Cranking It Up with Megabass's Orochi XX Swingfire (continued)

Features: We've touched on features from other rods in this series before and nothing has really changed save for the fact the current generation of Orochi XX sticks no longer feature a hook keeper. Otherwise all other features rate the same including the rod's sleeve which is useful for both long term storage and storage of your rigged combo in our rod locker.

Full rear grips are coming back into vogue after the industry went overkill on the split rear grip.

Design/Ergonomics: The Swingfire is a perfectly comfortable rod to fish. Though a little heavy for a rod of its length and power, and slightly unbalanced too, it's far from cumbersome. The full rear grip is certainly different by today's standards but actually a welcome departure from the sea of split rear grip sticks that line the store shelves nowadays. The guide wraps are colored differently on this rod than its siblings in the Orochi XX lineup but perhaps that's to distinguish the different blank treatment and intended application of the rod.

The first half of the rod up to its second guide features this cross weave overlay.

The rest of the rod does not, but the unsanded surface is for the entirety of the blank.

Application: The Swingfire is built for moving baits and serves well in that purpose but not just with treble hooked baits. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and other topwater plugs are all fair game. In fact, thanks to this stick's forgiving tip, walk the dog baits and poppers can be worked very effectively with this stick.

This stick is a solid performer!

Ratings:

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