I use an Academy H20 Ethos Nano. Medium Light / Fast. It’s a 6’10” rod with microwave guides and a
$80 Shimano reel. It regularly sells for $129. I bought a few of them last year when they had them on clearance. The clearance stuff was on sale for 50% off. So I think I remember buying three rods that day for about $100 total for all three.

The trick is to find a sale or a good used rod.

Drop shot fishing, while super simple, requires one of the most sensitive rods you can get your hands on. The bite is very subtle, and almost undetectable when it’s a big fish. So being able to really feel the bait is important. Along with this lighter rod and line, the second most important thing (maybe more so than the rod) is the reel. You have to have one with a very smooth and consistent drag. The light line will break if you have a cheap reel with choppy drag characteristics. The light line is important for the worms action and to make the line as non noticeable as possible.

Guys that drop shot a lot can easily justify a $600-$800 reel (Exist, Stella or Steez) and a $300-$500+ rod (Steez w/ air guides, NRX, or Megabass).

Me? My drop shot setup is around $100 for all of it, buying stuff on sale. But, I don’t drop shot much.

I use 10 lb power pro and a 6 lb InvisX leader.

Thanks. And the bites are still almost undetectable with that line and rod combo?

I fish 20lb braid to 10lb leader and I feel most bites. In Texas lakes with floro leader I have a hard time thinking 10lb will show up anymore than 6lb and I'd hate to lose a big one on 6lb leader. Just like with any plastic, sometimes a bass just inhales it and takes off so you gotta watch your line. I'd say 60% or more I'll feel a bite. Sometimes they smack the hell out of it. Sometimes the grab it and swim right at you so those are hard to feel too. If they take it on the fall you gotta make sure your line hasn't stopped too early or else set the hook. Not that complicated. Also trick someone told me is to tie up a long leader like 20'. This way you can retie multiple times without retying your Alberta or whatever knot you use.