Casting Drop Shot Rigs/ Improvements

[Gilbone]

Never heard of casting a drop shot until my last high school tournament when my boat captain said '' Throw that drop shot around the Shoal marker "

I looked at him like he was crazy but sure enough first cast i caught a keeper fish. I've been thinking any of you guys like to do anything special to your drop shot rig to make  it better. I've heard of drop shotting Rage Craws with a round bend hook instead of a drop shot hook. Any Ideas?

[Dave Jakes]

I've caught more fish from drop shot using it in "odd" ways than I have the "normal" way. The whole idea of "shake the worm, not the weight" really hasn't been very successful for me. The ways I usually fish it are:

1. Pitching into light shallow cover like a Texas Rig

2. Dragging it across underwater structure like a Carolina Rig

3. Popping it out of grass like a Mojo Rig

4. Casting out to deep cover like you described

5. Bed Fishing in the Spring

6. Fishing it in the same way as a weightless wacky rig like I describe here: http://davejakesfishin.blogspot.com/2015/07/details-of-drop-shot.html

7. On a Donky Rig like I talk about here: http://davejakesfishin.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-donkey-shot.html

And vary rarely, I'll drop it straight down like everyone else.

[Gilbone]

I have a high school tournament this weekend If its a struggle or having 5 keepers looking   for bigger fish i will try it and next time out thanks alot you have my mind thinking different ways to fish it. 

[smallies24/7]

In my opinion, a drop shot rig is one of, if not the most versatile way to fish a soft plastic. Experiment with it and see what the fish want that day. Drag it, cast it, drop it, kill it, shake it, hop it, longer leader, shorter leader, etc.

[RyanFishing]

Drop shot is by far my favorite rig and I fish it like Dave Jakes said. You can nearly use it in any way and catch fish and it definitely works when the bite is slow and they aren't biting much else.

[corn-on-the-rob]

I have a high school tournament this weekend If its a struggle or having 5 keepers looking   for bigger fish i will try it and next time out thanks alot you have my mind thinking different ways to fish it. 

 

My best advice is to stay relaxed and don't over think it. If you don't have the confidence or experience yet with it, pretend its a jig or texas-rigged soft plastic and move the drop shot along the bottom the same way you would those things and you should be fairly successful.

 

I fish where drop shotting is very popular and actually cast it 95% of the time instead of vertical. Don't over work it and hang on!

[Montanaro]

I cast it all the time. Pitch it mostly to laydowns.

I tend to spin myself out when I try to do something different with dropshot. I keep it simple. Nosehooked roboworm and 18 inch leader with 3/16 weight. Caught numbers and size with it.

Craziest I get is wacky rigging a stickworm with a heavier weight.

[desmobob]

I don't think I've ever fished a dropshot rig vertically....

 

Cast, shake, drag, shake, drag is my usually method.

 

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Molay1292]

One of the things that I like to do a little different is, instead of using a normal line clip type dropshot weight, I use a lead or tungsten worm weight rigged with the point heading up the line towards the reel and peg it with bobber stop type pegs.  This allows me to still easily change the length of my drop and I don't have to carry special tungsten or lead dropshot weights.

[WIGuide]

I cast my dropshot about 98% of the time. One thing I would advise is don't think you just have to throw a finesse worm on it. Experiment with different types of baits. One of my go-to baits in a little more off colored water is a SK Baby Rodent. I'm not even sure why I decided to try it, but I did and bass seem to love it. 

[tander]

As you can see there is no wrong way to fish the drop shot unless you don't hit the water. Also try different baits, never know what they may bite,

[Gilbone]

Thanks guys im excited about this weekend Pre fished last weekend and found a couple of spots. This weekend should be interesting thanks again guys.

 

 

 

Boat Swing Everything

[A-Jay]

Drop shot has accounted for several very respectable smallies for me during all kinds of conditions.

 

The advice of "don't over work it" has proven successful in most cases.

 

Often I'll take that a step further and fish the drop shot bait like live bait.

 

Deliberately doing Nothing with the rig has fooled a couple of real tanks.

 

A-Jay

 

[WRB]

If you are casting 25+ yards with a drop shot rig increase both the weight (1/4 oz) and distance (16"-20") from weight to hook. This allows for unweighted lifting of the worm so it falls down slowly back to the bottom. The increased weight allows for longer casts and better feel. Don't over look wacky hooking the worm!

Tom