Drop Shot Flies?

[fishermantony]

I came across something talking about drop shot flies (pre rigged drop shot flies) and it really caught my attention because I had never used or even heard of flies for drop shotting before.  Sounds really interesting and I'd like to try it.  Does anyone have any suggestions on flies to use and how to rig them?  Also will they be a good option in late fall?  Thanks!

[J Francho]

I'll be honest, I use a drop shot rig quite a bit, but it never occurred to me to try a fly.  I did a quick google on it, and came u[p with this: http://proxy.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/members/insider/bmmarchive/story?page=b_fea_bm_0501_drop_shot_fly

Hopefully someone that has actually tried it can comment, or you can try it and report back.

[fishermantony]

I'll be honest, I use a drop shot rig quite a bit, but it never occurred to me to try a fly. I did a quick google on it, and came u[p with this: http://proxy.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/members/insider/bmmarchive/story?page=b_fea_bm_0501_drop_shot_fly

Hopefully someone that has actually tried it can comment, or you can try it and report back.

Thanks J Francho.  I will be picking up some flies and trying it on Monday, hopefully I'll report back with good news.

[BASSclary]

When peir fishing at the OBX, there are rigs called "Bait rigs".

Essentially there are about 6 drop-shotted flies.

See attached Photo

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[J Francho]

Sabiki rigs aren't legal in most freshwater.

[BASSclary]

Sabiki rigs aren't legal in most freshwater.

:-X

Thanks for the update, I didn't know that. :-/

Why's it illegal, if you don't mind me asking?

[J Francho]

Take a look at your regs, I don't know about VA,but in NY you can only have two hooks on a leader. Some states only allow one.

Besides, the BEAUTY of the drop shot rig is the connection between hook, line, and rod. Using a snelled bait ruins this concept.

[Micro]

Sabiki rigs are legal in Virginia.  People use them to catch blueback herring and alewife, mainly for striper bait.

[Dan:]

This reminds me of a rig that I've seen striper guys use. They tie on a hair jig (1/2-2oz) and then tie a fly about 18" above the jig as a teaser.

[Dan:]

Sabiki rigs are legal in Virginia. People use them to catch blueback herring and alewife, mainly for striper bait.

The only caveat about that is that herring and alewife are not "game fish" as defined by the VDGIF. I was thinking that the rules may be different for game fish vs. non game fish.

Any idea if the regulation applies to all freshwater or if there is, indeed, a distinction between using multiple hooks for game fish vs. non game fish?

[Fishes in trees]

A couple of years ago, I was fishing on a MO conservation lake that was uncommonly clear.  (turns out, it was just that year - different story)  It occurs to me that a drop shot fly might work.  About the same time - there was a sidebar in a Bassmaster magazine about a guy on Lake Erie who was catching smallmouth in ultra clear water  on drop shot flies.

Anyway, I go to Cabelas in KCK  and drop $30 or so on a few streamer flies.  Some hair ones - some maribou ones - I'm looking for something that will imitate a minnow and is 3 or 4 inches long.

I go to an area of this lake where I've caught fish drop shotting before - 4" slider worms, 8 lb test - 3/16 ounce weight.

I'm rigged up for ultra finesse - 6 lb fluorocarbon and the same 3/16 ounce weight.  I'm fishing 12 feet down on the lip of a drop off down to 17 or so in the trough of the drop off.

Mixed results - 50 minutes of messing with this rig catches me one fish - a 13 or 14 slot fish and nothing else.  That hit came while I was reeling in, as I was intending to reposition on the top of the lip.  So that one fish hit a moving streamer fly 7 or 8 feet above the bottom.  Couldn't raise another fish.

Left the area for an hour or so - came back and caught a few more slot fish on a slider worm & Brewer jig head.

Still got the flies - but they haven't gotten wet for a couple of years. 

So - I think drop shot fishing with flies might work - but it didn't work very well for me and I think I gave it a decent shot in good conditions.  I'm unlikely to try it again any time soon.

[fishermantony]

A couple of years ago, I was fishing on a MO conservation lake that was uncommonly clear. (turns out, it was just that year - different story) It occurs to me that a drop shot fly might work. About the same time - there was a sidebar in a Bassmaster magazine about a guy on Lake Erie who was catching smallmouth in ultra clear water on drop shot flies.

Anyway, I go to Cabelas in KCK and drop $30 or so on a few streamer flies. Some hair ones - some maribou ones - I'm looking for something that will imitate a minnow and is 3 or 4 inches long.

I go to an area of this lake where I've caught fish drop shotting before - 4" slider worms, 8 lb test - 3/16 ounce weight.

I'm rigged up for ultra finesse - 6 lb fluorocarbon and the same 3/16 ounce weight. I'm fishing 12 feet down on the lip of a drop off down to 17 or so in the trough of the drop off.

Mixed results - 50 minutes of messing with this rig catches me one fish - a 13 or 14 slot fish and nothing else. That hit came while I was reeling in, as I was intending to reposition on the top of the lip. So that one fish hit a moving streamer fly 7 or 8 feet above the bottom. Couldn't raise another fish.

Left the area for an hour or so - came back and caught a few more slot fish on a slider worm & Brewer jig head.

Still got the flies - but they haven't gotten wet for a couple of years.

So - I think drop shot fishing with flies might work - but it didn't work very well for me and I think I gave it a decent shot in good conditions. I'm unlikely to try it again any time soon.

Thanks for sharing the experience.

[ww2farmer]

I don't know anyone who dropshots flies, but a few guys around here drop shot micro ice fising soft plastic baits like Maki's..................they do ok with them

[SirSnookalot]

I don't drop shot anything, but I do use a drop fly rig, which I have mentioned before on BR.  Something to do different once in awhile.

[Randall]

I have a good buddy Robbie Dehass who started Red Rooster Baits which in the beginning was high quality float and fly type flies. Last year he started making drop shot flies and playing around with them and  now he sells them. I  have been dropshoting streamers etc. for a while but Robbie makes baits that are made for dropshoting. They work much better than regular streamers and have become my preferred small bait to dropshot.

[Randall]

Here is a photo of the Red Rooster dropshot fly.

[fishermantony]

Here is a photo of the Red Rooster dropshot fly.

Thank You, they look nice!

[fisheye]

I'm the person who's flies are in the picture. They were my first using a Owner mosquito hook ( drop-shot hook) since with the demand of a longer fly was requested I have gone other directions with stinger hooks (longer shank) for a 4-1/4 in fly. I tie an Alewife, Blue Back herring, Spot tail, and Thread fin shad. have done custom work for local area guides many hours of field testing with great results...especially if you fish highly pressured lakes!

[BassThumb]

That's a good idea. It never crossed my mind. I think it would make a good bait for those suspended crappies that like to hang out 4 or 5 feet from the bottom.