Drop Shot Blues

[unionman]

I went out fishing this morning because Ive got some time off. When I got there, I thought to myself, I think Ill put those drop-shot weights and hooks to some use for the first time. I rigged it up once at home just to practice but never actually fished with it.

I had alot of problems with the cylinder weight (3/16) catching on rocks or in between them. I had to break off a few times when I couldnt shake it loose. I also do not like the exposed hook tip as it snagged on logs from time to time. I was using a 1/0 owner dropshot hook.

Is there any tips for eliminating/lessening these issues? Or should I just not fish around and rocks, weeds or cover?

p.s. I did catch a couple. One LMB and one decent bluegill.

As always, thx for your two cents.

[J Francho]

Use round weights for rocks, and don't fish wood with an exposed hook.

[Nitrofreak]

A drop shot rig is still productive around rocks etc... I am not sure what presentation you used however, try a more vertical presentation and when fishing cover, start at the outside of cover and work your way in, if it starts to get hung, don't pull at it, try to make it wiggle, a bass will pick it free from the cover for you.

[unionman]

Thx guys. I dont want to give up on this rig. I will be getting some new weights. I wish there was a dropshot hook with a weed gaurd on it kinda like a jig. Not sure how the gaurd would be attached to such a small weightless hook though...

[Rumslo]

Fish the dropshot rig enough and you will breakoff some weights. Don't give up. When you do hang, try snapping the line to free the rig. Gamakatsu makes a dropshot hook with a weed guard.

[mikey5string]

You can nose hook the bait weedless. Just run the hook point through the center of the nose and stop right before it comes out. When you get a bite just lift and reel. While I dont fish drop shot unless I am not catching anything, I can always get a few (usually dinks) and it is one of the easiest hook sets I know of.

[basscrusher]

There are weedless drop shot hooks as was stated before. for a cheap alternative, several companies (like eagle claw) make a baitholder hook with weedguard, and you could make that work. Gamakatsu's skip gap hook is nice for texas riggin on a drop shot (I use this ALOT around grass with trick worms).

If you get alot of break offs, make sure you use the clip-on type weights. You'll lose your weight but not the hook.

something I do alot that many people find anathema to finesse fishing is to use straight braid (no leader) on the drop shot. 10-lb or lighter braid, and I do get bites, even in fairly clear water.

[Crestliner2008]

WalMarts has inexpensive steel "Bass Casting" sinkers (I think the brand name is Eagle Claw). You can get 8 for under $2.00. Then add a split ring and a drop shot swivel, from Netcraft (www.jannsnetcraft.com). You will no longer worry about hung sinkers, as this set-up is very inexpensive and environmentally sound. Also, if you are fishing deeper water, fish vertically, under the boat, targetting humps or other bottom structures that have bait on them.

For hooks, if you are fishing shallow, go ahead and use a regular, off-set shank, worm hook; such as you'd use with the Texas rig. You can get smaller sizes, like the Gamakatsu "G-Lock" in size #1 for the smaller baits. They won't get you hung up. Here's a picture of the sinker set-up I've been using for many years:

[Sam]

You can always consider using a "weedless" hook to try to minimize snags. I have used a "weedless hook" on a drop shot and they work fine.

You may want a cylinder drop shot weight. Usually a round weight works well in rocks but no matter what you use you will get hung up.

So where are the fish? In the rocks and wood. So if you want to catch them you have to fish the rocks and wood and fishing rocks and wood leads to snags and lost tackle. It is part of the game.

This weekend on the Rappahannock River in Virginia the bass were on main river wood. I lost 9 shaky head jig heads. That's where the fish are so that's where I fished. Losing tackle is colleteral damage and you then have the fun of going back to the tackle shop and getting replacements.

The only other suggestion I can give you is to tie a football head jig and pig on the end of your line and use the jig and pig as your weight to get over the rocks. Just don't blame me when you lose the jig and pig.

[LunkerLust]

I just bought, and have been using the VMC spinshot hooks because of the snagging weight problem. The hook comes with a small swivel in the eye, so you can tie the weight on with a lighter line. If it gets stuck, it will break off, but you'll get the hook and bait back.