I would go with a longer rod, 7' medium action. The longer rod will help you load up on the hook sets and the medium action should be perfect for feeling those lighter bites. The deeper the water, the heavier the weight. It'll get the bait into the strike zone faster.

I prefer a 7' ML rod using between 6-10 flourcarbon.

I love my 7' medium Extreme spinning rod and a small BPS Extreme reel with 10 lb. braid and 6 lb. Florocarbon leader when dropshotting. The small spinning reel handles the braid line nice and it is lighter, not to mention the needed sensitivity for the cold water light bites.

I like the G Loomis sjr 782 for drop shotting.This rod is 6'6" and is medium action.You can fish from 1/16 to 3/8oz drop shot with this set up.

The best length for drop shot is between 6'6" and 7' personally 6'10" is my favorite. Weight wise 1/4-5/8oz rod lure rating is the best, but the length and weight is not nearly as important as the rods action. For drop shotting an extra fast rod is the only option.

Gloomis for sure they are great rods they are a bit pricey but you really do get what you pay for!!

G. Loomis in the 6'10" GLX DSR822 series. The 0 power is very good but if bigger bass are there the 2 power is better as strong enough to pull heavier bass away from cover if needed. Very lite and extremely sensitive. Also expensive.

i would agree with kustm on the rod. a medium is great, You need the pro qualifier range at a minimum (the johnny morris is better, but not by much). i use a 6'6" medium pro qualifier or a 6'6" medium Johnny morris. The 6'6 gives you a little more all around use, but I have heard that a 6'3 gives you a quicker hookset. I have not had a problem with the hookset at all. I have found each of those on sale for 85 and 100 dollars. Last years obviously. This does not work well for shaky heading in the pads, but open water is good. You will have to live with a little less backbone (M) or a little less sensitivity (MH) when you do this. However, the medium does a good job around weed beds, you just can't horse the fish out. (especially with 6 lb flouro). I have used this rod as shallow as 4ft and as deep as 30 ft and felt bites from fish that were < 10 inches. the only problem with the dropshot keeper on these rods is that the line can snag on it occasionally when casting.

Ilike a 6'6" ML pro finesse.With the shorter rod it is easier to keep the bait in the transducer cone of my sonar on the trolling motor.

If you're asking for rod length and weight. Personally I use a 2008 Johnny Morris signature series 6'3" Medium paired with the Johnny Morris signature reel JM1000. I use 8lb P-line Floroclear. This combo is light, and sensitive, but has a surprisingly strong backbone to it. I have landed a couple 3 to 3 1/2 pounders with it, and have been very impressed with it's strength. The hook keeper is great especially for holding drop shot rigs by catching the weight against the hook keeper so the weight isn't swinging around the rod box, and banging into my other rods. Great feel, and sensitivity even with a good amount of line out. Sometimes the deeper you fish the spongier the feel gets, but the 6'3" medium with the P-line transmits the strike, and bottom composition well. This combo has worked very well for drop shotting, and shakey head fishing for me.