Dropshot vs shakey head rods?

[Matt_3479]

I’m debating on grabbing a new finesse set up. Not set in stone as there’s a few others that have my attention but it’s one style of fishing I’d like to get better at. My go too is a weightless Texas rigged senko but this year I fished a really deep lake and it was had to match weight with good fall/float of the senko and weightless took too long to get down there. 

 

Im wondering what’s the difference I’m looking for between these two rods for each technique and why not fish them on the same rod as it seems like such a similar technique both requiring good sensitivity. I understand most people probably do fish on the same rod but I see that some people have a rod for each of these techniques? What is your opinion on the perfect rod combined or for each? Spinning and/or casting?

[Log Catcher]

I use a 6'6" spinning rod medium action for both of these techniques. I was using a 6'rod and just recently bought the 6'6" rod.

[craww]

 I’ll start by saying that I think the fishing industry has made a lot of money regarding technique specific rods that folks don’t always need.

 

However......I have two rods that are designated as “drop shot” rod’s By the manufacturer. Well they both would seem to meet What I’d want it a spinning rod for shaky heads- Seven footish, medium power With fast/extra fast  actions... problem is they’re kind of awful shaky head rods.....They have the power. But the tips are weird, Too light and too fast I guess. It just doesn’t feel right on the Hookset  with a plastic with a burried hookpoint. They also don’t cast That great. However they are GREAT at manipulating a little 4” exposed hooked plastic on a dropshot; but little else honestly. I have the ”shakey head” stick from the exact same line  mentioned previously and it’s It’s a much more versatile rod.  More of a normal tip for a medium powered, “all round” spinning rod.  I have drop shot with it and it’s not bad. But I wouldn’t throw a shaky head or an unweighted senko with the “drop shot rod”. 

 

 You can certainly get by With one rod to do both. But if you’re really serious about drop shotting, a dedicated drop shot rod is a beautiful thing. 

[LCG]

I wrestled with this as well a few years ago. Based on recommendations here I purchased a st Croix mojo 6'8" M-XF and it is a very versatile rod. It can do everything from drop shot to Shakey head to Texas rigged senko. I also use it for treble hooks lures, no issues at all. 

[ChrisD46]

Shaky Head rod = M/XF action  7' spinning rod .

Drop Shot Rod = ML / M ;  Moderate / Fast action 6'10" spinning rod .

 

I find a drop shot rod to be slightly softer at the tip  , more parabolic action than a shaky head rod .

Great if you can find one rod that does both - most likely though you will want to have separate rods for each technique .

 

[JackKlassen]

For my dropshots I use a rod with a more "parabolic" tip because my hookset if more of a "reel up" than a set. Although I don't really fish shakeyheads, I fish a tube and jigworm quite a bit which are similar baits in terms of hookset. For those I use a slightly stiffer rod with a faster tip since I drive the hook into the fish when I set with those baits instead of letting the fish do it for me.

[LxVE Bassin]

My dropshot rod is an Enigma HPT 6’11 M/F. The rod is designated for shakey heads which I never throw. I use bigger hooks than most and I like to Texas rig my dropshot baits so I tend to pull a lil harder to set the hook before I start reeling. ML rods seemed to be under powered for my liking. It’s personal preference. 

[TOXIC]

Depends on how you fish both techniques.  I cast a shakeyhead much farther than a dropshot so I choose my rods accordingly.  The actions are totally up to what weights you normally use in the applications.  If you are fishing really deep for smallies for instance (over 20 feet) the upsized weight needed on a dropshot can quickly over power your rod.  I use a 1/4 oz weight for both techniques most of the time so my dropshot rod is a little shorter and faster tipped and my shakeyhead rod is longer with a stiffer action.  Heck, I have been throwing a NED lately on a Med Hvy spinning rod lately and surprised at how well it has performed.  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A lot of this depends on your definition of these terms and how you employ the technique. Personally, drop shot is a vertical jigging technique often in deeper water. ML/XF spinning <7'. Shakey  head is usually in shallower, clear water and long casts are important. 7'> M or ML / F depending on weight which is driven by conditions (depth, wind). There are lots of variables so you kind of have to find your own way to a point. As a custom builder I sell a lot of technique specific rods which more often than not differ from similarly labeled over the counter rods. One rod may very well cover both techniques for you. A quality 7' M/F spinning rod could be all you ever need. Only you know for sure. 

[Matt_3479]

Thank you everyone. I currently don’t fish either technique. This summer I was fishing smellies in 30-50’ of water with a weightless or 3/16oz bullet weight t-rigged senko and was nailing 3.5lbs-5lbs bass almost every other cast. I was using a 7’ avid x medium fast rod. That was out of my norm for sure as I’ve never had to go that deep before. I was thinking of getting set up those for these techniques as I ran into the issue a few different lakes where the fish were way deeper then I’m use to fishing. I wasn’t sure if my rod would cut it or if I should keep the avid x for shaky head and pick up another rod for drop shot or not

[PatrickKnight]

I fish both those techniques as well as tubes and small paddle tails with a medium power mod fast action rod. I base my rod power on the depth of water and the hook being used. For example I would go to a MH if I was fishing deep or using a heavier wire hook. I almost always will fish slower action rods as I personally can not stand to fish XF actions. As Mr. DVT stated above a lot of rod choice is personal because according to most rod manufactures I am not doing it right using a mod fast action. I also think you need to take the line you are using into consideration as well because if you are using braid to leader or straight braid you don't need as powerful or as fast of a rod to accomplish the same thing.

 

All things considered that Avid you are using will do a good job on both techniques you asked about if fishing fluro imo.