Best drop shot rod for grass lake?

[Cody28]

Hello everyone. I’m on the hunt for another rod and looking for some help. My home lake it a Midwest grass bowl essentially (mostly hydrilla), but even so I’ve been having some good luck picking it apart with the drop shot lately. I’m currently using a St. Croix Victory 7’3” MXF with a 1/4 oz weight and a 1/0 light wire EWG. I want to upgrade for sensitivity purposes and to have a dedicated drop shot rod. I’m leaning towards an Expride B ML in either the 7’2” or 6’10 but worry it may be too light with all the grass and use of a EWG. Any suggestions on length, power, or model would be greatly appreciated. 

[Darth-Baiter]

Without doubt, I’ve caught more fish on my Phenix Maxim 7-2 med than the rest of my rods combined.  It’s super sensitive.  Punches way above its weight class.  It’s a touch heavy, but casts like a dream.  I’ve been daydreaming and imagined I felt a tick.  I set the hook just in case.  Well I reel into the hook, not so much set the hook…and there has always been a fish.  I seem to feel everything.  
 

I now wonder what a high end rod would be like if the Maxim transmits so much info to me.  
 

rod isn’t the best looking either.

[Cody28]

13 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Without doubt, I’ve caught more fish on my Phenix Maxim 7-2 med than the rest of my rods combined.  It’s super sensitive.  Punches way above its weight class.  It’s a touch heavy, but casts like a dream.  I’ve been daydreaming and imagined I felt a tick.  I set the hook just in case.  Well I reel into the hook, not so much set the hook…and there has always been a fish.  I seem to feel everything.  
 

I now wonder what a high end rod would be like if the Maxim transmits so much info to me.  
 

rod isn’t the best looking either.

I’m not so lucky. I have loved this rod for many applications, but it feels dead in the hand with the drop shot in grass. Lost a fish earlier today because I simply missed the bite. Wasn’t till the line started running away that I set the hook, but was a hair too late. When I do catch them it’s all from watching the tip of the rod. Not so easy when working the bait. 

[msgf91]

OP is the tip a little bouncy on the victory? I'm not sure how to describe it lol. I picked up a 6'8 MF Avid walleye a few months ago from a guy that said it was pretty much the victory blank with slightly different grips. But he didn't mention action.  The tip is a little bouncy compared to my other MF powered rods. So my guess was that the walleye rods were different actions from the victory's. For open hook drop shot it's been good. 

[Cody28]

2 minutes ago, msgf91 said:

OP is the tip a little bouncy on the victory? I'm not sure how to describe it lol. I picked up a 6'8 MF Avid walleye a few months ago from a guy that said it was pretty much the victory blank with slightly different grips. But he didn't mention action.  The tip is a little bouncy compared to my other MF powered rods. So my guess was that the walleye rods were different actions from the victory's. For open hook drop shot it's been good. 

It’s a super duper soft tip but isn’t what I would consider bouncy because the taper is also super fast and goes right into backbone. 

[SproDD79]

I have the 7'2 ML Expride B spinning, it's pretty stout for the ML rating, I would say it's actually closer to M. For what you described,  I would go with the 7'2 ML Expride B.

[msgf91]

Yeah the walleye is hard to describe. Just the tip is soft, but like you mentioned goes into power fast. I was asking because I was thinking about getting a longer rod so I can use the 6'8 with a open hook and smaller baits. Then run the longer rod with a cover shot hook. So I didn't know if the avid walleye and victory had the same actions 

[Cody28]

2 minutes ago, SproDD79 said:

I have the 7'2 ML Expride B spinning, it's pretty stout for the ML rating, I would say it's actually closer to M. For what you described,  I would go with the 7'2 ML Expride B.

Exactly what I was hoping to hear. Thank you. 
 

How’s the sensitivity on it? The only Expride I have is the 73 XH for frogs, so thought to tell how the line is as a whole. 

1 minute ago, msgf91 said:

Yeah the walleye is hard to describe. Just the tip is soft, but like you mentioned goes into power fast. I was asking because I was thinking about getting a longer rod so I can use the 6'8 with an open hook and smaller baits. Then run the longer rod with a cover shot hook. So I didn't know if the avid walleye and victory had the same actions 

 In the past the walleye rods were always much more moderate than the bass models but maybe they changed that. Not sure. 

[WRB]

The VTS73MXF rod has a flexible tip that may be reducing some strike feed back by feel but increases visual feedback.

My problem with Shimano Expride Rods is the tip is too stiff and made in China. 

Good luck with your search.

Tom

[TheBaitMonkey]

I live in Illinois and fish a lot of similar bowl lakes here and in Wisconsin and have been trying to find the perfect rod for Texas rigged dropshots. I’ll split the rods I think you’ll like into 2 categories depending on if you favor long casts along weedlines or shorter pitches to weed edges and dragging through some pads around the grass  -

 

 Shorter more accurate casts into the grass - 

 

 - Loomis: the 802s JWR and 822syr models from Loomis are great choices, I’d recommend the SYR model for this (avoid the DSR at all costs since it’s gonna be way too soft)

 

- Megabass: the Shakyhead rod in the Orochi lineup would fit the bill nicely, would pick it over the Whipsnake from this lineup in grass. I have the new P5 Addermine and have been really liking it for Texas Rigged Roboworms (Fat 4.5” & the 6”) in the grass so far.

 

Longer casts on the edge of weedlines -

 

- Daiwa: the Steez 76MML “the one” would be my top pick of all of these due to the versatility. The 7’6” MLM Fast action Tatula Elite AGS would be perfect too.

 

- Loomis: their 872s JWR and 902s models excel at this (872s for thicker and 902s for sparse grass along offshore weedlines)

 

- I fished a lot of St Croixs living in WI, the 73MXF’s are nice and would be great for this. 
 

 

Good luck on your quest to find the perfect stick, you have a lot of good options to choose from and it will really come down to personal preference (maybe you like a certain handle style) or which brand you favor. Some have more premium fit and finishes and some have better warranties but I assure you all of the above will be sensitive enough — so pick your poison.

 

 

[Cody28]

17 hours ago, TheBaitMonkey said:

I live in Illinois and fish a lot of similar bowl lakes here and in Wisconsin and have been trying to find the perfect rod for Texas rigged dropshots. I’ll split the rods I think you’ll like into 2 categories depending on if you favor long casts along weedlines or shorter pitches to weed edges and dragging through some pads around the grass  -

 

 Shorter more accurate casts into the grass - 

 

 - Loomis: the 802s JWR and 822syr models from Loomis are great choices, I’d recommend the SYR model for this (avoid the DSR at all costs since it’s gonna be way too soft)

 

- Megabass: the Shakyhead rod in the Orochi lineup would fit the bill nicely, would pick it over the Whipsnake from this lineup in grass. I have the new P5 Addermine and have been really liking it for Texas Rigged Roboworms (Fat 4.5” & the 6”) in the grass so far.

 

Longer casts on the edge of weedlines -

 

- Daiwa: the Steez 76MML “the one” would be my top pick of all of these due to the versatility. The 7’6” MLM Fast action Tatula Elite AGS would be perfect too.

 

- Loomis: their 872s JWR and 902s models excel at this (872s for thicker and 902s for sparse grass along offshore weedlines)

 

- I fished a lot of St Croixs living in WI, the 73MXF’s are nice and would be great for this. 
 

 

Good luck on your quest to find the perfect stick, you have a lot of good options to choose from and it will really come down to personal preference (maybe you like a certain handle style) or which brand you favor. Some have more premium fit and finishes and some have better warranties but I assure you all of the above will be sensitive enough — so pick your poison.

 

 

I feel like the 7’3” MXF has the right action I’m looking for, just feels like I’m missing out on sensitivity. I’ve been a St. Croix rod with Daiwa reel guy for a while. My whole line up is few Victory’s and many LTB, as I was trying to keep feel as consistent as possible throughout. That was until I picked up a 73XH Expride for frogs and realized how nice other rods could feel comparatively. It’s a XF that feels like my 7’5” MH I hand. Kind of going through a rod and reel crisis right now and starting to feel like my attempt to keep everything the same is now causing me to miss out on better rods. Going through a bit of a rod combo crisis lol. 
 

I’ll definitely do some research on these though. Thanks. 

[padon]

i have expride 72 ml. its got a soft tip but it transitions to a stout backbone in a hurry. i use mine to drop shot roboworms with a light wire gammy hook texas rigged on grass edges. the orrochi shakey head is a good rod for this also.

[Cody28]

On 8/27/2023 at 9:33 PM, padon said:

i have expride 72 ml. its got a soft tip but it transitions to a stout backbone in a hurry. i use mine to drop shot roboworms with a light wire gammy hook texas rigged on grass edges. the orrochi shakey head is a good rod for this also.

Which do you find more sensitive? 

[padon]

hmm .hard to say. they seem about equal to me but then you kind of learn the feel of the rods you fish with.

[Cody28]

Just wanted to add this in for anyone in the future looking for a DS rod. I swapped out my Victory 73MXF for my 73MLXF this weekend and can feel the bottom/grass/bites much better. I always thought this rod was too soft for DS in heavy-ish grass but it has handled fish very well.

 

Might still get a higher end DS rod as I’ve been falling in love with the technique, but can definitely wait till next spring at this point. 

[5by3]

Expride 7’2 ml or 7’ light with braid to leader. Great sensitivity, no need to go any higher. 

[Boomstick]

I have the Daiwa Tatula Elite 7'1" M/F Brent Ehrler dropshot rod and that would do nicely.

[Cody28]

Even though I was managing just fine with the 73MLXF, someone reached out selling an Expride with the plastic still on it. Great rod and SUPER versatile, but wasn’t what I’m looking for. Debating selling it or just repurposing. Might sell the Victory too now… 
 

Ended up truly biting the bullet and getting a Megabass Destroyer P5 Addermine at a big discount locally. It is amazingly sensitive. Perfect rod for what I was looking for. Man that was a slippery slope… 

[TheBaitMonkey]

On 9/30/2023 at 12:46 AM, Cody28 said:

Even though I was managing just fine with the 73MLXF, someone reached out selling an Expride with the plastic still on it. Great rod and SUPER versatile, but wasn’t what I’m looking for. Debating selling it or just repurposing. Might sell the Victory too now… 
 

Ended up truly biting the bullet and getting a Megabass Destroyer P5 Addermine at a big discount locally. It is amazingly sensitive. Perfect rod for what I was looking for. Man that was a slippery slope… 

It’s a sick stick! I’ve found it really versatile so far too.

 

What reel did you pair it with?

[Cody28]

On 10/1/2023 at 10:16 PM, TheBaitMonkey said:

It’s a sick stick! I’ve found it really versatile so far too.

 

What reel did you pair it with?

It has a Shimano Vanford on it right now. I’ve never really bought spinning gear this expensive, so might upgrade eventually, but right now it feels really good in hand. 

[UmairF]

Does anyone have any experience with the Expride B 7’0 light? I currently use it for okashira heads and hair jigs but was thinking about using it mainly for dropshots. You guys think I cam make do with it for both nose hooking and texas rigging light wire dropshots?

[Cody28]

On 10/10/2023 at 2:18 AM, UmairF said:

Does anyone have any experience with the Expride B 7’0 light? I currently use it for okashira heads and hair jigs but was thinking about using it mainly for dropshots. You guys think I cam make do with it for both nose hooking and texas rigging light wire dropshots?

I have no experience with it, but for nose hooked it should be great. If you already own it, just put it to the test for both applications. Personal use with a rod will always trump advice given here anyways since we all fish differently. 

[UmairF]

Hey figured I’d update on here in case anyone was curious!

 

Been putting the 7’0 light Expride B to good use sine the last post here. Great for nose hooking dropshots but lacks a little power texas rigging it IMO.

 

Picked up a P5 Addermine for dropshots which should fit the bill for nose hooking and texas rigging. Thinking of keeping the 7’0 light as a strolling/okashira/hair jig rod. Just wish it was SLIGHTLY whippier at the tip. Kinda hard to “launch” those super light baits out there with such a fast action in the tip but it’s been getting the job done so far.

[Bandersnatch]

7’3 heavy, put the spinning rod away on the grass lake 😂 

[JackstrawIII]

Post deleted after reading the rest of the thread. Should have done that first haha. 

Edited June 22, 2024 by JackstrawIII