Northwest Fishing Reports

Looking for a good "entry level" spinning reel/rod combo good for drop-shotting. Anything out there that is budget priced for a novice? Looking for prices and locations. Thanks

Where do you live? What lakes do you fish? I use a Gary Yamamoto dropshot rod, $110 new back in '02, using a Shimano Sidestab 4000. And a St Croix MoJo Bass rod, $75 used rod only, a year and 5 months ago, using a Shimano Sidestab 2000 reel. Both spinning of course. I don't know about any cheaper rods that you can pick up at K-mart, etc.

I live over on the kitsap peninsula. I fish a variety of lakes in western washington and also eastern Wa.

I use a St. Croix Mojo drop shot spinning rod with a Shimano Spirex rear drag 2500 series reel, I love the rod and the reel combo and it actually landed me a 10 pound coho last year on the Lewis River and I have just purchased a St. Croix Musky Mojo for springers and steelies. You can get the rod at sportsmans or wholesale. I believe cabelas sells it also. full combo with line should be about 175 - 200$

Spiny_Ray_Tracker wrote:Looking for a good "entry level" spinning reel/rod combo good for drop-shotting. Anything out there that is budget priced for a novice? Looking for prices and locations. Thanks

"budget priced", seems Ugly Sticks used to be pretty popular and more budget friendly, Wal Mart, Fred Meyers, Outdoor Emporium, Sportco. Some combos are available, you could use the reel that comes with the rod till it blows up or for about $45 you can get a Mitchell 300 or 308. The smaller/cheaper mitchell has a stiff bail, avoid it for sure!

added: I picked up a couple fenwicks, new, from ebay this season for $42 ea shipping included. 7' Model VS 702M to use trolling, might be too stiff for drop shotting but I was killin the tiny bluegill on Stan Coffin monday still fishing, drop shot style. Sensitive tip, stiff rod for me. I'm not a bass guy, not sure if they would call it fast????? IM6 blank I screwed up on the reels, my bad, I'll buy a couple more when they blow up! I like the rods so far.

Spiny_Ray_Tracker wrote:Looking for a good "entry level" spinning reel/rod combo good for drop-shotting. Anything out there that is budget priced for a novice? Looking for prices and locations. Thanks

OK, at the risk of getting blasted by the hardcore bassers out there, you did say "entry level" and "budget priced".

I have found Bass Pro Shops have some pretty nice rods that fit your criteria. Here's a combo set up with a Shimano reel for $99. Note - it's not something you would want to use as you get more into the sport, but it is entry level (but still a step up from the cheap stuff you'd find at Walmart, Fred Meyer, etc). BPS does a great job packing there rods and have a good return policy if you don't like it.

http://www.basspro.com/Shimano-Sedona-F ... 566/106057

You would want something in the 7 foot range, medium, with a fast tip action, and 6.2-1 retrieve.

Or this combo. Read the first user's review, he mentions drop-shotting with the rod:

http://www.basspro.com/Mitchell-300XE-R ... 0849/93927

Now, once you get "hooked" on bass fishing, you'll want to buy MORE rods and reels. So this starter rod would be a good second rod for casting floating minnows (for example) and then when you're ready to drop some more money you can go up a notch in quality for your next drop-shotting rod/reel.

Plus, if you take a youngster out with you, the above rod can be passed down for him/her to use. It won't give you a heart attack if they break it.

I have more than 1 Bass Pro Shops rods. ALL of them work great. One is my Carolina Rig rod. One is my 'deep crankbait' rod. One is my spinnerbait rod.

I would probaby own more BPS things if there was one here, and didnt have to guess if youll like it by description
But I love my Dobyns for sure
AMX good to hear the Mojo is still getting used!

Yup.

The Dobyns are great rods. I have 2 more on order that should come in next week. But at $150 for the least expensive I wouldn't call them cheap, or a beginner's rod, unless a guy WANTED to start, and learn, with a more expensive and better rod. All my rods are the cheap variaty until I bought the Yamamoto rod, and then the Dobyns rods last year. My cheap rods have worked fine for many years, and still work just fine.

Pretty good inexpensive rod that i really like is the Eagle Claw Trailmaster!

Berkley Cherrywood rods aren't bad for the price either. At around $39, they work out great. A friend of mine was on a tight budget and wanted to do some bass fishing. He picked up a Cherrywood and Pflueger reel and it works for him.

Mike Carey wrote:
You would want something in the 7 foot range, medium, with a fast tip action, and 6.2-1 retrieve.

I visited Cabela's this past weekend and found a Shimano setup that meets the above criteria. I plan to hit the water this weekend and see how it does. I appreciate all the suggestions/advice.

Spiny_Ray_Tracker wrote:

Mike Carey wrote:
You would want something in the 7 foot range, medium, with a fast tip action, and 6.2-1 retrieve.

I visited Cabela's this past weekend and found a Shimano setup that meets the above criteria. I plan to hit the water this weekend and see how it does. I appreciate all the suggestions/advice.

good luck and let us know how you do.

Thanks! Headed to Potholes this Thursday. Any advice for bass fishing Potholes? I am very interested in trying for smallies.