I drop shot, oh, conservatively, 60 percent of my fishing hours. I have been using a 7' Ray Scott sporrtackle rod with 8lb. braid and 8lb. 100% fluoro leader and really like it. However, I t-rig my shot a lot, and I've found that when t-rigging the dropshot in water deeper than 15ft. with that rod, hooksets become a bit like tossing a coin. Same with getting decent fish out of brush/stumps with it.

My shakey head rod, a 7' Quantum Mike Wurm PT rod, has too stiff a tip to feel those subtle bites when you're "weighting" the drop shot, but its got plenty of hooksetting muscle, so I"ve been compramising with it a lot in those situations. Still, it's not ideal. So, I'm looking for a spinning rod with the muscle of the Quantum for hooksetting, but the tip of the lighter sporttackle rod for feeling bites and working the bait. I'm thinking of a 7-7'4" rod in a MXF action might be the ticket, and I want as sensitive as I can afford (which is to say, it needs to be less than $200).

The new Phenix M1 rods have a 7'2" MXF rod in the lineup that seems like it might fit the bill, word is they're pretty sensitive, but around here (NE Oklahoma), no one really seems to want to carry boutique spinning rods, since everyone is addicted to their broomsticks . Anyone have experience with this or any similar Phenix rod that could say whether it fits the bill before I drop $180 on it sight-unseen?

I really like shimano rods (esp the warranty), and so I looked at the Crucial 7'2 MXF drop shot rod, but shimano's dropshot specific tip-action was just too noodley for me, to give you an idea of what I'm looking for.

If you can find the older full cork grip shimano crucial dropshot rods I prefer those models over the newer one's. Another alternative to think of that's great is the older cumara (not the new release) crsdx72m ....I'm currently looking for this rod. It should do both well. Very sensitive rod as well.

Many people also recommend the dx702sf, but I doubt you will find one under $200

The problem is the type of tip it takes to dropshot well isn't ideal for shakeyheads. Vice versa, the rods I listed should be somewhat solve the issue. My 822syr has an action that is great for shakeys but soft enough for dropshot. I almost feel I need to spinning rods to accomplish both techniques well.

Some others may chime in with some other opinions, but the issue your having is something I'm struggling with and the cumara crsdx72m might be the ticket.

Thanks for the suggestions. Just to be clear though, I don't need it to do both shaky and ds, I just need it to do medium-duty drop shotting really well, and have the power to set the hook with a t-rigged plastic in deep water. I will still be keeping the other 2 rods I mentioned.

That's even farther ends of the spectrum. A t-rigged plastic you are really trying to drive the hook home...on a DS you have a small hook with a soft tipped rod where you implement a softer sweep set hookset. You might have to look for an all around rod if your going to both extremes.

By medium duty DS what type of hooks and baits do you consider medium? Your definitely going to need something stiffer tipped than a traditional DS rod.

Stiffer tipped also does not correlate to loss of sensitivity. I think a 6'8" MXF avid would do the trick.

A t-rigged plastic you are really trying to drive the hook home...on a DS you have a small hook with a soft tipped rod where you implement a softer sweep set hookset.

True, but I often texas rig my drop shot bait, hence the issue. The DS rod I currently use works fine for open hook ds applications down to 50+ feet. Its when I'm t-rigging the dropshot in deeper water that I have problems.

By medium duty DS what type of hooks and baits do you consider medium? Your definitely going to need something stiffer tipped than a traditional DS rod.

By medium duty, I was talking more in terms of situations than baits. #1, 1/0, 2/0 straight shank and offset worm hooks texas rigged on the drop-shot, 10lb. braided line with 8-10lb. fluoro leader, fishing in and around brush and timber.

I do have a 6'8" avid blank that a custom builder built into a baitcaster for me that I do some dropshotting on with 12lb. test when I fishing bigger baits in heavy brush, and it does work really well. Perhaps I could get him to extend that blank 6 inches and build me another as a spinning rod...

I use the drop shot for a lot of situations that are outside what most anglers think of when dropshotting, hence the specific needs.

That's a possibility, maybe also consider a used bsr852 glx. Its a phenomenal rod that will offer more power for driving in those t-rigged hooks. Many prefer the action of this rod over the NRX and the sensitivity would be fantastic.

You might want to get your hands on one to see if the tip is what you want. Its a great spinning rod whatever way you look at it

Have you looked at the Pinnacle Perfecta 7'2" Medium spinning rod? J Franco has high praise for the new Pinnacle rods. The M1 is rated for lures twice as heavy as the Pinnacle if that is something that might sway your decision. Seems to me the Pinnacle is a more technique specific rod. Have never fished dropshots or shakeyheads, but am wondering if they might be a viable option in the pressured waters I fish. Maybe these are a couple techniques I should concentrate on next year. That would require me buying another rod as well.

Have never fished dropshots or shakeyheads, but am wondering if they might be a viable option in the pressured waters I fish. Maybe these are a couple techniques I should concentrate on next year. That would require me buying another rod as well.

Shakey head didn't change my fishing that much-- I always fished a lot of light t-rigged straight tailed worms and still do that more than I fish them on the shakey head, probably. However, dropshot completely changed my fishing. I catch twice as many of my fish each year ds-ing than all my other techniques combined. You should definitely try it-- but give it a real chance. Go out fishing and don't take anything with you except some hooks, a box of drop shot sinkers, and a bag of your favorite color finesse worms. I'll wager by the end of a long day you'll be a convert, and your arms will be tired from reeling in fish!

Shakey head didn't change my fishing that much-- I always fished a lot of light t-rigged straight tailed worms and still do that more than I fish them on the shakey head, probably. However, dropshot completely changed my fishing. I catch twice as many of my fish each year ds-ing than all my other techniques combined. You should definitely try it-- but give it a real chance. Go out fishing and don't take anything with you except some hooks, a box of drop shot sinkers, and a bag of your favorite color finesse worms. I'll wager by the end of a long day you'll be a convert, and your arms will be tired from reeling in fish!

Thanks! I have plenty of time for reading up on the technique before next season. Now I am kicking myself for not getting one of the Cielo DS rods when they were being closed out.