With that in mind, I’ve forced myself to fish them as much as possible to take the guesswork away going forward. 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. 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’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.

Best Light: G.Loomis GCX Drop Shot 820S DSR.

Best Heavy: Phenix Maxim 7 feet 7 inches Medium.

Best Budget: Falcon BuCoo SR Shoal Spin.Best Overall: Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS Spinning Rod – Brent Ehrler.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. 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. The right drop shot rod is a critical element for success whether bass are 2 feet or more than 50 feet deep.

While it’s known as a limit-getting presentation, it’s remarkably effective on giant bass, too. 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.

All star drop shot rod spinning