Dropshot rods, spinning or baitcasting

[Randy Turner]

I'm looking at the shimano crucial dropshot rod which comes in the same line test and lure weight in both a spinning and baitcaster model. If you put a swivel in line to cut down line twist with the spinning reel model, what are the benefits of one over the other? I notice most of the pros use spinning models but some of my friends only use the baitcaster model. I fish mainly the delta and some berryessa.
I'm interested in others opinions.
Thanks
Randy

[Jason C.]

I use a bait caster for drop shot. I like it for a few reasons. 1) You have so much more accuracy with it compared to a spinning reel. 2.) I personally think that I can work the bait alot better as well. 3.) I tihnk you can get more sencitivity because you can keep your finger on the line instead of just holding the rod and relying on the rods sencitivity. and 4.) you can do multiple things with the bait caster at 1 time, as in you can keep your finger on the line for more sencitvity you can work the bait and reel up the slack all at once with it. These are the reason I like it.

But spinning gear has its place to. Like if you need to down size your line to say 4-6lb test I would say use the spinning gear. This is just my opinion and I hope this helps!!

[Slippy]

you cant go wrong with the Crucial spinning rod, for drop shots. Crucial has a very light feel to it, i have two for drop shot and two for dartheading.

[Paul W]

For me its a spinning rod without a doubt! I like keeping a light grip and my index finger on the line while dropshotting, allowing me to feel the lightest bite. You can put your index finger on the line with a baitcaster as well, but in my opinion doing this while palming the reel just doesnt have the same amount of "feel" in detecting pressure bites common to dropshot fishing. I can also work my baits more effectively, since I'm right handed and have better control.

Paul W

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

I noticed Jason was talking about "sensitivity" saying he thought baitcasters were easier to detect subtle changes..Actually the rod and the line used, probably have a lot more to do with "sensitivity" than does if a baitcaster or a spinning rig is used..And for accuracy, that is a matter of experience and truthfully very little else..I have never understood anyones assertion that one rig is more accurate than another, especially when you start reading and hearing about one rod length being more accurate..Accuracy is a measure of proficiency in using a specific setup..You can be just a accurate using a seven foot rod as you can be with a six foot rod..You can be just as accurate with spinning gear as you can with baitcasting..One is not more accurate or more "sensitive" than the other..

mac

[Phil]

OUR .02 IS ONLY THIS. THE ROD IS GREAT YOU CAN'T GO WRONG. BOTH SPIN AND CAST RODS ARE SENSITIVE AND BOTH ARE ACCURATE. AS FOR LINE TWISTS, I GET FAR LESS WITH CAST RODS COMPARED TO SPIN RODS. SWIVELS TO ME MEANS ANOTHER LINK TO LINE BREAKAGE, LOST FISH AND LOST TOURNAMENT MONEY. I HAVE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF CAROLINA RIGS JUST BECAUSE OF ANOTHER KNOT AT THE SWIVEL. I GUESS THE ANSWER IS. TRY IT AND CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF AND YOU TO WILL SOON HAVE YOUR OWN PREFERENCE.

JIGS

[macinckirk]

I have gone to the Crucial with a baitcaster (51 MG) and just LOVE IT, I'm not a big fan of spinning gear anyways but thats just me and I use 6lb test on it

[JT-Madera]

Randy; Just a little input...

I have used a spinning rod and reel for too many years to count..I love using a spinning outfit on clear " open " reservoirs, with little or no wood. I am a backreeler...I lock down the drag so that a fourwheel drive truck couldn't pull it...

Then I started dropshoting Clearlake and the Delta.. I lost to many fish, I bought a Powell baitcaster dropshot rod and a Shimano Castiac reel.. Great combo, good feel and very accurate around docks, with the backbone to pull 4plus pounders out of docks and weeds... My spincast G. Loomis just didn't have the backbone to do that and cost me fish... There is one caveat!!!!! If its windy, I have to make very short casts with the Powell or throw underhand.. I am a power dropshoter and cover a lot of area, fast.. I am getting better at the underhand throw, but if its very windy, out comes the spincaster...I have one with 20lb braid and 15lb Stren floro...

I have a lot of G. Loomis rods...but for the money Powell and Kistler Helium rods are just as good and half the cost, which allows me to fish twice the tournaments...

[Mike]

I have to agree with JT. I use a 7' Lamiglass MH with a Castaic. #10 myCoy. I had a little problem with line ywist, but went to a small swivel about 2' up from my hook and took care of that.

[K-DOGG]

I use the Shimano Dropshot rod 7"0 M and paired it with the Shimano Chronarch 50 MG and I like the baitcaster much better than the spinning reel because I can get better casting control and for the lack of line twist.

[Larry Hemphill]

If you are dropshotting in open water or near some visable structures, spinning or baitcasting are both fine - personal choice. I like to dropshot very deep docks at Clear Lake and I find spinning is easier to handle with the 10 or 12 lb test I am using. Once I make the sometimes long pitch, I know my sinker will go straight down without having to feed out line by hand as you sometimes have to do with baitcasting reels. I don't really experience too much line twist. Just personal choice I guess!

[dockboy]

I personally prefer to DS with spinning. I know guys who swear by casting rods for their finese stuff, but I've always liked spinning. I fish 2 rods for DS; one is a custom Loomis DS820 that I fish in open water, small bait situations. The other is a Shimano Crucial. Its the MH version from their DS series. Plenty of backbone for heavy stuff. What I like about spinning is the ability to shake the rod tip more freely. Besides the usual hop and tight-line shaking, I find shaking a bait on a slack line is very effective. For some reason, I can't shake the bait as well when I'm using a baitcaster. Just seems to take a lot more effort and rod movement when I shake the bait. But with spinning, its much easier for me to just sit there and get the bait moving without tons of tip movement. Spinning reels have a much better drag for light line than most baitcaster as well, as least from my experience. I understand the line twist thing. I've had a few problems with it before but not enoguh to switch over to casting. As far a I'm concerned, the casting distance and easy "free-spool" abilities a spinner has is worth taking some time with line twist every once and a while.