Spinning Rod SMITH DRAGONBAIT NX4 STRAIGHT VERTICAL 2

Product benefits

Designed for modern predator anglers, the SMITH Dragonbait NX4 Straight Vertical rod stands out for its high sensitivity and responsiveness. It conveys the slightest bite during vertical lure fishing, whether you're working a shad with a straight retrieve beneath the boat or precisely presenting a finesse lure under the sounder. Its action has been engineered to provide excellent control of rigs while retaining sufficient power to tame pike, zander, or large perch.

Thanks to a lively yet progressive blank, this vertical rod facilitates precise presentations with light soft baits, weightless rigs and drop shot techniques. It is equally comfortable with small crankbaits, metal blades or other compact hard lures used in vertical applications or close to the bottom. Its balanced design reduces wrist fatigue and helps maintain focus on bite detection during long sessions, even when you need to insist on a productive spot.

Technical specifications

• Range of SMITH Dragonbait NX4 Straight vertical rods specially developed for predator fishing with lures.
• Fast, sensitive action optimized for soft-bait presentations, weightless rigs and drop shot techniques in vertical fishing.
• Responsive blank offering a good power reserve to control fighting fish while preserving presentation finesse.
• Handle designed to ensure a comfortable grip and good balance with a suitably sized spinning reel.
• Guides and reel seat configured for use with fine braided lines and fluorocarbon leaders to maximize sensitivity and stealth.

Product strengths and advantages

The main strength of this vertical predator rod lies in its extraordinary ability to transmit information from the bottom. At the slightest contact of the lure with an obstacle, a change of substrate or a subtle bite, the blank immediately relays the signal to the angler's hand. This precise reading of what is happening beneath the boat allows instant adjustment of sink rate, swimming height or animation amplitude, resulting in more bites converted into catches.

Versatile, the Dragonbait NX4 Straight Vertical covers a wide range of situations: reservoir fishing, deep natural lakes, large rivers or canals, from a boat or a float-tube. It accepts a large variety of lures, from small shads rigged on light jigheads to creatures or finesse baits on drop shot rigs, as well as small jerkbaits, compact cranks or vibrating blades. This adaptability makes it an excellent go-to rod for anglers seeking a single tool capable of handling most vertical predator-fishing conditions.

The distribution of the flex curve ensures a very good compromise between power and comfort. The fairly sensitive tip makes it possible to detect the finest bites, while the mid-section and butt provide the necessary backbone to set the hook cleanly and control the fight, even with light rigs. This architecture allows the use of thin leaders without excessive risk of breakage, while retaining a safety margin against larger fish.

Usage advice

To get the most out of this rod, pair it with a lightweight spinning reel spooled with fine braid to fully benefit from the blank's sensitivity and feel the slightest bite. Match the size and weight of your soft baits to depth and current, favoring compact rigs that sink quickly while remaining easy to control above the bottom.

In pure vertical fishing, position your vessel to drift slowly over sonar-marked areas. Let the lure fall until it contacts the bottom, then animate it with small lifts, light tip twitches or controlled rises of a few dozen centimeters. When working a drop shot, keep constant contact with your sinker while imparting subtle, regular vibrations to the bait—particularly effective on wary or inactive fish.

Also don't hesitate to use this rod with small hard lures worked close to the bottom or along edges. Short, accurate casts along structures followed by slow retrieves punctuated with pauses often trigger bites from difficult fish. Regularly vary swimming depth and animation style to quickly identify what provokes the most strikes on the day.

Testimonials

FAQ

Question 1 : Is this rod suitable only for boat fishing?

Answer: No. Although primarily designed for vertical fishing from a boat or a float-tube, its sensitive action and light weight also make it suitable for use from the bank to explore deep areas near quays, jetties and bridge piles.