drop shot rod length

[acm95301]

I currently use a 6'9" St. croix Avid, but would like to know how the longer models preform. There is a new St.croix thats 7'6" and that Im considering, but can't afford to waste my money on a mistake. Your response is appreciated.

[brambo0311]

I use a 7 foot Powell spinning or a 681 Powell casting and like how they work. The longer 8' light action rods I use for float and fly when I have allot of slack to take up.

For me the longer rod for a DS just makes me move the bait to much, and I'm usually watching my line on the graph and want to be right under the puck.

[Rich hamilton]

I like the GLX loomis 783 (6-6) or or the 723 (6) sure makes a huge difference in worm fishing!

[elfish16]

I DS with either a 6'8" Crucial DS Rod or a Team Diawa X Series 6'10" and they are money. Plenty of length to control the fish for sure! I'd not go more than 7ft myself

[toddmc]

My go to rod is a GLoomis 822 at 6'10". I bought a 7"4" GLoomis Bronzeback 882 for longer casts in the clear water at DVL. The longer rod is great for tiny cranks and reaction baits, but I feel it causes me to overwork the dropshot. I have always been a believer in imparting very little action to the dropshot.

[TEAMDEADMONEY]

6'8" Dobyns Champion series 682 This Rod is AWESOME!!!!

Pete

[acm95301]

Thanks for the response sounds like 6'8"-7'0" is fairly common then.

[TeamBeefmaster]

im in love with my CRS-DX68MH... shimano crucial 6'8" DS rod... yes, in MH. I had the medium but it was too scary horsing a 4lb smallie from 40ft on lake champlain so I went up to the MH the tip on the medium was also too fragile and i always thought it was going to break. beyond pleased with the crucial.

[Rod Wynn]

I don't own any rods under 7'

[ash]

I have a Evola dropshot rod it is 6'9 and for me is perfect for dropshotting - not that I do it much, but not an issue for me. Most of my other rods are over 7' though.

[ASD]

I have 2 of DOBYNS Special Dropshot Rigs DX 701SF Finesse 7' 1pc. 4-10lb, 1/16-3/8oz, Light Fast Action Finesse. And they are by far the best DS rods I have ever used !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gary Dobyns]

For some reason many people think a drop shot rod has to be 6'8 to 6'10". Honestly that's crazy. We sell TONS of 701 SF and tons of DX 701 SF & DX 702SF for drop shot rods..both these last 2 rods are FINESSE specials. The only rod I am out of in the entire line is DX 702 SF. The bigger question is action, feel, and balance. If they are using HIGH END materials you can use a much longer rod that casts farther, picks up more line on a sweep set and fights the fish much better. A long rod with the right action will not pull hooks free so you'll land more fish. My personal favorite is a DX 792 SF. That rod is 7'9" and totally bad a$$

I am not familiar with the Croix 7'6" but if you're a fan of theirs, I give the 7'6" the first look.

[Vince Borges]

I'm kinda with Gary on this one. I like the longer 7'6" Phenix ML for drop shotting. the longer rods just seem to work better for me and are a bit more forgiving when a fish turns and surges right at the boat like them big spots always seem to do!!

[Garrettt]

I use a 7'2 m ef cumura with 5lb test sunline
I also use a 7'6 m fast cumura with 15lb samurai braid

[dockboy]

I have a Loomis DS820. Its works well as both a vertical and horizontal drop shot rod. But if a longer rod allows you to pick up more line on a horizontal presentation, so if you are looking for a rod that is better suited to speed-shotting or fishing a drop-shot at longer distances, maybe look the 7'6". It won't be ideal for dropping a bait to fish marked under the boat, but it will allow you to fire off a long cast when you are fishing shallow.

[Schneider Fishing]

I was a loomis guy for quite a while and I've used the Loomis 820 and 822 in both spinning and casting models. They are good rods; but the Dobyn's 701 DX and 702 DX better.

[dockboy]

I was a loomis guy for quite a while and I've used the Loomis 820 and 822 in both spinning and casting models. They are good rods; but the Dobyn's 701 DX and 702 DX better.

Without a doubt. Fished my partners 701 for a bit lat weekend, just the regular series. Still much more sensitive than my Loomis. I think due to the blend of material required to make the 820 have the real soft tip, it rounds out as less sensitive. Its definitely not the rod to fish for all drop shotting, but for me, it really excels during tough bites with little 3" type baits. A 701 or 702 is far more versatile.

[R.Cook]

Alex, the St. Croix Legend Extreme, 6'9" medium light, extra fast is by far the best drop shot rod I have ever used, and I have used alot. Do yourself a favor and get it, you won't regret it. If your looking for something a little cheaper try the Legend tournament series drop shot rod, also a very good rod. I definately like longer rods, but the feel you get with those 6'9" St croixs is awesome. If you wanna take one of mine and try it before buying one you're more than welcome to, just give me a call 628-3647. -Ryan

[civicrr]

Had the Dobyns DX742SF out @ Pedro on Thursday. (Man was it cold in the morning!) Really like the rod for both dropshot & flickshake techniques. It is 7'4" long. I feel like the rod allows longer casts - good thing in clear water situations. No downside with the longer length that I can see.

[Rod Wynn]

I'm kinda with Gary on this one. I like the longer 7'6" Phenix ML for drop shotting. the longer rods just seem to work better for me and are a bit more forgiving when a fish turns and surges right at the boat like them big spots always seem to do!!

Well said..

[mark poulson]

I have a Loomis DS820. Its works well as both a vertical and horizontal drop shot rod. But if a longer rod allows you to pick up more line on a horizontal presentation, so if you are looking for a rod that is better suited to speed-shotting or fishing a drop-shot at longer distances, maybe look the 7'6". It won't be ideal for dropping a bait to fish marked under the boat, but it will allow you to fire off a long cast when you are fishing shallow.

+1 If you cast and retrieve your dropshot, get a rod that will cast your light sinker/bait combo. Longer rods typically do this better.
If you're meter fishing, dropping your bait vertically to fish you see on your bow graph, a short rod works well because the lure stays in the cone longer.
You may need two different setups (heaven forbid! ).

[froteur]

My primary and favorite dropshot rod is a 7' custom made on a ML St Croix SCV - Legend blank (spinning). The older brown ones. I have other drop shot rods but this remains my favorite. I've landed fish up to almost eight pounds on this rod.

[Marc]

It appears that most of you have not yet grasped the concept that dropshotting is simply a different way to present your lure. Many still think it is only a finesse rig, or a vertical presentation.

It is so much more, and when you understand that you are simply putting your lure above your weight to give it a different action, then you will recognize you need a bunch of different rods to cover all conditions and situations.

Dropshotting in heavy cover works great (even during punching) and you will want a long rod and heavy action rod to drive the bigger hook into where it will hold.

On the other hand, using a rod over 6 feet 10 inches with 4-6 lb test simply isn't necessary.

I often use most of my rods for dropshotting except for my reaction bait rods.

ciao,
Marc