass and have been successful because of the products' price points, steer clear of the Levante series. Not only are they more affordable than any other Megabass rod line to date, they most assuredly will serve as a gateway product to more insidious JDM tackle purchases.

Having a little fun out on Lake Berryessa.

The Levante Stinger Shot isn't quite the rod that the Hedgehog Evoluzion is or was (we can never get a straight answer from Megabass on the availability of that stick), but it does give you a taste of what that stick is about and will most assuredly pique your interest about that holy grail of drop shot sticks.

Hero Skinz, Megabass, and a Roboworm/Gamakatsu smallie from Lake Berryessa.

At the very least it will inspire that Joker-esque smile to envelope your visage at which point you will lose yourself to the dark side and become a full on Tackle Enthusiast. Yes, I'm being overdramatic here, and certainly you have more self control than I give you credit for, right? So go ahead, I dare you. Try the Levante F3st-610S Stinger Shot and see which path you end up walking.

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