drop shotting

[craigaria]

I would like to try this technique. I do not really know how to rig it. Does anyone have a picture? Also, how do you fish it, and in what depth? I have tried it a few times, just guessing on making the rig and did't catch any. I would like to have a little more confidence in it... Thanks, Craig

[HeavyMetalBassinKing]

I've never fished a drop shot, but I'm going to try it this summer
Here's what looks like a good diagram and some good info.....
http://www.basspro.com/servlet...tID=0

[swilliams]

I am not as finnesse with it as some. I use 8-10lb fluorocarbon on a 7ft spinning rod and a 3/8oz weight anytime I am deeper than 10feet. Less than 10 feet, I use a 3/16oz weight. I mainly use a 4" senko, 4" reaper and 4" paddle tail worm, but most any bait will do.

You can fish it anywhere you would fish a carolina rig, but it shines in vertical presentations and clear water where you can see the fish, cover, or structure on your graph and drop it down on their heads. I used to kind of shake it once it hit bottom, but now I rarely do. Once the bait hits bottom, I let it sit for a 3-5 count and then lift until I feel the line tighten up. I don't want the sinker to move off the bottom. I then let the bait fall to the bottom and repeat. Other times I work it just like a carolina rig. I have caught a lot of spotted bass on it this past year behind carolina rigs.

The clearer the water, the longer tag line I am likely to use. The more stained, the shorter. I rarely go over a 24" tag line though and less than 8".

Give it a try. It takes some getting used to and sometimes getting laughed at...but it will put fish in the boat...

[Ron Melby]

Craig, there is some very useful information on http://www.bassdozer.com web site,get on the site and go to articles, good luck.

[craigaria]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ron Melby &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Craig, there is some very useful information on http://www.bassdozer.com web site,get on the site and go to articles, good luck.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Wow! What a great site! I don't think I'll need to ask any fishing questions anymore... There is articles on there about everything to do with bass! Thanks for the link, Craig

[R.D.]

&lt;edit&gt;

[JohnPZX]

Hey, let'm laugh! When fishing gets tough... or not. I have never seen anything better. I have a buddy out here who rose to fame and relies heavily on this. See out here in Washington state our weather is really unstable and we have far less largemouth per acre than the southern states. It takes some real finnesse some days but - dropshotting does not need to be a finnesse approach. Try rigging up a big spider grub on 20lb. line with only about 6" of lead as a dropshot in cover - like down through pads. Oh yeah, my friend Luke - won the FLW Championsip last year - and the Classic this year..... let'm laugh at the newest millionare bass fisherman.

[mymomisbecky]

Ill run down how I generally drop shot...
First off I have about 15 pre rigged drop shot rigs on those foam tubes.. rolled up nice...

First off, I tie my sinker on the bottom... then at the desired depth above that sinker ill tie on my drop shot hook... then ill tie the eyelet part, and run that up to a barrel swivel, so I can easily attach a snap to it, and swap out different rigs for different conditions...

I have a few different depths... 1 foot above sinker, 2 foot, 3 foot, 4 foot etc. which lets me cover a greater range of depths, depending on where the fish are being marked.

Another little twist ive added that seems to help is this. About 10 inches above my main drop shot hook, I will add a three way split ring system that I more or less devised myself. Off of that I attach a snap swivel, or a simple snap will do too... On that I either add another hook, with another plastic, or more often ill snap on a small hair jig, or a small suspending crank bait, such as a small husky, etc.
Just gives me another bait down in front of the fishes mouth.

I find 90% of my fish end up coming within the first 2 minutes of my cast. I usually dont just drop shot right below me (im usually fishing in 20 fow or less). Ill cast it in to shore in 5-6 fow and slowly tap it back to the boat. At different depths, ill pause the rig and just hold the line tight, holding the sinker on the bottom and just twitching the worm a bit.

Just play with it some, you will figure out what you like best, for your body of water.
I highly recommend rigging up at least a few in advance, it saves a ton of time, and its a snap (literally) to swap out drop shot rigs if you happen to notice you are fishing a few feet above or below the fish.
I have a plastics company, but im considering bringing out a line of pre rigged drop shot rigs. They can be a pain to tie on the fly, especially in a tournament situation.

[20_lb_sack]

Several companies already make pre-rigged dropshot rigs using wither Owner or Gammie hooks. I use the Gammies sometimes.

[mymomisbecky]

hmmm, wasnt aware of that.. certainly nothing up here in the northern states, that I can find.. perhaps bass pro or cabelas may carry em.
thanks

[craigaria]

Thanks for the tips I'm going to give it a try this week and see what happens... Craig

[caseysmith14]

I started drop shotting recently and have come to love the "Stand Out" hooks. BPS and Cabelas should have them. They make the rig super easy to tie

[craigaria]

I tried dropshotting last week, and caught 2 fish. One of them was about 5 lbs. The only problem I am having is line twist... I guess I'll have to add a swivel to try and stop this. Thanks for all the suggestions Craig

[20_lb_sack]

Spool your spinning reel with small braid, add a small spro power swivel, then your DS rig on what ever lb test you can get away with. Takes care of the twist and gives you a solid link to the bait. One thing what ever you do don't pitch this rig to the back corner of a dock stall and let it free-fall down around spotted bass.

[CATMAN 225]

was on lake erie last weekend could not catch a tube fish so I tryed a dropshot rig for the first time and wow went from not catching to knocking the fire out of them . I am a beliver now

[xx]

Mix it up with lengths and baits, pays off sooner or later. I caught my first 3 DS fish in a tourney in desperation on Fluke Jr's.