Drop Shot w/ Jig for Smallies?

[BigSkyBasser]

Yesterday while staring at a list of tackle for my spring order I was reading some articles and watching videos that brought a new technique to my attention.

 

Early in the year hair/finesse jigs are clearly the way to go for cold water smallies, however some anglers also supposedly tie a drop shot 8-16 inches above said finesse jigs to maximize presentations in the water column.

 

I'm curious what opinions exist regarding whether this defeats the purpose of fishing a jig at all or if it really is that much more effective and worth doing at any point during the year? 

 

BTW the bait monkey really seduced me and my TW order for early spring exceeded $250 mainly spent on new Jerkbaits 

[Spankey]

I was at a Hank Parker seminar the other day and he made mention of the rig you brought up. He was giving a drop shot presentation. 

[papajoe222]

I've tried this for both smallies and LM with both hair jigs early in the season and 'bass' jigs after the spawn.  I stick with the jig regardless. Smallies will feed down the majority of time, by that I mean they will position themselves with their nose down when searching for food. On the occasions where they prefer something presented at eye level, a hair jig slowly falling will get bit before it ever hits bottom.  If that's the case, that is the way I target them with a jig. Otherwise, a walking sinker/Carolina rig will stay in the zone longer as will the drop shot.  I've rarely come across a situation where both presentations produced at the same time.

[HookRz]

I dislike dropshot, because I've spent almost fifty years learning to be a really good jog fisherman. 

But here is a neat twist. Dropshot a fly. Streamers, bunny strip leeches, the possibilities are endless. It works!

[IndianaFinesse]

I've tried similar rigs before, and I came to the conclusion that it causes ore problems than it solves.  First off, unsteady of only losing one lure when you hang up, you will lose two. Then you have to decide weather you're working the jig or the drop shot, or some combination.  Then if you do get a bite, are you going to set the hook the way you would with the drop shot or should you use a jig hookset?  For me its more trouble than its worth, i just have a jig and a drop shot tied on separate rods.

 

[Bluebasser86]

All it did for me was allow me to lose baits twice as fast. 

 

I may try it again with a tube this year though. I liked the concept more because of how many followers I get on an average day while fishing for smallmouths. 

[Crestliner2008]

I've heard this many times about using a jig as your "sinker". Problem I see is this. The normal hook-set on the drop shot is just a lift and retrieve. The tiny, super sharp hooks nail the smallies in the top lip the majority of the times.

 

I have never heard of anyone using this type of hook-set on a jig! Usually it's a more aggressive set with the jig than it is for the drop shot. If you are using both and not knowing which bait is the smallie's target, how would you know how to properly set the take?

 

Besides, it's usually a very minimal bait movement with the drop shot and the presentation is usually in one specific area, keeping the bait in the zone longer, and off the bottom. I'm sure you can be successful employing both jig and drop shot in one presentation. Just not so sure it's the best of either world.

[BigSkyBasser]

3 hours ago, Crestliner2008 said:

I've heard this many times about using a jig as your "sinker". Problem I see is this. The normal hook-set on the drop shot is just a lift and retrieve. The tiny, super sharp hooks nail the smallies in the top lip the majority of the times.

 

I have never heard of anyone using this type of hook-set on a jig! Usually it's a more aggressive set with the jig than it is for the drop shot. If you are using both and not knowing which bait is the smallie's target, how would you know how to properly set the take?

 

Besides, it's usually a very minimal bait movement with the drop shot and the presentation is usually in one specific area, keeping the bait in the zone longer, and off the bottom. I'm sure you can be successful employing both jig and drop shot in one presentation. Just not so sure it's the best of either world.

 

It would be the least of my worries as I usually fish with braid and an 8 lb flouro leader and Medium power rod as opposed to your convention 7 Ft ML rod and 6 lb flouro. So ideally it would allow for a beefier hook set on either the drop shot or jig at that point.

[Spinerbait58]

I know here in the Northeast .The jig/shot works better when the water warms up. When you drop shot in colder water you want you bait closer to weight,6 to 8 inchs, Try this rig after  they spawn . Try a small sink o wacky rigged   On your jigshot rig