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Drop shotting has gone from a fringe technique, looked down upon by some hardcore bass anglers, to a staple for catching largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. While it’s known as a limit-getting presentation, it’s remarkably effective on giant bass, too.
The right drop shot rod is a critical element for success whether bass are 2 feet or more than 50 feet deep. While many anglers try to get by with a do-everything 7-foot medium or medium-light spinning rod for drop shotting, the intricacies and nuances of the technique may demand different sticks for different circumstances—and of course, budget is a factor, too.
Whether you’re just getting started drop shotting, or you’re a master of vertical finesse techniques, I’ve made picking your next rod easier by finding the best drop shot rods for a variety of budgets and fishing styles.
- Best Overall: Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS Spinning Rod – Brent Ehrler
- Best Premium: G.Loomis NRX 822 DSR
- Best All-Around: St. Croix Mojo Bass Trigon JOS610MLXF
- Best for Extreme Sensitivity: Fenwick World Class WLDB610-ML-XFS
- Best Bargain: Dobyns Maverick MK702-SF
- Best for Tournament Anglers: Lew’s Custom Lite CLAPS
- Best Two-Piece: Daiwa Tatula XT 702MFS
- Best Budget: Falcon BuCoo SR Shoal Spin
- Most Versatile: St. Croix Victory 7 foot 1 inch Medium
How I Chose the Best Drop Shot Rods
I’ll admit it—while I’m not afraid of spinning tackle and embraced the drop shot relatively early in time, I still don’t use it as much as I should. That has started to change as I’ve accumulated and tested rods dedicated to the technique—and now I’ve caught largemouths to 7 pounds and smallmouths to 5 on this comparatively new technique. I know that it works in a ridiculously wide range of circumstances and also that the right rod makes a huge difference not only in the number that you hook, but more importantly, in the number that you land. With that in mind, I’ve forced myself to fish them as much as possible to take the guesswork away going forward.
Best Drop Shot Rods: Reviews and Recommendations
Best Overall: Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS Spinning Rod – Brent Ehrler
Key Features
- Length: 7 feet 1 inch
- Lure Rating: 1/8 to 1/2 ounce
- Line Rating: 6 to 12 pound mono and 6 to 20 pound braid
- Split EVA grip
- Price: $290
Pros
- Length should be comfortable for anglers of all sizes
- Lightweight but super-strong
- Lightweight guides and components for all-day use
Cons
- Some might not like the bold color
California bass pro Brent Ehrler is an exceptional tactician across the board, but he made his reputation—and earned some of his biggest wins, including an FLW championship—with finesse techniques. He’s not afraid to use light line in traditional power fishing scenarios, and whether it’s a shaky head or one of the best drop shot baits, he’s uber-confident.
That shows in the Tatula Elite AGS, which is remarkably lightweight, yet musters incredible strength to move big bass from the depths. At the same time, it’s also forgiving enough that you won’t pull the hook on a smallmouth that surges or jumps boatside. I found the X45 carbon fiber blank to be exceptionally sensitive, even in depths of 30 feet or more whether I was using straight fluorocarbon or braid with a fluoro leader. The AGS (Air Guide System) guides are really light too.
This rod is exceptional in all aspects, and while it’s not inexpensive, if you’re only going to get one drop shot rod it would be a more-than-solid choice.
Best Premium: G.Loomis NRX 822 DSR
Key Features
- 6 feet 10 inches
- Extra-fast mag medium
- 1/8-3/8 ounce lures
- Split grip cork handle
Pros
- Feather light
- Action absorbs shock during the fight to keep fish hooked
- Hand-crafted in the USA
Cons
- Out of many anglers’ price range
The Loomis base camp in Washington is a launching point both for premium products for anglers who want the very best, and this one lives up to the hype. Given its price point, I was a little bit afraid to fish it, scared not only that I’d slam it in a rod locker door, but also that this seemingly dainty stick wouldn’t hold up to hard hooksets. I was wrong, and I’m glad I got over those fears because it’s a joy to fish. Just make sure you have a very lightweight reel to keep the combo balanced and everything else will follow from there. The Recoil guides are not just light, but won’t be damaged by a braid main line if that’s what you chose to use. I was surprised that it lived up to its lure weight ratings, figuring that such a light rod would be overpowered by a 3/8 ounce weight, but I went up to a half-ounce with no problems at all. Everything about this rod feels like it was given thought and attention, but what really stood out was the blank design. It casts better, feels more, and loads under the weight of a surging smallmouth better than just about anything I’ve ever tried.
Best All-Around: St. Croix Mojo Bass Trigon JOS610MLXF
Key Features
- 6 feet 10 inches
- Medium light extra fast action
- 1/16 to 3/8 ounce lures
- Split grip cork and EVA handle
Pros
- Highly competitive price point
- Good keeper system prevents rod locker tangles
- Handles wide range of weights
Cons
- Handle butt may take some getting used to
I’ve fished multiple generations of the St. Croix Mojo series rods, since their earliest incarnations, and while they’ve always been solid performers at great price points, you could tell a difference between them and the company’s higher-end rods. That delta has shrunk substantially with these Trigon rods. There’s nothing “bargain” about them, no compromises at all, from the fortified resin, extremely sensitive blanks to the exposed custom-look reel seats. What I really liked about this rod was that not only was it super-sensitive, but I felt like I could go to the low end of my dropshot weight needs (1/16 or on rare occasions even 1/32 ounce) without giving up much at the top end. I found myself grabbing it for other techniques, too, including some lighter Ned heads and smaller wacky worms. The only thing that put me off was the angled construction of the rear cork section – eventually I got used to it, but early on every time I grabbed it I hesitated for a moment. It just felt odd. Get past that, though, and you have premium performance at a tournament-ready price.
Best for Extreme Sensitivity: Fenwick World Class WLDB610-ML-XFS
Key Features
- 6 feet 10 inches
- Medium light extra fast action
- 1/16-5/16 ounce lures
- Split grip cork and EVA handle
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Powerful, yet handles miniscule lures
- Reel seat and foregrip provide maximum sensitivity
Cons
- May not be within some anglers’ budgets
As someone who historically prefers heavier gear, my switch to becoming a dropshot devotee has forced me to recalibrate the rods that I own. At one point, I didn’t own any line lighter than 8-pound test, and I used that only sparingly. Now I’m not afraid to use 6, and this rod is the perfect vessel for those lighter options. I feel like even in a stiff wind, fishing fairly deep, it allows me to feel exactly what my lure is doing, and then react to the lightest bites in real time. Befitting it’s price point, it features titanium guide frames with zirconium inserts, and a custom-designed reel seat. I’ll admit that the atypical shape of the reel seat looked odd to me at first, but I had no trouble adjusting to its contours, and even gripping it firmly all day did not result in fatigue or cramps.
Best Bargain: Dobyns Maverick MK702-SF
Key Features
- 7 feet
- Medium light fast action
- 1/8-1/2 ounce lures
- EVA split grip handle
Pros
- Extremely durable
- Kevlar-wrapped guides
- Incredible price point
Cons
- Not quite as light or as sensitive as higher-priced rods in the Dobyns lineup
While Gary Dobyns may now call Texas home, his roots are in California. That gives him the perfect dual perspective to understand the history and evolution of finesse techniques, while also integrating in the needs of trophy bass hunters. I’ve fished his Fury and Champion series dropshot rods, and I was impressed, but given the low price of this one I didn’t expect much. Once again, my initial thoughts were wrong, as I reached for this one repeatedly. Most importantly, it took the beatings of airline travel and bouncy rides in aluminum boats in Mexico and never stopped ticking. I liked the EVA handle and most importantly the blank flexed exactly right to lead big fish out of buck brush and the root balls or big hardwood trees. While it’s primarily a dropshotting an wacky worming tool for me, I’ve also employed this Maverick for light crankbaits and topwaters, as well as flukes.
Best for Tournament Anglers: Lew’s Custom Lite CLAPS
Key Features
- 7’
- Medium fast action
- 3/16-5/8 ounce lures
- Winn Dri-Tac ProWeave Split Grip handle
Pros
- Competitively priced
- Pairs perfectly with Lew’s high-end reels
- Beefy construction in a lightweight package
Cons
- Some anglers may not like the Winn Grip handles
I’ve fished a lot of Lew’s products in recent years, mostly on the baitcasting side, and I’ve found them to be exceptionally durable and tournament-friendly. They perform admirably and this one is no exception. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the Winn Grips but they proved to be not only comfortable, but also non-slippery in wet or sweat-inducing conditions. The rod is rated for heavier lures than most of the other tools I surveyed, and it lived up to that promise. If you’re fishing in extremely deep water or heavy cover and need more weight than usual to penetrate and then extract big fish, you’ll want this rod. At the same time, I had no trouble dropping down to 1/8 ounce weights and mini-plastics and feeling the breath of every fish that inspected them. Everything about this rod – from the position of the hook keeper to the stainless steel guides with titanium oxide inserts – is made for anglers who demand quality. The only thing missing is the high-end price tag.
Best Two-Piece: Daiwa Tatula XT 702MFS
Key Features
- 7 feet
- Medium fast action
- 1/8-3/8 ounce lures
- EVA split grip handle
- 2 piece construction
Pros
- Affordable price
- More transportable than one-piece models
- Still extremely lightweight
Cons
- Still not as transportable as 3- or 4-piece models for air travel
If you need a rod to throw under the seat of your car, or in a short tube, or carry backpacking, a one-piecer may be too cumbersome and many of the bargain 3- and 4-piece models don’t have maximum sensitivity. With this Tatula XT, Daiwa splits the difference. In doing so, they somehow keep the price extremely affordable, yet use top-flight components, including premium graphite, a custom reel seat, and an EVA split grip handle that looks like it came straight from the best Japanese rods available. If you need something to throw in a closet or in your apartment, this should get the call, but I have an 8-foot-plus rod locker in my bass boat and I still tote it along much of the time. The Tatula name has come to signify performance, and I often forgot about the presence of the ferrule, as it flexed and bent just like their one-piece dropshot models.
Best Budget: Falcon BuCoo SR Shoal Spin
Key Features
- Length: 7 feet
- Lure Rating: ¼ to 1/2 ounce
- Line Rating: 8 to 15 pounds
- Action: Medium-light
- Flex: Fast
- Split Grip EVA Handle
- Price: $100
Pros
- Lightweight
- Exposed blank reel seat for direct contact with the blank
- Fuji guides
Cons
- Not ideal for heavier (over 1/2 ounce) drop shot weights
I’ve tested several of the Falcon BuCoo rods over the past couple of years, notably during the Outdoor Life best spinning rod test. I’ve also bought a few more for my own use, and yet I’m nevertheless surprised every time I find myself grabbing for one on a day of “fun fishing” over a rod that costs two or three times as much.
Despite the low price point, Falcon makes tools that you want to fish that simply feel comfortable in hand and load up right for both the cast and the hook set. This one is no different. The EVA grip is comfortable in hand and the Fuji components—often found only in more expensive rods—are foolproof and failsafe. I’d have no trouble relying on this “bargain” rod with money or the fish of a lifetime on the line. In fact, I think you could be happy with an entire arsenal of BuCoo rods.
Most Versatile: St. Croix Victory 7 foot 1 inch Medium
Key Features
- Length: 7 feet 1 inch
- Lure Rating: 3/8 to ¾ ounce
- Line Rating: 6 to 20 pounds
- Action: Fast
- Flex: Medium
- Split grip cork and EVA handle
Pros
- High-modulus blanks are light and extremely sensitive
- Fuji VSS reel seat transmits the lightest bites
- 15-year transferrable warranty
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Some anglers may prefer a longer rod
If you have to pick one do-it-all rod for light to medium range finesse techniques, this would be a solid choice. It sits at the lower end of premium rods in terms of cost, and it can handle shaky heads, Ned Rigs, Neko Rigs, wacky worms, and drop shotting.
It may not be St. Croix‘s most expensive series, but they don’t skimp anywhere, from the Fuji Concept O guides to the VSS reel seat and even a premium locking nut. They use high-grade cork, too, but there’s a small section of foam right behind the reel seat. The U.S.-made rods are built with care, including an extra layer of Flex-Coat on the guides to make sure that they stay solidly in place. If you’re going in someone else’s boat and only have room for one spinning rod, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Drop Shot Rod
Length
Seven feet is a nice all-around mark for this technique, allowing you to move line on the hook set but still store it easily. At the same time, you might want to go longer in big water or with big fish, while smaller anglers might prefer something closer to 6 feet 6 inches. Yet, more length can be a disadvantage in close quarters, or when pitching the drop shot.
Power
For the most part, drop shotting is a light line technique, where finesse and stealth provide an advantage, but you still need power. That’s not just for big fish—you’d be surprised at how much chaos a rampaging 2-pound smallmouth can cause. Most of the time, you’ll likely be using 1/8 to 3/8 ounce weights, but when you stray to the edges (or outside) of those margins, it may demand a lighter or heavier rod.
Handle
Some anglers prefer cork, and others prefer EVA foam. Some like split grips, while others like full grips. Choose one you’ll want to keep in your hand all day, preferably with blank-through technology and an exposed reel seat that will enable you to feel the lightest-biting bass.
Budget
You can use a true bargain basement stick and experience success, and it’s also possible to head to the uppermost regions of the rod economy for custom features. It’s eminently possible to get a tournament-ready high-quality rod in the $100 to $250 range. Depending on what you can afford, and how many you’ll need to fill out your arsenal, there’s a reasonable possibility for everyone.
FAQs
The best all-around length for a drop shot rod is 7 feet.
The most common weights for drop shotting weigh 1/8 to 3/8 ounce.
A good drop shot rod can be had for $100 to $250, and the ultra-premium rods cost over $500.
A reel spooled with the best fluorocarbon or a braid with fluorocarbon leader is ideal for drop shot fishing.
Final Thoughts
Lots of “bubba” anglers initially resisted the drop shot, preferring to dunk heavy jigs or big worms in those same places. Today, however, all but the most stubborn among them have embraced it, and the few who have not are likely paying the price. A baitcasting rod and reel combo is still more natural and more efficient when it can be used, but they don’t excel for light-line techniques. If you skimp on a drop shot rod, you may end up paying the price when you finally find that mega-school or hook into a fish of a lifetime.
