Am I Missing Out On Not Drop-Shotting?

[EmersonFish]

Just think of the "drop shot rig" as simply attaching your hook/bait to your line above your weight. Forget about the words "finesse" and "deep" and all of the words frequently associated with the more trendy "technique" for a moment, and just consider it for what it is. It's a way of presenting baits that has been used in some similar form by saltwater fisherman, crappie fisherman, and all types of other fisherman forever. There is absolutely no reason to rule out the rig itself. I use it a lot, and I use it in a lot of different ways. Most frequently, I will make relatively short cast to sloping banks and work it down. This kills for me, using what is more of a Shaky Head rod, as I am crawling over obstructions frequently.

As far as using the most commonly discussed drop shot "technique," which is vertical, slower, etc., out of a kayak; that might present a bit of a challenge, but I can assure you that if you locate the fish, and the DS is working, it is anything but boring.

[stepchild]

For about 3 years now, the DS has been a lifesaver for me. I fish deep, clear lakes with LM and SM in them and I would say that, while it does have its time and place, it has the makings of a confidence technique if you happen to use it correctly.

 

What I mean by that is that most peg dropshotting as a vertical, finesse technique that's as exciting as watching paint dry. While it is a way to use this presentation when you spot fish on your electronics, there are many more applications.

 

I have used the DS sightfishing for cruising bass on sand/rock flats. The reason: there's barely any splash and you can make it sit there all day long. If fishing for bass during the spawn were legal here, I would definitely consider this technique...use your creativeness. You can also use a grub or paddletail to drift with, where you can actually cover water fairly quickly. With a plastic bait that has an action tail, you can even rip it up and down to get a bass' attention, as the tail flutters on the way up and down.

 

For your situation in a kayak (I have also done this on a stand-up paddleboard), I would look for points or break lines that run parallel to the wind, and use the wind to your advantage to slowly drift along the piece of structure. Let the fish tell you what works. Sometimes you need to shake the tail of your bait, other times (which I find works more often then not), just letting it sit there is enough to drive bass crazy.

 

In my personal experience, it's a technique I would recommend to anyone who wants to learn another way to get some fish in the boat, regardless of the depth you intend to use it in.

[smalljaw67]

I'm going to say that out of a Yak you aren't really missing much. I very seldom use it, I prefer the shaky head and if you don't have sonar on your yak go with a shaky head. I say that because I find the drop shot is better fishing when you are on fish, meaning you have located them on the fish finder near cover or structure, that is when a drop shot is at its best. I'm guessing you are searching and to me the shaky head is better for combing the water because that is what is making the bait work, you drag it or hop it along and then stop it, shake it a bit and let it sit and then drag it some more and repeat what you've been doing with it, the drop shot you make a cast and then you keep a semi slack line, you want to lift the line without moving the weight very much so it kind of sits in one spot while the lure dances above the bottom. Don't worry about missing any thing, I do drop shot some but maybe 5 times a season where I use a shaky head all summer.

[Fishes in trees]

I always have a drop shot rig tied up - two of them in fact, one kind of a bubba rig and the other more finesse oriented.  To further clarify, I generally have many rigs tied up and ready to go - generally around 20 give or take.  That being said, a couple of times each year for the past several years the drop shot has turned a very average day into a decent day, picking up fish that I probably couldn't catch with any other approach.  Most of the time the drop shot rig that I pick up first is the bubba rig, a 7 1/2' pitching stick with 20 lb abrazx fluorocarbon.  I can drop that bait just outside the shadow pocket of a stump and leave it there - a foot to foot and a half off the bottom and just wiggle it a little bit.  I will use the finesse option ( 7' M Mojo rod, 1000 size Shimano reel, 10 lb braid connected to a fluorocarbon leader) on deeper, less cover oriented situations, like a deep weed line or that place in the lake basin where rocks turn to clay.

 

If I were only limited to a few options due to space or whatever, I don't know if drop shot would be an option I'd start with or not, just depending on where I was fishing I guess.

[jlew]

Does anyone use it on shallow grassy lakes like in Florida?

[mjseverson24]

The Dropshot is probably one of the best fish catching systems available today(artificial). every time I go out I have at least 4 rods rigged for DS. I have 2 on spinning(ML, and M power) and 2 on casting(M and MH power). If the fish are positioned near the bottom think of it as a faster way to present a weightless plastic to deep water fish. I have drop lengths from 8" to 4' depending on the lake and conditions. This is a total confidence bait for me on clear lakes, if I cannot catch a decent limit on the DS its going to be a tough day for everybody. Is it my favorite technique??? absolutely not, but when the bite is tough and you are looking to put some fish in the boat the DS is about the best way to coax a lock jawed bass into eating... Disclaimer---> if you don't know where the fish are located the DS may not be yours best option, a reaction bait will work better to cover the water until you find the fish...

 

Mitch

[ChrisWi]

If you aren't dropshotting you're missing opportunities!

[A-Jay]

The Dropshot is probably one of the best fish catching systems available today(artificial). every time I go out I have at least 4 rods rigged for DS. I have 2 on spinning(ML, and M power) and 2 on casting(M and MH power). If the fish are positioned near the bottom think of it as a faster way to present a weightless plastic to deep water fish. I have drop lengths from 8" to 4' depending on the lake and conditions. This is a total confidence bait for me on clear lakes, if I cannot catch a decent limit on the DS its going to be a tough day for everybody. Is it my favorite technique??? absolutely not, but when the bite is tough and you are looking to put some fish in the boat the DS is about the best way to coax a lock jawed bass into eating... Disclaimer---> if you don't know where the fish are located the DS may not be yours best option, a reaction bait will work better to cover the water until you find the fish...

 

Mitch

 

Nicely put Mitch  -

 

and I'll add that on those really tough Lock Jaw days, I do have some success slipping a drop shot on high percentage spots when I initially pull up on it - just to let me know if there is even any reason to be there in the first place.  Then, if this test flight is met with positive results of any kind, I can either switch it up or even just stick with what worked. 

 

A-Jay

[SDbassin]

a drop shot, for me, is one of my go-to rigs. Being in southern California, many times its the most productive and I've caught my two biggest fish on a drop shot with a roboworm

[primetime]

Here in Florida I only dropshot when shallow if I know fish are in a negative mood and I am confident they are in a piece of cover I can target with a small finesse bait and I usually barely work the rod and just wait for something to pick it up...

 

I also use it when I have a muddy bottom which is often since a shaky rig or even a texas rig is frustrating but alot of time fish are suspended this time of year and if a place gets high pressure or I am going behind a few boats on a shoreline, I will power shot instead of flip a jig or punch bait into cover. I find the dropshot to be very effective when you are near fish, and it is a bit boring, however, you can work it faster if you use the hooks with good swivels like the vmc or gamakatsu drop shot hooks to elimiate line twist. If you get line twist you are probably shaking too much, I don't shake much, the right baits move on their own....Baits with ribbed bodies, boot tails, ribbon tails, or floaters will move on their own, just make sure you can feel bottom at all times.

 

I love the Mister Twister 5" poc it worms I grabbed on clearance at dicks, they are soft, ton of action, translucent, and also the damiki baits are good, Gulp floating minnows, small GYB Ika's, trick worms and senkos wacky rigged, or for power shotting, I like using the keitechs, trigger x minnow baits, gitzit flash tubes.

 

I do like the split shot, mojo rig the best, Another quick set up is to leave a 18" tag end on your regular soft bait of any knid and crimp a large split shot on the end of the line or simply use a true floating worm with a split shot and you kind of have a drop shot...If you like moving a bait then drop shot probably not the best, c-rigs with light weights and lifts will catch fish suspended and keep bait up in the column, I catch fish on modified c-rigs with heavy weights for loud splashes when fish are active but have lock jaw, and it often works in 2-3', same as drop shot with 1 ounce, but overall I use mainly 3/8 drop shot weights and vmc swivel drop shot hooks and nose hooked baits have best action in my opinion, I will try crazy stuff, sometimes a lizard suspended in the water works but nothing is better

 

for catching spawning fish if you don't sight fish than the drop shot. Find the flat they are on, and simply cast and move it maybe 3' every minute, few taps of rod, and a bait with crazy action like the damikia air craws or small minnow baits I forget what they are called...