Drop Shot Line Update : What's Yours ?

[ChrisD46]

As the title states , what is your drop shot line set up for a casting a more  horizontal drop shot technique in 12 ft. of water or less  : Straight FC or Co-Poly , Braid mainline + FC leader + FC dropper ?  ... What #pound test lines are you running ? ... Have you switched lines in the last year ? In lieu of a lot of newer finesse type lines being introduced - just interested to see what everyone's drop shot line choice is these days ... Thanks in advance !

[Bluebasser86]

10lb braid to 8lb fluoro

[drscholl14]

12 lb high vis PowerPro to 10 lb fluoro.

[Way north bass guy]

Most times I’m using 8lb fluoro all the way, but I have used braid to fluoro. I don’t personally find any improvement with braid so usually just stick to the straight fluoro, it’s easier to rig, takes less time than tying on a new leader sometimes. 

[TOXIC]

Since I'm an old guide, I have been dropshotting for a very long time.  I can say I was doing it before it really got popular.  I have given many, many seminars and tank demo's on the technique.  With all of that, I am no more credible than anyone else because different people have different styles and different rigs work better for them.  I have tried the braid to leader setups, I have tried fluro setups, I have tried multiple line weights and types as well but I always seem to come back to my basic setup.  8-10lb mono with a Gamakatsu #1 (not 1.0) EWG hook (tied with a palomar) and a QuickDrop 1/4oz harped dropshot weight.  I have caught both largemouth and smallmouth, vertical dropped, cast and retrieved, dragged like a tube and fished open water and cover.  I am a firm believer in eliminating any "points of failure" i.e., extra knots, harped hooks, etc.  But that's just me and it's what works.  Eliminate line twist by always closing the bail by hand and either before or during every other trip srtip out your line to eliminate any twist.  I always T-rig my bait (99% of the time either a pro-senko or shad shape worm, both yamamoto products) and make sure the bait is rigged so that it does not spin.  Hookset is always a sideways sweep and not at full strength.  That is what works best for me, your mileage may vary.  

[LxVE Bassin]

17 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Since I'm an old guide, I have been dropshotting for a very long time.  I can say I was doing it before it really got popular.  I have given many, many seminars and tank demo's on the technique.  With all of that, I am no more credible than anyone else because different people have different styles and different rigs work better for them.  I have tried the braid to leader setups, I have tried fluro setups, I have tried multiple line weights and types as well but I always seem to come back to my basic setup.  8-10lb mono with a Gamakatsu #1 (not 1.0) EWG hook (tied with a palomar) and a QuickDrop 1/4oz harped dropshot weight.  I have caught both largemouth and smallmouth, vertical dropped, cast and retrieved, dragged like a tube and fished open water and cover.  I am a firm believer in eliminating any "points of failure" i.e., extra knots, harped hooks, etc.  But that's just me and it's what works.  Eliminate line twist by always closing the bail by hand and either before or during every other trip srtip out your line to eliminate any twist.  I always T-rig my bait (99% of the time either a pro-senko or shad shape worm, both yamamoto products) and make sure the bait is rigged so that it does not spin.  Hookset is always a sideways sweep and not at full strength.  That is what works best for me, your mileage may vary.  

What is your rod and reel?

[NYWayfarer]

I use 8lb Kastking Fluorokote line.

[TOXIC]

6'8" or 7' spinning rod, medium action, fast tip and a small/medium capacity spinning reel (not a widespool).  

[J Francho]

6# Tatsu worked for this one.

 

 

 

[lmbfisherman]

15lb braid mainline with 6 or 8lb floro as a leader. 

[tander]

10# test yellow Power Pro to 7#test Sunline Sniper FC. I also use the Gamakatsu Swivel Shot.

[RB 77]

I have switched in the last year and I am glad I did. Running 20 lb. PP to 10 lb Sniper primarily.

[ClackerBuzz]

I'll give you something else to thing about:  finesse carolina rig.  I love drop shotting and always have one rigged up.  however lately i've been using it as a target technique b/c i'm also always in 15 ft or less of water.  the drop shot was designed for deeper water with a vertical presentation but since i don't have those conditions i use it as a finesse pitching tactic on/around targets. in shallow water it doesn't have a natural presentation while fishing horizontal like a C rig does. i always hated the C rig b/c it's a pain to cast especially on a baitcaster.  i switched to a spinning rod and love the technique.  i can downsize to a 2" crappie plastic, 1/4 oz weight, 10lb braid w/ 6-8lb leader (mono or fluoro) and cast it a mile.  even upsize the weight to 3/8-1/2 oz and the plastic flows freely 3 ft behind the weight. that's what i call a finesse tactic.  i use it mainly for dragging around open water points, ledges, humps, creek channels etc.  when i'm having a hard time catching fish i usually just need to do two things:  slow down and put a lot of distance between us.  a finesse C rig does both.  when i start catching fish I upsize the plastic 3-4-5" worm, lizard, brush hog, crawls etc.

[SJex]

20lb Powerpro Braid Hi-Vis Yellow with a 7lb Sunline Sniper leader.

[WRB]

5 lb Maxima Ultra Green.

Tom

[evilcatfish]

Straight 6-8# fluoro on my baitcaster, mono on my spinning rod. 

[islandbass]

As a shore bound angler and one who drops shots horizontally as you state, 6# seahuar fluoro if I have it, or a limp 6# mono like xl or comparable line. 

This is my general starting point. I fish mostly rip rap and off of docks. But I will step up in line strength when I deem necessary but it would be done with a different set up. 

Unless you are fishing serious cover, I honestly don’t see the need to go above 8#, but do check your line’s condition more frequently than you normal.

[ZebcoZak]

I have been very succesful with Sufix Elite 6# test over the years.  Spool it on a Pflueger Patriarch paired with a Fenwick Elite Tech Bass 6'10" ML XF rod.  One of my absolute favorite ways to fish.  Lifting up on the hook set and hearing that buttery smooth drag start screamin.  Just a blast.

[ChrisD46]

Many good and varied replies !! I thought I might see the new finesse FC lines made by Sunline and Seaguar mentioned ? ... The braid to mono camp and straight mono or FC camp  are still alive ! A couple of experiments I plan to run are the new co-poly lines that are thin for diameter , have low stretch and handle better than FC line (Spiderwire #6 lb. or #8 lb. Ultimate Mono) ... Another newer aproach are the guys that run a braid mainline + a FC leader - however that FC leader is now  like  15' to 20' ft. in length (not 2 to 3 ft. as before ) . Apparently you get better FC performance (less line twist issues on spinning ) , plus the advantage of braid mainline on spinning and lastly keeping that hi-vis  braid line far away from the fish on the drop ... Kind of reminds me of fly fishing (short fly line length  then the backing line) .

[Montanaro]

15 braid 8 flouro.

 

Great sensitivity and lower diameter means more natural presentation

[ChrisD46]

Forgot to add - for a braid + leader set up I would use #10 Power Pro hi-vis yellow with  Sniper #7 lb. FC line... I have #6 lb. and #8 InvisX FC line now in stock (for clear water) which could be replaced with the one Sniper #7 lb. FC line for drop shot , shakey head , etc. According to A-Mart , he pulls up large pieces of branches , logs , etc. with the Sniper #7 lb. FC line - (supposedly amazingly strong for diameter)  .

[Yumeya]

Fins 40g 5lb to Sunline 6lb flourocarbon 

[PatrickKnight]

10 lb braid to 6-10 lb mono leader.

[LCG]

10lb braid to a 6-8lb cx premium leader. 

[fishwizzard]

 I use 7lb Sniper on my DS combo amd I fish it with a drag-pause-shake retrieve.