Steelhead Drift Rod

I've been looking at upgrading to a nice drift rod. I have been looking at a rainshadow RX7 IST 1143. I was hoping to use this as an all-around drift rod for silvers/steelhead. I was hoping some of you had some opinions on here of this rod that could give me some insight.

Thanks in advance

E-rock

1085 xst is the staple for drift fishing steelhead and silvers IMO

Depends an xst 1142 (spinning) for smaller rivers, but I love my xst 1264 (casting) for chucking spoons and drifting rags on mid to big rivers for silver's and wild steelhead. But really It more about what kind of rivers your going to fish more of then the sp. of of fish Because I wouldn't take a meat rod packed with 15# to a low and clear small stream to fish for coho and wild steelhead. I landed 8-12 pound coho/steelhead on 10# fishing smaller rivers and didn't feel under gunned but on a bigger river with more flow been spanked on 12# with a upper teen wild steelhead so that's why I changed up to the meat stick (1264) packed with 15# and I can feel the bottom and light bites with no problem drift fishing and not feel under gunned.

i find myself alternating between a 8'6" 8-12 and a 9'0 6-12 most of the time these days. don't really find myself outgunned or wanting for more length, unless fishing big rivers(don't do that much any more).

i just looked at batson's website, and it looks like you don't have many options in those actions any more. still have a 1084 in the RX7 graphite, but the 1024 and 1084 are both gone in XST. wish i had picked up a few when they were making them...

You'll probably get a lot of different opinions here so here's mine. If I had 1 rod for silvers and steelhead it would be XST 1084s. I love the 9ft rods and the RX8 has great feel with plenty of power.

Just read Chum Man's post above, too bad about the 1084 not available in the RX8. I would ask around if you know any rod builders to see if they have any of those blanks

All very good points. Most of the rivers I fish are on the medium-smaller size. I currently have a 10' Herzog 8-12 and feel it is a little too much of a noodle for my taste. I have a 13' Rainshadow RX-7 and love the sensitivity and action, I was hoping to find something like this in a drift rod. I most likely will not be targeting native steelies with rod.

I have both IST, and a XST 1143 rainshadows, good rods , i drift them in small rivers, and they work fine, but in bigger rivers like the cowlitz their a bit light, with heavier lead. Hope that helps, my fav drift rod is a 9-8 8 to 17 is perfect for all water...

Many other choices other then Rainshadow

don't leave st. croix off the table, they make some excellent blanks. one of my favorite drift rods is wrapped with an older SCIII blank(the older GL2 looking powder blue ones). plenty sensitive, and most other rods would have broken long ago with all the times i've skidded down the hill and landed on top of it.

i used to be a dyed in the wool lamiglas fan but it's hard to stay that way when they lately seem to discontinue every blank of theirs that i like. they seem to be turning into a company that only makes boat rods. what i wouldn't do for a quality 9'0 drift blank that isn't a buggy whip like the SI...

I have the XST 1143 in a spinning set up for side drifting some coastal rivers for winter metal......I talked with KB early this fall about using it as a spinner rod for ho's.....he bawked on the idea. I was going to loan my rod to a buddy I was fishing for the weekend. Between my buddy being a cracker and what Kerry said the rod stayed home.Good luck,

SZ

PS, Like said above...plenty other choices for what your looking from rainshadow.

lamiglas x96JC..... Best all around coho/steel drift rod on the planet. And I've fished a lot of rods!

Yep, that's the workhorse of this generation.

Book it Danno


There are other sticks around that get it done, but that one's the meat and taters.

Anybody have the SI? I heard pretty good things about it from a few people.

For the value it's hard to beat Batson.

RS 1144 has been a great rod.

fishing rods are just like boats. there is no perfect boat for all applications.

many other choices besides rainshadow

but nothing beats a rod custom built for a specific application. many small things that can affect how a rod fishes, adding/subtracting a couple extra guides on a rod can drastically change the feel of a rod.

i own two xst 1144s, one of the single most versatile rods ive ever come across. some people dont like how its a little softer in the mid, but i love it! loads up and casts a mile!! also helps absorb those big head shakes of bigger fish.

but for your drift fishing rod, IMO the 1084 and 1085 are the staples. personally i 100% of the time reach for a rod maybe slightly a little more power then you would need (but not leaps and bounds over powered) i rather have the power for the slight chance of a bigger fish. but that is just me... i dont use less then the 10-17 for wild steelhead on the OP

+1

XST 1085c big steelhead/coho drift rod.

Sage CT 290 (aka IMX 1084c) spoons


c/22