Mid-high end finesse/drop shot rod

[WRB]

2 freinds of mine that I fished are both tournament anglers, Bob was a St Croix Legend fan, Fred was Loomis NRX fan, so I had opertunities to use these rods and they used mine to share performance evaluations. 

My opinion was St Croix spinning rods are well made and not particularly well balanced, tended to be tip heavy and feedback OK but not outstandanding. Bob thought the same thing regarding NRX spinning rods saying they are too stiff with little feedback, Fred thought St Croix rods were too stiff and tip heavy. Both had Shimano Ci4 2500 reels.

My spinning rods are not high end like Bob and Fred, my casting rods are. My spinning reels are older Shimano Stratic 1000 and 2500 reels, the rods Major Craft about $120 price range and functional for my purposes. What surprised me is both Bob and Fred liked my rods as well as their own regarding Sensitivety and thought the balance was better. 

My point is you have a lot of good choices and each angler has their own idea what works for them. Bob, before he passed away changed to Dobyns Champ rods and loved them. I fished with Bob a few times and agree Dobyns spinning rods as good as a spinning gets, I agreed and liked them a lot just don't need any new rods.

We all caught bass using each others tackle, differences are small nuances, the reel plays a bigger role with spinning outfits IMO. If I needed a spinning rod I would buy the Dobyns Sierra on sale at TW, basically a Champ at the price of a Fury.

Tom

[Heartland]

I have debated for a while about making this post and finally decided that it might help someone.   Over the years I have spent what amounts to a lot of money (to me) in pursuit of the perfect rod for this, and a fast enough reel for that.  I have listened to the advise of Pro's, read reviews, had trusted friends ensure me that if I purchased this particular rod, reel, line, or lure that I would not regret it.    Well guess what, they were all right, but not for the reason that I suspect you think.   They were all right because each of the rods, were made by reputable companies, that use very good components and what was then the most current techniques to develop rods that transmit, rods that have great actions and reliable backbone.  I enjoy each of these rods for a variety of different reasons, and to be honest some just have a sentimental value to me that probably far exceeds the actual praise I have heaped upon them over the years.    I have come to the conclusion that I can and do use each and every one of these rods, for what ever I want to fish at the current moment (within reason)  and they all work great.  They work great because they are quality equipment, not because someone else said this one for dropshot and this one is for shakeyhead and so on and so on.  Buy a rod that you like the way it feels in your hands, you like its appearance, balance, quality, one that when you pull it out of your rod locker and take the sock off of it you have no doubt about how it will perform.   Those are the rods you will end up keeping for a long time if not forever.

 

Here is a list of some of mine that I really enjoy fishing with for a whole lot more than what is listed on the blank.

 

ST. Croix 

ES610MLXF

TBS610MLXF

TBS610MXF

 

Loomis

DSR 822S

SJR 723

SMR 811S-SP

NRX 822S SYR

 

Fishing is a great hobby it can be so much fun, but sometimes we make it out to be something very technical and take a lot of what it is suppose to be for most of us average anglers out of it.  FUN!  Go fish and have fun.

[Matt_3479]

Thanks everyone! Some really great advice! I upgraded all of my baitcasters this year and wanted a nice spinning rod and reel! I am fishing a 2 piece avid x and love the rod but bought the 2 piece for getting into some of the ponds that are hard to get in and out of. I really wanted a nice 1 piece rod to leave on the boat as we have been using the boat a lot the last 2 seasons! I’m going out over the weekend to take a look at a few of these rods. Just wasn’t sure if I should be looking more into the medium, or medium light and if I should be looking more for a fast or extra fast? I’m leaning more towards another loomis but we will see, really do want to try the higher end st. Croixs to compare to my glx’s. 

[Matt_3479]

Has anyone tried the Daiwa Steez XT 7’ medium fast action, stumbled across one on sale and don’t hear much about them? Just curious 

[anderb54]

For GLX money, I can't recommend the Destroyer Addermine enough. It's a special rod.

[Matt_3479]

18 hours ago, anderb54 said:

For GLX money, I can't recommend the Destroyer Addermine enough. It's a special rod.

I’d love to get my hands on that rod. Around my neck of the woods it’s very very difficult to find Megabass rods. I’ve only seen one and it was the store owners personal that he happened to have with him. No store around me carries them as far as I know and when spending that kind of doe I’d really like to handle them first. 

[J Francho]

I have two each St. Croix AVS63MLXF and AVS63MXF, all saddled with either 2500 or 3000 series Stradic CI4.  They're all spooled with 6# Tatsu. I upgraded the drags to dry Carbontex.  They perform flawlessly.

 

[LCG]

On 12/20/2018 at 4:02 PM, PolarKraft195Pro said:

St Croix Avid X, 6'9" MLXF ?

I own 2, and LOVE them! Use them for small wacky worms, ned rigs, drop shot, and just about any light plastic application.

How does the ml-xf compare to their m-xf? I have the 6'8" m-xf and it awesome but interested in the ml-xf as well. Is the tip the typical drop shot light hinged tip or more solid, similar to the m-xf if that makes any sense?

 

[J Francho]

The tapers are very similar.  The M can handle heavier baits is the only difference.

[JLBBass]

11 hours ago, LCG said:

How does the ml-xf compare to their m-xf? I have the 6'8" m-xf and it awesome but interested in the ml-xf as well. Is the tip the typical drop shot light hinged tip or more solid, similar to the m-xf if that makes any sense?

 

I have the 6’8” m-xf in the newer mojo model, and the tip on it is stiffer from the get-go than the mlxf on my Avid X’s. The 6’9” mlxf has that light tip, and goes into a more of a medium power than a ML power as it’s specs say.

[ChrisD46]

*There are nice ML Fast / Xtra Fast spinning rods that can double as drop shot rods - then there are drop shot specific spinning rods ... Don't compromise if you truly want a spinning rod ONLY for drop shot !

[Matt_3479]

2 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*There are nice ML Fast / Xtra Fast spinning rods that can double as drop shot rods - then there are drop shot specific spinning rods ... Don't compromise if you truly want a spinning rod ONLY for drop shot !

What’s the main difference?

[fishindad]

4 hours ago, Matt_3479 said:

What’s the main difference?

If you've never dropshotted, the only way to feel the difference is to try dropshotting for yourself with both an "all-purpose" finesse rod (typically F) and a dropshot-specific rod (typically XF). For the techniques you mentioned in your original post, you really don't want to use a rod designed for dropshot as they are typically built only for that one technique. Get yourself a 7 foot ML or M fast action rod and you'll be fine.

[Matt_3479]

8 minutes ago, fishindad said:

If you've never dropshotted, the only way to feel the difference is to try dropshotting for yourself with both an "all-purpose" finesse rod (typically F) and a dropshot-specific rod (typically XF). For the techniques you mentioned in your original post, you really don't want to use a rod designed for dropshot as they are typically built only for that one technique. Get yourself a 7 foot ML or M fast action rod and you'll be fine.

Haha just when I thought I had it narrowed down Lol. I don’t do a ton of finesse fishing but last year on the water a few times conditions got tough and after spending a day or two trying to find bass every other possible way I fish, I finally picked up a spinning rod and slowed things down and caught some of the biggest smallies I’ve ever caught and 2 beauty largie’s. That’s when I decided I need to get a good spinning rod to fill the niche. 

 

I figured drop shot, Ned rig and maybe even finesse tubes would all be done on extra fast? The shakey head, flukes, senko’s I’ll be throwing on a different rod. 

[JoeyT]

I have tried several over the years and have to say the g loomis e6x drop shot rod is a great stick at med xf. I find the ML Xf just doesn't have the back bone I need for these big ontario  Smallies. I was losing fish on the ML rods especial in deep water. Made the switch to the e6x and I just don't lose fish anymore. 2500 reel with 15# braid and a 8# flouro leader.  Awesome rod and reasonably priced. 

[Matt_3479]

Thanks everyone. Found the glx 822 at a good price and going to look st it tomorrow morning with expectations of purchasing the rod! Hopefully it will fish the Ned rig well too cause I’d love to double down on this rod for those two techniques 

[Matt_3479]

Well here it is fella’s, glx 822s dsr, shimano ci4+ 2500 with 10lbs power pro to 8lbs Seaguar leader 

 

 



 

Thank you everyone for your help! Can’t wait to try it out this spring! Now just have to figure 1 more rod to cover the remaining of the finesse unless my 852c will take care of it. Tubes, flukes, senko’s, Ned, Neko so forth 

[fishindad]

Awesome drop shot combo. Your 852 will be fine for the tubes, flukes, Senkos and finesse.

[Matt_3479]

4 minutes ago, fishindad said:

Awesome drop shot combo. Your 852 will be fine for the tubes, flukes, Senkos and finesse.

Thank you! 

 

Awesome! That’s what I was going start with and see how I make out and go from there. 

[anderb54]

On 12/28/2018 at 9:44 AM, Matt_3479 said:

I’d love to get my hands on that rod. Around my neck of the woods it’s very very difficult to find Megabass rods. I’ve only seen one and it was the store owners personal that he happened to have with him. No store around me carries them as far as I know and when spending that kind of doe I’d really like to handle them first. 

Understandable... Tackle Warehouse allows you to try out rods for a refundable deposit. I understand that it's a hassle but that rod blew me away when I got it. If it weren't for the Oneten Special, it'd be my go to smallie rod for sure.

[J Francho]

On 12/29/2018 at 6:15 AM, Matt_3479 said:

What’s the main difference?

Marketing.

 

Congrats on the combo.  My buddy has that same rod, and it fishes well.