Best Dropshot Rod+Reel

[kLuo]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to buy a dedicated drop shot rod and spinning reel, and I am willing to spend around $200 for both. Here's the catch though...I can only buy from certain companies: Abu Garcia, All Star, Berkley, Fenwick, and Pflueger. I am thinking of buying one of the new Abu Garcia Orra SX spinning reels coming out in a month, but I am not sure about which rod to get.

Can anyone comment on any of these rods and reels for drop shotting?

Rods:

Fenwick HMG

Fenwick HMX

Fenwick Eagle GT

All Star ASR

Reels:

Pfleuger President

Pfleuger Arbor

Abu Garcia Soron STX

Abu Garcia Soron SX

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[Canga]

should also look at the Pflueger Supreme, i see on BPS site that they are updating it, so the older one should be even cheaper than they are now, and the new one is still $99...as for the rods i cant comment (im a st croix guy), possibly look into the elite techs, both walleye and smallmouth, i dont know what the smallie rods have as far as specs, but they walleye series has a couple that would make nice drop shot rods.

[webertime]

Veritas for the DS rod and a Pflueger President or Supreme reel.

I have a Supreme XT (30 sized) on my DS set up and it has handled everything perfectly.

You may want to look at the Fenwick Elitech Smallmouth spinning rod that should be out very shortly... Looks sick

[kLuo]

You may want to look at the Fenwick Elitech Smallmouth spinning rod that should be out very shortly... Looks sick

When is it supposed to come out? I remember hearing about it a while ago, but they keep pushing the release date back.

[Packard]

I don't really like your choices but I'd get a Shimano Sahara 2500FD and a Shimano Compre Drop Shot Rod 6'8" Medium. I love the Sahara and have held one of the new Compre's and they are nicely priced.

[The Rooster]

I saw one of those Fenwicks today close up and personal. They look just like the ones shown in this year's BPS catalog for trout but they are green and say Smallmouth on the blank. It's different than anything I've ever felt. I was looking at a 6'9" and a 6'10" versions. Same ratings (can't remember what they were) but that single inch made one feel different from the other. Seemed to be super stiff blanks, but super light weight and felt nice in hand. I immediately thought of shakyheading and dropshotting with them. They were nice in hand. They had a casting version too. It was really nice as well. I didn't pay that close of attention to them though, I just knew they were new in the store so I looked for about a minute before I left. Didn't know they were a "new out" item.

Almost forgot, the only thing on your list I can comment on is the Pflueger President. I've had two in the 35 size and won't ever have another. It's a solid reel, still works, but it feels rough in the gears on the retrieve. Otherwise, it's a solid reel. I might have just gotten 2 duds. Got them from different places, nearly a year apart, and had the same results both times. However, a 30 sized Pflueger Trion also purchased at the same time has been great. Line twist has been an issue with all of them though. I'm going to try some KVD line treatment on some fresh line to see how that goes. But they do a good job of casting and retrieving, being strong during a fish fight, and cause no serious problems otherwise. The Trion has been really smooth.

[webertime]

Just got off the phone with Fenwick. They are available now (all Spinning).

PM me if you have a question, I think I have the same arrangement as you.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Being a terminal rig, drop shot can be used in a variety of situations. If you are planning on vertical finesse fishing in relatively open water, St Croix 6'8" Avid ML/XF is hard to beat. I know they aren't on your list but you can look for similar specs. I'd scew the budget toward the rod and go with a President etc. reel.

[kLuo]

Being a terminal rig, drop shot can be used in a variety of situations. If you are planning on vertical finesse fishing in relatively open water, St Croix 6'8" Avid ML/XF is hard to beat. I know they aren't on your list but you can look for similar specs. I'd scew the budget toward the rod and go with a President etc. reel.

I use it more for drop shotting edges of deep weedlines, so I will probably get similar specs but with a M power. The current rod I'm eyeing is a Fenwick EliteTech Smallmouth series 6'9" M/XF. Will probably also get one of the new Pflueger Supreme MGX reels along with it.

[The Rooster]

Being a terminal rig, drop shot can be used in a variety of situations. If you are planning on vertical finesse fishing in relatively open water, St Croix 6'8" Avid ML/XF is hard to beat. I know they aren't on your list but you can look for similar specs. I'd scew the budget toward the rod and go with a President etc. reel.

I got to handle an Avid today. That rod is in a whole other world from the Premier!! I was about ready to pull the trigger on one, and then I saw the price. Not saying it's not worth it, it probably is, but it's out of my range. I wouldn't use it enough for me to pay that much on just a spinning rod for shakyheading. But man, did it feel "just right" in hand. I loved that grip the way it was shaped, the location of the hookkeeper, quality of the guides and blank, everything about the rod felt perfect. Maybe after I pay off the mortgage, pay off the car, save up some money, get a new wife.......nah, that's too much work. Besides, my wife doesn't mind if I get fishing gear, even stuff of that price. I, however, always end up thinking that for the price of just the rod, I could have had......

[tomustang]

I got to handle an Avid today. That rod is in a whole other world from the Premier!!

They are, but still doesn't stop me from picking up premier most of the time over my avid or elites

[dwtaylor]

Assuming you have the collegiate angler program at your respective college, take a serious look into tackle warehouse. They do a similar deal, but you get everything there at a discount.

I tend to drop shot for smallies quite frequently, and I will be one of the first to tell you that an xf rod is one of the worst ways to go. You want that rod to load up so when the fish runs, they cant come unbuttoned. Besides, when fishing a drop shot, it doesn't take a lot of force to set the open hook. I use a 6'6" ML Razr Rod. There are some fenwick elite tech walleye rods that feel very similar to it too, fyi.

In the end of it, it all goes by how it feels in your hand. I would match the rod up with the president, because I have always believed that someone should get a better rod than a reel. Besides, a drop shot doesn't use up a lot of line. I currently use a 30 size Patriarch, and I love the reel.

[BobP]

You can get wrapped around the axle pretty quick considering Extra Fast action from various companies. In worm rods, it often means a very stiff tip section. But in a purpose-built dropshot rod, the reverse may be true. When dropshotting first became popular, I looked for advice and the Shimano Crucial CRS-DX68M was highly recommended by several experts. I got one and never regretted it. It has a very fast but very soft tip section for 18", backed up by a substantial M power butt section. That's exactly the kind of taper and action you want in a good dropshot rod. The soft tip helps you finesse the presentation and allows bass to take the bait without feeling resistance, while the M butt can put the muscle to them when it's time to get'em in the boat. It balances well with a 20 size spinning reel and has been a pleasure to fish. At around $150, they aren't cheap but I'd rather get a good $150 rod and a $50 spinning reel than the reverse. There may be other exceptional dropshot rods out there, but I know this one is right up there with the best and the price is not unreasonable.

[philsoreel]

That sucks you can't go Shimano because the 7'2" Cumara Medium Extra Fast is a killer drop-shot rod...and I'm about to put one on the flea market tonight or tomorrow that has been fished a whopping three times.

Make sure you get a large enough diameter spooled reel to through some 8# FC....Shimano 2500 isn't big enough with most FC's except like Tatsu and other ridiculously priced lines.