Drop shotting - should worm/hook sink after weight already on bottom?

[jfordbass]

I am new to drop shotting, so excuse me, but I always envisioned the weight on the bottom, and then the 1/0 hook with worm floating, suspended, above the weight by 10 inches, 15 inches, 18 inches, whatever your preference is.

I have a swimming pool, so I've been playing with various baits, techniques, to 'see' what happens underwater with given shaking, twitching, fast/slow retrieves, etc. etc. and this is a nice benefit of having a pool (even though it needs gobs of work; ha).

So, I tie on a drop shot rig with the palomar knot, hook standing out horizontally nicely etc (I've read enough articles and seen enough illustrations to at least get the rig itself right), and toss it into the water...

Much to my surprise, and even though I've tried 2 different 1/0 hooks, the result is always the same: The worm, which I've confirmed floats itself, is dragged down to the bottom where the weight is, albeit fairly slowly. Then, when I shake the rod tip/twitch a bit, it jumps up nicely/wiggles, then with no action on my part, again sinks to the bottom/rests by the weight.

Is this totally WRONG? Should the worm itself be bouyant enough to suspend both itself AND the hook the set/rigged number of inches off the bottom up from the dropshot weight? Do I have the 'wrong' hooks? Do I have the 'wrong' worms?

Or is what I'm observing absolutely 100% correct? Am I to just keep the weight on the bottom and 'lift' the otherwise-would-sink-to-bottom hook/worm combo just slightly by keeping line reasonably free of slack, and shaking?? Thanks!

[islandbass]

Both sinking and floating worms will work and they are different. In addition, there is no wrong way to work a drop shot rig.

Yeah, you can wiggle and jiggle the worm to death and that might catch you a few, but there are other things you can do. Dead stick it. Or better yet, work a semi slack line.

You've already seen the worm dance with every twitch in your pool. That "zone" between where the line is taut and the bottom is money. More active fish might prefer a sinking worm because a sinking worm is going to depend on you to work it in that "zone" A floating worm, if the hook isn't too heavy will stay up longer and while the wiggling or not wiggling in place, depending on if you twitch it or not, can say, "eat me" to the bass.

You can let the worm fall to the bottom and lift the line just enough to pop the worm up again, but not so much that your weight moves.

You can work the slack line again just before it hits the bottom. Dead stick it so that it hovers above the ground.

Drag it lick a C-rig to the next spot. This action alone gives the lure life.

Mix it up.

Eventually, the fish will let you know if what you have on and your presetation is something they're willing to bite.

As for hooks, I like to use size 2 Owner Mosquitos or Gammy Split Shot/Drop Shot generally speaking. I will T-rig texposed it with a mini ewg like the owner downshot if there is a lot of grass to make it as weedless as possible.

For the length of the tag end, it depends. If you're working it vertically you might not need a long tag. However, if you're shorebound as I am, a slightly longer tag, say about 18" can compensate for the angle between you and the bottom. On a very long cast with a short tag end, you're worm could be dragging on the bottom instead of being above it.

Semi-slack. That is my key.. Work the semi slack.

http://www.americananglersfish...ge=10

Here is a little something more. I am not an expert by far, but I have developed a liking to drop shotting and have learned a lot since using it last season.

-ib

[waterfoul]

Agreed, there is really NO way to fish a drop shot incorrectly. It's my favorite method for bass these days.... well maybe not "these days" as it's early spring and I like other methods better for pre-spawn fish but like I said, you can't really fish it wrong.