Dead Stick Opinion

Would a stiffer rod work better dead sticking

I use ugly stick gx2. 7 ft, 1 solid piece rod. Medium or medium heavy. Cheap rods but they are bad bad boys! Highly recommend them. I use them year round for hybrids deadsticking included.

I absolutely love these rods and have yet to break one after three years of heavy use and most the time I sling hybrids in with the rod. Been very pleased. Ppl have their own opinions on if a lighter rod is more sensitive or a heavy rod is more sensitive by transferring the bite easier so I’m sure you’ll get different opinions on that.

I also use the medium heavy 7 foot Ugly Stick. Reaction time is more important than anything else when dead sticking. Sharp hooks are a close second. If you get a tap or the line moves at all; set the hook immediately. A stiff rod will help the hook penetrate cleanly but they have to have it in their mouth for any of it to matter. If you put the rod in a rod holder, the super sharp hooks may accidentally hook a fish. I prefer to hold it all of the time.

I don’t like using a stiffer rod, that lessens the fight or battle with the fish which I like. I do use braid line with a monofilament leader on it for better feel and less give in the line

What champion said!

I am getting 6 medium heavy 7' 6" rod blanks to build. They have fast tips I was thinking of cutting an inch or so off if the tip to give them better hook setting power. Or maybe making them like a deep sea boat rod.

My favorites for dead sticking are the old brown All-Star "Carolina Rig" rods. Those Blue H20 Rods at Academy in a MH make a good one too. I like a little stiffer tip for a quick hook set, but I like some action in the backbone to enjoy the fight.

Well said. Reaction time is highest priority and I’d argue a heavier rod would help accomplish that by setting the hook faster.

It’s easy to overthink the gear for dead stiking. Too heavy is no fun...

stiff rod light line

I use these rods too! They are my favorite for spinning rods...

6'10" or 7 foot medium heavy, any brand will work. Lighter line is a must for single jigging. All kinds of mixed line arrangements when tandem jigging. Heavy jig on bottom with drop shot hook above or heavy jig first and long tag line with lighter jig on bottom for pendulum action.
Nice to have a choice !

I agree with Littlejohn, I fish for fun not numbers, unless I am having a fish fry.

Agree with lighter rod being more fun. Reaction time is most critical. Fast tip/braid/hook set with quick wrist flick and arm raise-deadly

It's hilarious to watch most bass fishermen learn to deadstick. After a bite they square up and set their feet, bend their knees, and try to break the fishes jaw but the fish is long gone. 15-20 missed fish later they finally listen and smoke em.