texas rig the plastic and use a drop shot weight with the pinch clip... how are you losing entire rigs down there?

Yeah, like I said--I don't like spinning gear, so I was giving you an idea of a casting setup. Sounds like aliposky has some spinning recommendations for you or maybe someone else will give some spinning ideas.

Yes.

Awesome! Thanks for the help everyone!

A spinning rig is pretty traditional for DS but you can use whatever is comfortable for ya. My best suggestion is a fairly long rod, maybe 7', and a medium power with a fairly fast top 3rd. I generally use 10lb power pro but you can use any line thin enough & strong enough to get em hooked & to the boat. Without gin-clear water around here, a fluorocarbon leader is usually just more breaking points. Tie a Palomar to the hook with a long tag end & run the tag back through the upon side of the hook to pull the point on the top side. Some kind of weight that'll break away without tearing your whole rig apart.

My favorite DS rig lost a lot of the rod tip (don't close the truck door on your rods) but it is a old Berkley Bionix Pulse spinning rod and a Okuma Trio 30. I like the spinning rig because I can cast it a country mile with hardly any weight. The rod is too short now and I think I'd like a smaller egg beater so both will probably get replaced before long.

HTH

The reason for spinning gear over casting is because the rod is more limber with a fast flexible tip. You can actually feel the bite better during this particular presentation.

Shimano Stradic is a perfect spinning reel that when you are not using it for a drop shot, it will serve you well in other situations; however, You don't have to go that expensive of a reel for dropshot specific. Drop shot is more of a vertical presentation and don't have to cast very far. But, it would be my choice for its flexibility.
As for line, use a light test braid, 20-30# as a back fill line on your spool. HINT! Braid slips and spinning spools dont have holes to tie through, so you need to use some tape on the spool for the braid to cinch down on. Using braid for your fill is always best because you can wind it tight and it doesnt have line memory issues. Spool up 3/4th of the spool with braid hen, tie a double uni knot to connect your fluorocarbon.

When you tie your dropshot hook to you 8# fluorocarbon, use a palmar knot with a long tag 18-24 inches. Before you add a weight, send the tag back through the eye of the hook. This will position the knot under the hook rather than on top of it making the hook stand straight out from the line. If you cant tie this correctly, the other option is to use a VMC Dropshot hook that is attached to a swivel. Next, as mention by Mulholland, use a dropshot weight that has a cinch (clip) so it it get hung up, you can still pull free and save your hook and bait.

Aliposky mentioned using Strike King Elastech type baits. Yes, they are durable, but they float. I don't think thats a good idea because its buoyancy will hamper the presentation. Strike King has others dropshot option that would be better or Zoom Meathead, Z worm, 4" Dead Ringer. As you "dance" the bait, you should feel if the weigh get raised off the bottom. Not necessarily a bad thing, just remember you will be puffing the silt and distracting the fish from the bait.

Back to the rod, IMO, the best rod for dropshot is the shortest spinning rod you can find. I prefer a 6'6". When you feel a bite, you need to be able to set the hook. If the rod is too long, you might miss out on you hook up ratio. Several brand have a 6.6 in their lineup. A medium is a good choice when using braid. If you are using Monofilament, then go with a Med Hvy.

When using a dropshot, this is a finesse presentation. You need as to be able feel the bite as best you can. Once you hook up, remember you are using lighter line so its not seen by the fish easily, but you still have to be able to boat the fish. So, the more braid you have, the less shock resistance your line can offer. This is where you rod comes into play.

You asked for suggestions for the rod and reel and most of what I have said is about everything else, but when using a dropshot, everything from the butt of the rod to the weight has to work in unison. Hope this helps!

www.tightlinespft.com

Man, that's some great info! Thanks!

Dropshotting is a technique of having your presentation (soft plastic) tied to your line above the weight. It is used more as a finesse technique with light line but it doesn't have to be. You can rig a drop shot with 15 pound test line if you are fishing in heavy cover or fishing for bigger fish. Most people use spinning tackle because it works better with light line and light weights but you can use bait casting tackle with good success also. Some choose to use spinning tackle just because of the ease of the line coming off the spool, either light line or heavier line. Some choose not to use spinning tackle because of the line twist you have to deal with if you don't use braid as a main line.

If you use spinning tackle with line other than braid as your main line it tends to twist quite a bit so you will have to remove the twist from time to time. If you use braid on your spinning rig as a main line you don't have to worry about line twist so much but if it is windy you will have a large bow in the line to deal with. Braid catches the wind like crazy.

If you choose a baitcaster and want the bait to fall more vertically after the cast you will have to peel line off your reel by hand. Some people feel they have better control and are more accurate fishing with a baitcaster so they tend to like it better.

Both have their good points and negative points. Both catch fish

Length of rod depends on you and what you prefer. I use a 6-9 spinning rod and my other set up is a 7ft m action crank bait rod baitcaster. I use the baitcaster more in windy conditions because I have it spooled completely with 12 pound Invizx fluoro. and I have braid and a leader on my spinning rod. I use the spinning rod more if there is less wind and if i am fishing more vertical or in deeper water or fishing for fish right under the boat that i see on the Lowrance.

Drop Shot: ??????
spent a day with David Ozio on Lake Fork trying to learn this.
the most important thing I got from him.
MATCH THE ROD--REEL & LINE so that they all work together.
we used 8# test on a medium light rod with a nice (not expensive) bait cast reel. We landed 5 over 5lbs and he was upset that we weren't catching any 7s
I said 7lb bass on 8# test and he stated it was all in how you set the drag and the rod that you used. #2 hooks or 1/0 hooks with the 8# test and a medium light reel. I have caught several 4s and 5s since that day dropshotting and have not lost a fish due to line weight. I have lost several rigs since then to brush piles, but I would do that with a Tx-Rig. Lots of fun to catch a fish and "work" it instead of horsing it in the boat.
get what you like,,,,,,but make sure they work good together.

IMO the best set up for drop shot is a 7'6 bayou kustoms drop shot rod and a quantum EXO spinning reel
With segar invisx#8lb with a gamakatsu swivel [censored] hook and a robo worm!

I rarely break off my drop shot. I used 12-15lb floro 20lb braid on a 7ft medium spinning rod with a 1/0 owner rigging hook

I use a cheap lews spinning rod and shimano reel that I bought as a combo at fishermans one stop. It is a 6'6" med. Lt. That I paid $100 for and have caught 100's of fish on. I prefer 8-10 lb. Mono. My favorite baits are Zoom fineness worms in red bug shad or tomato. Robo worms in aarons magic colors catch fis too. I bought an expensive Dobyns DX 702 casting rod for dropshotting with bait casting gear but still prefer the spinning gear. The Dobyns does great with shakey heads and 6" worms and other finesse presentations. Keep it simple and have fun learning a great technique.

I use a med lt 7ft 13 fishing omen rod with spinning reel use braid with a Fluro leader different hooks and weights for different baits and structure just start trying different things and u will become more comfortable faster than u think

I use a 6' 6" Abu Garcia Veritas Spinning, medium heavy with fast action, incredibly stiff spine with great sensitivity and backbone, and can really horse fish out of heavy cover and get a solid hook set quick. Suits me best when/where I drop shot. Just have a cheap orra s30 reel on it to match, works very well, nice smooth drag system and never slips braid tied straight to the spool.

$100 Temple Fork Outfitters medium light 7'3'' fast action rod with a Pflueger President Reel
Reasonable price and handles fish really well.