Hello Everybody,

I would just like to pick some of your brains.

What do you recommend for would suggest as the lightest spinning reel seat / set-up for a dropshot rod that I can feel "EVERYTHING" with?

Thanks,
TONY

No contest, a foam core - carbon skinned split Tennessee handle, I recently built one of these on an ultra light and the entire rod ended up weighing 1.4oz, the handle weighs next to nothing. Make the area where the rod goes about 6 inches long and whatever diameter you find most comfortable, radius the ends and it will be exceptionally comfortable. Make the rear grip very short you only need about 1.5 inches to give you something to hold onto for casting or rest on your forearm.

You can tape the reel on until you find exactly the position where the reel feels best, then if you want you can wrap it on with thread and finish.

Rod Blank Model # Rainshadow ISB822.5 Drop shot rod
Butt cap: HDCCBC20 high density cork composite
Front Cap:
Rear Grip: RG9A-345 Cork
Handle Arbor:
Reel Seat: BPSTG16 USE WITH BPSTG16C-TC New Pipe seat textured
Reel Seat Shim SHIM16SPIN
Foregrip: WFG2 USE WITH WFGFC + WFGRC + WFGPB Woven carbon Fore Grip
Winding Check: BWC10
Hookeeper: TCHKS
Tip Top XTCPPZT06R05.0 Alps PP SS316 Tip top Tich
1st guide from tip top XPTCFZG06 SS316 Tich RRD single foot w Zirconium ring
2nd guide from tip top XPTCFZG06
3rd guide from tip top XPTCFZG07
4th guide from tip top XPTCFZG08
5th guide from tip top: XTCVSZG10 Forecast SS 316 VS frame with Zirconium ring transition guide
6th guide from tip top: XTCVS3TZG16 Forecast SS316 VS3 Tich with Zirconium ring
7th guide from tip top: XTCVS3TZG25
8th guide from tip top:
9th guide from tip top:
10th guide from tip top:
11th guide from tip top:
12th guide from tip top:
13th guide from tip top:
14th guide from tip top:
15th guide from tip top:
16th guide from tip top:
Guide spacing Specs(inches from tip, center ring over mark) 4.5-9.5-15-21-28-36-45
Butt wrap length
Tip wrap length
Main Thread Color 088-111-*0245
Trim Thread Color TRIM WITH METALIC BLUE IF YOU WANT
Wrap Instructions:

Mike what kind of strap is your boat rigged with to keep it from floating off into space?

Mike,
You only need 4 inches to hold your reel.
So, find the 4 inch spot on your blank where the reel bqlqnces your rod.
Make a cork handle that is 4 inches long - either on the rod or on a lathe and then glue the handle in that spot.
Put on a 1/2 inch butt to cap it off and you are done.
Use tape to tape the reel to the cork and you have a very very very light reel seat and finished rod.

Take care
Roger

You guys must have wrists of steel, fishing such short reargrips!

Yes cork is very very very light, but the foam core – carbon skin is half the weight of the cork. I also feel that the rigid carbon skin is better for tape, and I don’t think I would try to use thread and finish to hold a reel on cork.

The small rear grips lay nicely against your forearm and are quite comfortable

Ahh, you're not holding the rod around the reel stem, are you? That would explain it. I usually fish with the stem betwee middle and ring fingers, and find that I need around 8 inches behind the stem for it to even come close to my forearm.

Then again, I don't drop-shot.

I hold the reel just like you, we are talking about split grips, and the small nub is probably 8-10 inches behind the reel.

ahhhhh, click! Thanks Mike.