TackleTour

Tokugawa wrote: The "Designo" solid tip blank is used by a few different companies in Japan...Imakatsu (Rodeo Ride), Designo, Evergreen.

Mothercanucker wrote:Gorgeous combo. I know next to nothing about those rods but man that reel is sexy. That handle <3 You said it was a light, what length is it?

bronzefly wrote:

legendaryyaj wrote:I'm assuming the stinger tip is more of a vertical presentation rod?

It's been covered that some guys cast and drag/shake while some guys vertical drop on to fish. Different ways of fishing would call for different rods that would excel at either technique I would assume.

I picked up the XX DS rod and it's not noodly at all as mentioned before. I throw pretty much 3/8oz weights on it and no problems.

Here's a video of a trip for some smallies I did this past spring. Biggest fish was at the 1:36 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKmM9xkM2qo

I like the Phase III Aaron Martens a lot for dragging a DS, but the F4 of the 2015 Hedgehog Evoluzion helps tremendously when not fishing vertically for me. It does certainly feel incredible for vertical fishing, but it's certainly not a rod that I put down if I need to drag. The XX DS is a really comfortable, well designed, very effective DS rod indeed.

cndbasshunter wrote:Just picked up the new Hedgehog Evoluzion...will be used for shallow drop shot and for weights 1/8 - 3/8. For dragging drop shot i have the NRX852S that works wonders. The HH replaces the AGS 7'0 ML, still have the XX that i love too.

Jdmbassman wrote:If you are using 3/8oz, I would go with the Megabass X7 Bearingdown Type X. The Stinger is very sensitive and can handle 3/8oz. the beauty of this rod is that it has a med/heavy backbone with a med/light tip.

saoulons wrote:Reviving this thread...

Having spent a few days on the water with the Evoluzion Hedgehog, I am happy to report that it is every bit as good as advertised. Very soft tip, fits nicely in hand (I hold my spinning reel with the stem between my ring and pinky fingers or ring and middle fingers), is uber sensitive and has good shoulders. Aside from the tip, the taper / power profile reminds me quite a bit of the Orochi XX Drop Shot (but is much more sensitive). It is less powerful and more parabolic than the Phase 3 Amart Special.

My only complaint would be for bigger guides as the "braid to FC" knob gets stuck in the top guides. Otherwise it is fantastic and can cast fine for 20-30 feet (I usually don't bomb cast my drop shots). Especially awesome for vertical fishing and slow drifts.

I landed this nice 3.5# on it and it was a pretty awesome fight. I have it paired with a Stella 2500 HGS, 10# Power Pro Super Slick 8 in bright yellow, and a 7# Sunline Finesse FC leader. Tackle was a Size 1/0 Gamakatsu swivel drop shot hook, 5" KVD Dream Shot in KVD Magic color and a 1/8 oz Strike King tear drop tungsten weight. The drop shot bite hasn't really heated up yet, but I couldn't help but try this rod out!




I realize that I should have taken a picture of the combo, but it looks like the one above from cdnbasshunter, minus the gold reel stand

Pen3 wrote:I have converted all my spinning gear to straight flouro. I got sick and tired of leaders and it feels so much better with just flouro. I don't have to worry about slack line detection anymore and it's not like you need to set the hook on dropshot and neko rigging. Use the correct wire gauge to line and all you really need is a sweep or just tighten the slack and lean back.

jpmoney wrote: Ya man, it is an amazing rod for sure. I have used mine also with a stella 2500 HGS and i can honestly say its by far the best drop shot rod i have ever used. As for the guide size and using braid to fluoro, check out the "FG knot". Its the thinnest braid to fluro connection knot and i have had zero issues with it running thru the guides. I am using 10lb sufix 832 with an 8lb seaguar tatsu fluoro leader and it is amazing.