Drop Shot Rod

[Larry]

I am going to give drop shotting a try and was wondering which Helium model would be appropriate? Does anyone use a bait casting rod for this or is it usually a spinning rod?

Length? Action?

I will probably use 8 or 10 lb test fluorocarbon line...

Thanks....

[TTCal]

Larry... you gotta try the He70MLC - it makes a FANTASTIC drop shot rod! Match it with a Scorpion 1000/1001 and you should be able to cast no problems. Otherwise, you could always get a Daiwa Pixy or the new Alpha

[jcheetam]

I can't claim to dropshot all that often (it's actually illegal in MI), but my He70MS did a great job.

[TTCal]

Jeff... ILLEGAL?!?! why is that? do you know?

[Lightninrod]

I havn't used my 7', Helium MC for drop-shotting as I don'y use that method but it will work nicely for that technique I'm sure.

Dan

[jcheetam]

SD, in MI you cannot have a hook tied directly to the line above a sinker...you must have at least a 3 in. dropper line for the rig to be legal. The roots of the law goes back to the salmon snagging days of the past when large treble hooks were tied directly above heavy sinkers (and in many cases directly on the sinker). To thwart snagging, legislation was passed making a hook tied directly to a line above a 'weight' illegal. HOWEVER, some COs have been asked if they would ticket a bass fisherman for having a 'dropshot' rig and the answer is NO. They would only ticket someone if they had a similar rig tied AND were making 'snagging' motions (which we all know is not the proper way to dropshot for bass). Also, there is the question off what constitutes a 'weight'? Is a tube jig (being used as the 'weight) with a dropshot bait above it illegal? How about something like a Fat Ika being used as a 'weight'? Pretty cut and dry, don't you think? lol...Here is how it is written:

You may NOT :Have a weight rigidly attached to a multi-pointed hook; or suspended from a multi-point hook; or suspended below any hook unless the hook is on a dropper line (a leader) that is at least 3" long.

[TTCal]

thanks for the explanation Jeff... very enlightening. Guess I better stop making those sweeping motions when trying to work my drop shot rig

[chavez]

I use my He70MLC for the occassional drop shotting though I really like that rod for small crankbaits.

[Sacto John]

I used my Martk Tyler rod for DSing befor it was donated to the River Gods. It was a medium action with a soft tip and good back bone. I used it with 12 folorcarbon line. I have done a considerable amount of DSing this year and I use three different rods for the application.

1 a long (7'0) medium spinning rod for light line clear water applications with 6-8# floro

2 a 6''10 medium action (was my kistler now it is a Loomis, I liked the Kistler better) for shallow water, weedy situatuions ( CA Delta or Clear Lake) with 10-15# floro

3 a 7'0 medium heavy pitching rod for "filp shotting" in heavier cover (again on the Delta or Clear Lake) with 15-20# floro

I like a fast tip on all of my DS rods to help get the exposed hook in the fishes mouth with the "reelset' that is used on this application with exception of the pitching rod . With tjis rod I use a traditional hook set as the bait is texas rigged and the cover is heavy.

I resited DSing for a long time and I am just kicking myself for not using this versitile rig sooner. It flat catches fish in almost any situation.