What rod are you using for drop shotting?

[Waterfoul]

We're getting some good information on what hook everyone is using... how about the rod?

I mainly use a Shimano Cumara drop shot rod in a 7'2" Medium action with a fast tip.  This rod is ultra sensitive, very light, and very forgiving when a big fish tries to run or shake it's head at you.  I also have a Shimano Crucial 7' Medium action fast tip as a "backup" since I REALLY like to drop shot!!  Yes, I keep two drop shot rods in the boat at all times. 

[FishermanJohn]

I was using a St. Croix premier 7' medium, fast until it had an "accident" with the car door.   

I upgraded it to a Kistler Argon 6'11 MH Fast at the end of last season and it seems to work good so far.  It behaves more like a medium power and is very sensitive.

[oldjigger]

I use a B & R Outlaw 7 1/2 ' ML or M both have a lot of bend and with the 7'6" length take up a lot of line with the sweep of the rod.  THese are very sensitive rods

Dick

[Waterfoul]

I had a nice B&R that I used for shakey head.  Loved the rod.  It's at the bottom of Wabasis Lake.  Want the coordinates?   

[Skulley]

The rod I am going to use for dropshotting is the Teton Medium 7 foot blank.  It has a fast tip and is mainly for fishing walleye.  It has good backbone for a fast action rod.  After that it was good line and a lazer sharp hook.

I am also going to give the Quantum KVD 7 foot dropshot spinning rod a try too.  Same kind of action as the Teton but with a little more backbone. 

BD           

[baggerslimm]

I'm using a 7'6" md fast St Croix Legend elite..  I Just orderd another one..  I use it for d.s and draggin also.. Very nice stick.. I was useing Shimano 7' ml and felt I did not have control..Slimm

[fiker]

last year I used a St. Croix Avid 6'9" mxf.  It worked very well. 
I was actually thinking about getting a Mlxf this year.  It is rated for slightly lighter baits. I often use a 1/8 oz. ds weight in calm and shallow water. 

I have the B & R outlaw rod, (med 7' I believe).  I was planning on selling it to help offset the cost of the new Avid.  I figure it's worth about $60.  I've had it several years, but haven't used it much.  It is a sensitive rod, but it's too parabolic for me.  It does make a pretty good shakey head rod.

[Bender]

6'10" Fenwick Elite-Tech drop shot most of the time. I really like everything about it. I used to use a 6'8" Shimano Crucial but it broke and Cabelas didn't have any in stock when I exchanged it. I also use a 7'2" M Crucial for heavier baits.

I got the Fenwick at 50% off at the Novi show last year and wish I had bought all of them that were 50% off. Look for them on the first day if they are there again at Franks. 

[dartag]

 Powell 701L    " Kevin Barrows " Signature  series.   Bought them 2 years ago and they still look and perform like brand new.   great to see all the different rods guys are using.  confidence is the key to what ever you use.

[MadWags]

I use Grandt's XS170LRP - 7' Lite Reserve Power. I have a special drop shot edition that was developed with Captain Rick Lapoint for those big spots. http://www.bassguidepro.com/

[bosshawg]

love my shimano crucial 6'6" casting rod for this. as for hooks i do use the "stand out" ones and never have had a problem w/them. as for line use 8lb 100% flourcarbon w/a small swivel to avoid line twist.

[REEL_MAN]

G. Loomis 7' IMX it has a fast tip but it also has the back bone to set the hook on a sweap rather the a power hook set. I would use a longer rod but I can only put 7' in my rod locker.

Reelman
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[BryanP]

Dobyns Champion Extreme DX 742 7'4" ML, and Dobyns Champion 702 SF 7' ML.

[TCook]

I use G Loomis and have been very happy with the DSR820s but there are situations where a light action rod is not ideal so I am going to try the BSR852 GLX this year on the big water. The extra fast tip on this rod is nasty!

[t-bone]

Pretty happy with St. Croix 6'9'' Legend Tournament ML XFast. Very light and sensitive.

[Waterfoul]

I use G Loomis and have been very happy with the DSR820s but there are situations where a ML is not ideal so I am going to try the BSR852 GLX this year on the big water. The extra fast tip on this rod is sick!

what are the actions on those rods?   The model numbers honestly don't mean much to me... since I don't own any Loomis rods.

[TCook]

That BSR852 GLX felt like the best spinning rod I ever picked up, expensive but I just had to buy one. It has more backbone than most medium action loomis rods with an extra extra fast tip. About 4/5 backbone and 1/5 extra fast tip. Its the only medium action 7 foot glx that loomis makes (other than the 842 blank they offer for customs) and designed as a senko rod to cast weightless stickbaits a long distance and for accuracy. But it feels like the perfect action for a dropshot rod on the big water when I got it in my hands.
   The DSR820 is a light action rod with enough backbone to handle bigger fish and a soft tip. I would say 2/3 backbone and 1/3 extra fast tip. It really gives the perfect shake when dropshotting but you dont really need that on Lake Erie.

[REEL_MAN]

what are the actions on those rods?   The model numbers honestly don't mean much to me... since I don't own any Loomis rods.

I use the IMX PR844S medium fast action

Reelman
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[fiker]

Pretty happy with St. Croix 6'9'' Legend Tournament ML XFast. Very light and sensitive.

Do you think that there's that much difference between the Legend Tournament, and the Avid?

[BryanP]

IMO, that BSR 852 is way too stout for drop shots, even on the great lakes.  For me anyway.  If you're stuck on Loomis and want a DS rod that has more backbone, look at the DSR 822, PR 8400S IMX.