Drop shot from the bank?

[Eric J]

I'm a bank angler and don't really use drop shotting as a technique. Any opinions on whether it can be effective from the bank? 

[thinkingredneck]

Try the "Bubba shot."  Glen has a video on it.  I usē it when the bottom is mucky.

[LCG]

Drop shotting can be very effective from the bank. Remember drop shot is simply a presentation off the bottom. If the fish are within casting distance and you don't overwork the bait, it's very effective. 

[NYWayfarer]

It can be effective from shore.

 

My rule is the farther I cast out the longer I make my tag end to attach my weight. This keeps the bait in the strike zone better as the line will be at an angle as opposed to straight up and down like it is when dropped off the side in a boat.

[Junger]

Now that we're in the dog days of summer, I think this is a technique I have to start using more often. The Bubba Shot is just drop shotting with a casting rod correct?

 

I have a Team Daiwa Zillion 7' Medium/XF casting rod sitting around that I'm thinking will fit the bill for Bubba Shotting.

[fishwizzard]

Drop shoting from the bank has been one of my most productive presentations.   A lot of the smaller places I fish have very soft muck bottoms and a DS is the best way I found to fish a small plastic close to the bottom without it constantly fouling. If i’m trying to cover water, I retrieve it with my reel, stopping and shaking/slacking the line whenever I hang up on something.  If I’m trying to target specific piece of structure/cover, I use the rod tip to slowly drag the rig around. 

[SJex]

It's my favorite way to fish. It is extremely effective from shore. Fish it along weedlines. Don't be afraid to fish in weeds with open hook, as you will land more fish than t-rigging. Run a longer tag end if you cast out as oppose to fishing straight down. I don't recommend fishing an open hook if fishing around lots of wood and sticks. Don't give up if you don't find success when learning (I hated it the first time I tried it). There is a learning curve to it, but once mastered it is a deadly technique.

[snake95]

16 hours ago, Eric J said:

Any opinions on whether it can be effective from the bank?

Eric, I just went out for about 30 minutes on our local pond and caught a limit (of small guys) using a 3 inch Kietech swing impact on a no. 2 drop shot hook.  Fished along weedline.  I tried poppers and whopper ploppers and got nothing.  But the drop shot worked great.

[islandbass]

18 hours ago, Eric J said:

I'm a bank angler and don't really use drop shotting as a technique. Any opinions on whether it can be effective from the bank? 

I’m also a bank angler and drop shot is my most productive technique for bass and many other species. Drop shot or go home, lol. Hopefully, that is enough to get you motivated to try it, and many other techniques. Most techniques fished from a boat can also be done from the bank. 

[Sam]

Eric, a drop shot presentation from the bank can be an excellent technique.

 

Remember, all the drop shot does is keep the bait off the bottom so even if the line is not straight down, the angle still presents the bait off the bottom, be it a few inches to the full 18 inches.

 

Great technique to use from the bank.

 

 

[burrows]

 

[blckshirt98]

On 7/17/2018 at 4:25 AM, Eric J said:

I'm a bank angler and don't really use drop shotting as a technique. Any opinions on whether it can be effective from the bank? 

I'm a 100% bank angler and dropshot 90% (or more) of the time, and I feel like I catch just as many fish, if not more fish, than anyone else except the guy I see who's always using live minnows.

[ChrisD46]

3 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

I'm a 100% bank angler and dropshot 90% (or more) of the time, and I feel like I catch just as many fish, if not more fish, than anyone else except the guy I see who's always using live minnows.

*Any need for different drop shot soft plastics  (i.e. more buoyant) if fishing from the bank (due to the more horizontal retrieve required from bank) ? ... Curious if Z-Man floating elaZtech soft plastics would be an advantage on a horizontal drop shot retrieve from bank versus a soft plastic that just hangs straight down  ? Ditto for hooks (such as the VMC Spin Shot Hooks) ... As an example - a Z-Man Finesse Worm (elaZtech) on a VMC #2 Spin Shot drop shot hook retrieved horizontally would ensure the bait spins up and  is riding up above the line on a horizontal retrieve versus the bait riding below the line ... Your thoughts ?

[burrows]

On 7/17/2018 at 4:25 AM, Eric J said:

I'm a bank angler and don't really use drop shotting as a technique. Any opinions on whether it can be effective from the bank? 

I hate the drop shot I think a big TRD on a 2/0 ewg Texas rigged is a good technique for the bank loosely pegged weighted it stands straight up. I like the regular size TRD but I won’t use it till the weeds die down because I can’t Texas rig it to small.

 Also a robo worm fat on a split shot rig fairly buoyant so if you’re targeting suspended bass that’s a good alternative to instead of drop shotting good for the bank and a pegged ribbon tail power worm good specially right now that it’s scorching hot and it a tuff bite.

[Black Hawk Basser]

There is no way with the amount of vegetation in my area to drop shot with an actual drop shot hook.  Maybe from April-May.  I always have to use a offset hook, especially from the bank.

[Falkus]

I tried drop shot for the first time last april at the shore. I was amazed that I was able to get two on that day. I have told myself to do that more often. just need to get some weight for it since I am out of it  

[govallis]

I bank fishing only and I don't like drop shot, because slip shot works far more smoothly and is more effective too. "Slip shot" is like a Carolina rig, but I use a light weight and I use a lift and drop retrieve. It is also very easy and convenient to switch between to/from other rigging methods by just removing/adding the weight. For soft baits that sink too slowly (such as finesse worms), I always use slip shot.

[blckshirt98]

On 7/22/2018 at 1:50 AM, ChrisD46 said:

*Any need for different drop shot soft plastics  (i.e. more buoyant) if fishing from the bank (due to the more horizontal retrieve required from bank) ? ... Curious if Z-Man floating elaZtech soft plastics would be an advantage on a horizontal drop shot retrieve from bank versus a soft plastic that just hangs straight down  ? Ditto for hooks (such as the VMC Spin Shot Hooks) ... As an example - a Z-Man Finesse Worm (elaZtech) on a VMC #2 Spin Shot drop shot hook retrieved horizontally would ensure the bait spins up and  is riding up above the line on a horizontal retrieve versus the bait riding below the line ... Your thoughts ?

No need for more buoyant baits, I've used everything under the sun and I've found smaller/lighter baits work the best.  I nose hook all my baits and use a fairly long FC leader (eyeball roughly 30 inches) on braid mainline, with just over half of that leader between the hook and the weight.  Since you're casting from shore you're going to both have your casted line at a sharp angle, and, the incline of the bank to account for, so say 18 inches from hook to weight will really keep your bait maybe 5-6 inches off the bottom.

No matter what bait you use always always always test the bait in front of the water in front of you and see how it reacts to your rod twitches, and how fast the bait falls down to "limp" on the hook.  Usually the slightest twitch, or even barely tapping the handle with your thumb, will spring the bait to life and back to horizontal (any current will also help with this).  Remember that cadence after your cast to keep your bait looking like a clueless lost baitfish in open water.