I do not build many spinning rods but have a guy wanting a spinning rod for drop shot work around docks. He says he wants a 7 ft medium power with a fast or extra fast action. Do any of you guys have a favorite blank that would work for this? I'm thinking about something along the line of a Rain Shadow ISB series. Any thoughts on this? Suggestions?

The ISB 822.5 is a pretty solid choice for drop shot. It is only 6-10 in length but it works very well for that application.

The ISB842 should fit the bill.

ISB822.5
Rainshadow Spin Bass

Component Part Number Part Description
Rod Blank Model # ISB822.5-M 6'10" 1pc Med Spin Bass - Matte Clear
Butt cap: SBC20B Black Butt Cap 19.8mm ID
Reel Seat: GSTG16C-TC Textured Gray Graphite Spin Reel Seat w/Cushion-Real Light TICH
Trim Ring: TRS16-TC Trim Ring for spin seat
Reel Seat Shim: SHIM/16/SPIN Proof Board .590" OD 3.70" Length
Fore Grip: FG25A-350 2 1/2" Cork Fore Grip .350" ID "A" Grade Cork
Rear Grip: RG9A-345 9" Cork Rear Grip 'A' Grade Cork
Winding Check: LTCWC475 Lt TitCar Pltd Winding Check .475" ID
Hookeeper: XDSHKSS-TC Drop Shot Hookeeper TiCH
Tip Top LTCPCT06R05.0 Light TiCH Plated 'P' Top 06 Ring TiCH 5.0 Tube
Guides (see below for size and quantity) LTCVSCG Light TiCH Plated Single Foot V Frame TiCH Ring

Guide order from the tip top Guide Guide Placement - In inches from the tip top
1st LTCVSCG06 4.5"
2nd LTCVSCG06 9.5"
3rd LTCVSCG07 15"
4th LTCVSCG08 21"
5th LTCVSCG10 28"
6th LTCVSCG16 36"
7th LTCVSCG25 45"

or

XSB822.5
Rainshadow RX8 Bass Spin

Component Part Number Part Description
Rod Blank Model # XSB822.5-TC 6' 10" 1pc 6-14lb 1/8 - 5/8oz - Titanium Chrome
Butt Cap: HESGFB1.5S-350 1.5" High End Splitgrip Super Grade ID .350"
Trim: AWC389 Aluminum Winding Check Trim for HESGFB1.5S-350
Split Grip: HEFG3.5S-250 3.5" High End Foregrip Super Grade ID .250"
Trim: AWC389 Aluminum Winding Check Trim for HEFG3.5S-250
Reel Seat Body: BPSTG16 "Textured Gray Graphite Reel Seat Body
-Place back of reel seat 9"" inches up from butt threads down"
Reel Seat Hood: GTT16C-SN-TC Hood w/cushion Single Nut - TiCH Coated Chrome
Shim: SHIM/16/SPIN Proof Board .590" OD 3.70" Length
Reel Seat Trim Ring: TRS16-TC Trim Ring for thread side of Spin Seat size 16 TiCH
Fore Grip: None
Winding Check: FBWC09.0 Rubber winding check for front of #16 seat
Hookeeper: XDSHKSS-TC Drop Shot Hookeeper
Tip Top: XTCPPCT06R04.5 ALPS SS316-RRD-P Top 06 TiCH Ring 4.5 Tube - TICH w/o Chrome
Guides (see below for size and quantity) XPTCFCG ALPS SS316 - TiCH w/o Chrome Single Foot with TiCH Zirconium Ring RRD
Guides (see below for size and quantity) XTCYTCG ALPS SS316 Y Guide TiCH w/o Chrome Single Foot with TiCH Zirconium Thin Ring

Guide order from the tip top Guide Guide Placement - In inches from the tip top
1st XPTCFCG06 4"
2nd XPTCFCG06 8.25"
3rd XPTCFCG06 12.75"
4th XPTCFCG07 17.5"
5th XTCYTCG07 22.75"
6th XTCYTCG10 28.625"
7th XTCYTCG16 36"
8th XTCYTCG25 45"

Karry Batson
Batson Enterprises Inc.
Ph: (877) 875-2381
Fax: (360) 683-3579
karry@batsonenterprises.com
www.batsonenterprises.com

In my oppinion this is the best blank on the market for what you want

Batson's RX8+S822.5-- 6'10" -Medium X-Fast-- 6-12 lb line-- 1/8-1/2oz lures-- blank weight 1.76oz. color Satin Black
Drop Shot

Have to add MHX DS822 from Mudhole, I honestly think it has a little more in the rear. I would want that if I was drop shotting around docks

If 7 foot is a must, hard to beat MHX SJ842, light tip and loads of power.

Finally if cost isn't an issue, Phenix UMBX-S700M, most awesome dropshot I ever built!

The drop shot rod blank set up has various options.

Fun or cash -

How big is the target fish -

Do you want the fish to control you or do you want to control the fish!

Ask Jay Hunt - he know what one ex Bass Master Classic winner uses!

Come on Jay squeal time!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/2010 10:21PM by Bill Stevens.

Ok..... If you want to control the fish instead of the fish controlling you......It's an XP3 BB1 cut down to 6'8".

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

for around docks i wouldn't use a standard drop shot blank. When i bed fish with a drop shot i simply use an RX7 MB843 with a baitcaster and 14-17lb floro. Knowing what type of hook he uses would help. If he's using the smaller EWG style hooks, a more powerful blank with a fast action should be fine. The smaller traditional drop shot style (octopus) hooks require a less powerful rod --- i would say "slow" action but i believe most DS specific blanks are still fast or xtra fast actions and make up for it by being med-lite in power.

Regards,
-Justin

My last 5 drop shot rods have all been built using mag bass 4 and 5 power rods.

When you are pulling fish out of submerged trees... you gotta take control.

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No doubt this is where knowing EXACTLY what a customer wants to do with a rod is invaluable….. The way Alex’s customers use a dropshot on Russell is dramatically different than the way I use a dropshot on Keowee, even though they are only 50 miles apart.

Mike the drop shot issue is not nearly as wild as the fisherman who asks a custom builder for a "swim bait rod"! In these cases "what is good for the goose may not good for the gander"!

I hate "Drop Shot" blanks. Can't use them where I fish. I am like Alex, I use 4 or 5 power MB blanks. I like the idea of a BB1 blank cut down , I will have to try it.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Alex, I was thinking the same thing when he said drop shot because I know he fishes Lake Hartwell a good bit and there are a lot of submerged trees in there too. He is wanting this rod to work around docks, sounds like he wants a shaky head rod instead of drop shot to me. What ever, as long as he is paying I'll give him what he wants but I'm going to tell him that when he decides that its too light not to go telling all of his friends that I built him a rod that was screwed up.

But the only trouble is - he will tell all his friends -- You may not get another

Bill - willierods.com

Les;
IMO-The intended line size he is going to use should be a facture in the rod. If he is using 8/ 10 test around docks then a 4 or 5 power rods may not be the best choice.

Although I sometimes use a pitching stick with 45 lb braid for a dropshot rig, it is an exception.
My dedicated dropshot rod (Batson's RX8+S822.5) has never seen anything above 10 lb line regardless of whether fishing trees, docks, rocks, grass or anything else.

Now Bill Stevens has brought up a good point; I've not caught any real big fish bass with this setup yet, to know how it would handle them.
But it’s been great with 7 and 8 pounders!

Touche' Mr. Micro Head!

On the little ones do you "lip em" or "swing em" into the bottom of the boat?

Custom builders who are warranty concious should beware of the fisherman who reads magazines and newspaper articles about who caught what using who knows what!

A simple knot will tie a drop shot rig on a tuna stick.

The simple request for a drop shot rod don't tell the whole story!

The real problem with the wrong choice will normally result in a broken rod by placing a "Mr. Micro Head Drop Shot" in the hands of a "Wanna Be Bassin Bubba" who wants to play in the world of the finesse fisherman!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2010 08:50AM by Bill Stevens.

Drop shot = all lip’em regardless of size.
If you watch the pro’s on TV they be lip’em too

And not just because of the rod or line.
Many times using a small drop shot hook can be a problem if you try to swing them in the boat.
They will tear out or straighten out.

“The simple request for a drop shot rod don't tell the whole story!
The real problem with the wrong choice will normally result in a broken rod by placing a "Mr. Micro Head Drop Shot" in the hands of a "Wanna Be Bassin Bubba" who wants to play in the world of the finesse fisherman!

I totally agree!
That’s why more people should have attended you seminar. So they could have learned how to ask the right questions, and put the right blank for the job in the client’s hands!

Les Stewart:

Your started this and you could help a lot of other rodbuilders by letting all know how you choose to end it.

The real value of the information contained in this thread concerning bass rods now lies in your hands.

Will any of this Internet back and forth good natured banter affect your choice of build for your customer's request for a "drop shop rod.

I am curious.

What will be your next move?

This is really what custom building is all about.

Building better rods for task specific uses!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2010 10:52AM by Bill Stevens.