what makes a good drop shot rod

[kms399]

I just bought a 7'2 medium xtra fast carrot stick drop shot rod and am wondering if it will work.  this rod seems stiff but as i said I am new to the drop shot thing.I have never fished drop shot before but it is my goal this season. so what makes a good shot rod, should I return this, any other recomendations.

thanks

[coolhandlala]

Sounds like a perfect rod for DS to me I have a Avid 68mxf that I use and I love it.  I have heard that carrots can be a little stiff, but that is probably the rod you would want.  For about the same money you have in that you could look at an avid, I love mine, but I am sure CS are nice rods too.

[The_Natural]

A little powerful for drop shotting IMO, but it will definitely work.  However, it will excel with all plastics in general....a medium x-fast is a plastic fishin' machine.  Just watch the hookset with the tiny circle or drop shot hooks.  

[kms399]

went to cabelas last night and played with a 7' med mod fast carrot stick gold and I really liked it. it had a softer tip which i liked. what do you think anyone else fished that rod for drop shotting

[Branuss04]

I use the Crucial DSR 7'2" M.  It's got a nice soft tip that is great for hook setting without ripping those small hooks out.  It's also got a exposed blank on the foregrip which I have noticed helps me detect those VERY settle bites.  For the money it's a great value and has a great warranty.

[Crestliner2008]

I dislike talking brands. Get a 6'6" to 7' rod with a light - med. light action. It must have good flex on the upper 1/3 to 1/2 it's length. A solid butt section is great, especially if you are fishing deep.

Every person's opinion on a good DS rod (or any other presentation specific tool) is valid. You have to decide what works for YOU. Just don't get hung up on BRANDS...please!!!

[kms399]

so if i get this right when looking at a drop shot rod you are looking for a longer rod, with a soft tip so when you work the bait the weight doesn't come off the bottom but the worm or whatever moves a lot. you want high sensitivity, and you a decent back bone so you can get a good hook set. I think i may return the one I bought and step up to the carrot stick gold 7' med mod fast. it seemed to meet the criteria and I fell in love with it at the store.

agree disagree?

[mozy]

Some people will say you want an extra fast tip, while others say you need moderate. I personally have the extra fast. Unfortunately, the only way to tell which action you like better is to either borrow somebody elses', or buy 'em both.

[uicdent11]

X2 It has to be extra fast for me as well.

[Crestliner2008]

so if i get this right when looking at a drop shot rod you are looking for a longer rod, with a soft tip so when you work the bait the weight doesn't come off the bottom but the worm or whatever moves a lot. you want high sensitivity, and you a decent back bone so you can get a good hook set. I think i may return the one I bought and step up to the carrot stick gold 7' med mod fast. it seemed to meet the criteria and I fell in love with it at the store.

agree disagree?

The backbone in the lower section is NOT for hook setting! It's for controlling the fish after it's on. The hook set for drop shotting is a fast reel and lift vs. an actual hook set. You need the tip flex for controlling the quiver you'll be imparting to the bait when presenting it down deep. Another important aspect of drop shotting: do not overwork the bait. Sometimes just dead sticking it down there will trigger more strikes than quivering your worm constantly. JMO!  

[flechero]

what makes a good shot rod,

Most of the time...  the guy hoilding it.   ;D

[islandbass]

so if i get this right when looking at a drop shot rod you are looking for a longer rod, with a soft tip so when you work the bait the weight doesn't come off the bottom but the worm or whatever moves a lot.

That is just one tactic, and not the only tactic.  Wiggling and jiggling your poor little worm can work, but what many do is work a semi-slack line. Any movement from your rod, even the slightest twitch will make the bait come alive. You can see this in clear water. If it isn't a floating plastic this can be better observed. Let the lure's weight make it descend. Then twitch the rod tip to make it come back up. If you do it right, the weight won't even move. Just another tactic and this is also not the only tactic. I guess my point is to keep an open mind and experiment.

you want high sensitivity, and you a decent back bone so you can get a good hook set.

The standard "cross their eyes" hook set can cost you some fish. This is not the desired hook set when drop shotting. The split shot/drop shot hooks work so well that most of the time all you will need to do is reel up the slack to create tension on the line and the fish and hook do the rest.  

I think i may return the one I bought and step up to the carrot stick gold 7' med mod fast. it seemed to meet the criteria and I fell in love with it at the store.

agree disagree?

As mentioned earlier above, it really is your decision. I personally like to use a ML powered rod.  My drop shot rod has a mederate fast action (Lamiglas Certified pro drop shot special) and I would like to try an ML rod with an xtra fast action. Many other makers make their DS rods this way and I would like to know figure out why Lami chose a Moderate fast action when the rest of the pack did not. What we like to use might not "feel" right to you.

[kms399]

lots to think on thanks guys.