Couple of questions for you drop shot guys

[STEVE81]

Over Christmas I took my first serious whack at drop shotting. Over 4 days I only managed to catch one which was partially an anomoly since he already had the bait as soon as it hit the bottom. But, I did spot him on the graph and dropped the bait down to him (about 25 feet) so I at least did that part right.

So on to the questions...

First, for the fishing for the ones on the graph or under the boat, how do you work the bait? I read about guys saying that "less is more" meaning they try not to move it all and let the natural current and line movement work the bait. But then I watch pros like Aaron Martens and Brent Ehrler constantly twitching the bait. And also, I've heard about someguys using the drop shot for fish on the graph that are suspended way off of the bottom (like 10 feet or more). Anybody ever use it for anything like that?

Second, I haven't really used it as a casting type bait since the fish were all deep when I tried it. I've got a good idea of how I'm going to use it in warmer months in shallow water by pitching it to visible targets. But I have seen guys in open water casting it to fish. Its normally been when fishing for smallmouth and I assume they are shallow but I don't know how they are fishing the bait. Maybe just casting it to isolated rock piles that they know about? I'm not sure. And if so, wouldn't that require a longer length between the hook and weight than you would use for vertical presentations? Any thoughts?

If you guys haven't figured it out yet, I've got a ton of questions running through my head right now with this technique (well... all fishing in general) but I don't want to put them all down here and they run out of my head faster than my fingers can type. Normally, I'd just go hit the lake and try to figure this stuff out for myself, but I've got a few more months before I'm back in the states to try this stuff out.

[CTBASSIN]

Here is one of the better drop shot articles on the web. Hope it helps.

http://www.richz.com/fishing/a....html

[bass3859]

I think everything you mentioned are appropriate ways to fish a dropshot. I have casted it, let it fall, and work it back to the boat just like a jig or worm. Both shallow and deep. I will drop it straight down and leave it, letting the wave action on the boat do the work. And I will drop it straight down and twitch or shake it. Again, both shallow and deep. You can even toss it on beds and shake it as well. I have never tried it for suspended fish, though.

One thing I do, though, is when it is basically under the boat, I will occasionally lift the weight off the bottom to check if I might have a fish that I didn't feel strike.

You are sure to get many different opinions, but I really think there is no "wrong" way to fish it, except maybe burning it across the surface. More just your personal preference.

[erienightrider]

one of my favorite ways to drop shot is for spawning bass it drives them nuts that you can keep it on there bed while working the bait! try a wacky rigged fry type bait or 4 inch senco

[STEVE81]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by CTBASSIN &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Here is one of the better drop shot articles on the web. Hope it helps.

http://www.richz.com/fishing/a....html</td></tr></table>


Great read! Thanks for posting.

[STEVE81]

So here's another one for ya...

Say you're fishing open water. Sometimes I see guys pitching out from the boat instead of directly vertical. I'm guessing that its because they are over a big piece of cover and not after fish on the graph. Is that what's happening?

By the way, that bed fishing idea is one I plan on using. It will be wierd though. I almost never use anything less than 20 pound and use braid most of the time when bed fishing.