The last two years I've been dropshotting on a St. Croix Rage baitcasting rod but this year I'm going to be throwing it on a spinning setup. Which is a perfect reason to buy another rod! haha. I will be pairing this dropshot rod with a Shimano Sahara 2500. I mainly throw all St. Croix rods, I have a Mojo Bass 6'8" Medium Action Xtra Fast Tip rod that I thought about throwing the dropshot on but I enjoy using that rod with some braid and tossing wacky style worms. What do you guys like to throw your dropshots on?
St. Croix LES70MF/ Stella 2500FE/ Tatsu #6
Sounds like a top notch setup! $1000
Here's another idea:
St. Croix Avid AVS68MXF/ Shimano CI4+
I bought a ML Fenwick Elite Tech to try this year, it'll be paired with a 1000 symetre. Still waiting on it to show up, but I've used a friends and it performs great on dropshot and weightless plastics.
I was using a LTB MLXF casting rod before that, and never really cared for it for that application. It's now my jack of all trades.
I hear a lot of good things about the Avid MXF, and having used the same MXF in the Rage line, I wouldn't hesitate to go that direction if you want to stick with St.Croix.
Dobyns champ 702
I throw mine on a Dobyns DX742.
st croix makes a good rod, I used a MH mod cranking rod last week and I was impressed. I believe it was an Avid series, so if a guy wanted to stick with st croix, I wouldnt blame him one bit.
I stay on the lighter side of drop shotting, 6lb line and up to 1/2oz. If I go higher it goes to a Croix medium
Vendetta2 6'9MLF
Premier 7'MLF
LTB 6'10MLXF
All are different and still perform.
The rage and the legend tournament bass 6'10" ML/XF would be good options. I use the 6'10" rage for finesse baits, but several people on the forum have recommended it as a drop shot rod.
I use an Eyecon 7MLF with a stradic FI
Works great and its not too expensive of a rod
I use a 7' medium fast mojo rod and a shimano symetre
I use two SC AVS62MLXF, one AVS62MXF, one AVS68MXF, all with fluoro 6# Tatsu or Invisx. The shorter rods have 2500 CI4 on them, the other an older 1000 Stradic with a wood knob. My other rigs are 15# power pro, a Kistler 6-9 DS rod, and a Pinnacle DHC 5 681SPM and Performa XT reel.
The braid rods are for weeds, docks, primarily shallow or shore fishing. I use various leaders. The rest are for deep, open water. I base what rod I use on the weight. If I go heavy, like gumball heavy, I switch to the M. Otherwise, I like ML for this.
Ive thrown the dropshot on several rods, from the Mojos to the top ends in all types of scenarios. That being said, I ended up getting a St. Croix Legend Xtreme 6'10" ML Fast with a Pflueger Patriarch 30 size with 10lb braid and run a 6lb fluoro leader. Have never fished anything better. Awesome tip to finesse baits while it has the backbone to really handle some deep fish. I didn't spare any expense and couldn't be happier with it.
daiwa cielo ml/xf pflueger president
I love dropshots, they are one of my confidence baits. I do most of my shotting on Croix's, I like the mojo line up for this, I have both the 6'9" ML/XF and the 7'M/F both work great the sensitivity is where i want it to be, and the price is right. I did buy a new one last year though a Shimano Compre 7'2" M/XF and it is a great rod I would say it is noticeably more sensitive than the mojo, and the action is right in the middle between the croix's ML and M... if you are set on st.croix the mojo would be my suggestion if not check out the Compre it just might surprise you (Crucial is also a great choice)...
Mitch
Thanks for all the quick and educated replies guys! I always like hearing how other anglers are tackling a certain technique and what equipment they are using for it.
My favorite DS setup is a Croix 5S69MLXF with a Stradic MG 2500. Prior to that, it was a Croix 4C69MLXF with a Sustain 2000. Gave the SCIV to the wife when I built the SCV. Next up is gonna be a 5S610MLXF and a 5SW70MLF. Haven't decided on a reels yet. The wife will be getting another top notch DS rod and her old SCIV will be up for sale once I get my new ones done. I really, really like St. Croix's MLXF for dropshotting
Their MLXF taper is special - and not just the high end, even the SCII Eyecon my son uses is awesome.
I'm using a StCroix Mojo wacky model, Plueger president, 10lb power pro, 6 or 8lb leader depending on what I'm doing.
I actually started out with a factory built SCIII in that action/power. Loved that rod til my wife amputated 2" off the tip with a storage hatch lid. It got stripped down, rewrapped and given to her to use for a while. Sold it when I gave her the SCIV.
IMO, the SCIII is the best bang for the buck.
Great choice on reel. I dropshot all the time and have three rods with Sahara 2500s and love them.
I correct myself from my previous post. The rod I use is a 6'10" MLXF not MLF
On 3/26/2014 at 4:26 AM, J Francho said:Their MLXF taper is special - and not just the high end, even the SCII Eyecon my son uses is awesome.
Which Eyecon is your son using?
6'3" MLXF.
On 3/26/2014 at 2:27 AM, cbass12 said:The rage and the legend tournament bass 6'10" ML/XF would be good options. I use the 6'10" rage for finesse baits, but several people on the forum have recommended it as a drop shot rod.
I've used both the Rage and LTB, they're both nice but the LTB is far and away the nicer of the two (as it should be).
If you want to keep in the St. Croix lineup without spending a bunch, the 6' 9" ML/F Mojo is a pretty decent dropshot rod as well.
If you can find one, the Diawa TD-X 6'10" ML-F drop shot model is top shelf. They've been out of production for a couple of years. Good luck finding one. They made a casting version as well, and I've been looking for one of those for quite a while.
I'm using the Premier ML/F for dropshot. Does just fine.
I use the rage 6'10" mlxf rod paired with a 2500 ci4. Super light and very sensitive. I just don't drop shot much at all.
6'9" ML XF Avid- can't be beat for the price