Unless you have the skills to determine which rod is better it’s all personal preference. Everything being equal in regards to price, length, power and action the lighter weight well balanced rod will out perform the other in the hands of someone skilled enough.

So how much does each rod weigh?

Tom

2 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i did break an X-Bites.  my "F-NOOOOOO" still echos across the CA Delta.  

 

i immediately bought a new rod using the Megabass warranty process which is barely a warranty.   you basically cough up the wholesale price.

 

it is my sickest rod, and quickly racking up the bass numbers to be the arsenal leader.  

 

would i buy it again, if/when it breaks?  oh, you know it.  a resounding YES

How would the x bites work for weightless senkos/flukes etc? 

2 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i did break an X-Bites.  my "F-NOOOOOO" still echos across the CA Delta.  

 

i immediately bought a new rod using the Megabass warranty process which is barely a warranty.   you basically cough up the wholesale price.

 

it is my sickest rod, and quickly racking up the bass numbers to be the arsenal leader.  

 

would i buy it again, if/when it breaks?  oh, you know it.  a resounding YES

How would the x bites work for weightless senkos/flukes etc? 

2 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i did break an X-Bites.  my "F-NOOOOOO" still echos across the CA Delta.  

 

i immediately bought a new rod using the Megabass warranty process which is barely a warranty.   you basically cough up the wholesale price.

 

it is my sickest rod, and quickly racking up the bass numbers to be the arsenal leader.  

 

would i buy it again, if/when it breaks?  oh, you know it.  a resounding YES

How would the x bites work for weightless senkos/flukes etc? 

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

How would the x bites work for weightless senkos/flukes etc? 

How would the x bites work for weightless senkos/flukes etc? 

How would the x bites work for weightless senkos/flukes etc? 

it would be SICK weightless senkos. (i do it tex-rigged).  I used it for that for the first month I owned it.  I could feel bass suck it in mid column.   then I moved onto the free-rig.  sick free-rig combo in my hands.

 

let me expand on how I broke my X-bites.  I snagged on the California Delta.  main channel.  I moved my kayak above the snag to maybe take some angle off of it and come at it more the other side.  I lifted the rod up (big mistake).  right then, Murphy's law sent a wake boat right next to me. it came out of the smallest reed channel and almost wiped me out.  but what it did instead was lift my kayak up on the wake about 5 feet (it felt huge)...I was caught dumbfounded.  thumb buried up my arse.   the added and sudden tension snapped my rod.    I should have pushed the spool release button!!  now, I dont use the rod to add tension to test a snag.  nope.   unless it is a Dobyns Fury.  

8 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i did break an X-Bites.  my "F-NOOOOOO" still echos across the CA Delta.  

 

How did you break it?

 

Its one thing to step on it or shut it in a door, but if it’s on a hook set?

7 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

How did you break it?

 

Its one thing to step on it or shut it in a door, but if it’s on a hook set?

We got 3 of them from Japan when they 1st came out... One buddy broke it high sticking a landed 2lb bass.. The other snapped it trying to cast a 1/2oz bladed jig.... Only mine is still in use but I tend not to treat it like a heavy rod that somehow megabass thinks that's its rating... 

11 hours ago, MRQturbo said:

We got 3 of them from Japan when they 1st came out... One buddy broke it high sticking a landed 2lb bass.. The other snapped it trying to cast a 1/2oz bladed jig.... Only mine is still in use but I tend not to treat it like a heavy rod that somehow megabass thinks that's its rating... 

that’s not very reassuring. Does the p5 have a reputation for being fragile?

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

that’s not very reassuring. Does the p5 have a reputation for being fragile?

Not the entire line... Just the xbites... Could have been a bad batch of rods during early production runs... P5 are beautifully crafted rods.. I just don't like the warranty period.. I'd rather pay a little more and go with nrx plus line and their lifetime warranty... 

20 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

How did you break it?

 

Its one thing to step on it or shut it in a door, but if it’s on a hook set?

I explained it right before you posted.

 

it was a perfect storm of events.   I trust the rod.  I was horking in 16lb catfish that thought my chatter baits looked interesting.  (Clearlake is weird like that).    I dont baby my new X-bites, and it has a lot of fish on it.   I Love that rod.  like really love it.  not unnaturally loving it, but you know what I mean.

21 hours ago, MRQturbo said:

Not the entire line... Just the xbites... Could have been a bad batch of rods during early production runs... P5 are beautifully crafted rods.. I just don't like the warranty period.. I'd rather pay a little more and go with nrx plus line and their lifetime warranty... 

the x bites is the one I’m interested in. This is the first time I’ve heard of them having this reputation. I’ll definitely have to do some more digging to look into it.

On 4/23/2025 at 5:43 PM, woolleyfooley said:

the x bites is the one I’m interested in. This is the first time I’ve heard of them having this reputation. I’ll definitely have to do some more digging to look into it.

Honestly, I had an x-bites and just wasn't that impressed.  And I have several p5's and a ton of NRX rods.  I sold it after a season...just didn't compare to the nrx in my hands. 

On 3/12/2025 at 10:54 PM, FishTank said:

 

I would say the same. I have a Med Fast and it's just so so. Nice rod but I would agree with @Bandersnatch list with one exception.

 

I would put the Daiwa Real Control I have above the NRX+. It's taken me about 4 trips and some soul searching to admit it's just a fuzz better. 

 

For real?!  I need to get out to the lake with mine to test it in some deeper water.  I've just played around with mine at a soft bottom pond.  

On 5/1/2025 at 12:05 PM, KP Duty said:

For real?!  I need to get out to the lake with mine to test it in some deeper water.  I've just played around with mine at a soft bottom pond.  

I'm afraid so. 

 

The RC is so sensitive that it's kind of annoying.  I find myself swinging too early and missing fish. Also, it sort of loads weird. I'm not sure if it's the new Steez SV I have, they 15lb Tatsu,  or the rod itself but casting distance is not what I would hope it would be. Also, it's not the greatest at pinning fish. Could be the 15-20 I caught yesterday on it were just fired up. It's a blast to fish though and I think i need to spend more time with it.

one thing for certain.  rods are like shoes or boots.  one person's opinion is valuable, but when it comes down to it, it boils down to someones personal likes/dislikes, body, all the stuff.

 

like I dont really find many Dobyns that I like.  the handles are so bulbous.  to me.  

 

my X-bites is my jam.  I may LOVE that rod.  I came to that conclusion on my own, despite all the noise of various opinions.    just a few days ago, I used a brand new super soft toothbrush to clean the reel seat.  it is full of crevices that trap greck.  my wife was, "you dont want to us your old toothbrush and use the new on your teeth?"

 

what?  I have over 30 teeth and one X-bites.  

 

okay, I made that up.  I did use my old toothbrush.  hahah..I toothbrushed a fishing rod is the big takeaway.  I dont even wipe a Dobyns.