Megabass P5 Decision

[jwalker497]

I really need some help between these 2 decisions, see below for stats on each

Z-Crank vs Cyclone. Both are Medium Regular rods, very similar weights. Trying to understand the why one over the other. To me, its seems the Cyclone would be better, looks like it can do what the Zcrank can do but not the other way around. Zcranks is a little longer. Which would you pick and why? I am leaning towards Cyclone in this battle.

Blade vs Madbull. Both are Med Heavy rods, similar action and same lure and line weights. One is classified as a bladed rod (whatever that means) and one is a deep crank rod. Seems like not enough of a difference to me. Similar lengths etc. Which would you pick and why? I am leaning towards the Madbull just becuase of the carbon fiber handle. Looks good - no other reason.

F1-63X PopX Stick - Beautifully crisp small finesse hard bait rod!
F2-60X Cliffhanger - All around precision Bait Finesse rod!
F2.5-611X Kasumi Six Eleven - Accurate and delicate casting for small hardbaits!
F3-610X Bait Finesse - Next generation HIEN, all around Bait Finesse!
F3.5-70X Zcrank Elseil - Amazing new small crankbait rod capable for topwater and jerkbaits too!
F4-65X OneTen Stick - Shorter Jerkbait rod for precision casts and hooksets!
F4-66X Cyclone - Great all around use rod from spinnerbaits to senkos to Popmax!
F4.5-71X the Dark Sleeper - Bottom contact rod for jigs and Texas rig!
F5-68X Blade - Spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, Swimjigs!
F5-70X MadBull - Deep cranks, big lipless, small swimbaits!
F5.5-72X X-Bites - Highly sensitive bottom contact rod for jigs and worms!
F6-66X Killer Code - Accurate casting big bait rod, I-wing, swimbaits, frogs!
F6-69X Super Destroyer - Amazing new all around use rod!
F6.5-67X Tachyon Shaft - New Jig Rod concept for delivering the fastest and hardest hook sets!
F7-70X Tequila Baccarac - All around heavy bait rod, swimbaits, frogs, A-rigs!
F7.5-90X ICBM - Ultra long casting rod for bottom techniques like Carolina Rig!


Destroyer P5 Casting Rods Length: Power: Taper: Line: Lure: Price:
F1-63X Pop-X Stick 6'3" Ultra-Light Slow 6-14 1/8-1 $449.00
F2-60X Cliffhanger Thrilling 6'0" Light Regular 6-12 1/8-1/2 $449.00
F2.5-611X Kasumi Six Eleven 6'11" Med-Light Slow 6-12 1/8-1/2 $449.00
F3-610X Bait Finesse 6'10" Med-Light Med-Fast 6-14 1/4-5/8 $475.00
F3.5-70X Z Crank Elseil 7' Medium Regular 8-16 1/4-3/4 $475.00
F4-65X Oneten Stick 6'5" Medium Slow 8-20 1/4-3/4 $475.00
F4-66X Cyclone 6'6" Medium Regular 8-20 1/4-7/8 $475.00
F4.5-71X The Dark Sleeper 7'1" Med-Heavy Fast 8-20 1/4-1 $475.00
F5-68X Blade 6'8" Med-Heavy Med-Fast 10-25 3/8-1 $475.00
F5-70X Madbull 7' Med-Heavy Regular 10-25 3/8-1 $499.00
F5.5-72X The X-Bites 7'2" Heavy Ex-Fast 10-25 1/4-1 $499.00
F6-66X Killer Code 6'6" Heavy Regular 8-22 3/8-2 $499.00
F6-69X Super Destroyer 6'9" Heavy Med-Fast 12-25 1/4-1.25 $499.00
F6.5-67X Tachyon Shaft 6'7" Heavy Regular 12-25 1/4-1.25 $499.00
F7-70X Tequila Baccarac 7' Ex-Heavy Regular 12-30 3/4-4 $499.00
F7.5-90X ICBM 9' Ex-Heavy Med-Fast 12-30 3/8-3 $525.00

[bronzefly]

The Cyclone is a 6'6" Medium. The Z-Crank is a 7' Medium Medium Light. They feel very different in hand due to the obvious length and power differences. The Cyclone feels noticeably more powerful as a result. They can both cover a lot of similar applications indeed. The choice of which has a lot do to with the range of those applications. I'd rather have the Z-Crank for throwing light treble baits, but I'd rather have the Cyclone for a 1/4 oz jig head with a swim bait for example.

The Madbull vs Blade are much more similar in how they feel, but they aren't identical. The same calculus would apply to your intended applications, though they both cover many similar techniques very nicely. They are both great spinner bait, chatter bait, buzz bait type rods, can handle various larger treble hook moving baits, etc...

The Tackle Trap just received a nice restock of a bunch of P5's today, finally!! Feel free to get in touch if I can assist...

[jwalker497]

ZCrank and Cyclone are both listed as mediums and the only different I can see if the length. Still wondering

If you were to pick one for all around which would it be?

Same question for the madbull and Blade, if you could only have one for all around which would it be?

[Polkfish1]

ZCrank and Cyclone are both listed as mediums and the only different I can see if the length. Still wondering

If you were to pick one for all around which would it be?

Same question for the madbull and Blade, if you could only have one for all around which would it be?

In the megabass lexicon an F3.5. is lighter in power than an F4, even though the accompanying verbiage may state medium. I’m pretty sure they will feel different (3.5=medium light and 4=medium) as Bronzefly describes.

[jwalker497]

So which models would you pick and why?

[TNBankFishing]

What baits will you be throwing with each? Are you fishing from a boat, kayak or on foot? Do you care about the carbon grip on the madbull? Are you fishing tournaments, and if so are you limited on deck space? I tournament fish from a kayak and every single rod has to do more than one thing if I’m taking it.

Id choose the Z crank as I fish from a kayak and don’t need a large cranking rod. I use an otomat, from recommendation on this forum and love it.

I’d choose the xblade over madbull because I already have a Javelin, and can move it to also handle some vertical presentations while leaving the xblade for chatter/spinner/buzz bait duties.

[Polkfish1]

So which models would you pick and why?

I usually find that longer rods play a more versatile role in my arsenal and the shorter rods I get end up a bit more specialized. That’s no rule; just personal fishing style perhaps.

I think that with the z crank and cyclone, you’ll get the types of applications benefits of each that Bonzefly describes. I’d rather have a more general small crank rod in the z crank than a short finesse jig with trailer rod. Other versatile rods in my arsenal handle the latter duties.

With the other comparison, those will be more similar. I’d take the longer madbull. Also, you might be surprised with the versatility of a regular taper. However, if your preference is for faster tapers, as is with many, I’d go with the blade.

Edit- I have a phase 3 elseil that seems a bit similar to the z crank spec wise and it’s a wonderful shallow treble bait rod.

[jwalker497]

throwing one more into the mix

Heavy Rods - Xbites vs Super Destroyer vs Tachyon Shaft. All are MH rods. Only difference is minor in lenghts. Biggest different is in taper. Xbites is Xfast, SD is MF and Tachyon is R. I have read that the X-bites is like an NRX sensitive bottom rod, but then what is the tachyon shaft? Tachyon is described as "fastest and hardest Hook sets" - what does that mean?? Where does the Super Destroyer fit into this heavy rod lineup? It is describes as the most versatile of the heavy line up but can it be a bottom contact rod? Of these 3, which would you pick and why?
Is there any reason to own all 3?

[MNBassin03]

If you're going to pitch a jig in tight quarters or skip docks it's the tachyon shaft all day long. It's so much fun. If you're going to want to throw a 1/2 jig or football jig out deeper or texas rig on cover X-bites. If you don't know what you want to do with the rod super destroyer. They are all awesome. You'll be happy no matter the decision. I can say that while the X-bites gets accolades for it's sensitivity, the tachyon is almost as sensitive, but with much more power it seems.

[bronzefly]

They are not all medium heavy rods and feel very different in hand and on the water...

F5.5 = Megabass Medium Heavy
F6 = Heavy
F6.5 = Megabass Ex. Heavy

[Cal]

Very difficult to make any recommendations on which rod to recommend or choose without some background on your intended application. With the difference in length, power, and taper, each stick is going to have its relative strengths and weaknesses depending on what technique(s) you're looking to support.

[Hobie-Wan Kenobi]

Very difficult to make any recommendations on which rod to recommend or choose without some background on your intended application. With the difference in length, power, and taper, each stick is going to have its relative strengths and weaknesses depending on what technique(s) you're looking to support.

All this plus, where you are fishing. I live in way northern Michigan. That is different from southern Michigan and vastly different from Texas, California and such. One person's ideal jig rod can vary vastly because of personal preferences and needs to the fish size and cover.

I have had to "translate" many recommendations from southern anglers to what I consider adequate or overkill for where I live.