Drop Shot Rod?

[Jefferson]

Which rod would be better to use for drop shotting? I have a 6'6' St. Croix Triumph medium fast with a GSX guide series extreme 20 size, 5.5:1 and a 6'6" Falcon Bucoo Micro medium moderate with a Pflueger President 6935, 5.2:1. No line on either yet. Should I use these? Mix and match or start looking for something else? They've been primarily used for shore fishing for the last 2 seasons, but this might be the year to get out on LSC for me.

[Manxfishing]

The fast action
I myself like 7' med
I think I'm at 8 or 9 these days

Mod actions are mostly crank rods

[Jefferson]

Gotta start somewhere so the st. Croix is gonna get spooled with 8lb flouro. What would be a good sinker weight for this setup to start? Or is it more personal preference?

[Manxfishing]

I myself throw a 1/4 round ball
Shallow or deep it just works for me

1/0 Gam hook

[21XDC]

I'm pumped for drop shotting this year.. I just bought a new ds set up that feels amazing.

Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth rod ESMS69ML-F....... 6, 9in ML spinning rod. . 4-10 lb test and a size 30 Patriarch spinning reel.

http://www.fenwickfishing.com/elite-tech-smallmouth/
http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/Pflueger%C2%AE-Patriarch-Spinning-Reel/1280290,default,pd.html

http://www.worldfishingnetwork.com/tips/video/the-fenwick-elite-for-smallmouth

[fiker]

St. Croix says that the rods they  design for drop shotting is the medium light, x fast tip.  I would say the closer you can come to that the better. 
I have and Avid ml/xf and I love it.  I have no desire to ever change that rod out for something else.  (Unless I win a raffle and get the Legend Tournament). 

You can compensate somewhat for a less expensive rod by using a combination of braid and fluoro lines.  The braid will give you zero stretch and more sensitivity.  The fluoro will give you less visibility and will sink faster.  I really don't think that there's that much difference between fluoro and mono when I'm only using a 4' section as the leader.  For that reason when fishing something like the river with a lot of jagged rocks I'll use Trilene XT for the abrasion resistance.  I've tried using all fluoro.  It works ok, but with the line twist that can develop I ended up spending too much money replacing lines. 

Many ds situations can lead to line twist.  Attaching the two lines together with a barrel swivel is not a bad idea.  It makes casting a little difficult but it's doable. You can also attach the two lines together with something like a uni to uni knot. 

For weight I like using the lightest I can and still feel the bottom.  Most of the time that means a 1/8th oz. weight for me.  Usually a round ball.  In a lot of wind, down deeper, or in current that can change to a 1/4.  If the bottom has a lot of rocks I don't use the round weights but switch to the finesse (pencil) weights.

For hook to weight length the situation dictates how much there should be.  In the Spring on beds I'll only use a 6" leader with a round 1/8.  Sometimes in the river I'll have 18-24" with 1/4 up to 5/8 oz depending on the depth and current.   

On the mile roads on Clair I find on a windy day I might need a 3/8 oz pencil weight to get by.

[capt charlie's charters]

st Croix avid 7' med lite, love mine.
capt

[jjjmpv22]

I use a 3/16 tear drop weight for the most part they are super cheap. If it is windy I will use a heavier weight.Down side to the tear drop is that you have to retie a lot

[Big dreams]

I use a 3/16 tear drop weight for the most part they are super cheap. If it is windy I will use a heavier weight.Down side to the tear drop is that you have to retie a lot

I found a place on the internet that sells drop shot weights for .19 a piece.  Deals are out there on them.  A lot better than retail .50 piece

[karol]

just go to a shop that sells drift weights like the steelheaders use. you can cut off the excess to what weight you want and they are cheaper than dropshot weights

[jjjmpv22]

I am paying about .16 per weight but I would prefer to use a drop shot weight so I wouldn't have to retie so much where are you finding these weights?

[Mojo]

I'm pumped for drop shotting this year.. I just bought a new ds set up that feels amazing.

Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth rod ESMS69ML-F....... 6, 9in ML spinning rod. . 4-10 lb test and a size 30 Patriarch spinning reel.

http://www.fenwickfishing.com/elite-tech-smallmouth/
http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/Pflueger%C2%AE-Patriarch-Spinning-Reel/1280290,default,pd.html

http://www.worldfishingnetwork.com/tips/video/the-fenwick-elite-for-smallmouth

I got that rod exactly in Med.... It's my all around back up ...... I have caught on spinnerbait, pop-r, top water buzz bait, but not for DS......

I know you (person who started thread) won't want to hear this, but get yourself this one rod: shimano crucial 6'8" ($159) or a Loomis G2($189)    The lifetime warranty means you'll keep this for 5 years I promise. Use 8 lb floro, invisix or BPS floro, use this rod and reel for Tube and Drop Shot. Stay with 1/4 , 3/8, 1/2 oz weights depending on the wind and
current.

Smallmouth need a firm hookset and just enough backbone to keep feeling the fish all the way through. A med-heavy or mod tip will miss fish at bite and during the fight. I use owner ssw straight shank 1 or 2 hooks for DS.there you got it all.... Go have fun !