Drop shot rod under 200$?

[fishinnwi]

hey guys, im kinda stuck right now. So i just bought a brand new shimano ci4+ 3000, and i need a nice drop shot rod to compliment it, im stuck between the dobyns sierra, dobyns savvy, shimano crucial, or if i find one in time a fenwick elite tech smallmouth. i preferably want a ml action with a extra fast tip for drop shots and shakeyheads and would like it to be really sensitive. i own a dobyns fury and very much like it but i have never used a savvy or sierra. any advice or other rod suggetions under 200$ would be great, thanks!

[Turkey sandwich]

Check the Fenwick site for the Aetos.  They're great $180 rods selling for $95.  I really wish I had the cash to buy a bunch of them.  Great tip, lots of backbone, and well made.  

[Rusty Shackleford]

ALX Diplomat!

[Wind Knot]

St. Croix Mojo Bass.  I've had a mh baitcaster for a while and it rocks so I got a ml spinning rod more recently.  Works like a charm.  I would definitely recommend it.

[smalljaw67]

Fenwick Aetos 7' Medium power, fast action spinning, it has a softer tip than most other medium power rods, in fact it is closer to medium light in the tip section but has the backbone of a medium which helps if you end up with a big fish. The nicest thing is the tip is soft enough to really fish a drop shot well but not so soft that it can be used for other finesse techniques.

[timsford]

I'd definitely look at the aetos. Super nice sensitive rod. The daiwa tatula rods can be found around 110 from sportsmans outfitters. Excellent rod for the money also. Powell max from Sheltons for about the same price. Others I'd look at are the iron genesis and air (seen both on sale under 150 ), Kistler klx or magnesium, St Croix avid or avid x, shimano zodias, daiwa chronos, or 13 *** black. The *** black is the nicest most sensitive rod I've owned under 225 and the aetos was very close in feel and sensitivity. The Dobyns rods are nicely built and well balanced, but I've fished the champion and was disappointed after fishing other rods in the price range like the helium 3 and *** black. I just figure if the champion wasn't what I was looking for in sensitivity, there wasn't much point in the cheaper Dobyns lines for me.Good luck finding an elite tech smallmouth I have a 6'3" med spinning and 6'9" ml spinning along with several casting models. Amazing rods for the price but getting very hard to find in most models since most guys are keeping them and not too many come up for sale

[fishinnwi]

ok i see this all the time can someone please inform me what *** black stands for?

[Airman4754]

The TFO drop shot rod is pretty solid. 

[Zachh Nute]

Check out Denali Rods Lithium Series rods. They have Drop-Shot specific rods.

[NYWayfarer]

My vote would be for the Shimano Crucial. 

I am what they would call a frugal fisherman as I can't personally spend more than $100 on a rod for financial and sanity reasons. The financial part is because I am comfortable not rich and the sanity is because I would go nuts if a $100 + rod snapped! I know how upset I got when my St Croix Premier's cork handle cracked. 

I say the Crucial because I love my Shimano Sellus ($50) and the Crucial is the Lexus to the Sellus's Pinto.

[Wind Knot]

I have a Pinnacle Perfecta drop shot rod coming in a few days and I'll come back with some results after I get a little use out of it.  Last week there was a 50% off sale on all Pinnacle fishing gear at DSG. After gift cards and coupons I got the rod for $16.

[Mark888]

On 8/28/2016 at 8:02 PM, Turkey sandwich said:

Check the Fenwick site for the Aetos.  They're great $180 rods selling for $95.  I really wish I had the cash to buy a bunch of them.  Great tip, lots of backbone, and well made.  

i second this, i just ordered an autos to replace my old drop shot rod, it will be my second autos in my arsenal. i also have a 7ft medium fast elite tech spinning rod, i would recommend to go with a ml if you want a drop shot rod in that series - although i think a medium would be just fine. Happy hunting! 

[Big Bait Fishing]

Phenix Recon 2 -  7'2'' Medium  or the 7'6'' Medium 

[WRB]

August thread the OP has made his choice by now!

Tom

[fishnkamp]

If you are looking for high end sensitivity I would not go below the St Croix Axid X. These are really nice blanks with good components. The AXS69MLXF would fit your bill well.