What baits can be recommended to fish on the drop shot. Haven't done much of it before but trying to give it a whirl.

Also any advice on it's application? Like, when would you guys prefer to fish the drop shot as opposed to something else?

You can drop shot anything really. Had a buddy who was catching them drop shotting brush hogs just a few days ago.

I prefer to drop shot flat bottom as opposed to slope... when water is 15 feet or deeper, but you can really do it anywhere. I like to drop shot on lakes where there is soot, because it keeps the bait above the soot. as for baits, you could use anything, but I look at drop shotting as a finesse tactic, so I use smaller worms. You also need to use baits that float...so that they will not fall down along the line... the other thing I like is a tougher bait. I tend to nose hook my baits, so if they are soft, they will get torn right off. I like RoboRorm and a bait from a company called stalker.

Last thing I would say is that drop shotting is successful in clearer water or when you can see fish on the graph. It is not a bait to catch suspended, moving or for finding fish.

All of this my opinion and experience.. someone will come on here and pick it apart, but that's what has worked for me. I have lived up north most of my life and drop shotting is excellent for smallies and clear water finesse tactics, but I have used it successfully in Tecas for the last 15 years as well.

The Z-man ElaZtech baits work the best with drop-shotting.

https://www.zmanfishing.com/cms/elaztech-plastics

I drop shot just about any bait...it's a confidence thing. Certain baits I upsize my line, leader, hooks, and swivel.

I've drop shot as small as 2" creature baits and as large as 10" power worms.

I feel it gets the bites that C-rig may not have.

One thing I started doing last summer, was using a texas rigged drop shot in deep brush. Loved it. Was using
an NRX 822 DSR, but I feel like this is more of an open water drop shot rod. Would love to get some feedback on rod
choices for this technique (If anyone is using an NRX, that would be a plus!). Also, are you using a longer fluorocarbon leader because
of the brush? Have an 852 NRX casting I think would work great, but kinda like the ol fairy wand for this technique.

I use a Shimano Intenza medium light, they are a great rod without breaking the pocket book open too wide. Think I paid $120 or something like that... great rod. (7 footer)...
And I think line choice will vary, but I like straight braid. You do need to color your line with a sharpy or something, but I love the sensitivity of it. you can feel every single thing you touch....or touches it.

Roboworms are good on a dropshot.

What reel and line do you recommend?

I use two different conventional rods in which both are built for for drop shoting. I use Shimano Metaniums with either 10 or 12 # seaguar invix depending on what I am fishing in. I have caught bass up to 9# on them. For ,me accuracy of casting is much better than with spinning gear.

I also fish with many different size baits. From 2.5" to 8" trick worms.

I like 10lb braid to a 8lb tatsu flouro leader. I use zoom finesse worms and roboworms.

I've caught several thousand fish on a drop shot and I don't use spinning gear. Hint, in clear water just use a plum colored finesse worm.

Use a roboworm and concentrate on NOT imparting action on the bait at all. Try to keep it absolutely dead still. The bait does all the action and work for you.

I also do not use spinning gear for dropshotting and I throw it 90% of the time and I fish every weekend, almost. I use a Dobyns Champion 702 , Shimano SLX and 15# Invizx line when throwing a 6-8 inch trick worm. For finesse worms I use a Majorcraft 6ft 8in rod with a Daiwa Tatula Elite and 12# Invizx. I mostly use straight type baits but you can experiment with just about anything. I use an Owner #1 rigging hook for the finesse worm and an Owner 1/0 rigging hook for the larger one. I use many different brands of baits so just choose some you like and give it a try.

I also have a drop shot set up for punching grass. It is a 7ft 6in Power tackle rod PG 104 with 65# test braid, 4/0 wide gap hook and a 3/4oz drop weight. I usually punch with a senko type bait or a slim creature type bait. This one is not a finesse set up as you can see but it works well punching grass.

Just dead stick it for a few minutes and then recast? Or do you drag it a bit and then dead stick?