Drop Shot Time...?

[WPCfishing]

I'm no fan of spinning gear but I've decided it's probably

In my best interest to bite the bullet and buy a rod and reel that

suits the technique. I won't use the pair for anything else

so I don't want to spend more than $150.00.

Any suggestions?

[MidwestF1sh]

I'm not a huge shimano fan but I have a shimano compre drop shot rod and I like it. It has good action. It has a very soft tip but enough backbone to handle bigger fish.

[webertime]

BPS 6'8" M xf Carbonlite with a Shimano Sedona (the model they are clearing out) OR Pflueger President.  Enough $ left to get Weights, hooks, and some 7lb Sunline Sniper. 

[Novafan71]

Agree on the Pflueger President.  I use the Mojo bass rod, that that would put you $20 over your price range.

[buzzed bait]

just throwing it out there to ask if you've considered using baitcasting gear to drop shot?  i have personally never done this, but know that with the right rod and reel it can quite easily be done.  i'm just throwing that out there because you said you are no fan of the spinning gear.....

[lecisnith]

I just bought a Gander Mountain Elite for $80 and paired it with a President. I have been very happy with it. Very sensitive, fast tip on M/L action 6'9. Highly recommend it.

[Raul]

Shimano Sahara + Shimano Clarus = match made in heaven.

[WPCfishing]

Shimano Sahara + Shimano Clarus = match made in heaven.

I'll take a look

[MDBowHunter]

I was in your same boat and I picked up a St Croix Mojo drop shot rod and a Shimano Sedona spinner, combined they were around $160. I will say its a nice rig, I dont have any complaints yet. I rigged it with 6lb DIAMETER braid and I use a 6lb mono leader, I haven't lost a fish yet. also with using the braid if you get the hook snagged it will just break off at the leader so there is no real line loss. I'll also add that this one rod has been one of the best setups I've purchased, and I dont mean quality. What I mean is Ive probably put more fish numbers wise in the boat with that setup this year then all my other rods and reels. A dedicated dropshot setup is a must have in my book, also for what its worth this setup brought in an 8lb channel cat a couple weeks ago with out any issues.  

 

I would stay away from BC for dropshotting, its not the best choice plus line twist is horrible when dropshotting. Just one more reason I use braid, since switching to braid line twist issues are a thing of the past... 

[Jeff H]

No reason in the world you can't use baitcasting gear to drop shot with.  I have done it in the past, not a lot, but I have done it without any adverse effects.  I'll be doing it next season more often too.

[WPCfishing]

I can use a medium casting rod I have that's perfectly suited for drop shots. I suppose I just want the advantage of the spinning gear for hook sets.

[rangerjockey]

Although I would almost rather blank casting than resorting to droppin on them, the lews drop shot rod at 129 is a good choice.

I use it mostly for a ned rig. But its plenty sensitive and has a perfect tip for the drop shot.

[5fishlimit]

Pfleuger President, and any ML/F rod that fits your budget. That's all you need.

[DogBone_384]

Pflueger President and any ML spinning rod that might be on clearance from on-line retailers... You might get a very nice setup for under your $150 target.

[WPCfishing]

I want to avoid buying online if at all possible. Going to take a ride to BP, Dicks and Cabela's this week to look at what they have. 

[thehooligan]

I use casting gear for dropshot, but if I was going for a $150 spinning setup, it would be a new *** with pflueger president.

[Fishes in trees]

I use both casting gear and spinning gear for drop shot fishing.  I can tell you that any rod you currently own will work, kinda ok, for drop shot fishing.

You'll have to do it for a while to figure out whit you like.  For instance, when I go out, and run into other guys, I look and see what they are using.  Most guys use a rod with a lot more flex in the tip than I like.   I like the extra fast tip, that instantly snaps back and doesn't wiggle so much.

 

MY current favorite casting set up is a 7'5" heavy action pitching stick/20 lb fluorocarbon and a Chronarch 50 reel.  Guys will say, "That's a little heavy for a drop shot, ain't it?"   Using this set up, I get bit 8 or 9 feet down, off a little bit from a beaver dam, that fish is coming up.  Standard spinning drop shot gear, in that situation, that fish is running you around one of the many limbs that exist in that situation.

 

Another common bubba drop shot situation happens when fish are relating to stumps/root wads that are 5 to 15 or so feet down.  Another thing I like about the bubba drop shot system is that to balance it out, you need a half to 3/4 oz weight.   That weight, over the course of the day, saves a lot of time you'd otherwise waste while you were waiting for the bait to sink.

 

So, my advice would be to commit to the drop shot, fish it for a while with what you've got and then decide how you want to fine tune it for your local conditions.