Custom Drop-Shot Rod

When production rods are not enough, it's time to go custom. Come share your experiences building and/or ordering a custom rod and tell us if you'll ever go back to off the shelf.
Thurin90
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Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by Thurin90 » Thu Oct 15, 2020 11:19 am

So as much as I love u guys, reading tackletour is pushing me into the rabbit hole... :doh:
Still, either denie it or embrace it. I choose the later one... :lol: :lol: :lol:
So I was thinking of buying a nrx dsr, then I thought... Why not make one...
It's my first rod building so all your input is apreciated.
Looking for drop-shot with a maximum weight of like 1/2 oz plus hook and fluke.
Any sugestions on rod blanks for that? was thinking of the nfc x-ray sj703-1, but are there better/diferent options?
Would like for the rod to be as sensitive as possible. Are there better blanks?
For guides was thinking titanium torzite and maybe a carbon handle with a SKSSfuji real seat.
Like I said, any help you guys can share is apreciated.
Thanks in advance.

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falcon
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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by falcon » Sun Oct 18, 2020 4:24 pm

I’m fond of the sc5 mlf I think it’s near perfect
Legend Alpha 211/Merc 250 Pro XS

dennis_rf
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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by dennis_rf » Sun Oct 18, 2020 4:44 pm

If you can wait... I have the SJ703 X-Ray here waiting to be built. Right away I can tell it’s less well balanced and has more weight to the tip than the Point Blank 701MLF. So even when built, the Point Blank should be the nicer rod in hand. Obviously I need to compare the sensitivity and can’t say anything about that yet. The tip seems equally as soft tho. Next up comparing the taper and power under load.

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Hogsticker2
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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by Hogsticker2 » Sun Oct 18, 2020 7:07 pm

dennis_rf wrote:
Sun Oct 18, 2020 4:44 pm
If you can wait... I have the SJ703 X-Ray here waiting to be built. Right away I can tell it’s less well balanced and has more weight to the tip than the Point Blank 701MLF. So even when built, the Point Blank should be the nicer rod in hand. Obviously I need to compare the sensitivity and can’t say anything about that yet. The tip seems equally as soft tho. Next up comparing the taper and power under load.
Awesome. I'm awaiting my X Ray mb733, to compare against my K2 and PB of similar powers.

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by dennis_rf » Mon Oct 19, 2020 3:04 am

Here we go:

Chose a 12.5” Handle length / 71,5” working length for the comparison

Weight to bend down 1/3 working length (23.8”)
SJ 703 Xray: 276g
PB 701MLF: 390g
66A9829A-4CD5-43BC-BF43-4D3F95031F0D.jpeg
66A9829A-4CD5-43BC-BF43-4D3F95031F0D.jpeg (41.49 KiB) Viewed 5471 times
Both with 50g (1.76 oz) (SJ 703 deeper bend)
9AAEA24C-72C8-49F1-969A-ED8E749CBB60.jpeg
9AAEA24C-72C8-49F1-969A-ED8E749CBB60.jpeg (35.27 KiB) Viewed 5471 times
Both with 100g (3.52 oz) (SJ 703 deeper bend)
C7455333-EC22-44D0-9A77-D12845FC1461.jpeg
C7455333-EC22-44D0-9A77-D12845FC1461.jpeg (27.16 KiB) Viewed 5471 times
Concluding: significantly less backbone for the SJ 703 and deeper bend for lighter loads


Hogsticker2 wrote:
Sun Oct 18, 2020 7:07 pm
Awesome. I'm awaiting my X Ray mb733, to compare against my K2 and PB of similar powers.
I’d appreciate a visual side by side :)

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by Thurin90 » Mon Oct 19, 2020 11:57 am

Sure I will wait. It's a thing to be built in Christmas, unless the corona makes me stay at home...
Have u guys tried the rainshadow immortal 610mlhf? Is it a good blank?
Don't really now about phenix. What's their comparable blank? k2?
I have thought of the sc5 too, but I'm leaning towards a XF blank, so maybe the 6'10 mlxf.

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by Hogsticker2 » Mon Oct 19, 2020 3:48 pm

Thurin90 wrote:
Mon Oct 19, 2020 11:57 am
Sure I will wait. It's a thing to be built in Christmas, unless the corona makes me stay at home...
Have u guys tried the rainshadow immortal 610mlhf? Is it a good blank?
Don't really now about phenix. What's their comparable blank? k2?
I have thought of the sc5 too, but I'm leaning towards a XF blank, so maybe the 6'10 mlxf.
The Immortals are good blanks for sure, but I wouldn't put them on the same level as PB, X Ray, or K2. I haven't used that particular model, so I can't comment on that.
Yes, the K2 would be the comparable Phenix blanks, but the Umbx is no slouch by any means. Subjective opinion, but I don't feel that top end Croix blanks are worth the coin, plus I don't like painted blanks. Between similar power blanks, I think the K2 is at the top in terms of sensitivity, but not power. K2s run lighter than advertised, and are of a slightly slower nature. Point Blank has a unique feel, and excellent power to weight ratios. Feedback transmission resonates in a unique manner - something that's easy to feel, but not as easy to explain. The sensation is pretty cool. K2s blanks are a little thinner, and from my experience, thinner high quality blanks tend to be quite sensitive. I only have experience with one X Ray thus far. Plenty sensitive, but it's more of a typical strike / structure kind of sensation, that doesn't linger like Point Blank. I'm building a 2nd X Ray, but my impression of only the one, is that it's not as sensitive as the other 2. Vibrations aren't quite as sharp. All 3 rods are very close in power, but I can drag a bait all day on the K2 and just enjoy it. In terms of speed in order, I'd say PB - X Ray, and lastly K2. If you're building a rod for a specific technique / presentation, or trying to to find the right blank for your specific style and desires, I believe these details can be helpful. This is generally how I choose a blank, but I've stuck with PB for a while now. The price to performance is good. K2s are expensive. The X Ray is great if you purchase when on sale. I got my 733 for 80 bucks. Heck of a deal.

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by dv1 » Mon Oct 19, 2020 4:06 pm

I will say that I just picked up a couple SCV 70 MLF blanks unpainted, so that does not need to be a concern anymore since you can get them through RodGeeks. My experience with the 7-0 MLF mirrors the review on tackle tour.

I have not tried any Point Blank rod blanks yet. They sound fantastic though but I have ready they all tend to be heavier action, no true Finesse type actions, regardless of the label (just what I read here from guys I trust, no first hand experience).

Also, does anyone know what happened to the RDA database? It has been down lately

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by dennis_rf » Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:12 am

dv1 wrote:
Mon Oct 19, 2020 4:06 pm

I have not tried any Point Blank rod blanks yet. They sound fantastic though but I have ready they all tend to be heavier action, no true Finesse type actions, regardless of the label (just what I read here from guys I trust, no first hand experience).

Also, does anyone know what happened to the RDA database? It has been down lately
What RDA database are you referring to? :shock:

2 of the 4 Point Blanks I own turned out stronger in RDA than advertised. The XF label on the 691mxf (built two of these) is also off, it’s tip angle isn’t as steep as the F rated 7‘ ML or MH. Still my favorite rod.

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by dv1 » Tue Oct 20, 2020 1:01 pm

roddatabase.com used to be a thing, even earlier this year. It had a lot of RDA numbers, so it must have originated from here. It did not have the CCS system numbers. Last I recall, MarkG (???) had something to do with it but I have not seen him around on any boards in ages. I think that is the right name.

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by ogrich31 » Tue Oct 20, 2020 9:43 pm

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s ... m/rods.php

Copy or print the page before it disappears completely. You're welcome.

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by dv1 » Wed Oct 21, 2020 7:40 pm

Thank you! I forgot about the ability to look at old webpages.

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by Thurin90 » Fri Oct 23, 2020 5:19 am

Thanks for all the info you guys shared.
After reading all that guess if I go with a k2 blank it should be the 714. That should be able to handle 1/2oz weight plus the plastic.
The "problem" with point blank is I don't know of a retailer in Europe.
Shipping overseas is kind of a hassle. Between transport fees and taxes, it will end up with a 40% increase in price. Almost at the same point of a k2 or a retail x-ray.
In your opinion will the k2 be able to handle deep drop-shot? I'm concerned about being too moderate and not setting the hook properly.

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by dennis_rf » Sun Oct 25, 2020 2:01 am

Thurin90 wrote:
Fri Oct 23, 2020 5:19 am
Thanks for all the info you guys shared.
After reading all that guess if I go with a k2 blank it should be the 714. That should be able to handle 1/2oz weight plus the plastic.
The "problem" with point blank is I don't know of a retailer in Europe.
Shipping overseas is kind of a hassle. Between transport fees and taxes, it will end up with a 40% increase in price. Almost at the same point of a k2 or a retail x-ray.
In your opinion will the k2 be able to handle deep drop-shot? I'm concerned about being too moderate and not setting the hook properly.
I know the drill, I‘m from Germany.
I usually wait until Mudhole has a 20% discount around Christmas. Ended up with 170-190€ for all my Point Blanks (shipping via Fedex,+ 3,7% tax on fishing gear, +19% import tax)

Where in Europe do you source the K2 714?
For the x-Rays I guess the dealer of choice is rodhouse.fr

If you’re going deep with 1/2oz plus plastic the 7’ ML point blank and the SJ 703 x-ray would be to limber in tip for me. At least from the bank. Boat could work. I usually pick up a M power rod in that case and leave the ML for lighter stuff. So I guess the K2 714 MH turning out lighter as M should do the trick. Haven’t handled it tho.
(In case you’re thinking 7‘ M point blank - nope, this one is stronger than advertised and what I consider a true 1oz mh blank)

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Re: Custom Drop-Shot Rod

Post by Thurin90 » Sun Oct 25, 2020 3:42 am

I will have that in consideration, maybe black friday or Christmas sales will help.
For the k2, rodhouse.fr has some models, was thinking of asking them if it's possible to get a specific model. It should take some time but maybe they can do it.
One question, while checking some reviews about the K2 there seems to be some break issues one years ago. Is that fixed?

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