Carolina Vs. Drop Shot

[red23fox]

What is the true advantage to do either or. Essentially the same action , depending on leader length, is there a true advantage if you par the course at an18" leader?

Going to be fishing in 20-30 feet of water for conversation sake.

[Megastink]

NOT the same action. I unless you're using an elaztech plastic or other floating worm, the bait trailing a carolina rig is dragging behind the rig on the bottom. Its simple physics. It doesn't "float up" above the weight; thats nonsense.

 

A drop shot bait is suspended off the bottom, and can be wiggled in place indefinately.

 

I prefer the drop shot, and I often drag it like a carolina rig. However a carolina rig is better for covering deep water quickly. Both excel at feeling bottom composition.

 

As for your question: it depends. if the fish are scattered across a 15ft flat, I'd toss the c-rig. however, if those fish are relating to vertical structure, or if they're in a specific area, drop 'em.

 

My $.02.

[reelnmn]

To add to what Megastink said, a drop shot rig could be fished like a C rig but the opposite is impossible.  Also with a C rig you have to feel the bait through the weight/swivel on the line.  Fishing a drop shot the hook and fish is the first thing I feel.  On a light bite this is essential.

[red23fox]

Makes sense..good example on flats and vertical structure. Thanks fellas.

[Darren.]

I don't fish either much anymore. I fished drop more than C-rig, now I fish more mojo and TX, with wacky the most.

 

My waters don't go much deeper than 20', and that's in a flooded reservoir situation.

 

But they're not the same action, as stated. One has the weight above the bait, the other has the weight below it. I'd consider, though not a hard/fast rule, drop shot to be more of a vertical presentation, while the C-rig is more of a horizontal/dragging presentation (altho drop-shotting can be done that way as well).

[Darren.]

As for an 18" leader, for me, that's short and in need of replacing.

 

But that is ME! I like a leader to be in the neighborhood of 6-10' in length, depending on what I'm doing, conditions, etc.

 

Sometimes I'll make my leader two spans of both arms stretched wide.

 

Water clarity can help you with that decision. Ultra clear? Perhaps a longer leader will be best. You have to experiment and decide that fact for the way you fish.

[ripinit]

Drop shot when fish are cold, suspended , deep, and when you have them dialed in...in a small area. Covering water, with bigger baits, when its warmer..CRig.

[mjseverson24]

I fish the drop shot quite a bit, I feel it is an extremely versatile bait that can be fished fast slow, deep and shallow, vertical and horizontal, small baits and big baits. The C-rig to me is used in a few very specific situations, very effective when used properly, but the strike to land ratio is also quite a bit worse with the C-rig as compared to the drop shot.

 

Mitch

[ClackerBuzz]

great tips. only thing i'll add is building on what mitch said. hook up ratio is much better with drop shot so i prefer it when getting rocked in 15 mph winds (a lot for my small canoe!) and/or with numb hands in cold weather. the weight is below the lure so the bass hold on longer and basically hook themselves on the small sticky hooks. let alone when you lift the rod tip to move it again.

[WRB]

The C-rig is designed to be dragged along the bottom horizontal, the drop shot or down shot rig is fished vertical with the weight on or off the bottom. The hook is above the weight tied directly to the main line without leader unless you choose to use a leader, the soft plastic is a controlled distance above the bottom with a drop shot. The hook is behind the leader with a swivel and weight in front the leader, the soft plastic is uncontrolled and may be on or slightly above the bottom, the angler can't feel where the soft plastic is.

The only thing these two rigs have in common is the soft plastic lure used.

To fish in 30' of water with a drop shot rig you can have 30' of line. To fish a C-rig in 30' of water you need a minimum of 45' of line or more line between you and the lure. You can cast a drop shot and retrieve horizontal, however it's designed to be fished vertical.

Tom

[Todd2]

I've been throwing a rig that I saw somebody on here call a Missouri rig. Its kind of a hybrid of the two, but fished more like C-rig. My setup is braid main tied to a three way swivel. One leader is about a foot with a jig or heavy texas rig. The other leader is about 2 feet to a weightless plastic of your choice. I use the same braid for the leader to the jig. Copolymer for the weightless one. I started using it late last year with some success.

[Bluebasser86]

For me the C-rig is for covering water and the drop shot is for fishing very specific pieces of cover or structure.