Drop Shot for Walleye? And what line to use?

[WRangler506]

I bought a new dropshot setup for this summer fishing smallmouth in Michigan. Its a St Croix LTB 610MLXF w a stradic 3000. I drop shot a good amount during the summer months, but Im wondering what else this setup will do well, and if anyone uses a dropshot setup for walleye?

I fish a lot of water with decent walleye, but want to start targeting them more, when the bass are not around.

 

Also, what line should I use on this setup for smallmouth and walleye? Im guessing a 15-20 braid with maybe a 2-4ft mono leader??

 

 

[tkunk]

You can catch walleyes on a drop shot (I got a 31.5 on one), but there are much more efficient ways to target them. Plus, I think that active walleyes would tend to suspend above any kind of drop shot. While fishing for bass, I catch most of them on Keitechs, Rippin' Raps, and Pointers. It's very rare that I get them on drop shots or tubes.

 

I wouldn't go heavier than 10 lb braid. You'll want to use a 4-6 lb fluoro leader for abrasion resistance and sensitivity. If I were targeting walleyes, I'd go a little heavier on the leader, because they have teeth. With the drop shot, it helps to have a long leader (like 20+ feet), because the stretchiness of fluoro helps keep fish buttoned down better.

[Steveo-1969]

I'm not a dropshotter and I can't help you find/catch walleyes, but I do use a 6'10" MLXF rod for river smallmouth and river walleye fishing. It's a G. Loomis and lighter powered than your St. Croix, and technically it's a walleye jig pitching rod but the smallies don't know that. I use it for any presentation as long as the lure weight is within the rod's range.

 

I also use a Stradic CI4+ 3000 size reel (great choice!!). For line I use 10# braid, but you can use 15-20# braid as well. For a leader I generally use 10# fluorocarbon because that's what I use on my baitcaster and I always have line left over, but you can use mono or fluoro in lighter # test if you want. Walleyes have teeth but they will NOT bite through your line like a pike or musky.

[Crestliner2008]

For whatever reason, I've never found walleye to be very receptive to baits not moving horizontally. Even some of the best jig fishermen I know keep their jigs moving horizontally, on the bottom. The stationary quiver of the ds baits just don't seem to trigger then. At least that's what I've found fishing a large, mature river system for walleye and smallmouth. I may have caught one or two that way, but, for me at least, it's just not a high percentage presentation. JMO.

[Dorado]

I used to drop shot for eyes in CO and I recommend the two following baits for this technique:

 

-Jackall Crosstail Shad - watermelon pepper nose-hooked (action is lethal with the slightest movements)

-Gulp! Alive! Minnow - Black Shad 2.5"

 

I also used #10 braid for sensitivity and casting distance from shore. #8lb P-Line Fluroclear leader and a Gama dropshot hook with cylindrical weight attached 18"-24" down. My best days were when it was windy. Good luck!

[ti2grr]

http://www.in-fisherman.com/walleye/drop-shotting-for-walleyes/  

 

excellent article on drop shotting walleye!

[Loomis13]

FWIW I would not worry at all about walleye cutting your line with their teeth. I have never heard of this happening. That rod will make a great walleye! I have the same one in the elite that is my walleye rod. Pitching jigs, blade baits, vertical jigging. Pretty much covers jigging walleye unless you need to go real heavy!

[drscholl14]

I have caught quite a few walleye while drop shotting for bass.  So many that I actually bought a bag of plastic gulp leeches to use on Mille Lacs if the smallies weren't biting well.  It worked.....Caught a 27 inch walleye while my wife was reeling in a 5 lb smallie.  It was awesome.