Drop Shot baits?

[.ghoti.]

OK, I've decided to give this another shot. I spent a good portion of 2008 working on the drop-shot, with very poor results. Dinks, dinks, and more dinks. Did not toss a drop shot at all in 09.

Got a new rod, made just for the technique. A Daiwa Cielo, 6'10" ML XXXF drop-shot spinning rod; the one with the titanium tip. Went out to the garage and dug out a Daiwa Capricorn reel, cleaned it and lubed it, spooled it up with #6 100% Flouro, and I'm ready to go.

I also have a St Croix 6'9" ML Legend Tournament rod with a Revo STX. This is marketed as a drop shot rod. Been using it mostly for tubes and flukes.

I located the small Plano box of terminal tackle I put together. I has this stuff in it, still in good condition.

Standout Drop Shot hooks in two sizes

Owner Mosquito hooks in two sizes

Gammy and Mustad circle hooks in several sizes

a few clip on dropshot weights

Splitshot in many sizes

bell sinkers from 1/16oz up

Baits I used in the past for this technique have been:

GYCB Shad Shaped Worms

Small tubes

4" Power Worms

Flukes

Any suggestions for additional baits for this technique?

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Berkley realistix power minnow 4 inch size...if you can find em.One of the few things I actually catch fish on d-shot.Also Yammy kut tail worm 4 and 5 inch, nose hooked or t-rigged weedless

[roadwarrior]

First of all, I like a heavy bell weight (1/2 oz)

so you can jiggle the rig without moving it

forward.

Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook for-sure!

#1 bait: 4" Slug Go

Others: Robo Worm, GYCB 6 1/2" Kut Tail

and Lake Fork Tackle Live Magic Shad.

8-)

[reo]

My best advice would be not to over think the drop shot. IF you are putting the bait in front of bass they will hit it. Sometimes they want it jiggled and sometime just sitting there. Remember the key to the ds is that it should stay in front of the fish for as long as possible until they can stand it no longer. The down side is that if you do not have in front of fish it will stay that way because it is not a technique that you cover a lot of water with. Hope this made sense. Sounds like you are using baits that should get a few, to add some that I have had succes with, robo worms, trick sticks, goby immitaters, jack all cross tail.

Again, imho the most important thing is making as sure as you can that it is in the face of what you are trying to catch. Electronics are key.

reo

[Hooligan]

The only one that I'd add is the SK 4" Finesse worm.  I really like that bait on a drop shot.  I like the Shad Shape worm, too. 

Early in the year, like now, I fish quite a bit of the Gulp Alive 2.5" minnow on a drop shot, but I really believe that's a local phenomenon.

[Hooked_On_Bass]

The only one that I'd add is the SK 4" Finesse worm. I really like that bait on a drop shot. I like the Shad Shape worm, too.

Early in the year, like now, I fish quite a bit of the Gulp Alive 2.5" minnow on a drop shot, but I really believe that's a local phenomenon.

The 3" Berkley Gulp Minnow in the smelt colour is fantastic around here. This is my most used bait on D-shot.

[I.rar]

fluke jr's and 4" lizards. i got some drop shot baits in my last i still havnt tried them out. every time i cast a drop shot from shore , i loose it to a snag.  >

[b.Lee]

I have been using robo worms and strike king finesse worms, i haven't caught anything under 3 pounds.

[Hot Rod]

I would recommend fishing it fairly shallow, say 10' or less while you are getting the hang of it.  Also as mentioned earlier throw it where you know the fish are, especially at first.   Nothing helps the learning curve like catching a few fish on a rig.  Even if you have to break some of the "rules" of the rig to do it (i.e. "drop shots only for deep water").

Once you get the hang of it and build confidence then you can start using it around the deep off shore structure when the bite is tough.

[Hooligan]

The only one that I'd add is the SK 4" Finesse worm. I really like that bait on a drop shot. I like the Shad Shape worm, too.

Early in the year, like now, I fish quite a bit of the Gulp Alive 2.5" minnow on a drop shot, but I really believe that's a local phenomenon.

The 3" Berkley Gulp Minnow in the smelt colour is fantastic around here. This is my most used bait on D-shot.

Yeah, use a lot of that, too.  The 2.5" part is the oddity here, I think.

[Raul]

OK, I've decided to give this another shot. I spent a good portion of 2008 working on the drop-shot, with very poor results. Dinks, dinks, and more dinks. Did not toss a drop shot at all in 09.

Got a new rod, made just for the technique. A Daiwa Cielo, 6'10" ML XXXF drop-shot spinning rod; the one with the titanium tip. Went out to the garage and dug out a Daiwa Capricorn reel, cleaned it and lubed it, spooled it up with #6 100% Flouro, and I'm ready to go.

I also have a St Croix 6'9" ML Legend Tournament rod with a Revo STX. This is marketed as a drop shot rod. Been using it mostly for tubes and flukes.

I located the small Plano box of terminal tackle I put together. I has this stuff in it, still in good condition.

Standout Drop Shot hooks in two sizes

Owner Mosquito hooks in two sizes

Gammy and Mustad circle hooks in several sizes

a few clip on dropshot weights

Splitshot in many sizes

bell sinkers from 1/16oz up

Baits I used in the past for this technique have been:

GYCB Shad Shaped Worms

Small tubes

4" Power Worms

Flukes

Any suggestions for additional baits for this technique?

Hmmmmmmmm, purty darn itsy bitsy teeny tiny baits you got there don 'tcha think ? if I ever tie them size baits you got there in your list it would come to me as no surprizzzze if I only catch dinks cuz that 's waht I would catch by the truckloads, those are exactly the kind of baits I use when all I want is for little Raul to catch feesh; my recomendation, first of all, drop those Standout hooks and get you some real macho dropshot hooks like these 2/0 and 3/0:

And then use some real macho baits if what you want is to catch yourself some bigger bass, 7 inch worms, yup 5-6" senkos, 6" lizards, 5" Baby Brush Hogs, 5" Slug-gos.

Think BIG.

[EastTexasBassin]

My favorite smaller sized drop shot baits are roboworms and ragetail baby craws.

Don't limit the drop-shot to small baits though.  A 10 inch worm or a large creature bait can do very well on a drop shot. 

[aarogb]

I like the Berkley Finesse worm in watermelon color in sizes 4" 6" and 7"

[thrawn67]

Ive had alot of luck on the chompers drop shot worms.

Anyone else try em?

[Bamajoker]

when  a dropshot is rigged,...... do you just nose hook it ? or some other methed. i have always wondered this.

[Brian4618]

sorry to bring up a new question, but when you guys fish a drop shot and you are in the "pause" phase of the retrieve, do you let it sit on slack line and wait for the fish to take your line sideways or do you keep the line kinda tight so you can feel the strike?

[I.rar]

sorry to bring up a new question, but when you guys fish a drop shot and you are in the "pause" phase of the retrieve, do you let it sit on slack line and wait for the fish to take your line sideways or do you keep the line kinda tight so you can feel the strike?

i let it sit on semi-slack line. all the bites ive had on a DS rig are a solid 'thump'. youll definitely know there is something on the end of your line.

as far as nose rigging , this is what always gets me snagged in my area, so i t-rig them.

[soccplayer07]

what kind of hook are you using for t-rigging? I'm guessing 1/0 or 2/0 ewg. Any hook up problems?

[Hammer 4]

I would do the following.

Get some 6" flat tail roboworms, in your choice of colors, oxblood, and the purples like MM, Arron's Magic ect work well.

If fishing from shore, cast out as far as possible. Don't impart too much action, especially if theres any current, I give it a couple small twitches every min. or so..dinks will still hit a 6" worm, but not as much as a smaller bait, at least in my experience. If that don't work, stick a 10" worm on there..seriously, use a ds hook, and nose hook the worm..that'll keep the dinks away..

Re: bell sinkers..I find they hang up to easy, imho a better sinker is either the 1/2 oz Mojo, or Lunker City pencil type weights where the line clips on, if you get snagged, all you lose is the sinker, pop a new on, and your ready to go..

[BobP]

I use 6" Roboworms, Magic Worms, or Zoom finesse worms.  This is where thin soft hand poured worms shine with minimal if any shaking.  Distance between the weight and the worm is important.  I start 6" from the weight and rarely go longer. I'm fishing 15 ft and deeper and keeping the presentation vertical.  If they're shallower, I use a shaky head or T-rig.  Color - whatever fish bite on your lake.  For me green pumpkin or watermelon are reliable.  If I fish a couple of hours with no bites and am getting desperate, I know a dropshot will work if there are fish down there, even if they are neutral to negative.  Maybe they're dinks.  Maybe not.  Personally, it's not my favorite thing but it can sure save the day when nothing else will.

[BirdNestBen]

drop shot a shimmey stick or a zoom trick worm... both in watermelon... I've been real pleased with the results...

[Raul]

when a dropshot is rigged,...... do you just nose hook it ? or some other methed. i have always wondered this.

Saw those hooks I posted ? those are for T-exposed rigging, a must in my everyday lake where octopus hooks hang up on the sumberged timber in an eye blink.

[ib_of_the_damned]

lately i have been doing quite well drop shotting a handpoured craw, with a short leader, maybe 3-6 inch.  I have been expirementing with different craw type soft plastics and been getting hit on them.  So the point im trying to make is that craws on a drop shot... deadly...

Try it out and get back to me on how it works out for you.

[.ghoti.]

Thanks for all the tips gents.

Raul, your comment about using larger baits is duly noted. I'll be sure to give this a shot. Also, those baits I listed may be itsy, bitsy, teeny weenie, but they don't have yellow polka dots. ;D ;D ;D

[I.rar]

what kind of hook are you using for t-rigging? I'm guessing 1/0 or 2/0 ewg. Any hook up problems?

i use 1/0 ewg gammys and tex-pose? fluke jr's and 4"zoom lizards and have no problem setting the hook. havnt fished it much since ive been back in miami, but while i was in NC , i fished the DS on a 6'6" light/fast rod with 6lb mono and brought in some decent fish.