Am I Missing Out On Not Drop-Shotting?

[hoosierbass07]

 I keep reading and seeing videos on Youtube and TV programs about how great the drop-shot rig is.  Drop-shot this, drop-shot that.  

 

 When I'm kayak fishing for bass I take two to three rods with me.  Two with soft plastics (split-shot and Texas Rig) and third rod with a hard bait, probably a spinner bait.  

 

 Is the drop-shot worth trying out?  Is the drop-shot more effective than a split-shot rig?  

 

 Do you have to know there are fish under you to make the drop-shot effective?  I can use my Texas rig and Spit-shot rig to search and fine and catch bass.  Hit and miss.  Can that be done with 

a drop-shot rig?  When you cast a drop-shot rig, don't you have to work it very slow and jiggle it slowly?  

 

Can the drop-shot be used in non-clear water?  

 

 The idea of tying on a weight at the end of the line with a hook up the line and just dangling it sounds sort of boring to me.  I get a lot of enjoyment working worms on the Texas rig and split-shot rig.  The drop-shot rig seems sort of boring to me but now I'm wondering if, when the bite is tough, it might be effective.  

 

Thanks!

[Munkin]

 If you are fishing really clear water I would say yes? Drop shot is just another way to present a bait so don't get to hung up on it. Sometimes the fish are in a neutral or negative mood and the DS works well for this but do not worry. Basic premise of drop shotting is the bait is suspended above the weight? Try out the DS and see if it works for you? You really do not need any special tackle just use what you currently have.

 

Allen

[A-Jay]

The Drop Shot is one of the most effective methods I know to catch bass, especially Smallmouth bass.

 

Not necessarily always the biggest bass in a system but sometimes the fatties go Koo-Koo for Coco Puffs over the right bait in the right place at the right time.

 

The method lends itself to almost any depth, clarity & fishing situation.

 

Read more about it and then try it yourself.

 

You'll be glad you did.

 

A-Jay

[Darren.]

I'll say yes and no. It really depends.

 

I've recently picked it back up, and I've 

had some success in local areas, but I've 

yet to employ it on my regular fishing spots.

 

The deepest water I tend to fish is *maybe*

20 feet. Normally I concentrate on shoreline

structure, or grass lines off the shore. 

 

Fished a drop at a local pond and did catch

a nice 1.5 pounder. I bought some roboworms

and drop shot weights over the holiday to use

at my normal lakes. So I'm looking forward to 

trying them out there.

 

If the past is any indication, and this is only for 

me, it may not be as awesome as a simple 

wacky worm setup.

 

But I'm determined to try it out. Good luck!

[RSM789]

I'm like you, I would prefer to Texas rig a plastic.  However, when the water is cold & you need to slowly wave a plastic bait right in front of a lethargic basses nose in deep water, a drop shot is the best way to do it.  For me, in winter on days when the bass will not chase anything and won't move far to pick up the most slow moving bait, it is an effective way to get some stink on your hands.

 

It isn't as bad as sitting there with live bait, but it is precariously close.

[Catch and Grease]

I've been fishing the drop shot more and more and honestly it has been producing great for me, no huge bass but lots of numbers of 2-3lb solid quality bass, And I don't fish deep water, the lake I fish averages 6-8 feet and I'm always casting the DS.

[RSM789]

deep being a relative term

[rippin-lips]

For me it like any other presentation has a time and place. I don't use it a lot but when the fishing seems tough I can usually rig one up and catch some fish. It also doesn't have to be fished as slow as you're saying. I know when watching Aaron Martens fish it. Sometimes he imparts a lot of the action by wiggling his rod. Sometimes he'll cast it and retrieve it by bouncing it back to the boat. Then there are times where you'll see him just hold his rod still maybe twitch his wrist very lightly. This weeks mlf tournament was dominated by the ds rig.

[TorqueConverter]

Not something I'd be fishing out of a yack in a small body of water unless I had an anchor, a way of locating deep structure, it was mid summer, I was targeting smallmouth and there was no wind.

[Angry John]

Not something I'd be fishing out of a yack in a small body of water unless I had an anchor, a way of locating deep structure, it was mid summer, I was targeting smallmouth and there was no wind.

I fish it out of my yak when there is no wind. That is when its at its best for me. No anchor most times and I have no sonar. Lots of ways to skin that cat.

[Bluebasser86]

Of all the bass I catch every year, I doubt I catch more then 2 dozen of them on a drop shot. I can do it, I have some spots where it's a slam dunk technique to catch a fish or two nearly 100% of the time, just not a go to technique for me. 

[kcdinkerz]

On shore I love it on a yak I hate it unless the wind is calm. Even being anchored the position of your rod is changing due to the sway. Kind of hard for me since I like to work a ds really slow

[reelnmn]

Drop shot is my go to.  If I need to determine if fish are in the area this is what I'm throwing.  Over the last two years my top 15 smallies have ALL came off the drop shot.  I would say it is a must to learn.

[HoosierHawgs]

For me it like any other presentation has a time and place. I don't use it a lot but when the fishing seems tough I can usually rig one up and catch some fish. It also doesn't have to be fished as slow as you're saying. I know when watching Aaron Martens fish it. Sometimes he imparts a lot of the action by wiggling his rod. Sometimes he'll cast it and retrieve it by bouncing it back to the boat. Then there are times where you'll see him just hold his rod still maybe twitch his wrist very lightly. This weeks mlf tournament was dominated by the ds rig.

I was about to say this! Yeah, Aaron Martens does at times cast and retrieve a drop shot rig pretty quickly, and pretty effectively as well. There is a few videos of him doing this on bassmaster.com... I've watched them and they've been pretty helpful.

[riverbasser13]

It's worth a try, it's a great way to present a tiny 1.5 to 2 inch bait to fish that are feeding on fry or tiny minnows. If nothing else it's just one more technique to try out.

[wnybassman]

Doesn't anyone drag a dropshot?   I would think this would be a perfect presentation out of a kayak.

[Crestliner2008]

Drop shotting is just another finesse presentation that is extremely effective in particular places and times. It is NOT a "power fishing" type of presentation. It was developed and enhansed on the west coast (from Japan) to catch deep, clear water largemouths in tough tournament conditions. When the presentation spread across the country, even kids fishing with their dads could really enjoy some exciting fishing out on the water.

 

I disagree with the notion that it's a "small" bass presentation. I've caught a lot of giants using the drop shot. You just have to know where to put it. If you can locate a good structure with baitfish on it, in relatively deep, clear water, there is probably no better way to put fish in the boat.  I've been drop shotting since 2001 and cannot tell you how many quality bass (mostly smallmouths, but some good largemouths as well) I've caught & released over the years, using this presentation.

 

In any case, it is certainly worth your effort to give a whirl. That's what fishing is all about, right? 

[Felix77]

Drop vs. Split shot ... IMO they serve different purposes based on conditions. In and around grass I prefer the split shot. Edges, open water, smaller baits .... The DS.

For the record I prefer the mojo over the split shot. Snags less in weeds IMO.

[Felix77]

Doesn't anyone drag a dropshot? I would think this would be a perfect presentation out of a kayak.

Absolutely. Love doing this. The key is controlling your drift and a weight heavy enough to maintain bottom contact.

[gardnerjigman]

Of all the bass I catch every year, I doubt I catch more then 2 dozen of them on a drop shot. I can do it, I have some spots where it's a slam dunk technique to catch a fish or two nearly 100% of the time, just not a go to technique for me. 

 

 

I agree to the extent that it counts for ZERO fish I catch. lol. I never throw the thing and don't seem to be missing out any... yet that is.

[Sam]

Yes.
 

Learn the drop shot.

 

[WIGuide]

The short answer to op's question is YES! I only started drop shotting a few years ago, but it's become one of my go to techniques. It seems to put fish in the boat even on the toughest days. Take some time and mess with it, you may love it or you may hate it. Only one way to find out. 

[BassSlayer71]

Personally, I love the DS rig.  I picked it up last year and was almost deadly.  Had a few friends who knew nothing about bass fishing catch fish on this rig.  It's not a big fish catcher typically but I have caught them in the 3lb range.

 

It's big upside is keeping it in one place and jigging it.  And esp if you are fishing deep.

[Fisher-O-men]

Don't limit your DS rig to small baits.  I sometimes use a 6-7" worm on a 3/0 fine wire EWG hook.  Drag it? yes!  Drift it? Absolutely!

 

Definitely do NOT try the Neko rig, it does NOT catch fish! Especially with a 4" Yum Dinger!

[fisherrw]

definitely worth a try!!