High End Bottom Contact Rod

[LongJohn87]

Hello!

 

So my buddy is looking for a high end jig and worm rod. He has been looking at megabass mainly (the destroyer series and orochi). We fish in light to moderate cover and he uses 3/8 oz jigs and worms mainly and here and there a 1/2oz. What model would you guys recommend from the orochi and the destroyer series?

[Diggy]

Orochi XX: Braillist, (more power) Perfect Pitch

 

Destroyer: FMJ

[Mikeltee]

I know they look awesome but ultimate sensitivity is needed for bottom contact so look no further than the NRX series. I am now deciding upon the 893 and 894. Yea they are ugly but the fish dont care. I tried to get a megabass many times and research and recommendations here always led me astray. I do want to get a Destroyer eventually though.

[Hower08]

My buddy fishes Abu Garcia fantatista rods I think they're called. Way more sensitive than a Loomis 

[WRB]

4 hours ago, LongJohn87 said:

Hello!

 

So my buddy is looking for a high end jig and worm rod. He has been looking at megabass mainly (the destroyer series and orochi). We fish in light to moderate cover and he uses 3/8 oz jigs and worms mainly and here and there a 1/2oz. What model would you guys recommend from the orochi and the destroyer series?

What models have you recommended?

Tom

[CaptPete]

Kistler Zbone 7'3" MH

[BassThumb]

I know it's not Megabass, but consider the Dobyns Champ Extreme 745. I have two of them. One is my primary jig rod along with a 744, and the other is my pitching stick. These are my favorite rods, along with the 742 spin. Wouldn't trade them for any others.

[Dens228]

4 hours ago, Diggy said:

Orochi XX: Braillist, (more power) Perfect Pitch

 

Destroyer: FMJ

Just ordered the XX Braillist since the Levante's are back ordered. 

[Diggy]

2 hours ago, Mikeltee said:

I know they look awesome but ultimate sensitivity is needed for bottom contact so look no further than the NRX series. I am now deciding upon the 893 and 894. Yea they are ugly but the fish dont care. I tried to get a megabass many times and research and recommendations here always led me astray. I do want to get a Destroyer eventually though.

I have an 894 and I like it, but everybody makes me think I should have bought an 893. Everybody says "iTs ThE It RoD" ?

 

I have a list of rods I want to try and coincidentally a few are posted in this thread. 

[Mikeltee]

4 hours ago, Diggy said:

I have an 894 and I like it, but everybody makes me think I should have bought an 893. Everybody says "iTs ThE It RoD" ?

 

I have a list of rods I want to try and coincidentally a few are posted in this thread. 

I bet the fantasia is one of them. My buddy's buddy said it's more sensitive than my wife!

[Bandersnatch]

6 hours ago, Mikeltee said:

I know they look awesome but ultimate sensitivity is needed for bottom contact so look no further than the NRX series. I am now deciding upon the 893 and 894. Yea they are ugly but the fish dont care. I tried to get a megabass many times and research and recommendations here always led me astray. I do want to get a Destroyer eventually though.

I love my 893, I was worried it wouldn't feel great throwing a 3/8 Oz jig. I actually threw a 3/4 Oz dark sleeper the other day without a problem.. The Nrx 893 is a joy to fish with regardless if my megabass rods look nicer. 

4 hours ago, Diggy said:

I have an 894 and I like it, but everybody makes me think I should have bought an 893. Everybody says "iTs ThE It RoD" ?

 

I have a list of rods I want to try and coincidentally a few are posted in this thread. 

I don't have the 894 but I was in the same boat. I opted the 893 because if I didn't like jigging on it I could still do a ton of other stuff. 

[Diggy]

9 hours ago, Dens228 said:

Just ordered the XX Braillist since the Levante's are back ordered. 

Hope you like it. Matt Allen seems to like his. I haven't fished it, but I have an older EMTF I love.

5 hours ago, Mikeltee said:

I bet the fantasia is one of them. My buddy's buddy said it's more sensitive than my wife!

Yes it is. Abu customer Service offered me one at a great price. I'd do either the 7ft3 MH or H, leaning more to MH since I have a few heavy rods now. The ABU may be XXH tho in feel.

5 hours ago, Cheif250 said:

I love my 893, I was worried it wouldn't feel great throwing a 3/8 Oz jig. I actually threw a 3/4 Oz dark sleeper the other day without a problem.. The Nrx 893 is a joy to fish with regardless if my megabass rods look nicer. 

I don't have the 894 but I was in the same boat. I opted the 893 because if I didn't like jigging on it I could still do a ton of other stuff. 

I may still get an 893, may pull the trigger on a 2019 Z-Bone first because the price is right and lower more often than not.

 

 

 

 

Quite a few options for the OP and his friend to choose from. The thing about bottom contact rods is that you may always want to try others if you are an enthusiast...is the grass always greener?

[newyorktoiowa57]

7 hours ago, Diggy said:

Hope you like it. Matt Allen seems to like his. I haven't fished it, but I have an older EMTF I love.

Yes it is. Abu customer Service offered me one at a great price. I'd do either the 7ft3 MH or H, leaning more to MH since I have a few heavy rods now. The ABU may be XXH tho in feel.

I may still get an 893, may pull the trigger on a 2019 Z-Bone first because the price is right and lower more often than not.

 

 

 

 

Quite a few options for the OP and his friend to choose from. The thing about bottom contact rods is that you may always want to try others if you are an enthusiast...is the grass always greener?

If you are a grass is always greener type you may as well just get a conquest or NRX 

[NHBull]

I have a few MB and can say with certainty that there are more sensitive, and better balanced rods at the top end.  While the Conquest  are slightly more, I don't know anyone who paid retail.  I look for an excuse to use mine.

[The Maestro]

What rods has your buddy been using up to this point? If he's already been using decent quality rods ($200+ price range) he may end up seriously disappointed when he steps up to $600+ rods only to find the difference is nowhere near what he was expecting.

 

Now if he's fished with Ugly Sticks his whole life he'll be blown away and will probably be one of those "OMG I can feel a fish fart on my bait!" type guys.

 

I bought a used NRX and sold it after using it twice. Honestly, it was a good rod but it was nothing special at all. But then I've been fishing pretty good quality rods for quite some time. There isn't a rod out there with some magical powers of sensitivity that's leagues above every other rod. Bite detection and determining what your bait is coming into contact with comes mainly from experience. Braided line also helps but in the end it's time spent with a rod in your hands that really matters most.

[Rodney Smith]

Matt Allen has a good video on rods out now. Very informative. He’s positive on several different rods/brands. He then says that the NRX was and is the benchmark for sensitivity. Get you a new one at a good discount or buy a used off off one of the forums. You won’t be sorry. If you want to spend the money on a Conquest (I have a couple), you will get some additional benefits. I don’t think they are more sensitive than an NRX.

[newyorktoiowa57]

3 hours ago, Rodney Smith said:

Matt Allen has a good video on rods out now. Very informative. He’s positive on several different rods/brands. He then says that the NRX was and is the benchmark for sensitivity. Get you a new one at a good discount or buy a used off off one of the forums. You won’t be sorry. If you want to spend the money on a Conquest (I have a couple), you will get some additional benefits. I don’t think they are more sensitive than an NRX.

Like the video as well.  I have 2 exprides and am going to transition the bulk of my lineup into them.  I assume the main benefit is balance? 

[Rodney Smith]

The biggest benefits of the Conquest over the NRX are power and accuracy. For a rod so sensitive, it feels like much more solid than the NRX. It does balance better. With the MBR taper, it is also more versatile. If I was going to a body of water and could only take two rods, it would be a Conquest 843C and 842S SJR.