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Swimbait Rod Wars Installment #12: Megabass's Orochi F8-78DG Super Destruction
(continued)
 Sensitivity: Fishing the Super Destruction with copoly and nylon monofilaments, it did not feel like the most sensitive stick in the world. On the whole, I'd say it was about average to a little above average. Early on, I only fished moving hardbait swimbaits with this stick because I was having too much fun throwing anything else with it! But with the double Hudd rig and Toray's Bawo Polyamide plus, I was able to feel more than I had anticipated.
Those who favor exposed blank reel seats will be happy to this on the F8-78DG
More
time
is
needed
with
different
baits
and
lines
to
really
get
a
sense
for
the
Super
Destruction's
sensitivity,
but
keeping
in
mind
the
Super
Destruction's
blank
is
the
same
material
as
that
of
the
Mephisto,
and
the
rods
are
similarly
built,
it
really
felt
like
I
was
fishing
this
same
rod,
just
longer
and
less
broomstick-like.
The
Mephisto
is a
rod
I
recall
finding
a
little
above
average
in
sensitivity
depending
on
what
bait
I
had
tied
to
the
end
of
the
line.
Another look a the surprisingly rare, spiral wrapped big bait stick.
Power:
This
is
where
the
Super
Destruction
really
surprised
me.
You
recall
my
recount
of
the
crazy
series
of
events
with
the
Kistler
KBSBS80
and
that
ten
pound
striper?
Judging
by
the
results
of
our
RoD
WRACK
and
casting
exercises,
I
expected
the
F8-78DG
to
be
more
or
less
the
same
as
the
Kistler
swimbait
stick
in
terms
of
power.
The
only
thing
I
needed
to
really
validate
that
theory
was
another
double
digit
striper.
Megabass's Orochi lineup features their proprietary D.N.A. blanks.
Well, as fate would have it, on the very first outing for the Super Destruction with its newly found mate, the Zillion HLC, I was tossing 3:16's 2-up close to shore, completed maybe 3 revolutions with the reel's handle when WHAM! Fish ON! I knew immediately this had to be another striper just from the way the fish was running around all crazy.
Casting into the sunset with the Super Destruction
This time, I was fishing with my brother and his wife, so while my brother was scrambling to deploy the net, I locked the slant bridge handle in my forearm and from that point forward it was more or less game over. I was able to manhandle that striper and figured on it being maybe a six or seven pound fish. Then it flashed. The expletives that followed, surprisingly, came from my sister in-law as she had never seen a fish of this size caught from one of our bass boats.
This rod is so much fun to use.
Caught by surprise, my brother spun around to take a look while simultaneously extending the net out and into the water. I pulled the struggling striper over and into the net and my brother lifted it into the boat all of this taking place while his wife was still screaming out in amazement over the fish's size. All my brother and I could do is laugh. Tale of the scale? Eleven pounds - not huge by any stretch of the imagination, but still a VERY strong fish. Thanks to the leverage of that slant bridge handle, the Super Destruction barely flinched. Even my brother said he thought the fish wasn't that big based on how I was playing it. Impressive.
A look a the Super Destruction's slant bridge rear grip.
Features: The F8-78DG features Megabass's D.N.A. graphite consisting of graphite and titanium fibers wrapped around the blank in a double helix pattern. It also benefits from the afore mentioned slant bridge handle, spiral wrapped Fuji Ti/SiC guides, full foam grips, a telescopic blank (6'10" when fully collapsed), and of course, the obligatory rod sock. The only thing missing, as with all Megabass sticks, is a hook hangar.
Thanks to Fuji's EZ Keeper, the lack of hook hangars on our JDM rods is a problem that is now more easily resolved.
Application: The F8-78DG handles baits throughout its rated range very well. Finally a product from Megabass that's true to its ratings. What's more, it handles moving baits, as well as bottom bouncing baits equally well. It is a true, mid-range, multi-purpose big bait stick.
Typical of Megabass, the F8-78DG features Ti/SiC guides by Fuji.
Rated for baits up to 4.25 ounces, the F8-78DG makes a good general purpose big bait stick.
Warranty: We've been here before. While Megabass USA offers a limited, one year warranty against manufacturer's defects, products purchased from other vendors may or may not be covered. If this is important to you, always check with your vendor of choice regarding warranty concerns and coverage.
Ratings:
|
Megabass Orochi F8-78DG Super Destruction Ratings (?/10)
|
| Construction/Quality |
Megabass continues to impress |
9 |
| Performance |
In a word? Excellent! |
9 |
| Price |
At least it's not as bad as the White Python |
4.5 |
| Features |
Just one more thing.. a hook hangar please |
9.5 |
| Design (Ergonomics) |
The slant bridge handle really takes the cake |
9 |
| Application |
A really outstanding general purpose big bait stick for mid-range weighted baits |
8 |
|
Total Score
|
8.17 |
Ratings Key: Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!
(For a detailed explanation of the ratings go here) |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus Minus
|
| J It's all about that slant bridge handle |
L Becoming increasingly difficult to source because of limited production runs |
| J Telescopic blank for easier storage |
L Questionable warranty coverage on a pricey stick |
| J Spiral wrapped guides |
L You may want more than one |
| J Top end components |
|
Conclusion: For the Tackle Enthusiast looking for a serious swimbait stick, it's hard to imagine a much better option. The Super Destruction is loaded with quality components and the unique, slant bridge handle affords its owner unprecedented control over their catch. Because of its price and exotic detailing, it's a difficult rod to fish hard, but once you get over that fear, you soon find that you cannot fish this rod hard enough. It has the proper taper to handle the big baits, and is among the best rods in our Rod Wars loading up for a cast. Hard baits and soft baits alike, the Super Destruction casts and works them equally well.
This eleven pound striper was absolutely no match for Megabass's Super Destruction and its slant bridge handle.
The thing that really gets me about this stick and that I still can't get over is how easily it handled that striped bass pictured above. In fact, I cannot wait for the Rod Wars to be completed so I can fish that rod more often! It may be an Enthusiast piece of equipment, but given how well it suits all of my own requirements while tossing big baits, Megabass's F8-78DG Super Destruction wins this Editor's Choice straight up, and is only the second rod thus far to win this award in our Rod Wars.
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