Drop Shot Spin rod set up?

While at the Chicago Sports Show Thursday I made it a point to handle all the top notch rods I could…
Drop Shotting is virtually unheard of in my neck of the woods but a few serious bass anglers around are killin em with this technique! I will do a lot more Shottin this year!

The three I liked best were the 6’9″ GLoomis GLX DSR820S ($355), 6′ 9″ St Croix LEX 69MLXF ($360) and the 7′ Rogue MAX DS 704S GH ($285)
I had never seen a Rogue before…very nice fit/finish with oversized carbon grips…I put a link in here to view these very cool Oregon rods… Rogue Rods

My current set up is the St Croix LEX 69MLXF , Pflueger 4730 Arbor, Seaguar Invizx 8# fluorocarbon line.

Whats yours???

Tom –

I have been using a Loomis 9000 blank that I had made for this application. Shimano Reel and 4-6 lb flouro.

Works great.

Dog

I have an old All Star that I bought for $39.. and with a gammy drop shot hook,,, 1/0 and a senko, its a great set up..

and you can save the other $250 to buy enough senkos for the next two years..

I am sorry. but the smallies love this set up.. the big key is hook to sinker length.. and I have found when they want it.. you don’t need $300 worth of rod to find out..

they eat it..

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I have an old All Star that I bought for $39.. and with a gammy drop shot hook,,, 1/0 and a senko, its a great set up..

and you can save the other $250 to buy enough senkos for the next two years..

I am sorry. but the smallies love this set up.. the big key is hook to sinker length.. and I have found when they want it.. you don’t need $300 worth of rod to find out..

they eat it..

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Good Point…its when they DONT want it the $300 rod pays for itself…
I don’t wish to argue the need for a top shelf rod…bit I will say that I have been using $99 Limit Creek 6’9″ Smoothies for guiding clients with the drop shot… I know more than a few that reluctantly upgraded their inexpensive composite rods after fishing both rods with the same rigging…when fish are non agressive the sensitivity of the rod becomes a bigger issue…when there is a barely distinguishable tick on the line. I find that situation lots out there on the water…
I would be ECCSTATIC to find a $39 rod that did the job for me…I envy you…

Hey Tom. good question. My current drop shot set up is a Team Daiwa X 6-10 have a US reels 230SX on it. Great light weight combo. 6# triple fish floro completes it. Size 1 drop shot hook, Zoom meat head. 3/16 oz quick drop sinker.
I would like to say that if I was going to start over on a budget, I would take a hard look at berkley AMP and Shock rods. Had one at gander mountain in my hands and felt great. $29.00! berkley rebates… make it even cheaper. just a crazy thought. my next trip to a store I get one in hand, I may buy a few and sell the TD-X…
Another thought Tom, if your using 8# test for drop shotting, why not a lightweight baitcaster? I got a revo set up with 8# floro, a 6-10 med extra fast all star, works well with 1/4 oz drop shotting. takes some of the tangles out of the floro deal… again just a thought.
keep the great info coming!

I love to drop shot, I use a 6″6′ Ugly Stick with a shakspeire reel. I don’t know the exact kind sorry, I am 17 and all I know is if it catches me fish and its cheap it works for me i use 20lb Power pro south of st cloud where the water is more murky but once i get up north its 20lb flourocarbon.

I do a ton of drop shottin and have for 6-7 years now. I always have 2 rods set up for it.

#1 is a 6’9 MXF Kistler LTA spinning rod with a Pfluegar supreme 8030 reel. I usually have this setup with either 6 or 8Lb Trilene fluro.

#2 is a 7’0 MXF Custom Baitcaster rod built on a Batson RX8+ blank with a Abu Garcia Revo STX reel. This has 10Lb. Trilene Fluro line.

I had the Baitcaster built with a Twister eye wraps – I think this setup is the ideal design for drop shotting. Unlike most people I’d much rather drop shot with a Baitcaster setup and with the Twister wraped eyes it loads up just like a spinning rod.

My buddy uses that amp rod for fishing docks and drop shotting and loves it. The 7′ is what he has. I usually use my ledgend walleye rod. 6’8″ river jig model

I was hooked on Berkley rods ever since the graphite lightning rods came out way back when.

Tom,

I’m using a Limit Creek LCSE83MLF riggin rod. I like it’s 8 ft plus lenght and it’s colapsible so it fits in the rod box.

I love drop shotting!!!

I use a Loomis 904X with 20lb Flourocarbon, and a 3/4oz All Terrain jig.

I leave the sissy tackle at home!

Wow Bullet…
That is one SERIOUS DS set up!!!

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Tom,

I’m using a Limit Creek LCSE83MLF riggin rod. I like it’s 8 ft plus lenght and it’s colapsible so it fits in the rod box.

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John, I got one from Turk a couple years ago and never use it… Thought of it as a rigging rod…hmmmmmm
actually have it for sale way cheap on the classifieds…Better rethink that!!!

My favorite set up was with a Kistler Helium LTX with a Daiwa Steel Spinning reel. I loved this combo for drop shot. It was so light and sensitive. Well in the fall of 2009 I broke the rod and had searched for a replacement last year. I wanted something light and didn’t want to drop a lot of money and wanted a good warranty. I ended up going with a $99 Bass Pro Shops CarbonLite rod to match up with the Steez reel. I tried a bunch of rods, but all of them were too heavy for the very light Steez. The CarbonLite Light matched up really well and made for a well balanced drop shot set up. I see they are coming out with CarbonLite reels this year. I like the rods so well I plan to give the reels a try as well.

7 foot+, ML action (light action is important IMO). Reel size 2500 or bigger, either with all flouro or braid with a flouro leader. There are many many good brands out there, I think the ML Dobyns spinnng rod in 7’0′ is awesome.

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Wow Bullet…

That is one SERIOUS DS set up!!!

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Sorry!

Trying my best not to fall victim to the light line craze!!

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John, I got one from Turk a couple years ago and never use it… Thought of it as a rigging rod…hmmmmmm
actually have it for sale way cheap on the classifieds…Better rethink that!!!

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Tom,

Give it a try…I’ve got mine down here in AL to use for live baiting (did I say that) it has the right action and fits in the car.

John