Drop shotting is a widely preferred technique for many anglers. It’s also known as finesse technique for luring both small and large fish that choose to hang out in the middle of water or at the bottom of a lake or river. The idea is to utilize a deceiving bait, and a knot commonly referred to as a Palomar knot to ensure your dropshot hook lies horizontally in the water. This makes a bait look so natural and irresistible to your target fish.
Over the years, dropshot rods have become more popular, and various manufacturers have been rolling out various versions, with each new rod promising more and more outstanding fishing experience. These fishing rods come in different action ratings, lengths, power levels, and are made of different materials. Besides, there are other aspects that vary from one rod to another.
Given the increasing number of dropshot rod manufacturers and the growing demand for these products, you can be sure the markets are flooded with fishing reels, rods, and other essential pieces of fishing equipment. This, however, doesn’t mean that every dropshot rod out there can fit your needs. Therefore, you should find the best dropshot rod that fits your requirements. And this can be tricky, especially for beginners.
To help you make this choice, we have reviewed and rated the top 10 dropshot rods.
Dropshot rod: A comparison chart
An effective dropshot rod should be medium-light, have a reliable drag system, fast action spinning rod, and a good dropshot reel. A light power rod lets the user make good hook sets on wire hooks without snapping the line. Here is a comprehensive comparison chart that will help you choose the right dropshot rod for your angling trips.
| Ranking | Name | Length | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dobyns Rods Fury Series FR 702SF Medium Spinning Rod | 7 Feet | 4.8 ounces |
| 2 | St.Croix Rod Premier Spinning Rod | 5 Feet 6 inches | 51.2 ounces |
| 3 | Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod | 7 Feet | 7.2 ounces |
| 4 | St. Croix MIS70MHF Graphite Spinning Fishing Rod | 7 Feet | 4.8 ounces |
| 5 | Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Rod | 7 Feet | 33.6 ounces |
| 6 | St. Croix Mojo Inshore Dropshot Rod | 6 Feet 9 inches | 4.8 ounces |
| 7 | Fenwicks Eagle Spinning Rod | 6 Feet 6 inches | – |
| 8 | St. Croix MJS71MF Spinning Fishing Rod | 7 Feet 1 Inches | – |
| 9 | Okuma Scott Martin Concept Dropshot Rod | 6 Feet 8 inches | 4.8 ounces |
| 10 | Fenwick Elite Tech Bass Spinning | 7 Feet | 52.8 ounces |
1. Fenwick Elite Bass Spinning Rod
Fenwick Elite Bass Spinning Rod is a must-have piece of fishing equipment for anyone serious about bass fishing. Its power, high-sensitivity, and action make it one of the top bass fishing rods available in the market today.
The rod’s hidden handle design facilitates the cohesiveness of functionality and comfort. Unlike the traditional versions, the user will not feel the threads in the seat reels when using this Fenwick Elite Bass Spinning Rod. The product’s titanium frame guides are rust-resistant, lightweight, and bulletproof. This means you can be assured of many years of outstanding fishing experience.
The Fenwick Elite Bass Spinning Rod is highly sensitive that the user can feel even the tiniest of nibbles. It’s medium and comes with a fast taper for better performance. To sum it up, this spinning is worth every buck you spend.
Pros
- Easy to use
- It’s a fast power action rod
- Highly sensitive
- Durable
Cons
- The spinning rod is expensive
2. Dobyns Rod Fury Series Spinning Drop Short Rod
When you think you got it all, Boom! Gary Dobyns launches a new spinning rod designed to meet various fishermen’s needs. The Dobyns Rod Fury Series Spinning Rod is equipped with a durable graphite blank and a Fuji reel seat that facilitates balance. This spinning rod is equipped with an A-grade cork grip along with a robust Hypalon butt and a Kevlar wrap to offer enough sensitivity and strength.
Pros
- The power action of the rod is spectacular fast.
- It is durable due to being rust free and doesn’t wear out fast.
- It has split grip handles to reduce hand fatigue.
- It is very extra sensitive.
Cons
- It is quite expensive.
3. SHIMANO Sellus Spinning Rod
This spinning drop short rod from Shimano is specially designed to deliver better fishing experience compared to its competitors while maintaining its affordability. It’s made of lightweight materials for a less fatigue fishing day. It features 24-ton carbon construction and fitted with split grips for a higher level of strength and better sensitivity. Unlike many other dropshot rods, SHIMANO Sellus Spinning Rod’s line doesn’t wrap around the tip, and this guarantees the user an uncompromised fishing adventure.
It features a newly-designed reel seat. This offers a secure, highly comfortable base for the user’s reel that directs access to the dropshot rod’s blank. The rod’s inserts and guides are made of an oxide of aluminum for improved leverage. According to the manufacturer’s details, SHIMANO Sellus Spinning Rod comes with an extra dropshot fast catching action and offers optimum performance that outweighs its cost.
Lastly, you don’t have to worry about where you will store your hooks. After all, this rod comes with an all-purpose hook holder.
Pros
- Rust-resistant
- Has a hook holder
- Comes with a one-year warranty
- Fast-medium power action
- It’s highly sensitive
- Its modern seat offers stability and comfort
Cons
- Doesn’t have a dropshot rod case
4. St Croix Spinning Rod
Generally, St Croix Spinning Rod has been a favorite for many fishermen for many years and has stood the test of time due to its ability to offer outstanding fishing experience. It is a handmade product from the United States. Though it costs a little bit higher compared to other similar dropshot rods, it a quality product that offers the buyer the full value of their money.
You would expect it to be out of the market by now due to the stiff competition. But because this spinning dropshot rod has always offered the best performance over the years, it is still preferred by many fishermen.
Pros
- It is durable.
- It’s sturdy and lightweight for better performance.
- It has an offer of a 5-year warranty.
- It is rust-free
- It is made of materials with high-quality for durability
Cons
- It has no rod case.
- It is expensive compared to similar products in the market.
5. St Croix Mojo Bass Spinning Dropshot Rod
This St Croix Mojo Bass Spinning Dropshot Rod is associated with a legendary performance right from its butt to the rod’s tip. It is ideal for inshore fishing and is specially designed to provide exemplary performance that users will definitely fall in love with. Besides, it features outstanding SCII graphite construction, making a durable piece of fishing equipment.
This dropshot rod is fitted with a black rust-resistant frame, and its guides are made of robust aluminum oxide. It is ergonomically designed with enough strength to fight large fish effectively. Equipped with a hooded Fuji DPS reel seat, this fishing rod offers excellent stability and reliability.
Pros
- Durable
- Rust-resistant guides
- Comes with its storage tube
- Has a high-quality seat for stability
Cons
- This is a heavy-duty item
- It’s suitable for inshore fishing
6. St. Croix Mojo Inshore Dropshot Rod
This St. Croix Mojo Spinning Dropshot Rod was built to bring out amazing performance for both experienced and novice fisherfolk. However, it can only be used for inshore fishing. The rod’s SCII graphite construction makes it strong enough to handle various sizes of fish. Indeed, even bigger fish do not stand a chance.
The rod is fitted high-quality, rust-resistant blanks, making it more durable. Also, it is equipped with an excellent Fuji reel seat and split grips for extra comfort. Therefore, you can count on this piece of fishing equipment for an exciting fishing experience all day long.
Pros
- It is rust-free.
- It is durable.
- It includes a rod storage tube.
- It has an offer of a 5-year warranty.
- It has a reel seat for extra comfort.
Cons
- It is heavy.
- It is ideal for inshore fishing only
7. Fenwicks Eagle Spinning Rod
It’s no doubt Fenwick is a company that shares a fisherman’s passion for fishing adventures. The company’s Eagle spinning dropshot rod has proved to be an exceptional piece of fishing equipment that offers an exciting all-day long fishing adventure without compromising performance or breaking your bank.
This dropshot rod is equipped with classic, time-tested actions for a broad range of fish species. It is a piece of fishing gear built from more than six decades of tinkering, testing, and in-depth knowledge gained from research and field testing. This Eagle Series remains to be an integral component of any fisherman’s arsenal due to its versatility, ease of use, durability, and affordability.
Pros
- It is strong enough to catch various fish species
- It’s rust-resistant
- Comes with a five-year warranty
- Made of durable materials
- Lightweight for better performance
Cons
- This dropshot rod doesn’t come with a storage case
8. Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Dropshot Rod
The Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Dropshot Rod weighs 2.1 pounds and is 2.2 inches by 1inch by 83 inches long. It features high-quality and durable graphite construction for many years of exciting fishing experience. Besides, it’s equipped with Ugly-Tech, which makes it very sensitive to bites from even the smallest fish.
Pros
- This product is made of high-quality materials for durability.
- It comes with a 7-year warranty.
- It’s rust-resistant, and thus, users can be assured of many years of service
Cons
- It’s associated with a little backbone
9. Okuma Scott Martin Tournament Concept Dropshot Rod
Over the decades, Scott Martin has achieved a commendable level of success when it comes to professional bass fishing. In the development phase of this dropshot rod, Scott collaborated with the legendary Okuma engineers to design each casting and spinning rod in the famous TCS lineup. The primary objective was to create bass fishing rods that could improve angler abilities across a broad range of fishing disciplines.
This Scott’s tournament concept dropshot rod focuses on the bass fishery, and fisherfolk can always rely on its strength to catch larger fish – brings the big guns for an exciting fishing experience. Also, it features ultra-sensitive blank construction for reliability, and EVA split grip for minimized weight and feel. Indeed, its fore-grip is specially designed to ensure that the reel seat threads aren’t exposed.
It is beyond any reasonable doubt that Okuma Scott Martin Tournament Concept Dropshot Rod was, indeed, developed to inspire passion for both onshore and offshore fishing.
Pros
- Durable
- Has customized reel seats for better casting and spinning
- Specially designed for particular tournament applications
- It’s rust-resistant
- Ideal for both onshore and offshore fishing
Cons
- It’s only meant for bass fishing
10. Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod.
What other pieces of fishing equipment combines a modern look and exceptional fishing performance than this Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod? Despite the word ‘ugly’ in its name, this rod has outstanding aesthetics, and this gives it its modern look.
The rod is light in weight with a clear tip, which acts as a medium to give strength and sensitivity. The length of the rod is 43 by 2.5 by 1 inch and has a mass of 0.8 ounces. It is furnished with an Ugly piece of tuff guides derived from stainless steel. Lastly, it is associated with a 7’ medium power, and that means it has enough backbone to facilitate better balance and exciting fishing trips.
Pros
- It made up of great quality.
- It has good sensitivity.
- It is simple to use.
- It has a 7-year warranty.
- It is cheaper.
- It also has 2-pieces construction.
Cons
- The rod case is not included.
An ultimate buy guide for dropshot rods
If you like fishing, then you know the importance of having the right equipment by your side. A drop shot rod is one of the most productive fishing tools for different fish species. If used correctly, you can enjoy your fishing time. However, to get the right drop shot rod, you must search widely because not all brands may meet your unique specifications.
Factors like terminal tackle, line, rod length, and fishing reel are vital when choosing your drop shot rod. Read through to find out some underlying factors that you must have in mind when you shop for a useful drop shot rod in the market.
Here is your ultimate guide to choosing your ideal drop shot rod
Lure movement and fishing line
A drop shot rod applies a light line fishing technique. Be keen when selecting your fishing line. The fishing line must not weigh more than a quarter oz. Ideally, you can shop for rods with a line rating of between 4.0-10.0 lb. Any rod that is fit for handling light drop shot and weight can also be helpful.
Rod action
Rod action plays a critical role in spinning and casting your drop shot rod. Always buy drop shot rods with the right rod action at the tip. Rod action is the extent by which the rod tip can bend when casting. Depending on your rod choice, you can find rods with fast, moderate, or slow action. Fast action is ideal for all types of drop shot rods because it helps you to take control of the fish and the bait movement.
Power
Your rod power is equally essential for casting. A perfect rod should be stable, limber, strong, and suitable for casting long and small distances. Sometimes your bait may catch a big fish; in this case, you’ll need a rod that is flexible enough to handle the big fish. Most anglers will advise that you shop for a rod with moderate or medium power to get the best fishing experience.
Length of the rod
Ideally, there is no recommended length of rod for a typical drop shot rod. Your height as an angler determines the length of rod you choose. If you are taller, then you can go for up to 9 ft rod so that you can easily hold the rod with strength as you cast. If you intend to achieve a long cast, then buy a 7 ft long drop shot rod. Note that your choice of rod length depends on your taste and preference. You can try several rods until you find the right one for your fishing style.
Material
You can choose a rod depending on the amount you intend to spend and your preferred brand. Most rods are made of fiberglass and graphite. Graphite rods are expensive compared to fiberglass. If you are looking for a more sensitive and flexible rod, then graphite is the best option in the market. Graphite rods last longer and give you value for your money.
Handle
Rod handles are made of different materials. You can find wooden, cork, or EVA foam handles. The choice of favorite handling is vital if you intend to get a perfect grip when using your rod. Also, you can purchase rods with a finger cutout handlebar because they give the best grip.
Finding the right drop shot rod should not be that challenging. All you need to do is to try as many rod types as you can until you find the right one that fits your fishing style. Ultimately, you can always rely on the tips given here to help you with choosing an ideal rod.
Conclusion
So far, you should have realized that there are many reliable dropshot fishing rods. Just remember to assess the different aspects discussed in our review and buying guide to pick what suits you best. After all, having an excellently performing piece of fishing equipment guarantees more exciting fishing trips and a better experience.