Drop Shot On A Baitcaster?

[Catt]

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.

I do with a Calcutta

[mheichelbech]

Is the main reason for the light line that you are drop shotting in clear water? Does 12 or 15# line affect the action of great bait on a dropshot?

[kroberts9]

On 9/13/2015 at 9:44 PM, hatrix said:

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.

even baitcaster setups can be cheap it's all about preference. my drop shot is a stradic2500 a 7'2 M1 light 10lb braid to 8lb fluro. that's what I like. my first set up was a 7'l abu vendetta and a Lews gold real cheap set up. so there is no right answer here except do what feels right

[Fishes in trees]

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I almost always carry a couple of drop shot rods in the boat with me.  I have a regular or "finesse" rig which is spinning gear.  Currently that is a 100 size mid range Shimano reel on a 7' St. Croix Mojo rod (Med- Fast action I believe)

 

All the time I also carry a bubba drop shot rig for when I want to drop shot a bait into heavier cover, like the edges of a beaver dam or right next to thorn trees in7 to 15 feet of water.  The current rig for this is a 7'5" Kistler Flipping/pitching rods (I like this rod because it is telescopic and stores in the boat easy and the rod is paired with a Chronarch 50 and 20 lb Abrazx.   Most of the time I throw half ounce weights, reason being that drop shotting is a bottom technique IMO and why not get the bait to the bottom asap.

 

Basically I let the situation decide which rig to use.   Little to light cover gets the spinning approach while more gnarly areas get the bubba approach.  Like I said I always carry both these rigs in the boat.   I've never had a day where drop shooting only produced a great day, however I've had days where drop shot fishing has turned a mediocre day into a good day.

[BigSkyBasser]

3 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I almost always carry a couple of drop shot rods in the boat with me.  I have a regular or "finesse" rig which is spinning gear.  Currently that is a 100 size mid range Shimano reel on a 7' St. Croix Mojo rod (Med- Fast action I believe)

 

All the time I also carry a bubba drop shot rig for when I want to drop shot a bait into heavier cover, like the edges of a beaver dam or right next to thorn trees in7 to 15 feet of water.  The current rig for this is a 7'5" Kistler Flipping/pitching rods (I like this rod because it is telescopic and stores in the boat easy and the rod is paired with a Chronarch 50 and 20 lb Abrazx.   Most of the time I throw half ounce weights, reason being that drop shotting is a bottom technique IMO and why not get the bait to the bottom asap.

 

Basically I let the situation decide which rig to use.   Little to light cover gets the spinning approach while more gnarly areas get the bubba approach.  Like I said I always carry both these rigs in the boat.   I've never had a day where drop shooting only produced a great day, however I've had days where drop shot fishing has turned a mediocre day into a good day.

 

I also carry three different drop shot set ups for different situations. My new baitcasting set up is a Shimano Curado on an MHX 7'2" Medium when I'm throwing anything above 3/8 oz and power shotting.

[mheichelbech]

What dictates using lighter versus heavier tackle?  Is it mainly the cover, water clarity?  Both of those?

 

Do finicky fish hit a heavier set up than a light line set up assuming the water isn't crystal clear?

[BigSkyBasser]

18 minutes ago, mheichelbech said:

What dictates using lighter versus heavier tackle?  Is it mainly the cover, water clarity?  Both of those?

 

Do finicky fish hit a heavier set up than a light line set up assuming the water isn't crystal clear?

 

Type of cover and depth usually will make you want to adjust your rig. With clear water water depending on the depth you'll want a longer leader 8-14 inches of 6-8 lb test with weights varying.

 

Shallow water, heavy cover, and or both usually require a shorter leader (6-8 inches) and heavier line ranging from 8-12 lb test and a bait that is hooked weedless and weights no less than 3/8 oz but typically not exceeding 1/2 oz. This is optimal for flipping cover and structure or punching weeds with a drop shot which is becoming a more popular option for pressured shallow fish.

[JustJames]

2 and 3 dropshot rig? Hummm I only have 1 either baitcaster or spinning. they both can do 3/16 up to 1/2 oz weight. If I need to go deep just switch the weight (that why dropshot weight with easy grip is for) leave tag end a bit long and clip the weight to the length prefer.

I dont even have any specific reel just whatever on my Medium/Fast rod.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

On 9/9/2015 at 11:11 AM, Fisher-O-men said:

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.

I look it from the opposite side. I think a spinning reel is easier and quicker to the bottom without needing to thumb the spool. 

[offsidewing]

5 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I look it from the opposite side. I think a spinning reel is easier and quicker to the bottom without needing to thumb the spool. 

When I use a bait caster for drop shotting, if I'm just dropping it over the side of the boat, I loosen the drag a bit and pull the line off the spool by hand as the bait sinks.  You can do that with a $30 baitcaster.

 

 

[offsidewing]

I use both casting and spinning gear.  But the most efficent and cost effective way is with spinning gear in my experience.

 

I've started using casting gear on Ned Rigs above 3/16 oz too.  But the varying presentations on a ned rig feel better on spinning gear.

[kroberts9]

I've tried to dropshot with my baitcaster and I couldn't do it. maybe it was the rod but it didn't feel right I'm spoiled with my phenix and stradic setup. as I stated before there is no right answer if your comfortable with a baitcaster and it works for you use it.

[detroit1]

There are guys using d/s wts. up to 2 ozs. up here in Mich. , huron river above lake st. clair. Fishing in strong current 20'  deep calls for heavy weights....

[kroberts9]

I have heard of that in deep sea fishing too over here in new England. that would make sense for a baitcaster  setups or a surf rod lol

 

 

 

 

[Mike L]

On 9/9/2015 at 11:11 AM, Fisher-O-men said:

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.

Ditto

I use a Loomis MBR 843C GLX with 12# Yo Zuri and have no complaints.

Now, I dont do it often and it's usually in no more than 20 fow in very select spots. 

 

 

 

Mike 

 

 

[BassThumb]

I have a Dobyns DX742c with a Chronarch 50e and 8-10lb fluoro that I use as a multi-purpose finesse rod.

 

Last season it had a standard-sized (3/16-3/8oz.) dropshot on it about 50% of the time. It worked tremendously well fishing the deep, vertical dropshot that works so well on Mille Lacs. I spooked very few fish because the baitcaster allowed me to drop the lure more slowly than just letting it plummet with a spinning reel.