Megabass Destroyer P5 Tachyon Shaft vs. Megabass Destroyer P5 X-Bites (And Advice About Setups)

[Jorge D]

Hello, I was simply curious about the specific differences between these two P5 rods. I'm trying to decide between the two as my jig and Texas-rigged soft plastics. For anyone who has it, what would you say is the ACTUAL lure weight range in which each of these rods excels (if you could please say the total weight, i.e., jig + trailer, etc...). I am also planning to purchase a P5 Bait Finesse and a P5 Windbuster, so the baits that this can cover may also have to be taken into account. 

I plan on using the BF for all around finesse plastics and finesse jigs, the WB for drop-shot/free rig/small jerks and small cranks/light topwater, and the TS or X-Bites for jigs/Texas-rig soft plastics. I will say that I plan on fishing cover, shallow water, docks (skipping*** and pitching***). 

Lastly, I do everything other than punching, throwing large swimbaits or glide baits, and heavy top-water (mainly finesse plastics, fb/compact/finesse jigs and other bottom-contact like drop-shot and T-rig). Will these 3 rods cover all those techniques? 

 

Thank you in advance, I apologize for asking so many questions. I tried to be as concise as possible, but I have been looking for answers to these questions without much success.

[Bandersnatch]

I would say the tachyon shaft can handle just slightly above 3/4 oz total weight before getting squishy. This is total preference as some people don’t mind fishing squishy rods at the top end of the rating. I absolutely love my tachyon shaft and consider it and ultimate skipping rod that I use for jig, senkos and Texas rugs. The xbites would be too long for me to like to skip with. The xbites is also less powerful .

 

xbites is probably a better rod for deep water bottom contact as long as you stay within its optimal weight range. 
 

Again, I find the tachyon shaft to be a blast to fish with.

 

I’ve never fished the x bites 

[jejenkyns]

what do you think the 'practical' bottom end rating of the tach shaft is? (in total weight?)

 

I'm currently weighing the the SD, tach shaft and Steez Target Sniper. 

[Bandersnatch]

Probably 5/16 oz. I can easily pitch a 1/4 ounce Texas rig with a light weight soft plastic craw. The reel maters when getting to the bottom in. I sold my sd and kept my tachyon shaft. To me, the sd is new and versatile but there’s many rods like it. I’ve yet to experience a 6’7 rod with as much sensitivity and power in a light weight package as the TS

[Dan Strain]

I also LOVE my Tachyon Shaft !! I have offered it up for sale several times with no takers and thought “ I should give this another try.”
 

It’s now my favorite jig rod - at least in my kayak !! I also have the SD and it’s maybe more versatile but there’s something about the TS. I’ve yet to lose a fish on it. It sticks em good !!

 

 

I have a Steez SV TW on mine and I was throwing a weightless horny toad last week - no problem -  that’s probably 1/4oz 

[jejenkyns]

7 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

Probably 5/16 oz. I can easily pitch a 1/4 ounce Texas rig with a light weight soft plastic craw. The reel maters when getting to the bottom in. I sold my sd and kept my tachyon shaft. To me, the sd is new and versatile but there’s many rods like it. I’ve yet to experience a 6’7 rod with as much sensitivity and power in a light weight package as the TS

how does it cast though? I'm not looking for a pitching rod ? I do appreciate your response and I'm sorry to OP if I'm hijacking here!

6 hours ago, Dan Strain said:

I also LOVE my Tachyon Shaft !! I have offered it up for sale several times with no takers and thought “ I should give this another try.”
 

It’s now my favorite jig rod - at least in my kayak !! I also have the SD and it’s maybe more versatile but there’s something about the TS. I’ve yet to lose a fish on it. It sticks em good !!

 

 

I have a Steez SV TW on mine and I was throwing a weightless horny toad last week - no problem -  that’s probably 1/4oz 

How does the taper differ? It's hard to imagine a MF, or what often looks like a JDM type F->S taper of the SD and the regular taper of the TS. I don't own any megabass regular tapers so I don't really understand how they load.

[Jorge D]

No worries, your question about the practical lower end of the TS was really helpful to me as well. 

[Jorge D]

15 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

I would say the tachyon shaft can handle just slightly above 3/4 oz total weight before getting squishy. This is total preference as some people don’t mind fishing squishy rods at the top end of the rating. I absolutely love my tachyon shaft and consider it and ultimate skipping rod that I use for jig, senkos and Texas rugs. The xbites would be too long for me to like to skip with. The xbites is also less powerful .

 

xbites is probably a better rod for deep water bottom contact as long as you stay within its optimal weight range. 
 

Again, I find the tachyon shaft to be a blast to fish with.

 

I’ve never fished the x bites 

Thank you for the information, also, I wanted to say that your YT video on the Tachy was easily the most informative one I could find. Another question I had was whether or not you think that the Tachy can handle compact jigs; I know from The Hook-Up Tackle that the X-Bites excels at this and that is why I was torn between the two... based on what you said the ideal range would be from 5/16 oz - 3/4 oz. I'm honestly not even sure what classifies as a "compact" jig; does it refer to the size of the presentation or the weight? 

[Bandersnatch]

A compact jig is typically just a small jig. Tons of people make them and they typically had a light wire hook. However, some companies are building them with stout hooks and tungsten  heads. Beast coast makes awesome ones including the lil magnum. The tachyon shaft will throw a 1/4 oz & 3/8 oz jig well. 
 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Beast_Coast_Tungsten_Lil_Magnum_Jig/descpage-LMJ.html

 

[Dan Strain]

4 hours ago, jejenkyns said:

how does it cast though? I'm not looking for a pitching rod ? I do appreciate your response and I'm sorry to OP if I'm hijacking here!

How does the taper differ? It's hard to imagine a MF, or what often looks like a JDM type F->S taper of the SD and the regular taper of the TS. I don't own any megabass regular tapers so I don't really understand how they load.

The SD is longer and more

parabolic so it will cast further than the Tachyon. I’ve been using the Tachyon mostly for 1/2oz compact finesse jigs. I’m not casting far - mostly 15-20 ft from my kayak. If you are looking for an all

purpose rod - the Tachyon isn’t it. The Super Destroyer will cast further and handle a wider variety of presentations 

[Jorge D]

59 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

A compact jig is typically just a small jig. Tons of people make them and they typically had a light wire hook. However, some companies are building them with stout hooks and tungsten  heads. Beast coast makes awesome ones including the lil magnum. The tachyon shaft will throw a 1/4 oz & 3/8 oz jig well. 
 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Beast_Coast_Tungsten_Lil_Magnum_Jig/descpage-LMJ.html

 

Okay, I understand now, it isn't the weight. So, from what I've heard I think that with the TS, the lighter BF, and the WB I should be able to cover most, if not all, of the techniques I wanted to cover. The X-bites does seem like a more open-water/slow dragging compact jig rod. But if this rod can handle lighter AND heavier jigs, I think this is the one.

[lunkerboss923]

The X Bites is a great light soft plastic t rig 1/4 to 3/8oz and finesse jig rod. Great for target casting and shallow water. OSP Hunts Finesse Jigs w/ Dolive Craw is a mainstay on this rod. I grew up in the 90's and this rod reminds me of the first run Castaway that had a lighter tip with a stronger backbone. 

 

The Tachyon is a shorter rod with a strong backbone. I just can't see myself using a rod that is 6'7" for bottom contact.

 

The FMJ is more of what you want. Is built to be a bottom contact rod. It has tons of power too. Throw 3/8 to 1/2oz easily. 

 

Another Megabass rod, which is considerably cheaper is the Perfect Pitch in the OrochiXX line. Makes a great utility rod as well. 

 

The Windbuster is the do everything well from power finesse to drop shoting. 

 

When I'm out on my kayak I bring 4 rods

 

Windbuster - finesse 

Diablo Spec-R - moving baits 

X-Bites- light Texas Rigs and finesse jigs 

Perfect Pitch - Utility rod do everything...spinnerbaits, heavier Texas Rigs, Football jigs, 4" Spark Shads. 

 

I don't like long rods 7'5" range for kayaks. Even bank fishing with a long rod is cumbersome. Fishing tight places with long hanging branches gets in the way. 7'0 to 7'2 works for me. 

 

If I had to pick 5 rods out from  Megabass it would be these: 

 

Windbuster-  Finesse 

OrochiXX Perfect Pitch - Utility 

Madbull - Moving Baits 

X Bites - Light Texas Rigs Finesse jigs 

FMJ- Heavy Jigs and Texas Rigs 

[Darth-Baiter]

On 7/23/2023 at 8:13 PM, lunkerboss923 said:

The X Bites is a great light soft plastic t rig 1/4 to 3/8oz and finesse jig rod. Great for target casting and shallow water. OSP Hunts Finesse Jigs w/ Dolive Craw is a mainstay on this rod. I grew up in the 90's and this rod reminds me of the first run Castaway that had a lighter tip with a stronger backbone. 

 

The Tachyon is a shorter rod with a strong backbone. I just can't see myself using a rod that is 6'7" for bottom contact.

 

The FMJ is more of what you want. Is built to be a bottom contact rod. It has tons of power too. Throw 3/8 to 1/2oz easily. 

 

Another Megabass rod, which is considerably cheaper is the Perfect Pitch in the OrochiXX line. Makes a great utility rod as well. 

 

The Windbuster is the do everything well from power finesse to drop shoting. 

 

When I'm out on my kayak I bring 4 rods

 

Windbuster - finesse 

Diablo Spec-R - moving baits 

X-Bites- light Texas Rigs and finesse jigs 

Perfect Pitch - Utility rod do everything...spinnerbaits, heavier Texas Rigs, Football jigs, 4" Spark Shads. 

 

I don't like long rods 7'5" range for kayaks. Even bank fishing with a long rod is cumbersome. Fishing tight places with long hanging branches gets in the way. 7'0 to 7'2 works for me. 

 

If I had to pick 5 rods out from  Megabass it would be these: 

 

Windbuster-  Finesse 

OrochiXX Perfect Pitch - Utility 

Madbull - Moving Baits 

X Bites - Light Texas Rigs Finesse jigs 

FMJ- Heavy Jigs and Texas Rigs 

my wife wants me to put you on my ignore list

 

great write up.  my next three rods are in your post!