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The Ideal Dropshot Rod?

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I plan to get more into dropshotting for larrys and sallys, but I'm curious to know: what is the best power and action for a dropshotting rod?

I personally use 3 different dropshot rods, a 6'10 MLXF, 7' MF, and a 7'2 MXF. The extra fast tip is great in my opinion, and I tend to use a ML action rod most often because I use very light line in the great lake-clear water. I've also rigged a dropshot on a flipping stick with 30lb braid to fish around docks, so I guess it depends on what type of cover/water you are fishing. 

The drop shot flipping stick sounds pretty crazy. How large of a weight do you need to toss that thing?

I'm still newish to drop shot fishing, and correct anything that seems wrong, but I've found a few things:

- thin diameter line is huge, be it dealing with line shy fish, or being able to get good casting distance/accuracy with a spinning combo.

- fast or extra fast tips make feeling the bottom and the strike a lot easier. Sometimes it's a pretty light "hit"

- most places I've fished it have needed a light weight (less than 1/4 oz, typically 1/8) to get it down, but still allow me to feel the bottom. Also, to prevent the fish from feeling the weight, the lightest weight possible seems ideal to me.

I just switched from using a med fast 7' premier, to a 6'9" AvidX med light x- fast and he difference was immediately noticeable.

If you're going pure dropshot, MXF is the way to go, length can be up to you I have rods in the 6'8"-7'4" range that I use to dropshot, though have an 8" rod I've used on dropshotting as well.  If i had to pick a dedicted dropshot rod, it wouuld be my 6'8" MXF Cumara.

I like a ~7 MLF. On some rods the XF rating may be too much if you use a braided mainline with a fluoro leader. If the action is too fast the bait will pull away from the fish before it has a chance to inhale it, so you tend to wind up with a bare hook and no fish. Plus the same rod is perfect for just about any finesse technique from shakey heads to wacky worms.

I use a G-Loomis IMX  6'6" Medium action with a fast tip. It is the sister rod to my Senko rod which is the same except for a MH action.

St Croix Rage ML Xfast 8 pound Braid 6 pound flouro has never been overpowered and has caught plenty of large bass and about a 25 pound carp. I drop-shot A LOT and it does extremely well with me.

 

    Tight lines 

 

        Andrew

  • BassResource.com Administrator

For traditional dropshotting, I use 7' Medium-Light, Fast rods. Here's the line, reel, hooks, etc. : http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/how-to-dropshot-fishing.html

 

"Bubba Shot" is a term I use for "dropshot flipping".  That requires a different setup:  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/advanced-drop-shot.html

  • Author

Thanks everyone! I have a 6'8" MF that should do the trick.

MLF Dobyns Savvy 6'9" is my weapon of choice for conventional drop shot. I only DS on this rod with a Shimano Symetre reel. If you don't have a setup yet I strongly suggest this.

Vertical finesse fishing- 6'8" ML / XF spinning. You can fish a fairly heavy weight this way since you're not loading the rod to cast. You still have the light tip for feel.  

  • Super User

You will be OK with your 6'8" MF spinning rod for both drop shot and mojo rigs if you use the right hooks and weights. Learn with what you have, then fine tune it as needed.

Tom

  • Super User

The 6'8" M/F should work ok. May not be the best, but it'll get you by. If you're looking to upgrade, I'd suggest a 6'10" ML/XF St. Croix LTB. Absolutely great ds rod! Handles big smallies like a dream. 

The 6'8" M/F should work ok. May not be the best, but it'll get you by. If you're looking to upgrade, I'd suggest a 6'10" ML/XF St. Croix LTB. Absolutely great ds rod! Handles big smallies like a dream. 

Couldn't agree more about the TBS610MLXF. Its defiantly one of my favorite rods I own. That 7lb piggy in my pic was caught on one.

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