Dropshot Tweaking

[jkroosz]

I fish Lake George in NY primarily for smallmouths. It is a gin clear lake and come around July, the fish start to move to 45 - 55 fow. I have found that the fish are very sensitive to any weather front that moves through. Most of the time, a front will negatively impact the fishing. When the bite slows, I know I need to adapt. Usually, I will size down the bait, and make sure the color is "natural"(green pumpkin anything).

I have been considering painting the weight black or green, to reduce shine, or using a glass bead on the rig. 

I use 6lb line and Gulp scent products.

Any ideas towards fine tuning?

[Big Fish Rice]

Very similar conditions as my home water here in Washington State. Believe it or not, up sizing my baits this year caught me more fish. Not just better quality, but more numbers as well. Instead of 4.5-inch Roboworms, using a 6-inch in Aarons Magic or Margarita Mutilator often resulted in fish (that weren't biting smaller baits).

To be honest, we fish those depths from mid-October through Winter. My two biggest pieces of advice would be: shorten your dropshot leader length to about 6-inches and try to fish directly over the smallmouth if you have strong enough electronics. Seems to catch more fish.

[Oregon Native]

I too am fishing clearer waters here in Tenn now and also recommend the shorter leader...although I do love a 3" Yum Dinger. Color is huge...what works one day may not for many days later.

Tight Lines

[Sam]

In Virginia we throw the drop shot all over the place, especially in, under and around docks, piers, pilings and wood. We have had good success in the grass on the Potomac as well.

 

As stated above, you may want to shorten your leader length to 6 or 8 inches. if no bites, then go to 10 to 12 and if still no takers give 16 to18 a try.

 

As for plastics to use, you will have to experiment. The smaller 4.5 inchers can do great as will the regular 6 inchers. Try wacky rigging a Swamp Crawler or Trick Worm to give a totally different presentation.

 

Even Senkos and other stick baits can produce. Try the 3 inch Senkos and go up in size from there.

 

Colors? I have seen pink, Junebug, watermelon, green pumpkin and purple all work.

 

If you really want to mess things up use a jig and pig as your weight. This gives you two options for the bass to consider. I have never caught anything on a jig weight but will continue to use it next year and hope that it will work.  Just be sure using two baits on one line is legal in your state.

 

Using a drop shot on a spinning rig gives you a lot of advantages over a baitcaster. And the lighter the line you can go with the better the rig will perform. I usually go with 8 pound flouro but have been known to go down to 6 pounds. I have 4 and 2 pound flouro but have chicken out when considering it although one or two pros swear by these tests.

 

As for using Gulp! I would have thought you would be knocking the catfish out of this world. Gulp! seems to attract the bream, bluegills and catfish more than the bass in Virginia.  No idea why but that's the way it is. I suggest going with a simple plastic and use MegaStrike as your scent or use the scented Power Baits. And you may want to consider using JJ's magic and dip one or both ends of your bait in a lime or yellow dye.

 

Good luck and let us know how you do.

[mod479]

Sounds like where I do a lot of fishing. Adirondack lakes can be extremely clear and devoid of much structure and/or cover...this makes for roamers. Many times theyll be in groups of 2 to 5...so keep another rod rigged up with a senko or a tube jig to toss at them. The most prominent points, laydowns, channels, docks, and humps are going to attract many of the best fish in the lake on their daily travels. Don't go searching for brush piles in 20-30 FOW becuase they are rare in kettle ponds and lakes...but if you do find one...fish it thoroughly with a finesse jig or DS. One thing Adirondack lakes are known for are sporadic humps made of boulders, gravel, and chunk rock which rise out of 40+ FOW, these are some of my favorite areas to stalk brown fish. 

 

As for tuning a dropshot....it's a pretty simple rig and it's best to keep it that way in my opinion. Try 4lb fluoro out, it'll get you bit more on some days. What hook are you using? What size? I use a #4 most of the time or a #2 for thicker baits. Take a pair of pliers and bend the hooks shank upward about 10 degrees , you will see improvment in hook ups. I dont use spinshot hooks anymore, its much easier to tie a palomar and be done with it. Nothing to get tangled onto (which does happen, ruining fluoro), and less stuff for fish to look at when keying in on your bait. Dont worry so much about painting weights unless theyre so shiny that you feel theyre visible. Get some of the skinny tungsten DS weights, smaller profile, less splash on entry...which is big when casting to crusing smallies and not freaking them out with a massive lead weight.  Also, dont use the same old DS baits everyone else is throwing out there, think outside the box and the smallies will come. 

[jkroosz]

I like the use of a jig for the weight...

[bmac31]

The queen of the American Lakes. Sorry to go off topic. I get a little sentimental over LG. Many great boyhood summers spent there. Thats all lol.