I have a Shimano Stadic Cl4 2500 on a 6'6" Shimano Crucial med-hvy fast action rod and mostly use it for shakey head fishing. I also will occasionally tie on a drop shot as this is my only spinning outfit for now. The rod is way heavy and clunky for this reel and I was looking for something that was more sensitive and light without breaking the bank (just bought an NRX casting and love it!). If I have to I'll save for the NRX shakey head rig, but just wandering if you have any recommendations that may be a little less dough and perform almost as well.

Dobyns Champion Extreme and with that reel it would look SICK. 8-)

Cumara or Cumulus depending on how much you want to spend.

Colors might not match, but this is a awesome rod!

http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-Kistler-Helium-II-LTX-He2MH69S-Spinning-Rod-NEW-/110583925352?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19bf50ca68

There are different heliums on that site also

Mine is on a 7'M Dark Angel

Mine is on a Crucial Drop Shot Rod and it is very light and very sensitive.  Oh so balanced and did I mention LIGHT!

Later,

Mine goes on a 7'2" Cumara. A match made in heaven, at least it will be again if Shimano ever gets foam grips back in stock. Treat your grip delicately.

I just picked up a falcon cara clark wendlandt spinning rod to go with my ci4. I haven't used the specific rod but have a few caras and they are a great rod.  It's a great looking combo too.

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20374&id=0082770125647a&navCount=1&podId=0082770&parentId=cat20374&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=XA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

I just picked up a falcon cara clark wendlandt spinning rod to go with my ci4. I haven't used the specific rod but have a few caras and they are a great rod. It's a great looking combo too.

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20374&id=0082770125647a&navCount=1&podId=0082770&parentId=cat20374&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=XA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

Yeah, I saw those at Cabelas.  They look and feel nice.  No info on Falcons web site about them though.

Later,

I have two CI4's... one on a 6 1/2' St Croix LTB MLF, and one on a 7' St Croix Legend Elite MF.

Both are sweet setups.

I just picked up a falcon cara clark wendlandt spinning rod to go with my ci4. I haven't used the specific rod but have a few caras and they are a great rod. It's a great looking combo too.

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20374&id=0082770125647a&navCount=1&podId=0082770&parentId=cat20374&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=XA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

Yeah, I saw those at Cabelas. They look and feel nice. No info on Falcons web site about them though.

Later,

I went up to there store and talked to them the other day.  The only difference between this rod and a cara are the grips and the reel seat.  It is the exact same blank as cara t7

Dobyns Extreme rod, 702 or 742 depending on what rod length you prefer. Would look great, and perform even better!

I've got mine on a Dobyns Champion 702, not the Extreme, and it's really a nice combo. For the 230 bucks the Dobyns is a very good deal.

Another vote for the Dobyns Extreme DX 702SF. Pricey but not as pricey as the NRX. Very well balanced rod.

Thanks everyone! The shakey head bite is hot right now and the dobyns or cumara are sounding like winners. The crucial is not so bad now in the sensitivity dept after switching to braid with fluoro leader, but... it is still heavy. It may last me the rest of this year, but man is a lighter rod sounding nice right now after tossing the spot remover for 6 hours straight yesterday  ;D

Cumara... Fast or extra fast?

My latest spinning rod is a St. Croix Avid 6'-3" MXF. I really like this rod and highly recommend it. I also have the 6'-8" MXF in the Legend Tournament. Both are nice rods and are available in the Legend Elite. It's hard to beat St. Croix in spinning rods.

Thanks for the input, but I've already narrowed it down to the Shimano Cumara 7' 2" now I just need to narrow it down to fast or xfast. Shimano reccomends the fast for the shakey. I'm leaning that way.

My reasons are that I am looking for ultra light and sensitive at a good value and I have already had good customer support with the shimano over the counter program. The rod also "matches" my Ci4

This is def. happenning now as I already put a sahara on my crucial~ 

My favorite setup is probably a 7'2" M Crucial drop shot/shaky head rod with a 2500 Sahara.  20lb braid with a 10lb to 14lb fluoro leader.

Thanks for the input, but I've already narrowed it down to the Shimano Cumara 7' 2" now I just need to narrow it down to fast or xfast. Shimano reccomends the fast for the shakey. I'm leaning that way.

My reasons are that I am looking for ultra light and sensitive at a good value and I have already had good customer support with the shimano over the counter program. The rod also "matches" my Ci4

I just posted a week or two ago that I would be buying a 7'2" Cumara for shakyhead and asked the same question...fast or x-fast? 85-90% said to get the x-fast

I ended up with the M fast, because I felt it would be a little more versatile. Have to say that I believe the softer tip lets me feel and dance the jig head a little better and give it a better dance up and over cover. I am getting bit twice as much as I did with my crucial MH fast because of this extra action IMO. Loving this rod/reel combo so far.

I've got the Stradic ci4 mounted on a G-Loomis GL2 SJR783  6'-6" med. heavy/ fast action 8-16lb. 3/16-5/8oz., I think BPS has the rod for about $165. I really like the set up, and I'm thinking of getting another one to put an older Stradic reel on that I got. The outfit seems well balanced to me and feels good togther.