kschultz76

This is an interesting thread to me. I don't drop shot much, but it's a technique I know I need to practice and learn. I currently have a 6'6" LTB ML/F that is what I use when I attempt it today and use for other light presentations as well. Someday if I find it to be a technique that works for me I may get a more dedicated drop shot rod. I love my St Croix rods but I'm considering other brands. The Megabass Orochi XX drops hot rod as well reviewed on TackleTour. Does anyone here have input on that series of rods? Wondering how that rod would compare to a LTB or Legend Elite/Xtreme.

If you'll be throwing a lot of cranks or trebles I'd stick the the 7' M F as well. I use my M XF specifically for soft plastic single hook applications. That's why I also have the 6'6" M F Avid to cover a better variety of lures. But if I was only going to have one rod it would be the M F, I fished all my soft plastics on the Avid until I got the Xtreme it was a great taper for everything I did with it.

If you look at the legend tour bass rods on st Croix's site they have a desc of each rod. The 6'10" M Xf is specifically tapered as a shakey head rod that says something about top water as well. The 6'8" M XF is wacky style technique specific. I've got no experience with the 6'-0" m XF but the specs look like it would handle the lures you're looking to throw. Whatever you land on please post and let us know how you like it. I'm really curious how the new xtremes handle compared to the older versions. They're heavier but wondering if they balance better.

I agree the 6'8" M XF is a great rod, that's the Xrtreme I have and love it. But I fish primarily soft plastics with it, especially weightless Senkos.

Oh you might consider the Legend Elite 6'3" M Xfast. I've heard good feedback about it and it covers 1/8-1/2 oz lures. Just not sure now well the Xfast tip will handle all your presentations. I'm not sure if they make that blank in the Xrtreme.

What weight lures and line do you want to throw? I have 3 St Croix spinning rods, an Extreme Med Xfast, an LTB MedLight Fast, and an Avid Med Fast. For general purpose as you've described I'd go with the Med power Fast action in a Croix. Their medium fishes lures 3/16-5/8 so it will cover a variety of techniques including lighter presentations, and you'll still feel the fight it by no means is a broomstick. The ML in a Croix I find to be very willowy but not under powered, but it only handles 1/8-3/8 oz lures so it isn't as versatile to me. I'm sure either will be fantastic based on my experience. I think it just comes down to your lure selection.

I'd agree I've used a Sustain Fg, the original CI4, the FJ, and the new CI4+. With a blindfold you would never know the difference between the new CI4+ and the Sustain they are that similar. I would never pay the extra for a Sustain at this point. I actually find my FJs to have a lighter and smoother action then the Sustain or either CI4. That's part of the reason I may live with the weight of the FJ bc the reel is that buttery smooth.

I also got a Stradic CI4+ in the past couple weeks bc I couldn't justify the additional cost of the Sustain. I'm really torn right now about if I'm going to keep it or not. I have a couple Stradic FJs that I really like but they are a little heavier. But my rods are not perfectly balanced and the FJs do offset the tip heaviness better then the CI4+, so I'm trying to decide which option will be less fatiguing and more comfortable over time. I've considered a Daiwa Ballistic that lands in the same weight range as the Sustain but I can't find enough good reviews on the Daiwa to take a chance on it and give up the line management features that the Shimano reels offer.

I'll second the vote for a St. Croix Avid, LTB, or Legend Elite/Extreme. I'm starting to look for another casting rod as well so I will be interested to see what other responses you get. While I love my Croix's I'm very tempted by a Dobyns Champion, a Phenix M1 or MBX, *** Black Ency, or a Megabass Orochi XX. Also if your a Loomis fan TW has a rep sample sale going on: http://www.***.com/G_Loomis_Rep_Sample_Casting_Rods/descpage-GLIC.html

I'd recommend the BPS Pro Qualifier. Great reel for 99 bucks even better when they put them on sale.

Exactly!

I use a St Croix LTB 6'6" ML/F rod for light finesse applications like drop shots, shakey heads, Slider heads. For weightless and wacky Senkos I use a St Croix Legend Extreme 6'8" M/XF. Both work well for me in those applications.

Depends on the manufacturer. If you're buying say a G Loomis you'd be right on. But for a St Croix you'd want a ML based on 3/8 oz and lower for finesse. A Med St. Croix is a powerful stick, and the same is true other manufacturers as well.

The power decision all comes down the lure/line weight rating of the rod, and what you want to throw. For true finesse applications I'd stick to weights of 1/8-3/8 oz....some folks would go even lighter. Not sure what that equates to in a Berkley or a BPS rod. If you're comfortable with your choice of brand/model then you should be set. For what its worth it would not be what I would recommend for a finessse rod. I'd encourage you to at least look at some other options like St. Croix Triumph, St. Croix Premier, *** Black ***, etc. Based on what I read about the Lightening Shock rods the way the tip is designed does not sound well suited to finesse applications.

In that case keep fishing C rigs and heavier T rigs on the MH baitcaster you already have if that rod works for you. Then for lighter real finesse presentations concentrate on getting a good quality spinning rod of the right power/action for your applications. I'm sure what you can get will come down to budget at some point. Do you have a budget in mind for the rod?

For simliar price or a little less I'd recommend the BPS Pro Qualifier.

Unforutnately not all of those techniques are finesse, and no 1 rod is going to do them all well. What rods do you have currently? For the carolina rigs, and heavier T rigs I'd definitely go MH but likely on a baitcasting setup not spinning. If you're a spinning only guy, and nothing wrong with that I was at one point, then you can throw them on a MH spinning setup. The weightless plastics, wacky style, dropshots, and even lightweight shakeyheads could be covered by one all purpose rod geard toward finesse. For those finesse applications I'd recommend investing in the highest quality rod you can afford, those light bites and presentations need a sensitive rod that will also cast those lighter baits well. Pay attention to the lure weight ratings on the rod, not just the power because not all manufacturers rate them the same. In my St. Croixs a ML is equivalent to a G. Loomis M, which is 1/8-3/8oz, and M is like MH in others an is 3/16-5/8oz. There are even variations in different models within the same manufacturer. I know budgets are always a concern, and if you're bank fishing you want to stay light. The best rod for you is the one you can afford and get you on the water. But if you try to use one rod for all of those applications you'll be sacrificing somewhere in the equation. Good luck!

Good luck and tight lines!

Unless you have a true need for the line capacity of a 4000 shimano size reel I'd suggest sticking to a 3000 or 2500. Also if you can swing the upgrade to a Symetre you get a lot more for your money. However the quality and sensitivity of your rod is more important so considering making the additional investment there. Get the best you can afford for your budget. St. Croix Triumph rods are a great value on a quality product.

Check out this link, good read. It may be somewhat a matter of preference but there are physics behind it. http://www.japantackle.com/Topics/brake_system.htm I've had poor success with mag only brakes. But I've found the dual system on the BPS Pro Qualifier, Johnny Morris Sig, and othe BPS reels works very well for all casting techniques and lures. That system is the same basically on the Abu Revo STX and some of the Lews reels.

Look at a Shimano Symetre 3000 reel and a St Croix Premier rod, I'd suggest 6'6" medium power fast action for a good all purpose setup. For a slightly cheaper reel the Pflueger President is well regarded. You could also consider a Shimano Compre rod, and I've had good experience with BPS Extreme rods in the past. In those you may want to consider a medium heavy power though, depends on the weight you want to throw. Others will have plenty of recommendations I'm sure. If you can get to a store hold and play with everything you can in your price range to see what feels good to you.

Can you hold off till Bass Pro has the Pro Qualifiers on sale for $79 again? They're normally $99, and even at that price they're a great deal. They are smooth, solid, and have a dual breaking system for great control. Lots of good posts about them on the forum here. If u can't wait or stretch your budget you might check out the Extreme, it's a little cheaper with a less adjustable dual breaking system. But I've see a few good posts on it. Keep an eye on the flea market too I think someone had some used PQs up there awhile back. Oh and fwiw the Bass Pro PQs come out of the same manufacturer as the Abus just to different specs.

I'd highly recommend you get a St Croix Triumph 6'6" med fast spinning rod and a Pflueger President reel, or a shimano Sahara if you can afford. I have the same combo with the Pflueger President for my wife and I use it kayak fishing. It's a great setup for the cost, sensitive and easy to fish, and overall a better investment.

Wow....sorry for the bad luck. I remember a day that my old man thought it would be ok to lay our rods flat in the bottom of the boat for transport. When we arrived at the lake his tackle box had bounced on the tips of 3 of my rods for about 65 miles so I know your pain. Thanks for taking the time to post about your experience with *** and Phoenix, because of your experience I may just consider them for my next purchase knowing about that kind of service. Currently I'm a St. Croix guy, and they took amazing care of me when a brand new rod I ordered from them showed up with busted tip top. Its just nice to know that there are companies out there, especially those servicing our beloved sport, that care about their customer and their product not just the bottom dollar.

Just ordered myself a 2500 from TW. I have two Stradic FJ's that I love, have been waiting for Shimano to add Xship to the CI4. I was really torn because I really wanted something lighter weight for my finesse rig, but unsure if the ultra lightweight of the CI4 will balance it properly. I just can't see my way clear to drop an extra $150 on the Sustain to save that extra oz over the FJ.