keltonz Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 My last fishing report was about a PB on a drop shot... and here is another! Went out today to my local tidal creek off of the Potomac. Tide was incoming when I got there, and according to the other anglers on the bank, bite was good. Partly cloudy skies, temperature in the 50s. I threw a bunch of different baits - started with chatterbait and t-rigged craw, moved through lipless, swimjig, and senko. But my only success on the day came on a drop shot thrown on a 7' ML *** on a Shimano NASCI reel, rigged up with 10lb braid to an 8lb mono leader, using a 1/0 Gamakatsu drop shot hook 2' above a 1/8oz. tungsten drop shot weight. I threw a roboworm for a bit, but caught my fish on a Zoom Z-drop in green pumpkin, with the tail dipped in chartreuse JJ's magic. I hooked into two fish and lost them when they jumped (I am wondering if the ML rod isn't enough to set the hook). My third fish felt like a snakehead by the way it was fighting. Fortunately I had a friend there who was able to help me land it. Ended up being my new PB at 5.3lbs! Couldn't be happier! 19 Quote
Smokinal Posted March 7, 2017 Posted March 7, 2017 Congrats! You're liking that drop shot thing! Quote
keltonz Posted March 7, 2017 Author Posted March 7, 2017 1 minute ago, Smokinal said: Congrats! You're liking that drop shot thing! Thanks, I am man. It's the only bait I can get them on consistently this year... 58 of my 76 fish this year have been caught on drop shot. 1 Quote
Smokinal Posted March 7, 2017 Posted March 7, 2017 ^^You're kidding! For one thing, to have been fishing that much already this year is awesome in itself; nevermind already catching 76 this year! Nice work. I'm still iced in so it's a little shocking to me I guess...lol I haven't dropped too much. I guess I need to try it some more. I've caught a few on it but haven't had much success so it ends up around 4th in my bullpen of "tough fishing days" techinques. 2 Quote
keltonz Posted March 7, 2017 Author Posted March 7, 2017 Well @Smokinal I set a goal to catch 365 fish this year, so I want to keep up the pace! Also, this winter has just been so warm... and add to it that the water I normally fish is on a water treatment plant discharge, so no ice and plenty of fish to go around! I try to go out two or three times a week for an hour or two. I'm new to the drop shot myself - and basically every other technique - so I can't say how it compares, but for where I am fishing (from the bank, in 2 to 8ft of warm clear to stained water) nothing beats it. 2 Quote
georgeyew Posted March 7, 2017 Posted March 7, 2017 Nice fish. It seems that several of the fish that I've seen from the Potomac have the black marks along the bodies. I wonder if it is a special genetic mutation? Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 7, 2017 Super User Posted March 7, 2017 Nice Bass ~ PB's are Always a Blast Congrats A-Jay Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted March 7, 2017 Super User Posted March 7, 2017 Congrats on the new PB. Quote
jr231 Posted March 8, 2017 Posted March 8, 2017 On 3/6/2017 at 9:24 PM, georgeyew said: Nice fish. It seems that several of the fish that I've seen from the Potomac have the black marks along the bodies. I wonder if it is a special genetic mutation? I don't think so. I've seen bass with black spots from Michigan to Alabama. There's a term for it . Melanosis is what it's called if you're interested. 1 Quote
BigSkyBasser Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Awesome fish guy! And as far as your missing fish on drop shot I might have some advice. The conventional set up is exactly like you're running with a size 25-30 reel and a 7 ft ML fast action rod. However this is based on the preference of being able to reel set the hook on light wire hooks. I pretty much only fish with Medium power rods with a super fast action tip. This paired with your 10 lb braid (I love power pro) and a beefier 8 lb flouro leader allows you to give the hook set a little more umph and drive it home. I don't recall losing a single bass on drop shot last year with this adjustment. 2 Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 Excellent job! I've been drop shotting for over a dozen years now and am still amazed at it's effectiveness. 2 Quote
MTBassin Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Awesome fish and congrats on the new PB! Even cooler that you caught it on drop shot! Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted March 9, 2017 Global Moderator Posted March 9, 2017 On 3/7/2017 at 10:49 PM, Yeajray231 said: I don't think so. I've seen bass with black spots from Michigan to Alabama. There's a term for it . Melanosis is what it's called if you're interested. "Melanosis" or tatoos in laymen terms Quote
keltonz Posted March 10, 2017 Author Posted March 10, 2017 9 hours ago, BigSkyBasser said: Awesome fish guy! And as far as your missing fish on drop shot I might have some advice. The conventional set up is exactly like you're running with a size 25-30 reel and a 7 ft ML fast action rod. However this is based on the preference of being able to reel set the hook on light wire hooks. I pretty much only fish with Medium power rods with a super fast action tip. This paired with your 10 lb braid (I love power pro) and a beefier 8 lb flouro leader allows you to give the hook set a little more umph and drive it home. I don't recall losing a single bass on drop shot last year with this adjustment. Good tips, I'll switch over to my medium spinning rod and see if it happens again. Quote
Derek Petter Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 On 3/9/2017 at 9:38 AM, BigSkyBasser said: Awesome fish guy! And as far as your missing fish on drop shot I might have some advice. The conventional set up is exactly like you're running with a size 25-30 reel and a 7 ft ML fast action rod. However this is based on the preference of being able to reel set the hook on light wire hooks. I pretty much only fish with Medium power rods with a super fast action tip. This paired with your 10 lb braid (I love power pro) and a beefier 8 lb flouro leader allows you to give the hook set a little more umph and drive it home. I don't recall losing a single bass on drop shot last year with this adjustment. I feel the same way, the ML is a little too "Whippy" for me and a Medium fast rod is a lot more versatile if you don't have 30 rods or if you're a bank fisherman. 1 Quote
Dorado Posted March 21, 2017 Posted March 21, 2017 On 3/6/2017 at 6:35 PM, keltonz said: Thanks, I am man. It's the only bait I can get them on consistently this year... 58 of my 76 fish this year have been caught on drop shot. Keltonz, congrats on that PB! Beautiful fish! As a shore angler myself, do you feel like tying your hook 2' above the dropshot weight is the bare minimal length since it's not a vertical presentation being on shore and all. I think I've been tying my hook too close to the weight from drop shotting from shore. I fish in 6-8 ft average depth of water. Quote
lonnie g Posted March 22, 2017 Posted March 22, 2017 congrats on the PB. seems like this is the year for them . ill take another please!! Quote
MaineBassMan Posted March 22, 2017 Posted March 22, 2017 Very nice!! congrats!! I've got the bass bug bite real bad!!!! Waiting to go pick up the new boat, already have all my tackle ordered just waiting on boat and open water. Keep posting them its getting me all pumped up for the 2017 season!! Tight lines! Quote
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