Go to confidence drop shot plastics

[TheGreatOne]

Man, isn't it great when you try a new way to fish and find success! I did that today when I caught a fine 6 lber on my dropshot, I've caught hundreds on the DS but I had never used a tube as the bait. I have now an obvious confidence in this bait on my DS as I was looking for an edge on my lake that sees a lot of pressure ... it's strictly a C&R lake and there are a lot of small 1 to 2 lbers in the water , but man these fish see a lot of lures..... I ended up catching another solid 2 lb male on my tubed out DS, while driving home I was thinking to myself, why hadn't I tried this earlier. My question is this, does anyone have a favorite bait they use with the DS?.... I realize the tube on a DS isn't my idea but I sure do wonder why it's taken me this long to try it out.... Can anyone let me know if they have good results with tubes as the bait that maybe have a tip they could maybe pass on?... thanks to all who read.

[NHBull]

I have only used a 5-7" sensor (salted) since there is always a slight current down there

 

[kickerfish1]

Roboworms, Jackall cross tail or I-shad, Yamamoto shad shaped worm, and the Reins bubbling shaker. About anything can be fished on a drop shot.

[NYWayfarer]

Roboworm

[webertime]

3" Swing Impact or Fluke

[J Francho]

I have so much confidence in the rig, that pretty much any 3-4" soft plastic appeals to me.  I've caught fish on so many different baits, using a drop shot.

[Fishes in trees]

For a more finesse approach to drop shot fishing I generally start with a 3" or 4" paddle tail worm.  I might try centipedes, various brands of 4" to 5 " finesse worms.  As mentioned previously, lots of baits work on this rig.

 

For the "bubba" drop shop approach, my best bait by far has been a powerbait crazy legs chigger craw.  Day in and day out that has been my best bait.  I've had days in more murky water where a nose hooked Gulp sinking minnow has been the ticket.   The issue with the sinking minnow is that you've got to stick with it.   It dries out pretty quick lying on the deck, no matter what the air temp is, and they don't re-hydrate very well.

[A-Jay]

A-Jay

[Darren.]

DS is a fantastic rig, no doubt, and one of my favs.

I've had success with many baits, but I tend to stick

with the one(s) I have the most success with, and 

that's the Yamamoto Shad Shape worm. It just out-

performs the rest by a large margin for me.

[MacBassin]

Do you guys jig it at all or just let it sit on bottom for a bit?

[Crestliner2008]

Hands down, I've caught more smallies on Roboworms than all other plastics combined. Maybe it's because of the level of confidence they give me when fishing them. However, I've not found any plastic, used with a DS, is not awesomely effective.

 

When I first started using the ds over a dozen years ago, I use to constantly "jiggle" the bejesus out of the rod tip, in my attempts to keep the worm moving. Since then I've learned a lot more about the ds technique and what it can do. These days, I drop the weight to the bottom, set a level of tenstion (which insures me the bait is adequately off the bottom) and just hold it still.

 

This is much more friendly to my old shoulders and is extremely effective. There are plenty of water currents - especially down 25'+. Those currents keep the bait active enough to maintain the subtle movements which provoke the best strikes. JMO!

[JustJames]

Agreed with J Francho anything in 3-4" should work just fine. I caught so many fish on dropshot on various type of plastic like fluke, tiny fluke, Super fluke Jr. GY twin tail grub Zman TRD etc... if deeper area/ bubba shot I sometime double the size to Super Fluke, Mann 8" jelly worm.

[RoLo]

 

Most any finesse plastic will fill the bill, but I like some better than others:

 Roboworm 4.5" Straight Tail Worm

 Roboworm 4.0” Sculpin

 Zoom 4.0” Junior Fluke

 Reins 4.0" Bubbling Shaker   

 

Roger

 

[Burntorangefan]

Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm, Crosstail Shad when the bites get tough.  Haven't tried the Bubbring Shaker yet, but will eventually.  Recently we've started using Z-man plastics and they work well too and last longer.  TRD and the larger one both have been really good.

[lmbfisherman]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

I have so much confidence in the rig, that pretty much any 3-4" soft plastic appeals to me.  I've caught fish on so many different baits, using a drop shot.

This, I've used even stick baits 4" to 5".

[ww2farmer]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

I have so much confidence in the rig, that pretty much any 3-4" soft plastic appeals to me.  I've caught fish on so many different baits, using a drop shot.

Same here. But I do have a "go-to" rotation of bait's that I like to use on the rig, and those are: 

Yum warning shots

Yum 4" + 6" sharpshooters

3"+ 4" yum dingers

And 3" Havoc pit bosses 

[J Francho]

I don't spoon feed the masses with my go to baits.

[ww2farmer]

6 hours ago, J Francho said:

I don't spoon feed the masses with my go to baits.

The way I see it..........come to my backyard and try to beat me with my stuff...........BUT, you'll die on that sword.

 

I know how to angle the dangle, and the masses are..........well it rhymes with masses minus the M.

[Fishin' Fool]

7 hours ago, J Francho said:

I don't spoon feed the masses with my go to baits.

 

Have you tried the Poor Boys Erie Darter before? I know it's pretty well known for Lk Erie so I'd be surprised if you haven't. That's a solid one too when they aren't on minnow profile baits.

[Bluebasser86]

The YUM Warning Shot is the only DS bait I've been able to get bit on somewhat consistently. I spend most of my time constantly reminding myself that the weight is like the anchor on a boat, you only pick it up when you want to fish a different spot and it shouldn't be bouncing along the bottom.

[J Francho]

11 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

 

Have you tried the Poor Boys Erie Darter before? I know it's pretty well known for Lk Erie so I'd be surprised if you haven't. That's a solid one too when they aren't on minnow profile baits.

 

Those are great baits.

[NYWayfarer]

19 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

Same here. But I do have a "go-to" rotation of bait's that I like to use on the rig, and those are: 

Yum warning shots

Yum 4" + 6" sharpshooters

3"+ 4" yum dingers

And 3" Havoc pit bosses 

 

I do love those Yum warning shots and sharpshooters. They are cheaper versions of the Strike King DS half shell and Roboworm respectively. Work pretty good as well. I spike them with some scent to up their game.

 

Another bait that would be a go to DS for me would be the Strike King Dream Shot. If they weren't so fragile they might out do the Roboworm for me.

 

Also BioSpawn Plasma Tails are excellent DS bait.

[iceintheveins]

Reaction Innovations Flirt, and Robo Worm Fat Straight Tail

[KYBassin']

Roboworm, warning shot and sharpshooters. 

[Scarborough817]

4.5" roboworm straight tail aaron's magic

3" jackall crosstail shad melon copper