Wacky Dropshot 4" Stickworm Approach ?

[ChrisD46]

As the title states - new territory for me to consider a wacky 4" stickworm dropshot rig ... Below is what I'm considering for mainly spotted bass in reservoirs :

Rod : 6'10" M XF Shimano Spinning Rod

Reel : Shimano 2500 series spooled with #10lb. Braid + #7 lb. Sniper FC leader in 6" to 12" length ; 3/16th oz. drop shot weight

Soft Plastic : 4" Stickworm (Yum , Senko , Bass Pro) in Green Pumpkin derrivative color) ; 1/0 Owner Wacky Hook or Gama  Drop Shot Hook tio wack rig

Approach : Cast out and work along the bottom with short hops / shakes then a  short drag and repeat - objective should look like a crawfish on the bottom .

For those who wacky rig a 4" or 5" stick worm on a drop shot outdit I would like to learn more about your approach and if I'm in the ballpark with my thinking listed above ?

[Darren.]

19 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

As the title states - new territory for me to consider a wacky 4" stickworm dropshot rig ... Below is what I'm considering for mainly spotted bass in reservoirs :

Rod : 6'10" M XF Shimano Spinning Rod

Reel : Shimano 2500 series spooled with #10lb. Braid + #7 lb. Sniper FC leader in 6" to 12" length ; 3/16th oz. drop shot weight

Soft Plastic : 4" Stickworm (Yum , Senko , Bass Pro) in Green Pumpkin derrivative color) ; 1/0 Owner Wacky Hook or Gama  Drop Shot Hook tio wack rig

Approach : Cast out and work along the bottom with short hops / shakes then a  short drag and repeat - objective should look like a crawfish on the bottom .

For those who wacky rig a 4" or 5" stick worm on a drop shot outdit I would like to learn more about your approach and if I'm in the ballpark with my thinking listed above ?

You're definitely in the ball park. I do all that and more,
but the "more" is experimentation.

As far as the Rod/Reel, both are fine, though I might opt
for a ML, but I've used MXF rods for this in the past with
no issues.

[WRB]

You would be better off IMO using a 3/16 oz tungsten wacky jig with the presentation discribed.

Drop shot works better when the weight isn't moved. Spit/slip/mojo shot works dragged.

You can do whatever you like, just suggestions on what works and why.

Your tackle is good for all the above presentations.

For Spots I would try Roboworms 4 1/2" with chartreuse tail like pumpkin punisher.

Tom

[jr231]

If you Google "drop shot from the bank" many articles will come up from bass resource. And many people will say they have great success with drop shot from the bank. Including one of the mods. 

[Bassfishnc18]

While I was fishing with the above described tactic I was just targeting bass and did land a few spots. I think your setup sounds good. 

If you are used to dropshotting smaller baits then I feel like when I dropshot a stickworm it feels really heavy for dropshotting.

[ChrisD46]

Thanks for the replies - the wacky jig head is something I will try (less rigging) .

[everythingthatswims]

Getchoo sum keitech swing impact swimbaits for dem spots

[SWVABass]

This was the way I learned how to start catching fish on plastics. Not sure is I read it correctly but a 12" leader might be a little short, unless your talking about the drop from hook to weight? I also fish senkos on a flick shake, works really well when the fall rate needs to be faster, or they are on beds. I use the bps brand, never had a problem with them. Tight lines!

[ww2farmer]

Wacky rigging a 4" Yum dinger on a dropshot rig is "go-to" technique for me in the post spawn period, and anytime during the summer-late fall when the bite is tough and bass seem to be relating close to the bottom on the deep weed edge or isolated light cover out side the main grass beds. If they are suspended and the bite is tuff, a dinger on a wacky jig gets more bites than one on a drop shot for me, but the dropshot shines when they position closer to the bottom and seem to not be willing to bite jigs, t-rigs, other standard bottom contact presentations,etc....

I like a 3/8 oz sinker, as I am usually fishing this in 8-15 feet of water. It pulls the bait down quick, and I will get a lot of bites on the fall as they are not used to seeing a wacky rigged stick bait rocket to the bottom. Once the sinker hits the bottom, I let the dinger continue to "drift" down on slack line until it too is on the bottom............picture it this way.... Sinker and dinger go screaming down, sinker hits bottom and stops. Dinger pauses ever so slightly once the sinker hits, and then changes speed from a fast fall, to a painfully slow fall. Once the dinger is on the bottom I lift it up, but not moving the sinker. I would say almost 80% of my bites on this technique are on the short time between the fast fall, and the slow fall...........I often never know there is a fish on unless I see the line "tick" during the slow fall period, or when I feel pressure when I go to tighten the slack back up. If nothing grabs it on the first fall/pause/fall lift................I let the dinger fall slow in place again a couple more times without lifting the sinker off the bottom, and often get bit by a fish who has come over to see what is going on. After 3-4 times of doing this, and no bite............I reel in, and make another cast few feet away from the last and repeat the process all over again. I don't soak it too often, or move it around a great deal underwater....other than the little lift/fall routine.

I use my regular drop shot gear.

6'9" M/XF custom made spinning rod/Pflueger Pres. 30 size reel with 10lb braid and an 8lb fluoro leader

#2 VMC spinshot hook + 3/8's oz pencil shape dropshot sinker....I go down to 1/4" oz sometimes if I am staying in less than say 10 feet exclusively, or bump up to 1/2oz if I am fishing 15' + exclusively....but until I find out what depth they are preferring that day, I seem to stick with 3/8's as it's a good "general purpose" size..........sometimes changing sinker size and fall rate is a good way to mine a few extra bites out of an area that you have already caught a few good fish out of. I generally keep the bait 12" or so above the sinker.........ALL THE TIME.

Color of the bait seems to matter little.........but I like black and blue on a cloudy day if the water is stained, green pumpkin/chart tail on sunny days in stained water, plain green pumpkin in clear water, and some kind of watermelon on really sunny days in extremely clear water. White seems to be deadly in the late summer/early fall and will out fish the other colors handily no matter what the water/sky conditions.

[Glenn]

Big brain dump of wacky rigging on a dropshot with a Senko:

 

[ChrisD46]

On ‎12‎/‎8‎/‎2016 at 10:17 AM, Glenn said:

Big brain dump of wacky rigging on a dropshot with a Senko:

 

Thanks Glenn !!

[ChrisD46]

After watching Glenn's video (very good) I find my needs gravitating towards a flick shake / wacky jig to use with stick worms and the like . Perhaps a close relative to the wacky drop shot but I believe I can cover a bit more water with a wacky jig plus stick worm  after searching more about the technique.

[blckshirt98]

I use a 4;8" Jackall Flick Shake for wacky drop shot, can be really effective at times when nose hooking isn't drawing a strike.  Your gear setup should be fine, and others have added good suggestions if you want to tweak your presentation.

[ChrisD46]

Thanks for the replies - special shout out to ww2Farmer , Glenn and others  for the time & effort !

[Fishes in trees]

My current thoughts on drop shot presentation "tweaks."  I've had better luck nose hooking stick worms than I have had fishing them wacky style.  I've had better luck with heavier drop shot weights than I have had with quarter ounce or lighter weights.

I have 3 rigs that I drop shot with.   A 7' spinning rod wi†h either 6lb fluorocarbon on the reel or 14 lb Fireline.   I generally use a quarter ounce weight on this rig.   I have a 7' MH Bait casting rod and a Curado 70 filled with 10 lb Abrazx line.  I'll use quarter or 3/8 ounce weight with this rig... I have a Kistler heavy pitching stick 7'5" telescopic rod with a Curado 50 on it and 20 lb Abrazx.   This gets a half ounce  drop shot weight.   Late this fall I acquired some 3/4 oz drop shot weights and I will experiment with these next season.

I tried to make myself throw the lighter rigs more this past season but I had my best results with the bubba rig - again - for another season.

Drop shot fishing has never been my first presentation choice on the smallish 200 - 300 acre conservation lakes that I normally fish, however I have had that presentation work on days when other stuff wasn't and it turned blah days into decent days.   I totally agree with what was written previously about drop shot fishing being a bottom oriented technique and using a heavy weight to get to the bottom ASAP.

I've tried lots of different baits fished drop shot style.   Best stick bait has been a Gulp Sinking Minnow in green pumpkin.  Next best would be a Powerbait crazy legs Chigger Craw.