For Those Who Dropshot

[BuffaloBass716]

Lately, the dropshot has become my favorite way to catch smallies in my local river, but I loose sinkers like there's no tomorrow.  It's probably a combination of the current and the rocky bottom that causes me to get snagged up and loose about 8-10 sinkers in a trip.  I use the longer style pencil dropshot lead weights but I haven't really noticed hanging up in the rocks any less then the tear drop style.  

 

So anyway, how many sinkers do you guys loose while fishing rocky areas?  I know its the nature of the beast but it works so well for smallies that I just can't use anything else. 

 

PS, you will never find me using a tungsten weight unless I find a whole stash of them for free, id probably lose $50 in weights alone for a single day!  

[S Hovanec]

I had one memorable bad saturday where I lost 40 weights. Went back to the same lake the next day and didn't lose a single one. Must have been some goofy current is all I can figure.

[tomustang]

Just the other day I got snagged 6 times and lost 2. Lure retriever helped 4. In just two hours.

[bassguytom]

Sometimes the weight will cut the line if to thin. I use a VMC spinshot hook and on the sinker line I use a higher lb test floro like 17lb. this helps me lose less weights.

[papajoe222]

You should check out a pencil or needle style Weight. The weight is attached to the upper portion of a a heavy wire shaft. The needle drags the bottom and rarely hangs up on rocky bottoms.

[FrankW]

Hi BuffaloBass716,

Fishing currant with a rocky bottom can be difficult. Here are some ideas that work for me.

1. Use slinky weights used by steel headers. You can buy them in a quarter weight. You can make your own slinkies and save some money. Do a search on Google and you can find instructions for making slinkies. They are flexible and don't get hung as much.

2. When you cast up stream reduce the angle up stream according to the currant. With a strong currant you might only be able to cast directly in front of you. The further up stream you cast the quicker the currant will wash your weight into the rocks. You have to find the best angle to cast up stream so the currant doesn't just bury you weight into the rocks.

What you want is to drift your weight along the bottom with it just ticking the bottom as it carries down stream. You need to stay in contact with the weight so you can slightly lift the weight as it bounces along the bottom. If you have a sandy bottom or with few rocks, you need to lift the weight slightly and the currant carries it a few inches. They repeat and you can feel the weight and keep it moving along with the currant. The bait/plastic just goes along for the ride. River Smallies are accustom to their food being move along by the currant and you want to try and duplicate a natural drift of the bait/plastic.

3. You will have to adjust your weight to match the currant flow.

4. Learn to fly fish. This is a really good way to catch Smallies. You can adjust your fly, line and weight so the fly drifts just above the rocks. Smallies on a fly is crazy fun.

Frank

[J Francho]

At least a few pounds worth a year. We pour our own now.

[MikeinFresno]

bend the long ones in a curve, they dont hang up as easy this way