Drop Shot Rod Actions

[cueball]

The chart showing rod actions is helpful, but it misses one thing.  How much load is on the rod when it is bent as shown?  A light power, extra fast action rod will initially bend near the tip, but because it is light power it will bend well into the blank when loaded more heavily.  I think this is one of the things that makes discussing rod actions difficult.

 

St Croix rods are good to use as an example.  They have ML, M and MH power, extra fast action rods.  With equal loads on each, they bend very differently.  But those rods will also bend into similar shapes if the load is varied appropriately.  There are measurement systems that have been developed to measure rod action and power.  Those system typically use enough weight to deflect the tip of the road 1/3 of the length of the rod when the rod is held horizontal.  The rods compared are all deflected and equal amount, the weight needed reflects the power of the rod and angle of the tip of the rod reflects the action.

 

As far a drop shot fishing, I like the tip of the rod to load slightly with the sinker weight I am using.  But, I also like the road to bend into the mid section with a fish on to help keep small hooks from pulling out and to protect lighter line.  I don't like the road to bend all the way to the butt with a full load so that the bottom of the road provides sufficient power when needed.

[flippin and pitchin]

Dowen, may I answer you actual question ? Rod manufactures look at what models sell to include by lenth, power and action. Many have set the X-fast action on DS because it's probably the most popular and they want to sell what anglers want. Every manufacture's offering will feel differnet regardless if the power and actions are stated the same. Fish what feels good for YOU ! I have a Lamiglas DS701TS drop shot rod. I would not recommend it to anyone buying it blind. It has a different feel most anglers probably wouldn't like but it's the preferred power and action. Go figure. This gig gets way too complicated.

[BobP]

I think Skeletor has it just right and gave dowen an extensive run-down with many options and good explanations of what to consider and why.  If others choose to use a non-dropshot specific rod, that's fine but that wasn't the question asked.  An XF tip on a dropshot rod indicates its response time, not its power.  I use a Shimano Crucial 6'8" dropshot rod that is rated medium power - but it has an 18" tip section that is fast with light power.  Some call this a "hinged" action.  It throws 1/8 oz weights well, is sensitive to soft bites due to the soft tip, and the medium power down the blank can handle 5+ lb bass.  A few of the western pro anglers who pioneered dropshotting in the U.S. recommended the Shimano dropshot rods a few years ago because of their "hinged" construction and I have never regretted paying $150 for a Crucial.  Yes, I can and have, on occasion, thrown dropshots with a ML rod.  But frankly they seem pretty crude after using a technique-specific rod.  JMHO 

[skeletor6]

Dowen I am glad you got the information you were looking for.

[Hyrule Bass]

Dowen, may I answer you actual question ? Rod manufactures look at what models sell to include by lenth, power and action. Many have set the X-fast action on DS because it's probably the most popular and they want to sell what anglers want. Every manufacture's offering will feel differnet regardless if the power and actions are stated the same. Fish what feels good for YOU ! I have a Lamiglas DS701TS drop shot rod. I would not recommend it to anyone buying it blind. It has a different feel most anglers probably wouldn't like but it's the preferred power and action. Go figure. This gig gets way too complicated.

 

the red text is the best advice in the whole thread

[mudkart]

Alright question for you guys relating to the topic.

I was given a new 7'2" shimano crucial drop shot rod for xmas. M XF. Rated for 4-8lb test. I paired it with a shimano ci4 2500 spinning reel spooled with some 6lb invisix I had laying around. I rarely drop shot and was planning to use this rod with light t-rigs, shakeyheads, weightless plastics, and wacky rigs. I have not had any time on the water with it because everything is ice.

"Finesse" fishing isbone area I would like to improve and experiment with after the thaw this year. Do you all think this rod will be sufficient?

Im a little skeptical about hook sets but as I said I havnt been able to fish it yet.

Thanks

I've the same rod, and IMO, you need to look no further for a DS rod.  

OTOH, for the reasons set forth above by skeletor6, you will likely find it to perform poorly (relative to other spinning rods) for the non-DS techniques you mention, primarily because casting distance is sacrificed due to the tip design.  It's a very sensitive and light rod, so yes, you could (and I have in a pinch) throw shakey, split-shot, etc. with it and feel confident it will perform OK, but there are much better rods out there for those techniques (e.g. any graphite MF 7' spinning rod from your manufacturer of choice).

[3dees]

I started drop shotting a lot last year. I'm retired so a 300.00 rod is out of the questiion. I bought a St. Croix Eyecon. it's a walleye jigging rod and I use it mainly for the drop shot. for 110.00 it's a great rod.

[J Francho]

You are pulling hairs here. A "dedicated drop shot rod" = a rod that will be dedicated for dropshotting only. If you are going to use a rod that you will dedicate for dropshotting only then you will want a "dropshot specific rod".

I'd listen to No Good, he knows a thing or two about drop shotting smallies on Erie....

[kickerfish1]

Very good detailed and well written posts in this thread skeletor6! A quality rundown by price for every budget and/or angler's need. Thanks for sharing!

[mod479]

I personally use the 7'2" Cumara M/XF, but you dont need a high dollar rod for the technique. Medium light or Medium action, fast or xtra fast taper. The rest comes down to what you feel comfortable holding and your budget range.

 

 Id be more concerned with finding a spinning reel with a quality drag to keep that 4-6lb fluoro intact...you wont be horsing those smallies.

[Sam Scalf]

BRAVO on the rod action chart , and text on the subject .

On ‎1‎/‎13‎/‎2013 at 9:19 PM, rippin-lips said:

Well not all rods are the same so fast and extra fast are just labels really. There is no standard for this set in the fishing world. All manufactures can be different. Ones extra fast may be another's fast. Here is something that may help you out.

X-Fast: Upper 20% flexes

Fast: Upper 30% flexes

Med-Fast: Upper 35% flexes

Mod-Fast: Upper 40% flexes

Moderate: Middle flex point

Slow: Flex progressive from tip to butt

 

[JustJames]

I got two dropshot rod both shimano crucial 6'8" one for baitcaster one for spinning. I like them both very much and they can also serve as all purposes rod as well. 

I also agree with skeletor6 that other xtra fast or even fast rod can rip hook out of bass mouth. This happened with me quite a few time when I use my backup rod which is two pieces quantum response medium / fast action, but hardly happen with crucial.

[1BADAIR]

I have two St croix avids for dropshot. 6'9" mlxf and a 7'6 mlxf. Like said , use what feels right to you.  I prefer the 6'9" over the the longer rod because it seems way to light and I cant feel them bite as good.  I know people that swear by using a heavier rod, you can feel them bite better.  The Xfast tip lets you "wiggle" or "twitch " the bait better than a fast. I dont feel that the tip affects the ripping out that much. I lose very few on dropshots and I am not exactly gentle with them either.  I want to try a Mxf this coming year to see how that feels.  I was gonna sell my 7"6 but instead started using it for spybaits

[WRB]

What sets apart a good drop shot rod from others is the ability to shake the worm/ soft plastic without moving or dragging the weight. When using light 1/8 to 3/16 oz weights the rod play a big role in working a drop shot rig and detecting strikes. Heavier weights or dragging the weight the rod action is less critical.

Tom

[stk44]

[BassOnKlinger]

Considering a dedicated drop shot combo and I have a question.  I know a lot of it comes down to personal feel, but is there a reason not to get a shorter, 6'6" ML/F rod?  I don't have a boat and mostly do bank fishing, so sometimes I'm limited by the trees around me. Casting a longer rod can be difficult. Also, I'm an avg height person at 5'9" and all of my rods reflect that: bait casters are all 6'7", spinning rod for t-rigs is 6'6"....although I do have a 7' cranking stick and a 7'1" frog rod (both feel too big when I'm using them). 

 

With all that said, I like Dobyns and have two choices:

 

Fury 6'6" ML/F (which is not listed as Drop Shot specific) but still suits my typical rod lengths. Or...

Savvy Microguide 6'9" ML/F (which is listed as Drop Shot specific) but a few inches longer rod than I'm used to.

 

Thoughts on this? I'm leaning towards the 6'9" Savvy but I'm a bit hesitant. 

[J Francho]

20 minutes ago, BassOnKlinger said:

I know a lot of it comes down to personal feel, but is there a reason not to get a shorter, 6'6" ML/F rod?

 

None at all.  My preferred length is 6-3.  The rods I use are not "drop shot specific," but feature the same taper often offered as a drop shot rod: Avid AVS63MLXF and Avid AVS63MXF.

[NYWayfarer]

On ‎1‎/‎13‎/‎2013 at 1:36 PM, wnybassman said:

 

My dedicated dropshot rod for many years was a 6'6" ML Fast St. Croix Premier even though it wasn't labeled as such.  

 

I use the same rod for dropshotting. Great choice.

 

I like Ike's Bass Resource video on the dropshot. His explanation on how to set the hook is spot on.

[spoonplugger1]

Skeletor has the right mind set, many associate the tip to the hookset speed and power they experience with the XF discription more likely than not, the rod is also more powerful. In fact if the final power of two rods is the same the tip on the XF will be the softest, how can the softest tip have a better hookset? It will also have the lowest lure rating on the bottom end.

[shimanoangler]

On 1/13/2013 at 11:59 AM, Flywatersmallie said:

 

Thats funny, I was just going to post the DX701SF in the same light. Great minds think alike! I like a little less rod to keep from overpowering the rig and inadvertently moving the weight and overworking the plastic above it. Thats just me. For years I used a 6'6" light St Croix Avid and did well, the Champion Extreme is a much better rod though.

 

Just be careful to not go too heavy or you lose the feel of that ball of lead sitting on the bottom and in turn lose all thats great about the drop shot. The light/Medium light options are just about right.

I am a huge Dobyns fan myself, and I was going back and forth between 701 or the 702, both in the HP line.  Do you find the 701 to be too whippy??  I think all of Dobyns actions, stated as Fast, tend to lean a little more towards the moderate side compared to other rod companies, which I like.  But I am concerned that 701 would be too light. I think the lure rating is perfect, ie 1/16 to 3/8, as I mostly fish 1/8 to 1/4 ounce drop shot weights.  But the light power has me a tad bit "scared" that the first 4 lb smallie I lock into, its over....  Any feedback on your experience with this rod would be much appreciated.