What is your favorite drop shotting rod (length, "action", "power"). Do you prefer a fast tip or "power to the end" ; graphite? graphite blend?
Why?

Best blank I've used with out question would be;
RX8+S822.5- 6'10"- Medium X-Fast -6-12- 1/8-1/2oz -1.76oz. -Satin Black - Drop Shot blank

With drop shotting sensitivity is King!
Don't want a blend blank, don't even want a blank with fiberglass scrim
The 822.5 is;
Well balanced
Crisp
Incredibly sensitive
Cast a mile
Has the perfect tip action to work the bait effectively, with enough give to the tip to not pull small hooks out of strong fish
With the right amount of back bone that has handled large mouth of to 7 and 8 lbs with no problems

I will have to agree with Steve's choice without question !

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

I actually recommend a light popping rod, Batson has some in their RX7 line.

you need to ask how he want to work it. If it's off the bow (so he can watch on the fishfinder) while he's reclined on his seat - 6'10" is too short.

Is he fighting fish out of brushpiles or standing timber? Open water humps? Smallies or largemouth?

I have guys that have flip sticks they use for drop shotting. You better get some details.

Casting may not be a need if he fishes vertical. I do agree with sensitivity - unless he watches the bait on the sonar.

I go more with Gary's suggestion of a popping blank. I find most guys prefer them. I would go something higher end than a RX7 though.

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Both of mine are Batson's, one is a RX8 XSB802.75, the other is an RX7 ISJ 782, and they both work quite well.

Ron Weber

Most of the time , my Drop Shot fishing is done in 10 to 14 ft of open water on sandy points and small drop offs. The 822.5 is my go to rod for that. If I go into the timber then I pull out the MB 844. Never used anything heavier for Drop Shotting. I do like the sound of the Popping blank, never tried that either.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Thanks all!
In this case I am the customer. I intend to use this to drop shot openings in grass / lily pads for largemouth bass. Water depth is 6-8 feet (or a tad more). I was actually thinking about 7'3" / 7'6" flipping stick. Because I've got an old Fenwick HMG that I uncovered in the back of a bunch of other blanks that I stashed away a long time ago. I found it and thought this might work out for a drop shot rod. I'll have to check the responsiveness of the tip.. I think the blank is older than the technique. Of course introducing myself to drop shotting also gives me a reason to buy a new blank (or two or three)....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/10/2011 07:51PM by Ken Preston.

3C68MXF built as a spinning rod.


jeremy

Rainshadow RX8 IP 841,842, 843, which ever fits your sinker weight and/or line weight.

I like a 7' rod because it gets me around my bow mount while I am on on my butt seat.

I am on vacation right now, just got done catching about 30 smallmouths today on a XP 841, 3/8 oz sinker, fishing vertical in 15 - 25 feet of water. I love the 841 for 6# fluoro, #4 Gammi drop shot hook and any 4" plastic you like.

I previously used a RX7 IP841, the RX8 is a clear upgrade.

Steve is dead on. When drop shotting sensitivity is everything. I don't care if your fishing it 2 feet deep or 70 feet deep, You need to feel that tick because that's usually all you feel, sometimes they will just mouth it and all you will feel is weight . I have guys that use a 7' High Mod MH blank and braid with flouro leader when fishing deep schools. I too don't like the blends, just get the most sensitive blank you possibly can. Keep in mind if your fishing deep and pin pointing deep fish with your electronics, your standing directly over your unit and dropping close to your transducer, rods on the shorter side are more convenient.
It really is surprising how people fish it differently, I watch some TV pros set the hook like their jig fishing.

Ken - what size bait. Sounds a lot closer to a punch/flip rod than a drop shot.

Are you calling it a drop shot because you are dropping it in the holes? Or are you truly finesse fishing? Usually fishing holes in grass requires something stout to get the fish out with grass all over it.

Keep in mind... drop shotting is not always a light tackle technique. I know more than one person using a half oz weight and ten inch worm.... but they are drop shotting.

These medium power rods wont work for it... personally I don't see you using anything lighter than a MHvy in grass.

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Well, I guess I'm building myself two ... one on Steve's "plan" and one more along Alex's plan (one "lighter" - shotter and one "puller" - punch/flip)
Why have one when you can have a dozen?

What you were describing is what some people call a flip shot technique. It is a heavy cover power technique, but the weight is still rigged on the bottom with the bait some distance up from the weight so it technically is still a drop shot.

For an actual finesse drop shot the best blank I have ever used is the old P7000, it has plenty of backbone in the bottom, and the top foot or so is super limber, great for shaking the bait in place. I have several that I got at the show from the trashcans, and I know that as of last year’s show Scott had some left.

Scott is away on vacation (and the site has an internal problem). I'll get in touch with him after the 17-th as he has Batson blanks (and may have a 7000 left around)

Unless I am mistaken, the P7000 being referred to is a Shikari model. You could also call Karen @ Bingham and see if she has any of the NFC DS-6107 blanks in stock. In addition, she could have NFC provide a comparison between their current model and the old Shikari ... they would definitely be the ones to be able to provide that analysis.

The High Modulus MHX series has a drop shot blank that looks like it might be what you need. Or the original MHX line up has a couple that might fit the bill.