The Most Sensitive Rod Money Can Buy

[BasshunterJGH]

What is the most sensitive rod money can buy in your opinion? Just curious.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'm sure you'll get brands and models all over the map, but here's the bottom line. Sensitivity of a blank is determined by the stiffness:weight ratio. number one. Then the "speed", not in action but rather recovery speed or resonance frequency. Next, the lightest possible guide train will protect as much as possible of the blank's inherent properties. You're talking about Titanium frame micros or Recoils. The grip needs to built with solid graphite arbors for the seat matched to a carbon fiber grip with a butt length that is comfortable and as close to neutral balance as you can get without adding weight. To achieve all this you're looking at a custom build on a high quality blank of which there are a few. Granted some of this may be beyond the point of diminishing returns cost wise, but addresses the original question. 

[Master Bait'r]

DVT's "0-solved time" is quite Veyron-esque haha nice response!    

[WRB]

Off the shelf Megabass Aaron Martin's '71 pushes $700.

Loomis NRX series are in the $550 range

Lamiglas INF series meets most of DVT's goals off the shelf at $280 range.

Tom

[Raul]

Sensitivity depends on two factors:

 

1.- The rod and line: materials and construction have vibration transmiting properties, graphite has better vibration transmition properties than fiberglass, spectra fibers have better vibration transmitting properties than nylon. Blank thru handle design and construction has better properties than blank and handle, skeletal reel seat has better properties than just a single opening in the reel seat ( more contact with the fingers ) all those are thos parameters can be measured.

 

2.- You: here´s where the most sensitive rod money can buy hits a brick wall, the rod may have the materials and construction that optimize it´s capability to transmit even the slightest vibration, the line too but you can´t quantify PERCEPTION, how your nervous central system processes the information is highly subjective.

 

So what´s the most sensitive rod money can buy ? that will depend on who you ask.

 

I can´t feel the difference between an IMX and a NRX, so there´s no point in me paying twice as much if I can´t feel the difference.

[Tywithay]

A properly built custom on an SC5, K2, or NFC HM, will be as sensitive as any person would ever need. At that point, any difference is basically just personal preference, as far as action, power, balance, etc. That's why I recommend custom. You get exactly what you want.

[roadwarrior]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/142505-custom-rod-from-d-v-t/

[FishTank]

The most sensitive I have fished is the G.Loomis GLX line of rods. I can't imagine it getting any better but there is the NRX.  There will be one in my future.....

[thehooligan]

A properly built custom on an SC5, K2, or NFC HM, will be as sensitive as any person would ever need. At that point, any difference is basically just personal preference, as far as action, power, balance, etc. That's why I recommend custom. You get exactly what you want.

My thoughts exactly. Can't wait for my first custom...

[Jrob78]

I have 2 customs built on SCV blanks with spiral wrapped micro guides.  They are the most sensitive rods I have ever fished.  I've never fished a NRX or any Megabass rods though.  

[SenkoGuru]

 A great deal of that sensitivity is going to come from the Line you are using. If you use Fluorocarbon and a Tungsten weight, it will add volumes to sensitivity on Texas-rig's/Jig's.

[mjseverson24]

The most sensitive Rod that I have ever used is the Shimano Cumara. the reel seat is designed for maximum contact with your hand to the blank, the front and rear grips are minimalistic resulting in the least ammount of vibration dampening of any rod I have seen. The blank material may not be the best on the market, but it is maximized to get the most out of the materials used in the construction of it. you put the same design features on a magabass blank, or a SCV blank and you would truly have something special...

 

Mitch

[Jrob78]

I am curious how the Edge rods perform in the sensitivity department.  I would think the carbon fiber grips would really transmit vibration well.  I imagine the NFC HM blanks would compete with the others mentioned but I don't really know.  

[Tywithay]

I am curious how the Edge rods perform in the sensitivity department. I would think the carbon fiber grips would really transmit vibration well. I imagine the NFC HM blanks would compete with the others mentioned but I don't really know.

The Edge 705 is the best balanced, most sensitive rod I've ever handled. I'd take an NFC HM over any other blank on the market. It's easily on par with the NRX, with better build quality.

[island bassin]

I will go for a JDM , Major Craft Volkey

[Tywithay]

I will go for a JDM , Major Craft Volkey

That's more of an entry level rod. Considering the cost of importing, you can find a better rod on this side of the pond, for less money.

[smalljaw67]

Braided line will make even a Berkley Cherrywood feel as sensitive as a GLX, yeah, I know, I'm exaggerating a bit but it does increase sensitivity by a lot. I only use braid for flipping super heavy cover and for frogs but the feel of even a heavy power rod is very good, on normal bottom contact rods it really adds to the sensitivity. Don't always go by price.

[thehooligan]

Braided line will make even a Berkley Cherrywood feel as sensitive as a GLX, yeah, I know, I'm exaggerating a bit but it does increase sensitivity by a lot. I only use braid for flipping super heavy cover and for frogs but the feel of even a heavy power rod is very good, on normal bottom contact rods it really adds to the sensitivity. Don't always go by price.

 

Thats the reason ive always been so happy with my cumaras & cumulus rods. Definitely not as sensitive as an nrx or other highend blank, but with 10lb braid and a short flouro leader, i really dont think i need anything more sensitive then that. 

 

I have been using less braid lately, and more flouro/copoly, makes me wonder how that would feel on an nrx/custom.

 

Id really like to get the SC5, K2, or NFC HM blank in my hand to see what feels best...

[.ghoti.]

I have a K2 and an SCV blank, both still in tubes, standing up in the corner, waiting for some spare time.

 

The SCV is a spinning blank, to built as a bait finesse casting rod for a new SS SV that's on the way.

 

The K2 has a custom painted, tuned up TD-Z waiting in the wings. This one's gonna be my new tube rod.

 

An NFC HM blank will probably be next. Haven't decided which one I want to try first. Probably the 705

[thehooligan]

I have a K2 and an SCV blank, both still in tubes, standing up in the corner, waiting for some spare time.

 

The SCV is a spinning blank, to built as a bait finesse casting rod for a new SS SV that's on the way.

 

The K2 has a custom painted, tuned up TD-Z waiting in the wings. This one's gonna be my new tube rod.

 

An NFC HM blank will probably be next. Haven't decided which one I want to try first. Probably the 705

 

^  Nice, im wondering out of those 3 blanks which offers the most options for lengths and powers. Im looking for a 6'6-6'8 medium light blank for a finesse casting rod...

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

St Croix has the most robust line up and I'd throw the MHX HM into the mix. MHX makes a DS822 which they call a Mag ML. Loads well with light baits but has some power in the butt.

[.ghoti.]

^  Nice, im wondering out of those 3 blanks which offers the most options for lengths and powers. Im looking for a 6'6-6'8 medium light blank for a finesse casting rod...

I have the 5S70MLFG  7' ML-F, lure rating down to 1/8oz. I'll probably trim two or three inches off the butt to get what I want.

 

St Croix has the most comprehensive line of blanks for freshwater fishing. I don't think you can go wrong with an SCIV or SCV blank.

[aavery2]

I think all of these blanks along with a custom build on the NRX have the potential to be very sensitive.   But I would also bet that if we took a sampling of 10 individuals from this site and let them all test rods from these manufacturers that we would not have a unanimous winner.  Much like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is sensitivity.

 

What we need is some wily engineer type to develop a tool that can truly measure sensitivity.

[.ghoti.]

I think all of these blanks along with a custom build on the NRX have the potential to be very sensitive.   But I would also bet that if we took a sampling of 10 individuals from this site and let them all test rods from these manufacturers that we would not have a unanimous winner.  Much like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is sensitivity.

 

What we need is some wily engineer type to develop a tool that can truly measure sensitivity.

 I've been thinking about doing that. I have LabView software, and a couple of DAQ cards with inputs which will accept just about any type of sensor's output signal. Also have a few low range accelerometers. It would not be difficult to develop an application to measure vibration transmission.

 

At this point, I have no time for such a project. And, I don't really know what I would use to apply a realistic input signal to the rod blank. I've put some thought into this this and have conceived, and discarded, several ideas. I'd be interested to hear some of your ideas. Keep in mind, that for this to have any relevance at all, whatever I use to apply a signal to the rod will have to be controlled down to a very fine level. Tapping the end of the blank with a stick is not going to work. LOL

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Due to the differences in sensory perception among individuals, it's probably an exercise in futility to try to measure sensitivity any more than you could measure taste. What would be nice though is for rod and blank makers to embrace Dr Hannemen's "Common Cents" system which measures rod power, action, speed (frequency) with the weight of a US Penny as the unit of measure. A lot of blank makers wont even list physical weight as they don't want their offerings compared to others.