Drop Shot Question

[Dpg4603]

Okay simple question. Does it matter if you use tungsten or led when you drop shot?

This question is only for this specific technique

[Bluebasser86]

It does in some very minor ways. Tungsten is more dense and therefore smaller than lead so it will have a tiny bit less resistance when it's falling towards the bottom. A downside of being smaller is that it can fall into even smaller cracks in the rocks and get snagged and they're much more expensive to lose. 

[NorcalBassin]

BB summed it up nicely. You're going to catch fish with that technique regardless of which one you use. You'll also lose a few, so if you're not fishing for $$ you may just want to go with lead.

[Sam]

Tungston is smaller than lead and both can get caught up on the bottom structure.

That is why you do not tie the weight onto your line but pass it through the clip so you can pull the line off a snagged sinker.

With a drop shot the goal is to keep the sinker on the bottom. The weight's profile and weight (Round, diamond, tube, bullet, etc.) and the type of bottom you are throwing the rig will determine if you get hung up.

And remember, the fish are in structure and that is where you want to throw your bait with a drop shot. So it is expected to lose some weights. The question revolves around your appetite for losing expensive tungston weights.

There are limestone weights on the market that produce a different sound if you place two together or have one bounce off rocks. You can use these for a drop shot and other techniques.

If you want to find out what is on the bottom then use the tungston weights. Otherwise a lead weight will serve your drop shot needs.

Just be ready to lose whatever you use for a drop shot weight.

[loodkop]

I have lost so many weights dropshotting that I bought a mold to make my own. No I can get my lure to the fish without worrying about losing the weight. I would rather save tungsten for texas or carolina rigging.

[Crestliner2008]

Another consideration is your laws. Here in MA, the state has legislated against the use of any lead sinkers and/or jigs or line weights of any configuration. So, we've HAD to seek alternatives. Tungsten is for the more affluent amongst us, so bismuth or steel are the more viable alternatives. I've been using steel for drop shotting for many years now and it's worked out quite well.

 

You can get steel "bass casting" sinkers at WalMarts for a song & a dance. Drop shot swivels and split rings are available at Janns Netcraft.com. Here are the components to my weight system:

 

 

This is what it looks like rigged:

 

 

Simple and extremely cost effective.

[Felix77]

Another consideration is your laws. Here in MA, the state has legislated against the use of any lead sinkers and/or jigs or line weights of any configuration. So, we've HAD to seek alternatives. Tungsten is for the more affluent amongst us, so bismuth or steel are the more viable alternatives. I've been using steel for drop shotting for many years now and it's worked out quite well.

 

You can get steel "bass casting" sinkers at WalMarts for a song & a dance. Drop shot swivels and split rings are available at Janns Netcraft.com. Here are the components to my weight system:

 

 

This is what it looks like rigged:

 

 

Simple and extremely cost effective.

 

What a great idea!  Thanks.

[Felix77]

The only time I really see a difference is on hard bottom areas.  Tungsten being more dense transmits more feel to me.  I usually start with lead if I am unsure of the bottom contour.  If I lack feel I go up in lead weight first and then go to tungsten.

 

Minimizes my use of tungsten because as you all know it isn't cheap.

[mod479]

It doesn't matter, any weight that gets your DS rig to the bottom will do the job. However, as Sam already mentioned, tungstens density gives you you better feedback to the rod in reference to bottom composition. I also like the smaller profile in extremely clear water versus a comparable lead weight.

[J Francho]

We pour our own out of lead.  I've used tungsten as well.  You can feel more, but it's really just more of the same info you get with lead.  More feel doesn't always equate to useful info.  It's not anything useful, and I do fine with lead.  Feel for the bite, not the bottom.  That's what your graph is for.

[Hyrule Bass]

Another consideration is your laws. Here in MA, the state has legislated against the use of any lead sinkers and/or jigs or line weights of any configuration. So, we've HAD to seek alternatives. Tungsten is for the more affluent amongst us, so bismuth or steel are the more viable alternatives. I've been using steel for drop shotting for many years now and it's worked out quite well.

 

You can get steel "bass casting" sinkers at WalMarts for a song & a dance. Drop shot swivels and split rings are available at Janns Netcraft.com. Here are the components to my weight system:

 

 

This is what it looks like rigged:

 

 

Simple and extremely cost effective.

 

ive been doing this for like 2-3 years now, except i just use a regular swivel and dont worry about getting hung, but where i usually dropshot there isnt a lot of bottom snags and i dont typically lose any tackle. its a great idea, i think i got the idea from fishing rhino if i remember correctly...

[Ratherbfishing]

Since the bait is some distance from the drop shot weight, I would think that visibility wouldn't be an issue. I can't imagine how feel would play much into it either (although I'm sure others would disagree). If you don't like or can't use lead and tungsten is prohibitively expensive, use steel.

[Dpg4603]

Great responses guys, I think that if getting to the bottom is key to the technic then Lead would be fine, but if the conditions warrent to have more sensitivity, then tungsten would be a better option. Next time I go out I'm going to experiment with it.

Thanks again for the input.

[SDoolittle]

I like Crestliner2008's system, but I've used the same type weights without the drop shot swivel. I just tie a regular clinch knot (not an improved clinch knot) with about four wraps. If you get hung up, the knot with come untied with about the same amount of pressure it takes to pull loose of an ordinary drop shot weight.

[ww2farmer]

I get along fine wth lead, tungsten drop shot weights only do one thing for me..............and that is make me pull my hair out. For the ammount of DS weights I lose tungsten would get real expensive, real fast.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I fish a drop shot a lot for river smallmouth in swift current over rocks, and for this I usually use a Roach Walker so it doesn't get caught up as much (not technically a drop shot weight.) These are usually made of lead. Just a thought.