What Rod Power, Length & Action Do You Like For Drop Shotting?

[drew27c]

Just looking for different opinions on drop shot rods. What do you bassmasters like to use? 

 

I like a ML 7' with a fast tip. 

[PondBoss]

I have a 7'3" ML with a fast tip.  I've never really drop shot fished until this year and honestly I couldn't imagine using anything different.  It's the ideal action and the handle length is almost like it was designed to be a drop shot rod.

[gotarheelz14]

around 7ft, ML, with an xf action. 6lb fluorocarbon line. 

[Christian M]

6'6" -7', Meduum power, fast to x-fast, 6-8# flouro. Rod length & action depends on water depth & clarity.

[airborne_angler]

I was using a 6'0 ML for awhile, but this year I'm trying a 7'0 L...might be a little underpowered...well see, haven't tried it out yet

[ClackerBuzz]

the link won't work so just type "drop shot rod" into the forum search at the top of page.  17 pages of heaven.

i often fish gin clear water so went with a 7'6" for distance.  plus i like to put as much distance between me and bubba as possible.  have both a ML and M to switch between depending on what else i'm tossing

[flippin and pitchin]

I use two rods, one with braid and the other flouro.  Dobyns Champion 702 and an Extreme DX742SF. Both have moderate fast actions and plenty power after they shut off. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Drop shot is a terminal rig that can be used in various ways. The rod should match bait and cover conditions. For traditional finesse bait, vertical fishing with electronics, a 6'9" ML/XF is ideal though.

[Arv]

dobyns champ 702

[lmbfisherman]

I use two rods for this.

 

Crucial 6'8" ML/XF for the standard light tackle DS paired with a Stradic FJ 1000 10lb braid and 6lb floro leader.

Cumara 6'8" MH/XF Chronarch 50MG 50 lb braid with a 12 lb floro leader for cover/timber DS

[thehooligan]

My go to is a 6'8 medium cumara with a 1000 size ci4 and 10lb power with 6lb leader.  I also throw 4 inch senkos and the flickshake with this setup, i love it.

[ALFCfishing]

I am pretty partial to the new GLX from Loomis.  The handle is the most comfortable handle I've ever felt on a spin rod.  The model is 821S SYR.  It is referred to as a Shakeyhead rod, but it excels with the dropshot with a little reserve power when you hook a big Kentucky Lake Smallmouth.

 

http://www.americanlegacyfishing.com/g-loomis-jig-worm-shakey-head-rod-glx-821s-syr.html

[s freud]

I am new to this, but assuming ml is medium light, why use that instead of something heavier? Because the hook is exposed so less force needed to set it? Does depth matter?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

For the circle or octopus hooks often used for dropshotting you set the hook by just reeling fast.

[Hooligan]

I fish everything from a 5-9 to a 7-2 in everything from Light to MH. The sole caveat is that all are XF taper rods.

[Hooligan]

I am pretty partial to the new GLX from Loomis. The handle is the most comfortable handle I've ever felt on a spin rod. The model is 821S SYR. It is referred to as a Shakeyhead rod, but it excels with the dropshot with a little reserve power when you hook a big Kentucky Lake Smallmouth.

http://www.americanlegacyfishing.com/g-loomis-jig-worm-shakey-head-rod-glx-821s-syr.html

I agree that the new GLX is a great rod, but, you're using the wrong one. The Shakey head rod in the new series has way too slow a tip for drop shot fishing. It's on the verge of being too powerful. You end up moving the whole rig too easily and lose the purpose built rods ability to leave a bait in place for long periods of time, yet moving the bait great distances in the water.

The DSR is a much, much better rod for the purpose. Yes, the Shakey rod will work in a pinch, but it wouldn't be my choice solely as a ds rod.

[loganw316]

my 7'0 ML Dawa Aird rod is perfect & your not gonna be breaking the bank to buy one

[MarkH024]

Just starting to really dabble into drop shotting. I'm using a 6'10 ML/XF rod with 10lb 832. So far working great except I haven't caught anything really big yet. Mostly dinks.

[Capt.Bob]

6'3 to 7', my favorites are MXF, I use the 6'3" MXF Legend Elite in Shallow water  >15' with a 1000 size Stradic, and the 6'10" Legend Extreme with a 7.2-1 Team Gold for deeper water <15'. 

[MarkH024]

6'3 to 7', my favorites are MXF, I use the 6'3" MXF Legend Elite in Shallow water  >15' with a 1000 size Stradic, and the 6'10" Legend Extreme with a 7.2-1 Team Gold for deeper water <15'. 

You still got that Rage 610MLXF?

[Sam]

Good question.

 

I have a G. Loomis NRX Dropshot Rod that is 6'10" extra fast medium spinning rod.

 

I pair it with a Shimano 2500 Stradic FI spinning reel spooled with six-pound flourocarbon line.

 

I may go down to four-pound Trileen mono but that line is so difficult to master and tie hooks that I don't go with the four-pound line uness I use a light or ultra light rod.

 

I use a small Orvis saltwater octopus hook. You can find them in the Orvis fishing department.

 

I also will use a Robo worm hook and the gold #1's that are used for bluegills.

 

The weight is a cylinder drop shot weight to keep the rig on the bottom. I have found that a cylinder weight does not get caught up as much as the round drop shot weights. A tungston weight can be substituted if you want to feel what is on the bottom.

 

Robos, Zoom and Creme finesse worms work great. If I want a larger presentation I will go with a Zoom trick worm or a Baby Brush Hog or a baby fluke.

 

Plastic colors? I have a special run from a fantastic bass fisherman who no longer pours his own plastics. They are like a camo with a pink tail.

 

A funny story about the worm: Fishing in Gordon's Creek off the Chickhominy River last year I was using the camo/pink tail worm when a big 21 foot red Ranger passes me by and the two guys are just floating along to get around me. I notice that one of the guys is using the identical worm I have on my drop shot rig in the water.

 

So I ask him about the funny colored worm and he says that it is his last one and he really would like to get some more but the old guy who made them no longer has them so he is babying his last one as best he can.

 

What he did not know was that I had a package of 100 of these worms in my boat and one on my line. I just thanked the guy and let him pass, laughing about that encounter. I got the guys last 100 for a song as he wanted to get rid of them.

 

Was I a bad guy?  Nope, that's fishing!

 

Just remember to lift the rod straight up when setting the drop shot hook.

 

Lots of fun fishing the drop shot along the bank and into structure.

[Capt.Bob]

You still got that Rage 610MLXF?

For sale!

[Frenchman83]

St. Croix Eyecom ML 7'0" for drop shot and wacky. Love the way it loads up.

[haydenf96]

I use a 6'6" medium with a fast tip and 10 pound mono. I use a little heavier line than most, most of the cover on Roosevelt Lake where I fish is trees and brush piles. I need a little heavier line to pull fish out.

[nwmike]

7 foot medium or medium light spinning rods are what i use most of the time.i did just buy a 7'4'' quantum kvd tour rod that is a medium power fast action.i figured i would buy it for 30.00 brand new at walmart and see how the longer rod feels for drop shot fishing