Will a 6'6" medium with fast tip do the job OK for dropshotting?? I'm looking at the Shimano Crucial CRS66M spinning rod. Also the Clarus CSS66M2A spinning rod, or even the Clarus CSSX66MA with x-tra fast tip. I'd go with a Clarus only if money was too tight to get the Crucial.

I probably wouldn't fish a dropshot that much at this point. Mainly want a sensitive shakyhead rod but it would be nice if it would double for another use too.

Oh, and I also know they make what they call a dropshot rod in that series too but I HATE the handle grips on it so....it's out. It does have power and action ratings similar to the other one though, lure weights and all.  Just x-tra fast tip instead of fast, and the handle, was about the only differences I read about.  Haven't handled it to see how the actual blank compares though.

If you don't mind a 6'3" rod,

http://ohya.com/products.asp?cat=105

It's a lot of rod for only $110, considering the Cielo rods use the same rod blanks as the Steez rods. I have one and while it's shorter it's also a lot more accurate in casting. The titanium tip helps with the sensitivity a lot as well and gives you a really fast action while still being able to bend like a mod action rod if necessary without snapping in half.

The only catch is that it's a light action rod rated for 4-10 pound line and 1/16-3/8 oz lures, so if you fish heavier shaky heads or dropshots that might be an issue.

Rooster, that rod will work great for both techniques listed. I would probably get the fast tip if you're primarily going to use it in water 20' or so or less, and go with the xfast if you're going real deep.

I would go with the CRSX68M unless you are going to fish deeper water then I would go with something with a MH power and try and stay with a XF action.

The CRS66MH or CRS70MH would work alright also.

If your open to other rod manufactures there are some other nice rods for this application out there, unfortunately most of them are going to be split grip.

Is it just the Shimano split grip you don't like or split grips in general?

Later,

Wow, you guys are drop shotting some meat sticks. I use 3 different rods for DS/SH fishing. All are ML  with a MF action. If Im heavy drop shotting then I use a casting rod.

Wow, you guys are drop shotting some meat sticks. I use 3 different rods for DS/SH fishing. All are ML with a MF action. If Im heavy drop shotting then I use a casting rod.

x2

The ideal dropshot rod will not be an ideal shaky head rod, and vice-versa. Almost like wanting a crankbait/soft plastics rod.

I would go with the CRSX68M unless you are going to fish deeper water then I would go with something with a MH power and try and stay with a XF action.

The CRS66MH or CRS70MH would work alright also.

If your open to other rod manufactures there are some other nice rods for this application out there, unfortunately most of them are going to be split grip.

Is it just the Shimano split grip you don't like or split grips in general?

Later,

I like splitgrips, no problems with them.  Just the Shimano Crucial dropshot rod has that cutout on the foregrip that I don't like.  The model that I am looking at though does not. 

I mostly want a shakyhead rod and thought it would be nice if dropshotting were an option for it as well.  I fish water that is at most 30 - 50 feet deep and less, most of the time 15 feet or less.  Some say that rod will do both, some don't agree.  For what little I would likely even do a dropshot I think I'll get by with it.  It's primary roll would be shakyheads and very small texas rigs but that last one would be rare cause I like casting gear for that instead most of the time.

i like an MLish rod with a soft XF tip for dropshotting.

i currently use an avid 6'9" ML/XF

this would not be ideal for shakey heads over 1/4oz plus plastic, however. for that i like a medium rod, with a stiffer tip, XF action. i use a st. croix LES 6'8" M/XF. im sure the avid version is nice.

for one rod to handle both, id go with a Med power, extra-fast action.

to answer your original question - "Will a 6'6" medium with fast tip do the job OK for dropshotting??"

yes, it will do OK. but its not ideal.

I like my fuego for shakey heads, its a M,XF, 6'10". Its a fantastic rod just like the zillions. They also have a ML version which is nice but like the zillion models they are a bit underrated in power then what it says, so it depends on what you do. Model# TDFG6101MXS, lure weights 3/16 - 1/2.  I dont dropshot very much but this i also double up for a dropshot rod but by no means ideal.   

Drop shot and shakey head are rigs that cam come in a variety of weights. The weight of the bait would determine whether you want a M or ML. If you need a little more versatility from a rod, since drop-shot doesn't require casting long distances, you might err on the heavy side rather than overload too light a rod.

DS = 6'9" ML/ MF: reason 1 no reason to cast a DS a country mile. 2 the MF action helps play big fish on light line no need for fast actions because the hook is exposed.(unless you t-rig your DS).

SH = 7' M/F: you need a faster tip to pull the hook through the plastic when sweep setting so you don't have to jerk like a jerk when setting the hook with light line. the longer rod also helps with this.

hey Seanw what company makes tourny grade rods with these exact specs where you could buy two rods for less than 200$ I think it starts with an A and ends with an a. and the rod starts with a V and ends with a s

I use a shorter rod for DS in deep open water so I can se the bait on my graph.  Too long, and the bait is outside the cone.

I'm using a 6'9" ML Fuego for DS & SH.  After getting the rod I wished I had got the 6'10" M, but after fishing a jighead a few times on it it's no big deal.  The heaviest I really ever fish a jigworm is with a 3/16 head and the ML seems to handle it with no problems.  The biggest fish I've caught with it so far has been about 3 1/2 lbs and it was stuck.

I use a shorter rod for DS in deep open water so I can se the bait on my graph. Too long, and the bait is outside the cone.

I don't have that problem with a 7' rod, what cone angle is your transducer? I admit that on Noels boat I have to stand more in the middle of the front deck to see mine on his graph, but on mine I have always been able to see it right on the bow. 20 degree transducer.

Now after saying that, I could see how a short rod would be very handy if thats the way you DS most of the time (for me it's not) I probably only DS like that a handfull of times a year.

I use a shorter rod for DS in deep open water so I can se the bait on my graph. Too long, and the bait is outside the cone.

    I dont know what others consider deep, as far as the rest of the country. But for me here in California Im usually DS 30ft down to 70ft. Even at 30ft deep the cone of the graph is pretty wide. Even if I used a 8ft rod(I dont) I can still see my bait. Actually I checked it with my jig rod which is an 8ft rod.

   Ill experiment with it some tomorrow while Im on the lake. Im hoping not to drop shot, but ya never know.

15 to 40 FOW.  You're probably running at 83, or blend 83/200 mode.  Or you're behind the butt seat.  I'm generally in my kayak, or in the back of a boat.  Either way, the longer rod doesn't work. I bought the rod for flick shakes and docks, bu it works so well for DS, that's what it does now.  I like it so much, I'll probably get two more. AVS63MLXF/CI4 2500.

The TD is about 30" in front of my right foot:

15 to 40 FOW. You're probably running at 83, or blend 83/200 mode. Or you're behind the butt seat. I'm generally in my kayak, or in the back of a boat. Either way, the longer rod doesn't work. I bought the rod for flick shakes and docks, bu it works so well for DS, that's what it does now. I like it so much, I'll probably get two more. AVS63MLXF/CI4 2500.

The TD is about 30" in front of my right foot:

    Yes it is an 83/200. I bought my wife a Berkley Select 6ft M years ago. I tried to replace it for her with many rods, she dont want em. I got to fish with it once, great rod for drop shotting. If I could get another one I would. Until then I use a bit longer rod.

    Didnt realize you were fishing a Kayak. I do that every once in a while. Its a kick.

Try 200, and drop the gain to where your bait is a thin line.  I'm using an HB color unit, so its a little touchy.  The Eagle 502 unit I've been playing with seems better without "tuning."