Westin W3 Dropshot 2nd Generation Fishing Rod

The W3 Dropshot 2nd Generation Fishing Rod by Westin is a premium choice when it comes to selecting a dedicated drop shot rod. But is it worth the money? This review provides an in-depth look at the various features, design elements, and performance of the W3 Dropshot 2nd rod, with a particular focus on its advantages and potential drawbacks for both experienced and novice anglers.

Design and Build Quality

The W3 Dropshot 2nd rod is built with Westin’s commitment to quality and durability. The rod features a Torayca® High Performance Carbon Blank, which significantly enhances the rod’s sensitivity, strength, and overall responsiveness. This blank material is renowned for being lightweight but durable, making the rod highly suitable for detecting the subtle bites typical in dropshot fishing.

Action and Power: The rod’s action is designed to be fast, meaning it loads quickly and provides crisp hooksets, ideal for finesse fishing techniques like dropshotting. The fast action allows anglers to feel even the slightest nibble, giving them the edge when it comes to reacting quickly to fish strikes. The rod’s light power complements this fast action, ensuring it is sensitive enough to work light lures and detect small movements, but still capable of handling mid-sized catches without compromising control.

Guides and Reel Seat: The Seaguide® LTS guides are a standout feature. These lightweight guides are optimized for use with braided lines, which are popular in finesse fishing due to their low stretch and increased sensitivity. The guides contribute to the smooth line flow and reduce friction, ensuring long and accurate casts.

The rod also comes with a VSS-type reel seat that offers a secure and ergonomic fit for the reel, ensuring comfort during long fishing sessions. The reel seat design is quite minimalistic, allowing for maximum contact between the angler’s hand and the rod blank, further increasing sensitivity.

Handle: The W3 Dropshot 2nd features a split-grip handle design made from premium EVA foam. The split-grip reduces overall weight while also providing a comfortable and secure grip, even in wet conditions. This type of handle also balances the rod well, contributing to its lightweight feel and ease of maneuverability.

Performance of The Westin W3 Dropshot 2nd

The W3 Dropshot 2nd is particularly well-suited for its namesake technique: dropshot fishing. Dropshotting requires precise control and sensitivity, which this rod delivers exceptionally well. It excels in transmitting even the smallest bites, making it easier to detect when fish are nibbling at the bait, which is essential when targeting cautious species like zander or perch.

When it comes to casting, the rod performs well, offering good distance and accuracy. The fast action allows for smooth, controlled casts with light lures, which is a necessity when working with finesse rigs like dropshot or other lightweight soft plastics.

Sensitivity is one of the key strengths of the W3 Dropshot 2nd rod. Thanks to its high-quality blank and well-engineered components, the rod allows anglers to feel the texture of the lake or riverbed as well as detect even the slightest movement from the fish. This sensitivity is critical when fishing in deeper waters or when fish are not actively biting and only mouthing the bait.

Power and Strength: Despite being designed for finesse techniques, the rod has enough backbone to handle larger fish when needed. The Torayca carbon blank provides the necessary strength to set the hook with authority, even when fishing in deeper water or using heavier weights. The rod is particularly adept at fighting fish without feeling cumbersome, and it offers a nice balance between strength and flexibility.

Portability and Versatility

The W3 Dropshot 2nd rod comes in multiple lengths and configurations, making it versatile enough to suit various angling environments. Whether fishing from a boat, kayak, or shore, there’s likely a model that fits your needs. Its compact, lightweight design makes it easy to transport and store, which is ideal for anglers on the go.

Beyond dropshot fishing, the rod can be adapted for other finesse techniques, such as free-lining floating lures, light Carolina rigging, or wacky rigging, offering versatility that makes it more than a one-trick pony. However, it’s less suitable for heavy rigs or lures, and anglers looking to target larger, stronger species might find its power limitations a factor. That said I have caught double-figure pike on this rod and with some patience – they can eventually be tamed.

Durability and Longevity

The rod’s high-quality construction, from the blank to the guides and reel seat, ensures that it is built to last. The SeaGuide® LTS guides are corrosion-resistant, which is an essential feature for anglers who fish in both freshwater and saltwater environments. The EVA grips are durable and easy to maintain, holding up well over time even with regular use.

Pros and Cons of the Westin W3 Dropshot 2nd

Pros:

1. Excellent Sensitivity: The rod is highly sensitive, making it ideal for finesse techniques like dropshotting.
2. Lightweight Design: The use of Torayca carbon blanks and premium EVA handles ensures a lightweight rod that’s comfortable to use all day.
3. Fast Action: Offers quick hooksets and precise control, perfect for working light lures.
4. Versatile: While it shines with dropshotting, it can be used for other light finesse techniques.
5. Durable Guides: Seaguide® LTS guides are braid-friendly and corrosion-resistant, ensuring longevity.

Cons:

1. Limited Power: While great for finesse techniques, it might struggle with heavier rigs or larger fish.
2. Not for Heavy Lures: The light power and fast action are best suited to lighter rigs, limiting its use in heavier fishing scenarios.
3. Price: For some anglers, the rod might feel expensive for a niche finesse tool, especially if they are looking for a more all-around rod.

On The Bank experience

I’ve been fishing for perch using drop shot rods for what feels like over a decade, and during that time, I’ve tried out a range of rods from well-known brands, as well as some custom-built ones designed for specific uses. For instance, I have a 5ft rod that’s perfect for casting under bridges, and an 11ft rod that works great when I need to reach over bankside vegetation in the fens. All of them are solid rods, but I have to say, the Westin W3 Dropshot 2nd Generation Fishing Rod stands out above the rest.

I can’t claim to have tried every drop shot rod out there, but for me, this one is truly impressive. One of the most important things in drop shotting is being able to feel the bite, and with this rod, even the smallest nips at the lure are transmitted as solid thuds up the line. That means I’m missing fewer bites and hooking more fish. The fast-action tip also makes a big difference—when I strike, it almost feels like the fish is already hooked, so I can fish with a lot more confidence.

I have to admit, I was a bit sceptical at first. A friend of mine switched all his rods to Westin, and I figured he was just a fan of the brand. But after talking it over a few times, I decided to give the W3 a try, and honestly, I’m really glad I did.

Conclusion of the Westin W3 Dropshot 2nd

The W3 Dropshot 2nd Generation Fishing Rod is an outstanding choice for anglers who focus on finesse techniques and need a highly sensitive, lightweight rod. Its fast action, premium build materials, and well-thought-out design make it a top contender for those targeting species like perch, zander, and bass. While it may not be ideal for larger species or heavy rigs, it excels in its specific niche. For anglers looking to maximize their sensitivity and control, particularly in dropshot fishing, this rod is hard to beat.