I Cant Figure The It Of Drop Shotting

[prjavelin]

When you do a technique a lot of time like Ive done slider fishing you reach a point where everything clicks. It feel that way with that one technique and split shotting. I want to reach that point with a couple other finesse techniques and jerkbaiting(something Im throwing every trip now and doing ok with it). Ive dedicated some time to drop shotting and while many people seem to figure it out really fast and have good luck with it I cant buy a bite with it. 

 

 

I rig it with a 1/8 most of the time or a 1/16 weight and a size 1 gamakatsu drop/split shot hook(I ordered the 1/0 to see if the hook is the culprit). Many different plastics and probably the reason why Im failing its because I cant pick one plastic and fish it for as long as it needs to be fished. Also Ive been thinking that Im moving the bait way to much, I think that I probably need to move the bait just a little and leave it do its work. I have been experimenting a lot with the leader length. I even tried a 3 inch leader because Aaron marteens talked about how it was easier to control. 

 

 
Is there something that I should try? A missing key?

[A-Jay]

Try using a smaller (perhaps Slimmer) version of whatever soft plastic you have confidence in. 

 

Again use a color you're had success with in the recent past.

 

The best tip I can give you for drop-shot fishing is this:

 

Where and when ever you're using this technique - Think of the Plastic as Live Bait.

 

You really don't have to do a lot with it as far as action is concerned.

 

Just get it in the right place and the small bait combined with the lighter line will do the rest for you.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[slonezp]

I've been using the VMC dropshot hooks with Gulp minnows with some success. Locating fish on the graph is essential.

[senile1]

I think A-Jay and slonezp have it covered:  Locate the fish with your graph and then make sure you work the bait as A-Jay suggested.  I would only add one thing.  You want the bait to be where the bass can see it.  Adjust your leader and bait accordingly.  If you are fishing far beneath the fish they may never see it.

[J Francho]

I use a #2 to 1/0 Owner Mosquito hook, and never anything less than 3/8 oz. weights - more like 1/2 oz. or better.  I *start* with a 15 to 18" leader, and have never used anything less than about 12".  On Erie and Ontario, I've been using a 36"+ leader.  What you're using is so light, and with such a short leader, I can't imagine it's anything other than some special situation that A-Mart was referring to.  The heavier weight is where you gain control, and it expedites the bait to the position you want to fish.  When you want super finesse, subtle action use a buoyant, floating bait with little action.  When the presentation calls for more "action" to get bit, a sinking bait, possibly with an action tail is preferred.

[Fishes in trees]

You may want to rethink going "light" with your drop shot weight.  I think a lighter weight just dampens your feel.  Think about it, in contrast to most other methods of fishing, in drop shot fishing the bait is above the weight rather than behind it.  The whole point of the weight is to anchor the bait to the bottom, so that you know, for the most part, how far above the bottom your bait is.

 

A heavier weight accomplishes this better, at least for me.  In addition, a heavier weight gets to the bottom quicker and that is where you fish a drop shot bait, slightly off the bottom, from 6" up to 2 or 3 feet or so.

Even when I am fishing a light line drop shot rig (6 or 8 lb fluorocarbon) I never go below a quarter ounce, and I think a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce weight is easier to fish.   

 

All I can  say is to try that with your drop shot rig and see if that works for you.  I've never had a "great" day fishing the drop shot.  Many times though, fishing the drop shot has turned a rotten day into a decent day, with 6 or 8 fish that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

[Hyrule Bass]

try upsizing your tackle. it aint gotta be a light gear tactic. i frequently use 1oz weights for example...

[tbone1993]

Ive tried a few different styles of hooks and so far my favorite is a gama finesse hook or a stand out hook. I havent used the gama spin shot * hooks but I do like the concept. I have used the vmc version of the spinshot and it is awful, the hooks break plain and simple.  Remember if the fish are biting on crankbaits then don't throw a dropshot. Sometimes i cant get a bite on a jerkbait but when I switch to a standard crankbait I get bit.  

[Fish_Whisperer]

You may want to rethink going "light" with your drop shot weight.  I think a lighter weight just dampens your feel.  Think about it, in contrast to most other methods of fishing, in drop shot fishing the bait is above the weight rather than behind it.  The whole point of the weight is to anchor the bait to the bottom, so that you know, for the most part, how far above the bottom your bait is.

 

A heavier weight accomplishes this better, at least for me.  In addition, a heavier weight gets to the bottom quicker and that is where you fish a drop shot bait, slightly off the bottom, from 6" up to 2 or 3 feet or so.

Even when I am fishing a light line drop shot rig (6 or 8 lb fluorocarbon) I never go below a quarter ounce, and I think a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce weight is easier to fish.   

 

All I can  say is to try that with your drop shot rig and see if that works for you.  I've never had a "great" day fishing the drop shot.  Many times though, fishing the drop shot has turned a rotten day into a decent day, with 6 or 8 fish that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

In my opinion, you hit the nail on the head when you said anchor.  

 

Take a texas rig for example.  I'm a big believer that a heavier weight will dampen strikes to your rod because the weight is in front of the hook; lighten the bullet up and smaller strikes ping back to you easier.

 

As you said, on a drop shot rig, the hook is in between you and the weight.  A heavier weight, depending on your technique on using the rig, will pull the line tighter during jiggles and if the bass strikes during a tight line, you will feel it much more than if there wasn't as much tension on the line.

 

My .02c, 98 more plus tax gets you a mcdouble.

[roadwarrior]

I have had my best luck with a fluke rigged on a three-way swivel.

I'm using a #3/0 Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hook with about 1' leader 

and about 18" of leader to the weight. The size of the weight depends

a lot on current, but 3/8 or 1/2 oz will generally be the ticket.

[J Francho]

That's a 3-way rig, which you were probably using in current or drifting.  A drop shot rig is entirely different, and better suited than a 3-way in precise situations, such as fishing vertically in deep water where your bait and the fish are clearly visible on the graph.  The advantage of a drop shot rig in this situation is sensitivity, since there is a direct line between the rod tip and the hook via the line.  A 3-way rig has quite a bit of knots, leader, and hardware between your rod tip and the hook, though it is a very good trolling rig - well suited for getting cranks and jerkbaits way down, though not great for casting.  Other advantages of a drop shot are keeping your bait out of the slime algae often encountered in deep, clear water, and in the Great Lakes, it keeps the gobies off, since they rarely rise more than two feet to take a bait.

[WRB]

You can fish a drop shot similar to split shot if you use a longer distance between the weight and hook, about 18" to 24" and go up to 3/16 or 3/8 oz weight. With this type of drop shot rig you cast it and slowly bounce or drag the weight back to cover more area. The vertical drop shot is more traditional and I prefer the hook about 8" to 10" above the weight and use 1/8 to 3/8 oz weight depending on depth and wind with 6 lb FC on spinning tackle.

My favorite drop shot baits are Basstrix Flash minnow, 4" Roboworms FX series nose hooked with size 1 drop shot hook, 4 1/2" to 6" Roboworms weedless rigged with Owner Down shot hook (5133-111 size 1/0).

When drop shoting I like to jiggle the slack line against the weight and keep the weight on the bottom.

Keep in mind Aaron uses very light line ( 2 to 3 lb) with light weights, 4 & 5 lb is heavy for him!

Colors, stick with what works for other soft plastics. I use shad and night crawler colors when drop shotting and fish between 6' to 35' depending where the bass are holding near structure.

Tom

[mod479]

Much of what I was going to offer has been said. Use a heavier weight until you get the hang of not moving the rig from the spot you want to fish. You just want to take up the slack and let the natural water movements create the action.  Light weights have the place, but usually when you want to be stealthy and barely disturb the water upon lure entry.  

 

I use a 3/16 to a 1/4oz most of the time unless I'm on the St.Lawrence, Great Lakes, or Champlain. I like more weight on those bigger waters (3/8 to 1oz). I also agree with trying some longer leaders. I usually start around 10-12 " and have used as long as 24" in clear water situations.     

 

I'll also say that just because a bait isnt marketed as a dropshot bait, that doesnt mean it wont work on the rig. I'll kick myself later for this, but try a.............................yuki bug 3.3", 4" zoom lizard, 4.5" monster miki, or a baby rage craw on a shorter leader. They dont see these baits as much as the usual straight tail worms and baitfish imitations.      

[Hattrick7]

Have you tried straight tailed Roboworms in either the 6 or 4.5"? Those seem to work like magic for me. Baby bass or Aaron's magic are my go to colors. 

 

I barely shake my rod tip. I usually give it about three very subtle shakes and then let it sit for a few seconds, reel in a crank or two and repeat. I like to always have some action on the bait. I typically get bit after the action stops. 

 

It sounds like you're maybe a little too focused on the bite. Relax, give it a couple shakes, crank in once or twice and repeat. You won't miss the bite I'm pretty sure of it. If you feel a tap tap it's probably some baitfish. Whenever I hook into a bass my rod always loads which tells me the bass committed to taking it. 

 

I use a pretty small circle hook. Size 4 I think and I crush the barb down. When my rod starts loading I simply start reeling and the circle hook does all the work. 

 

I think the key with this is being patient. I would also drop your rig in front of you to see what kind of action the bait gets relative to how much you shake your rod tip. This should give you a better understanding of what your bait is doing. Also, make sure your hook is pointing upwards and not down. 

 

You'll get a bite just keep at it. It's not the most exciting way to get bit but it's deadly. 

[Bankbeater]

I have been working on learning drop shotting this year also.  A couple of things mentioned above really stood out. #1 I need a heavier weight on the bottom, and #2 I am getting the feeling that I have been moving the bait to much. 

[Catt]

And they say you can't teach an ole Catt new tricks!

Merci Beau Coup

[ww2farmer]

The one thing I try to stress to people when drop shotting who struggle with it is...........STOP MOVING THE BAIT SO MUCH. I fished with one dude who I swore was having seizures when he was drop shotting, all the while cursing how he never got a bite on the thing.

[KyakR]

I use circle hooks too. I use one of the tungsten drop shot weights in a big gitzit and put my rod in a holder, which frees me up to fish out the other side of the boat with something else.

[Master Bait'r]

On 9/9/2013 at 2:24 PM, Hattrick7 said:

Have you tried straight tailed Roboworms in either the 6 or 4.5"? Those seem to work like magic for me. Baby bass or Aaron's magic are my go to colors. 

 

I barely shake my rod tip. I usually give it about three very subtle shakes and then let it sit for a few seconds, reel in a crank or two and repeat. I like to always have some action on the bait. I typically get bit after the action stops. 

 

It sounds like you're maybe a little too focused on the bite. Relax, give it a couple shakes, crank in once or twice and repeat. You won't miss the bite I'm pretty sure of it. If you feel a tap tap it's probably some baitfish. Whenever I hook into a bass my rod always loads which tells me the bass committed to taking it. 

 

I use a pretty small circle hook. Size 4 I think and I crush the barb down. When my rod starts loading I simply start reeling and the circle hook does all the work. 

 

I think the key with this is being patient. I would also drop your rig in front of you to see what kind of action the bait gets relative to how much you shake your rod tip. This should give you a better understanding of what your bait is doing. Also, make sure your hook is pointing upwards and not down. 

 

You'll get a bite just keep at it. It's not the most exciting way to get bit but it's deadly. 

 

 

 

BAM.  Robos are the shizz.    

 

Also agree on not moving it too much.  Just a little dip or one tiny wiggle and let it sit before you walk it.