Dropshotting Question

[IndianaFinesse]

I've been playing around with the drop shot a lot more lately, using either a #2 standout drop shot hook or a #1 gamakatsu finesse wide gap.  Mostly been using 4.5" robo worms.  My question is, how do you get the worm to stand out roughly horizontally to the bottom when it is on a slack line?  I can't think of how that could be done, but everyone is always talking about making sure to fish it on a slack line and to make sure the bait stands out from the line.   They always just dangle straight down when on a slack line for me.

[Ktho]

For roboworms or really any straight tail worm 5" or more I'd use an EWG or the Roboworm rebarb hook to get the desired result, they don't have to look perfectly horizontal in the water to be effective. 

 

[IndianaFinesse]

5 minutes ago, Ktho said:

For roboworms or really any straight tail worm 5" or more I'd use an EWG or the Roboworm rebarb hook to get the desired result, they don't have to look perfectly horizontal in the water to be effective. 

 

I've been using the 4.5" robos, and I can't even get them to sit anywhere near horizontal when on a slack line.  Almost perfectly vertical when held still. Maybe I have the technique wrong.

[detroit1]

It won't stand out on a slack line..the taughtness keeps it so. Plus, my d/s is always inching towards the boat (unless dropped in a hole in the weeds.

[Darren.]

Agree with the taught line comment...unless you've got a

floating worm, per se.

 

You can also add some rigidity...sort of...by using a long 

shank hook like you'd use for TX rigging.

 

[Glenn]

 

[WRB]

You nose hook the Roboworm using a size 1 Owner mosquito hook or Gamakatsu drop shot hook. Robo worms tend to float or suspend horizontal.

If you want a weedless rigged drop shot use Owners 5133 down shot hook, the eye is turned so the hook stands out. Roboworms are small diameter worms requiring light wire hooks to perform, heavy wire hooks tend to kill the action.

Tom

[Sifuedition]

I believe the key is the slow horizontal sinking action. If the hook is light enough, the worm will sink horizontal, or close to it. Based on that, you are popping the slack periodically to keep it constantly "sinking" in that small range.

 

Also, it makes a big difference in how your hook hangs on the line when you rig it. If your hook is laying flat to the tag or lead line when you hold it straight, that is how the worm will present. You want the hook to stand away from the line when you hold the line taut.

 

If the hook is laying against the line when you hold the line taut, then try taking the tag end back through the eye of the hook. Whether you go over the eye and pull back down or go under through the eye and then back down depends if the hook is tight to the tag or the lead. This added tension on the hook should help it stick out from the line, which will make a significant difference.

[islandbass]

8 hours ago, WRB said:

You nose hook the Roboworm using a size 1 Owner mosquito hook or Gamakatsu drop shot hook. Robo worms tend to float or suspend horizontal.

If you want a weedless rigged drop shot use Owners 5133 down shot hook, the eye is turned so the hook stands out. Roboworms are small diameter worms requiring light wire hooks to perform, heavy wire hooks tend to kill the action.

Tom

Indeed. These two hooks, at least for me, work very well with roboworms. They’re also the two I prefer using for most dropshotting situations. 

[SWVABass]

I have had lots of success using the roboworm rebarb hook. Just a question are you running your tag end back through the hook eye? If so my other suggestion is fish it semi slack a slight bow to your line. 

[Crestliner2008]

First off Roboworms are rather neutrally buoyant to begin with. If you are fishing below 15', they will have a tendency to sit horizontal or a little downward angle when held still. I've never experienced a problem with that, but if it worries you some, then just wacky rig it.

[J Francho]

Roboworms and Crosstail shad will sit horizontal on the hook.  Berkley Power Shakey Worms are another that come to mind.  Floating baits are best with a no action approach.  If you want to jiggle the bait, or do the lift and drop, something that sinks, like a GYCB Shad Shaped Worm or Pro Senko would be better.

[padon]

I have a built in pool which the wife loves and I have no use for.however it does serve as  a good test tank.roboworms seem to need a little bit of a taut line to Stand out ,they still get plenty of bites.if you want baits that sit horizontal or even slightly nose down try reins bubbling shaker or any of their zman baits.

[Spankey]

Guess there are a million hook choices. I happen to use Gamagatsu Light Wire Worm Hooks for Drop Shot and Split Shotting. I fish Roboworm also. I don't think my rig is perfectly horizontal. I don't think it matters. I don't think I've overthought that issue all that much. 

[WRB]

When the drop shot rig was introduced out west it was called stacking because the rig used 2 hooks tied directly to the line about 10" apart with a weight on the bottom. My thought was the line would get in the way of a bass striking. We used similar rig in salt water called a ganion with 6 or more hooks attached to the line on short loops. I tried the stacking rig and it worked, still does. The down shot or drop shot became more wide spread using 1 hook. 

I remember back in the 80's my inlaws pointed out Minnesota had a law that prevented tieing direct to the line, you had to use a short loop to stand off the hook. I soon learned in Canada that walleyes could bite through the line using a drop shot rig and went back to using a slip shot rig there. 

Glenn's vedio clearly demonstrates how to tie the hook so it stands upright.

I use the Palomar knot and it comes out right if you start by holding the hook with the bend facing away point up, then run the line through the eye and finish the knot.

Tom

[Team9nine]

You're overthinking this...and getting questionable advice from wherever it's coming from. I'd put RichZ up there near the top of list of the best dropshot anglers around. He's written what many consider the gold standard for dropshot articles - Just over 6,000 words long, and the word "horizontal" doesn't appear even once! 

[OkobojiEagle]

While I do on occasion drop-shot a small plastic worm, I have more success using a black bunny leech streamer tied on a light 2X long 1/0 straight shank hook with a horizontal eye.   More bait movement even when fished in place.

 

 

oe

[fishwizzard]

6 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

While I do on occasion drop-shot a small plastic worm, I have more success using a black bunny leech streamer tied on a light 2X long 1/0 straight shank hook with a horizontal eye.   More bait movement even when fished in place.

 

 

oe

I have also been messing around with this idea. I have just been hooking the zonker on the hook but plan on tying some up over the winter. 

[IndianaFinesse]

8 hours ago, Team9nine said:

You're overthinking this...and getting questionable advice from wherever it's coming from. I'd put RichZ up there near the top of list of the best dropshot anglers around. He's written what many consider the gold standard for dropshot articles - Just over 6,000 words long, and the word "horizontal" doesn't appear even once! 

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Where is rich's article?

[WRB]

I would put Aaron Martens at the top of drop shot experts.

If you can take his vedio's, try and watch Aaron discuss drop shotting.

I agree that drop shot ins't a good horizontal rig, slip shot is.

Tom

[Team9nine]

9 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Where is rich's article?

At his website, RichZ.com ("Bass at the drop of a shot").

[fishballer06]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

I would put Aaron Martens at the top of drop shot experts.

If you can take his vedio's, try and watch Aaron discuss drop shotting.

He sure does mumble a lot, but I'll agree that he is great with a drop shot.

[padon]

Rich is Avery good finesse fisherman.I used to read his stuff in in-fisherman in the mid 80s before finesse was ever a mainstream thing.

[J Francho]

http://www.richz.com/fishing/blog/?page_id=552

 

It really is all you'd ever need to know.