Drop Shot On A Baitcaster?

[BigSkyBasser]

Went out for the first time in about two weeks hoping to catch some Montana LMB starting to transition to shallow water for fall. Started throwing larger jigs and rattle traps and wasn't getting the reaction I'd hoped for. I finally decided to hit the drop shot even though I only had my flippin' combo w/ me. I've seen Aaron Martens throw this rig similarly in MLF before. Just wondering if anyone else messes around with this on baitcasters or has any reasons why it wouldn't be advised? BTW following the switch to drop shot I proceeded to catch my best largemouth of the year and several others close to it. Was a great day to be on the water!

[PitchinJigz]

There's some guys out there who use the BFS reels and rods for dropshots. It's definitely more difficult on most casting reels. Basically the reason we use it on spinning reels is there isn't many casting rods and reels designed for finesse lures that are a good price. Plus the drag on spinning reels tends to be smoother. Personally I just like the feel of a spinning setup for finesse lures.

[hatrix]

There is people that do. Using regular castig gear it's just a heavy dropshot bigger baits and weights usually. To fish the same setup you would use on a spinning reel you kinda need finesse reels and stuff to make it easy on your self. I don't know that everyone has those. I know I don't, but everyone does have a spinnig reel.

[BigSkyBasser]

There is people that do. Using regular castig gear it's just a heavy dropshot bigger baits and weights usually. To fish the same setup you would use on a spinning reel you kinda need finesse reels and stuff to make it easy on your self. I don't know that everyone has those. I know I don't, but everyone does have a spinnig reel.

I was fishing a Curado w/ 12 lb flouro on an Okuma Reflexions 6'9 MH. Seemed to do me well. Had the same sensitivity and general feel as my spinning gear. However if I were fishing for smallies I might not attempt such without different BC gear. I see what you mean about having a very streamline drag especially for a rig like drop shot.

[ChrisD46]

Search google for : "Powershot" set up technique - basically the same as drop shot except everything is biggie sized (i.e. line , hook , weight and soft plastic) .

[Catt]

I use my Calcutta 100A to throw finesse rigs with zero problems.

Right now the hottest rigs on the Sabine River is a 1/8 oz bullet weight, a 2/0 hook, & a Zoom Finesse worms; some days I'll drop down to a 1/16 oz.

[Montanaro]

Throwing a 3/8oz dropshot weight does not require a bfs reel.

[lmbfisherman]

1/4 oz plus my favorite worm of the day a lot of the time, setup 12 lb floro and size 2 mustad circle on a citica 200 g7 and fenwick et smallmouth medium fast. In fact i can cast a weightwless zoom worm on it with little difficulty. I wont win awards on distance though with just the zoom worms but i get enough to target areas i need to. Last time i used that setup 27 smallmouth bass in 3 hours.

[Fisher-O-men]

When dropping straight down I like a baitcaster.  The line spools off nicer and I am in constant contact with the bait in case they hit it on the way down.

[poisonokie]

I finally got to use my volkey bfs rod this morning, and i can tell it would slay for dropshotting and really anything finesse oriented. They go for $150 and are a heck of a rod for that price. The reel is a different story. There is no cheap bfs reel. To me it's worth it to put down the spinning outfit, but if you don't fish a lot of finesse baits, I'd stick with spinning.

[hatrix]

It's not always about if you can cast a 1/8 oz drop shot weight and a roboworm on your casting gear. Can you put say 10# braid on it? Or like 4 or 6# flouro. It is usually a lighter line application that normal castig gear isn't not suitable for.

[skeetabug]

ok guys,should it matter what brand reel or rod as far as a baitcater goes drop shotting???......dont get me wrong i love to dropshot but it shouldnt matter the outfit you use be it a bps or abu garcia or a lews for that matter.......not trying to be a smarty pants or anything,just trying to understand.

[hatrix]

Why would it matter? Everyone has there own preference on what they like. As long as it gets the job done for you it doesn't matter what anyone says to use or should be using. If it works for you then keep doing it.

[poisonokie]

It just comes down to action and sensitivity. You can go pretty low on line weight with the right reel, but they're expensive, and you can always tie on a lighter leader. And if you're fishing strictly vertically, casting distance obviously doesn't mean anything, but you won't get very far if you can't keep contact with your rig.

 

To me, though, you're going to want to do more with your finesse rod than dropshot roboworms, so having an all around more versatile setup is more important and that's easier and cheaper with spinning gear. The only downside is having to use spinning gear. Are baitcasters more or less effective for finesse techniques? Probably not. Is going the bfs route an indulgence? Probably. Ultimately it's up to preference.

[Catt]

hatrix

It's not always about if you can cast a 1/8 oz drop shot weight and a roboworm on your casting gear. Can you put say 10# braid on it? Or like 4 or 6# flouro. It is usually a lighter line application that normal castig gear isn't not suitable for.

Why would it matter? Everyone has there own preference on what they like. As long as it gets the job done for you it doesn't matter what anyone says to use or should be using. If it works for you then keep doing it.

[NJSalt]

I played around with dropshotting on casting gear up at Erie and liked it a lot actually, but that's with heavier weights. with 1/16oz weights and such, I'm not sure there is an advantage to it but that may be just me. I just wanted an excuse to use the new Aldebaran

[S Hovanec]

While I'm sure baitcasters work fine for dropshotting, it's not the best tool for deep applications. I had a stubborn friend on my boat a couple years ago that would not pick up his spinning rod, despite not catching. We were in 50' of water and we both would drop our lures at the same time. Mine would drop straight to the bottom, while he had to keep peeling line off by hand. I was hooked up on several occasions before his bait was even close to bottom.

[poisonokie]

While I'm sure baitcasters work fine for dropshotting, it's not the best tool for deep applications. I had a stubborn friend on my boat a couple years ago that would not pick up his spinning rod, despite not catching. We were in 50' of water and we both would drop our lures at the same time. Mine would drop straight to the bottom, while he had to keep peeling line off by hand. I was hooked up on several occasions before his bait was even close to bottom.

 

That's definitely something to think about. I never fish 50' of water, so I wouldn't know. He probably could've backed of his spool tension and let it free fall that way, but if you don't have a quick enough thumb when you get a good bite, that could be bad news if it pulls drag and you can't reel it in on top of that horrendous backlash you just got.

[BigSkyBasser]

My experience with drop shot on casting gear was with 1/4 oz weights which cast really nicely on 10# flouro. Felt like I had more intimate control of the bait and and didn't miss any hookups or lose any fish. And I second that my Curado has no problems throwing a weightless 4 inch laminate senko wacky rigged, Just can't cast it more than about 15-20 yards. 

[WRB]

Drop shot with a bait casting reel comes down to the rod, most modern bait casting reels can hold 6lb to 8lb FC or mono without any problems. Bait casting rods for the majority of bass anglers are too stiff being MH or 3 to 4 power for effective drop shot you need a rod similar to a medium or ML, 2 power, spinning rod and that becomes a technique specific item and difficult to find in a bait casting rod.

Before the development of good spinning drop shot rods and spinning reels with excellent drag systems, I use a 2500C baitcasting reel and special doodling rod with 6 lb mono back in the late 80's to early 90's for split shot, 1/8 oz dart jigs and drop shot.

Today I use spinning outfits.

Tom

[Catt]

I don't know about the left coast but from Brownsville Tx all the way to Key West Fl the #2 most targeted fish is Speckle Trout and the bait casting rod you described is #1. Every rod company makes them, every Academy, Dick's, Gander Mountian, Bass Pro Shop, Cabela's, WalMart, & Tackle Shop sells them!

Any technique can be fished effectively & efficiently with either a Bait Casting or Spinning reel!

It is 100% personal preference

[Trey Harpel]

i have no problems throwing a DS on casting gear... I use 4lb line on my Pixy and DX701 or 702 without issues... Ive caught many Smallies and LM up to 6lbs on that setup... I just cant stand spinning gear..

Couple Vids we shot up north Droppin the shot on some smallies...

 

 

[WRB]

Trey, the ideal bait casting drop shot outfit.

Tom

[hatrix]

i have no problems throwing a DS on casting gear... I use 4lb line on my Pixy and DX701 or 702 without issues... Ive caught many Smallies and LM up to 6lbs on that setup... I just cant stand spinning gear..

Couple Vids we shot up north Droppin the shot on some smallies...

Well you have a Pixy. Most guys who are going to drop money like that for a reel are not going to be buying a Pixy. It's just easier and cheaper to go spinning. I can go grab a president for $50 and pick any number of different rods and w ready to go.

[poisonokie]

Well you have a Pixy. Most guys who are going to drop money like that for a reel are not going to be buying a Pixy. It's just easier and cheaper to go spinning. I can go grab a president for $50 and pick any number of different rods and w ready to go.

 

That's why it's an indulgence. To me, it's worth it for the ergonomic and mechanical advantages afforded by casting gear. However, it is getting less expensive to go the BFS route. You can get a serious set up for about $350 if you shop around. I've seen Alphas sv105's go for $200 and major craft volkey bfs rods go for $150, both shipped. That's still a lot more than a spinning setup, yeah, but it is becoming more attainable.