Rod Suggestions - Similar to a Loomis DSR820S

[Sloth]

Looking for a few rod suggestions from people who have used them so that I can shortlist some options to research further myself.

I'm looking for a 7' ish spinning rod that has a light sensitive tip, medium action but plenty of backbone. So medium with a fast or xfast tip. Will be throwing around the 1/8 (3g) kind of weight .... plastics only.

The tip needs to be sensitive and "wispy/whippy" to be able to finesse baits and detect very subtle bites but then once the hook is set it needs to quickly lock up.

Application is pretty straightforward - landbased finesse fishing close to gnarly structure/cover where once hooked you need to extract the fish as quickly and directly as possible. I guess you could call this skull-dragging

Also there is a good chance of hanging up on weed and vegetation - ideally the rod will be stiff enough to wrench off or bump off/through this without being too soft and just folding and digging in .... if that makes sense. I'm guessing this will depend on how quickly it transitions into the stiffer part of the rod. I think this is possibly opposite to having a sensitive tip and impossible but I'll throw it out there anyway.

Budget is ideally $300. I'll consider a second hand rod at that price. I'm not fussed if its 1 or 2 piece or the components as long as it meets the application. A long butt is preferred.

At the moment I'm thinking the Loomis DSR802S is close to what I want - I'm a little dubious if it has enough backbone though, having never handled one.

So ...... does anyone have any rod suggestions that fit the requirements ?

Thanks

[spanito]

Hey mate, check out the MajorCraft Volkey 3-7lb model. Should fit inside your budget also. Very crisp and nicely balanced.

[interlopr]

Check out the N.S Blackhole Ones Micro rods in either the 3 - 6lb or 4 - 8lb.

Nice and crisp blanks and very responsive! They retail for around $250, but with a bit of haggling you should be able to get them for about $200.

Actually I think Mo Tackle had them for around $180

[BloodWorm]

Hi Dave,

I got a Abu Garcia Salty Stage Light Casting rod the 701LM is listed as 3-6kg but is actually 2-5.

Very nice rod that seems to tick all your boxes.

[Sloth]

Originally Posted by BloodWorm

Hi Dave,

I got a Abu Garcia Salty Stage Light Casting rod the 701LM is listed as 3-6kg but is actually 2-5.

Very nice rod that seems to tick all your boxes.

Does it go ok flicking 1/8 around ? I assume that lower cast rating of 7g is a bit over as well if it's over-rated as you say?

They certainly look nice on paper.

[thekingofgloom]

Originally Posted by BloodWorm

Hi Dave,

I got a Abu Garcia Salty Stage Light Casting rod the 701LM is listed as 3-6kg but is actually 2-5.

Very nice rod that seems to tick all your boxes.

So would you say the 4-7kg would be a littler lighter aswell? I was tossing up whether to get one and can't find a stockist local.

[bubuli]

Originally Posted by spanito

Hey mate, check out the MajorCraft Volkey 3-7lb model. Should fit inside your budget also. Very crisp and nicely balanced.

^^^^What he said, check out kollious in sunshine they have majorcafts in there. I have the sfs 1-3kg very well built.

[redfinfisho]

Tackleworld Geelong has the mentioned loomis rod for less than $300 i believe.

[Bait Caster]

Loomis blend DSR is readily available for $269, plus postage.

[Bronco T]

Mate try and find a second hand GLX 820 if you can, they pop here every now and then,there is a notable difference in the GLX blank compared to the lower models.

[BloodWorm]

Originally Posted by thekingofgloom

So would you say the 4-7kg would be a littler lighter aswell? I was tossing up whether to get one and can't find a stockist local.

The 3-6 is literally a 2-5kg rod, that is what is written on the rod. It is a very thin rod even for that weight. It casts a 1/16th soft plastic easily but has the pulling power of a 2-5kg rod.

There is a fair chance the 4-7kg rod has a similar blank that is very light and thin for its size.

[Sloth]

Thanks for the responses guys. I've read (loads) and decided I'll just get a DSR given it has the characteristics I'm looking for.

Problem now is choosing between the DSR8200s, DSR820s and the long handle or short (intl) versions.

I'll be getting the blend most likely - second hand glx are like hens teeth.

I was leaning towards the 820 based on cast weights but I've read that the loomis rods are often over-rated which suggests the 8200 may suit my application just fine.

Decisions... Decisions

[Bait Caster]

Depends on your total weight. You say 3g, is that all up or just the jig head? I have always found the 8200 a better hb rod. If you are talking really light and relatively open areas, it will work. The 820 is a great rod for the price and will throw down to 3g easily if needed. Has plenty of power to stop a decent fish. I have both models and also the 820c. Either handle length works depends on your line management skills. Should be no problem. Good luck.

[vxcalais]

Originally Posted by Sloth

Does it go ok flicking 1/8 around ? I assume that lower cast rating of 7g is a bit over as well if it's over-rated as you say?

They certainly look nice on paper.

Sloth,

Try and get the Salty Stage Kurodai SKS 702 Ultra Light. Its the one i was using when i met you last. These are Japanese Black Bream specific and you will see the videos of them using them around the Japanese Harbous etc. Japanese Black Bream are bigger than ours as well. The rod is light weight around 100g, 7ft and same weight as a 2-4kg rod but is underated. You will have no problems lifting fish. I think its the spiral wrapping many different brand rods have now which gives em alot of backbone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHrQssWKVgY

When trying to bend tree branches when shaping trees, if you just bend it the branch with snap at the trunk, but if you twist and bend at same time it wont, so i think these rods have the same theory.

[Bait Caster]

The theory behind spiral or Roberts wrapping as I think it was originally called (could be wrong) is that the blank does not twist. It makes the rod behave more like a spin rod where all the force on the tip of the rod acts under the blank. The rod is slightly lighter and therefore more responsive due to less guides and associated wrapping thread. Spiral wrapping a spin rod (as vxcalais seems to suggest- I am not familiar with the rod he recommends) would be not worth it. If you want to increase a rods backbone, you can easily build on the spine, just build either below or above the spi e to achieve the "backbone" wanted. The very slight gain in backbone from a spiral wrap is hardly necessary on what is essentially a bream weight rod.