Hey all.

I'm looking for a decent priced setup for fishing dropshot and shakeyheads.  I'm more partial to baitcasting than spinning but I realize that spinning gear is the obvious choice.  I'm curious as to what you guys use.  I would like to limit my spending to $200 rod/reel and all.

Thanks in advance for the input.

J

I like a ML for drop shotting and a M for shakey head fishing. But if I were to have one rig I would probably just go with a medium action rod.

i have the 7'  M  fast. its an awesome rod for the price and serves double duty pretty well

http://www.***.com/descpageRDSSHIMANO-SHCLSR.html

I prefer daiwa spinning reels, and shimano casting reels.

i use a daiwa tierra 2000 on that rod and it works well. i use a small diameter braid with a flouro leader. if you use mono or flouro straight you might think about the 2500 size for some more line capacity.

http://www.***.com/descpageRLSDAIWA-TDTS.html

plenty of options out there but this one is a great bang for the buck rig in my opinion.

I prefer casting set ups as well.

I currently have a Shimano Chronarch 50 MG paired with a St. Croix Legend Tourney TBC68MXF that I absolutely love for shaky head fishing. I have yet to drop shot with it but suppose it would work fine. I have it spooled with 6 lbs line. This has completely eliminated any need for spinning gear for me.

Edit:  Sorry, didn't see your spending limit.  IMO you can get good casting set-ups for finesse presentations, but you have to spend some $$$$.  For your price range you would probably be better off going with a spinning set-up.

I'm using a chronarch 50 mg with a B&R Outlaw rod 6 ft pistol grip medium power fast action. This rod is great for skipping light stuff, shakey heading and I have yet to try drop shot on this rod but I'm guessing it will work just fine.

B

I didnt see your spending limit either.  I'd have to agree with KU.  Go with a spinning setup and check out BPS or Gander Mtn/Cabellas type store combo.

I think it kinda depends on the size/depth of the waters you fish.

The lakes I fish are all relatively small and I mostly fish shallow (1/8 oz shakey heads, 1/8 - 1/4 oz dropshotting).  So with that said, I use a St Croix AS69MLXF rod with a Daiwa Tierra 2000.  Bigger/deeper presentation may make stepping up to a M action rod more likely.

I dont finesse fish unless I have too, so i just use what works that i already had.

Shakey head-6'6 Shakespeare Alpha MH spinning rod- Shimano sedona 2000 reel.

Drop-shot- BPS extreme med. 6'6 woo daves spinnerbait rod, Pflueger solara reel.

10lb P-line flourocarbon on both.

6'6 Shimano med-light spinnning rod w/ rapala spinning reel.

10lb power-pro.

These rods reels can be used for alot of other stuff too....if i need to use it.

I have recently begun dropshotting and it has been very effective for me.

I use a ML spinning rod.  I like smaller or lightweight reels and for dropshotting and shakeyhead presentations. Line capacity is not an issue for me because I fish primarily shallow weedy lakes.

I think that light tip is the key.  You want to able to manipulate the lure with light strokes.  Then if you should get a hit while bouncing the lure, the tip will "give" and lessen the chance that the bass will feel the resistance and drop the bait.

this is a fun way to fish.

good luck and have fun.

avid

Jasone I use the same set for DS and shaekyhead, the GLoomis DS 6.10 with Energy PT-i, I love this set but it  is outside what you are asking. I fished a lot with my partner's set and it also phenomenal and very light, he uses a Daiwa L&T 6.3 m with a Shimano Symetre 1500, highly recommended and is about $ 200.00.

Thanks guys for the help.  You've given me a lot of good ideas.

J

My buddy just bought a Shimano Symetra with a 7' rod combo from Cabela's on sale for $130.  He used it for his light setup on our trip this week and loved it.

GO BIG RED

I use a Pflueger Supreme spinning reel (8035Mg) and a 6'10" G-Blank medium rod. Very light and sensitive set-up for just over $200.

You can buy new Supreme Mg spinning reels on eBay nowadays for around $80 bucks.

For a casting setup, i dont think you can beat the Bass Pro finesse bait casting combo. it works great you could get two, a 6' ML for drop shotting and a 7' M for shakey head fishing.

Get a BPS Jonny Morris combo, with the 7' M power C-rig rod. I bought it for the techniques you described, and it does the job well.

An extra fast rod, in med power will serve well for both.  You can get a Shimano Compre  6'6" Med/XFast for under $100. and the Crucial's offer a 6'6" and a 7' med/ Xfast for $129/$139.  There are others but these were on the first page I looked.

I finally made my decision and after all the great opinions here, it came down to weight and comfort.  All of the rods recommended were great (as much as I could tell at the store).  But I ended up getting the Kistler KSM66.  Anyone have any experience with this rod?

As for reel, im thinking either the Sedona, Symetre or the Tierra.

I'm definitely going over my budget but oh well.

Thanks again for the help.

J

Symetre. An awesome spinning reel for the mooney.

As for reel, im thinking either the Sedona, Symetre or the Tierra.

J

I have the Symetre 2500 and it is realy nice, the Tierra looks great in paper but the Symetre is much faster. Good luck with them.

See my post about the Falcon Weightless Worm Lowrider. I'm wanting to do sort of the same thing that you are and just purchased (today!) the Falcon. It's rated MH/XF for 1/4-3/4 oz baits. Love the action and it seems to have some bottom end as well. Glad to see someone besides me who prefers casting gear across the board! BTW, I'm putting a Citica 100DSV on it and the total will be a bit over your $200 target but not substantially so.