drop shot help/question

[bassin is addicting]

not much experience/success dropshotting.

i know you want to use the lightest weight possible....  but, i am going to Erie for a 3 day trip in a couple weeks.  i'm assuming we will be in much deeper water than i am used to fishing.

a question, should i pick up some 3/8oz drop shot weights?  is that too heavy?  right now all i have is 1/8 and 1/4

thanks...

Edited July 19, 2016 by bassin is addicting
add'l info

[BiteFiend]

A lot of it will depend on the depth you are fishing and wind. I like to use 1/4 oz as a general weight and go up or down in weight depending on conditions. Get yourself some 3/16 oz, 3/8 oz, and 5/16 oz and you will have your bases covered. 

[J Francho]

I don't even carry drop shot weights less than 3/4 oz.  Often I go up to an ounce.  I fish Erie and Ontario...

[bassin is addicting]

53 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I don't even carry drop shot weights less than 3/4 oz.  Often I go up to an ounce.  I fish Erie and Ontario...

guessing that is not a spinning rod setup... 

what are your favorite drop shot baits.... i'm pkacing a TW order soon

[J Francho]

Yes they are.  I use two 6'3" ML/XF and a 6'3" M/XF, all SC Avids/Shimano CI4 2500s spooled with 6# Tatsu.  This is a vertical presentation, so other than maybe pitching out 15-20', they aren't cast, simply flipped out, and leave the bail open until it hits bottom.  I do not want any bow in the line, and I do not want to be moving the weight unintentionally.  Many of use heavier weights when fishing at depths greater than 25' on the Great Lakes.

Been doing it this way since before it was called drop-shotting! It works.

Pretty much any buoyant worm for a still/dead stick presentation (Roboworms, X-tail Shad, Z-man) and a sinking bait for when I want to add the action (Yamamoto, Zoom).

[blckshirt98]

You can go as heavy as you like, you just want to keep in contact with the bottom and not have the wind/current push your bait into places you don't want it to go.  3/16 and 1/4 are what I usually use.

As for baits it depends on how you're going to be fishing.  Small hook/nose hooking plastics I'd use a Strike King Dream Shot, Jackall Crosstail, Yum Sharpshooter, or Molix Sator Worm.  Larger hook/power shot, T-rig weedless style you'll want something larger like a Zoom Trick Worm or a 6.5" Yamamoto Kut Tail.

[bassin is addicting]

23 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Yes they are.  I use two 6'3" ML/XF and a 6'3" M/XF, all SC Avids/Shimano CI4 2500s spooled with 6# Tatsu.  This is a vertical presentation, so other than maybe pitching out 15-20', they aren't cast, simply flipped out, and leave the bail open until it hits bottom.  I do not want any bow in the line, and I do not want to be moving the weight unintentionally.  Many of use heavier weights when fishing at depths greater than 25' on the Great Lakes.

Been doing it this way since before it was called drop-shotting! It works.

Pretty much any buoyant worm for a still/dead stick presentation (Roboworms, X-tail Shad, Z-man) and a sinking bait for when I want to add the action (Yamamoto, Zoom).

thanks.  sounds like the heavier weight makes alot of sense.  especially coming from you (great respect)

i've got some roboworms, Power Team Hammer Shads and Jackall clone Fry.

i'll be using 6'8" Pinnacle Perfecta MF (that i won on BR a few years ago) and a Fenwick HMG MLF, both w/Pflueger Supreme's and #8 Invisx

been thinking of the Tatsu for the trip.  is it worth the extra $20 a spool?

[MickD]

Just get some larger split shot and pinch on as many as needed for the conditions.  Some times you want it planted, but other times you want to keep it moving.  Drop shot sinkers are sort of expensive considering what they do.  

[WRB]

Drop shot is a vertical presentation, the more horizontal you present a drop shot the less affective it becomes. If you cast out and drag back use a finesse C-rig (slip shot rig).

Erie is a Great Lake that can be more like fishing coastal water with big waves and high wind.

If the lake surface is fairly calm your standard 1/4 oz drop shot weight using 8 lb spinning tackle should work OK. With 2' to 3' waves and mild winds increasing the weight to 3/8 or 1/2oz Should work for you. Heavier weight may require heavier tackle.

Tom

 

[J Francho]

 

If the lake surface is fairly calm

On Erie or Ontario, that can mean 3' rollers, lol.

A shot of the lake, and one of my partner with two from our haul that day.  All drop shot, all day.  Yes, we won, lol.

 

[bassin is addicting]

 

Drop shot is a vertical presentation, the more horizontal you present a drop shot the less affective it becomes. If you cast out and drag back use a finesse C-rig (slip shot rig).

Erie is a Great Lake that can be more like fishing coastal water with big waves and high wind.

If the lake surface is fairly calm your standard 1/4 oz drop shot weight using 8 lb spinning tackle should work OK. With 2' to 3' waves and mild winds increasing the weight to 3/8 or 1/2oz Should work for you. Heavier weight may require heavier tackle.

Tom

 

agreed...thanks Tom...your opinion is much appreciated..

dang J those are 2 awesome smallies!! 

[J Francho]

My best drop shot SMB ever....also from Erie, and happens to still be my PB.

 

[kickerfish1]

If you are fishing Erie (not a typical lake) I would take the advice of a guy that has fished it before like JFranco. Sounds like the key is step up the weight of the sinker to nearly double what most use. 

For my lakes here and the ones I frequent in the Midwest, I use 3/16 and 1/4 for about everything. If I was in a situation with great wind, current, or depth, I would opt for a 3/8oz.

If it was me I would buy some in weights from 3/8 to 3/4 and take the 1/4oz weights you have with you just in case. May want to be over prepared than under.

Good luck with your trip!

[papajoe222]

I'll tell you one thing. Fishing a drop shot in 3-4ft. waves, it'll look lik you're stroking a jig.  And Glenn says you want move your rod as little as possible when drop shotting  He should fish Erie or Michigan with a 'slight' breeze sometime. 

[J Francho]

12 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

And Glenn says you want move your rod as little as possible when drop shotting

This isn't always true, but in general, yes.  There are times when a little jiggle helps.  Also, if you're in a an unavoidable drift situation, it's fine to cast out a bit in front of the drift, to get some "still time," and then reel up and repeat the process as you overrun the line.

[WIGuide]

Dropshotting definitely doesn't have to be a vertical presentation as it can be pretty darn deadly when cast.

[WRB]

The Op clearly indicated he isn't good at drop shot and has the right tackle for normal drop shot presentations and plans to fish Lake Erie.

John obviously knows how to fish Erie with photos to prove his point and recommends up to 1 oz drop shot weights, so listen to him. The heaviest drop shot weight I use is 1/4 oz with similar spinning tackle, over 3/8 & 1/2 oz drop shot weights I am using 8 lb FC on bait casting tackle because I am more confident using it with heavier weights.

I am fairly good with a drop shot rig and try to keep the presentation more verticle. If I am catching bass casting and dragging the weight back I will use a slip shot rig because It catches far more bass under those conditions.

Do what works for you.

Tom

[A-Jay]

On ‎7‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 1:31 PM, J Francho said:

My best drop shot SMB ever....also from Erie, and happens to still be my PB.

 

 And Still one of my Favorite Big Smallie Pic  J

A-Jay

[J Francho]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

I am fairly good with a drop shot rig and try to keep the presentation more verticle. If I am catching bass casting and dragging the weight back I will use a slip shot rig because It catches far more bass under those conditions.

Do what works for you.

Good stuff, Tom.  The last sentence is key!  Do what works.  On Erie, there are guys using a modified Carolina rig, with some airline tubing to protect the line from zebra mussels.  I simply won't C-rig, and the DS rig keeps the line that matters in good shape.  Plus, on Lake Ontario, we've been getting green slime algae as deep as 25+ feet.  The rig helps with that, too.  There are lakes, a couple smaller Finger Lakes come to mind, where I'll go lighter, even down to a 1/4 oz.  Those bass seem pickier about the weight on the bottom.  Great Lakes bass are dumb, and eat anything.  The tough part is finding them on a day when it's navigable. 

[bassin is addicting]

great stuff guys...thanks so much.  J that is an awesome smallie!!!  holy cow!

tom you are correct..i am very limited with a drop shot.  but plan on those 3 days be schooled.  i know erie can be very tempermental when it comes to weather.  i ordered some 1/2oz drop shot weights...  and the 1/2oz live target goby to drag around.....i have some tubes also....that goby looks pretty good...

i really appreciate all your responses....gonna be there Aug 5th, 6th and 7th.  launching from east harbor state park marina.