Best Drop Shot Reel

[BassAssassins14]

Very open

[OkeechobeeAngler]

The one YOU like the most.

[Tartan34]

I'm trying to find the answer to this question also....so far to me I like the 2500 Saros and 2500 Stradic CI4+, but am toying with a 1000 size reel.   

[smallies24/7]

Shimano Sahara 2500 FD

[Skeeterboy1]

Very open

 

I love using the Abu Garcia Orra SX reel. It's a 9 bearing reel with a very smooth and strong drag system. It also comes with a braid ready spool for guys who like using it on spinning reels and also a high capacity spool for fluoro or mono.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

There are so many spinning reels out there that this question is just not possible to be answered.. There is no BEST spinning reel, just like there is no best rod or line. It is all opinions.

 

I personally would go for a shimano sahara FD which can be had for around $50, with some 6lb YZH, and a Med or Med light spinning rod..

 

EDIT: The Sahara FD is NOT the best! It is merely a good option, and can be had for a good price.

[aavery2]

Daiwa offers the Steeze at around 800 and Shimano has the Stella for roughly the same price. Or if you want something totally over the top look at a Van Stahl

[ww2farmer]

I'll play using teenager to 20 something year old logic..........................What's the best? Why of coarse what I own now, and then that will be junk when I get something new and shiny, and then that will be the best of all time. Why is it the best? Well.............duh..........because I own it. What ever you have is junk because I have, like, owned 2 or three reels over the 18 months since I started fishing the local pond and  have become pretty much a bass fishing expert, so I know what I am talking about.

[hike4steel]

I would offer my opinion that Shimano's design seems to create far fewer line twist then any other spinning reel I have used.  They also have multiple price points to fit different budgets.

I own a Stradic and a Sedona.  The Saros looks like a great bang for the buck.  Was going to purchase one when I found the Sedona at a sale price and just could not pass it up.

2500 size for most work.

[roadwarrior]

Pick a pricing point and there are at least two or three that stand out.

Then we look to "personal preference" especially regarding brand. I

generally prefer Shimano, but have been VERY impressed by the new

Tournament Series Pinnacle reels.

[Sam]

It depends on your favorite drop shot fishing technique.

 

If you want to use the 2-pound to 5-pound test like the Japanese do then you need a reel that can handle line test that light.

 

If you want to use regular 6, 8 or 10 pound fluorocarbon line then any spinning reel that handles those line tests will do.

 

You can always go up or down a line test based on what your reel can handle.

 

The larger the reel the more line can be placed on the spool. If you pitch and flip you may not want that much line so a 2000 or 2500 size spinning reel will suffice. Just remember that you need to check your line for knicks, scrapes, cuts, abrasions and cut out the damaged line so you may want to take along a second spinning reel ready to replace the first one if you have to cut off damaged line or retie a lot.

 

Also, you will have to balance the reel's line test specs with those of your rod.

 

And last, you may want to use the drop shot rod for other techniques so be sure the rod and spinning reel can handle whatever you want to throw after you finish fishing the drop shot.

 

Any brand name spinning reel of your choice, including Cabela's and BPS will be acceptable. You don't have to invest a fortune in a drop shot spinning reel to be successful.

[Teal]

Echoing these other guys, first find your price point. Find the reels that fit, next thing to think of is reel size and what size line you plan on using and what rod your gonna put it on and is it gonna to balance well.

I like a 2500 or a 2000 size reel for the most part a use it for various light line and finesse applications.

Shimano, pflueger, and Daiwa make some pretty darn good spinning reels are various price points. And there are several other companies that make quality reels to meet your needs, I am trying not to point to any one manufacturer.

However, I can personally say that I have a couple of Shimano Stradics that I love for my finesse fishing. Is it the best? Who knows but I know it works for me. My preferences and my budget... The rest is for you to figure out.

[Fishes in trees]

For drop shot fishing, I like a 1000 sized, smaller reel, mostly because I like my drop shot outfit to be as light as possible.  My Shimano Spirex works for me in this application.  For Bubba drop shot applications, I used to use a Calcutta 50.  It would handle the 20 lb Abrazx that I normally use.  Last year, I switched to a Curado 50E for the same 20 lb Abrazx and I like it a little better because it is a little more free spinning.

 

For what it is worth, if you're using either of these bait casters with 20 lb line and you do something stupid and cause a backlash - A - It's your own fault.  & B - Get ready to spend the next 5 minutes or so of your life untangling the backlash, cause it is a mess.  I understand that using a larger reel might lead to fewer back lashes with 20 lb line, but I like the lighter weight of the smaller reel on my Bubba drop shot rig.

[lmbfisherman]

My dedicated DS setup is a Crucial (Older version Cork) ML/XF paired with a Stradic FJ 1000.  For deeper water or little more weedy area I use a Fenwick Aetos M/F paired with a 2500 Stradic.  So removing the brand, basically you can use that as a guide I guess of what type of equipment you should buy.  For bubba shot I use a MH/XF Crucial Baitcaster - paired with Curado G7. 

[mod479]

One that balances out on whatever rod you're planning to use.

[Hyrule Bass]

i dont think there is one general concensus as to a "best drop shot reel". id recommend to just go with a product/brand you trust. reel size would probably depend most on the size line you plan to use and the rod you plan to mount said reel on. that said, the rod is probably more important to drop shotting than the reel. i wouldnt worry about reels that claim to offer less line twist, but i use a swivel directly above my drop shot weight and that helps eliminate most if not all line twist. but i dont use traditional drop shot weights, i use bass casting sinkers for drop shot weights with a split ring on the weights eye and a swivel above the split ring...

[J Francho]

My only requirements are:

 

relatively light

high IPT

multi-washer drag stack that can be upgraded to Carbontex

front drag

 

I use three Shimano Stradic CI4, 2x2500 and a 3000 series.