Dropshot Line Choices

[CTBfishing]

I am going to buy a light action dropshot/hair jig rod and was wondering what kind of line to put on it. Do you think I should put straight 6 lb flouro on it or should I use braid with a flouro leader. Thank you for your advice!

[J Francho]

I use braid and a leader when working in grass or other light cover, or pitching to beds.  Straight braid for bubba shot in slop.  For deep, open water I use 6 lb. Tatsu, 7.2 lb. Finesse, or 6 lb. Invisx.  Finesse is quickly becoming my favorite.  It's very similar to Tatsu in that it's a dual formula fluoro.

[Turkey sandwich]

The above is spot on. High vis braid really makes a big difference in detecting hits and controlling/following drifts in current.  Tatsu, Sniper, and InvisX are all super limp and handle really, really well.  I might also suggest using a ML XF rod for drop shot fishing.

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

I'm pretty much inline with above. Also recommend a ML/F or XF

rod (depends on brand), and for me, it's always braid + leader.

 

I don't have a ton of broad experience with fluoro as I tend to stick

with what I've bought (lasts a long time using as leader). So the 

brand I like most, of those I've tried, is Gamma Edge in 6, 8, 10. I'd

use the 6 for your question.

 

Never tried Tatsu, but some day would love to. For now, too $$.

[Spankey]

7 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

The above is spot on. High vis braid really makes a big difference in detecting hits and controlling/following drifts in current.  Tatsu, Sniper, and InvisX are all super limp and handle really, really well.  I might also suggest using a ML XF rod for drop shot fishing.

I'd have to second the advise on the ML XF rod. I drop shot and split shot rig majority of the time. I tried it at first with light power rods years back. I found them to be slow and not having enough backbone for some of the deeper water I fish. I'm not trying to sell you another by any means. The ML XF in 6'9", 6'10" & 7' rods work well in my case. Thought about even stepping up to a similar Medium rod but have not done it. Probably never will. I'm convinced my set ups for drop shots will work any where. If you do go into another rod take your time and handle a few and get a feel you like. All XF rods are not created equal. I have a Garcia that is a fast but has the feel of St. Croix that are XF. My favorite DS rod. This is just an opinion and I certainly not trying to sell you anything. It's a shame we don't know each other or near each other because I'd have no issue with you trying mine to help you decide

[NHBull]

Hi vis braid on M/Xf spinning 

4 lb blue label as leader

[Brad in Texas]

I use 10 lbs. braid to an Invizx 8 lbs. fluoro leader.

 

But, really, many lines will work just fine. In many cases just a light braid, say 6 lbs. would work great, hard to see in most conditions in that tiny diameter size if you pick the right color. Or, straight fluoro . . . because of the typical short casts or pitches we make drop shotting. Or, even straight mono of the newer improved sorts with really manageable stretch characteristics these days, certainly. Sufix Elite and many other monos are really great here.

 

I'd personally not use something like Tatsu for a drop shot. It'd be over-kill in my opinion, certainly for a 4' to 8' leader length of line. Its advantages would be all but eliminated.

 

A great technique. I used it yesterday for several of my fish. Many others on my lake were complaining about it being slow. So, I was in my slow kayak, using a slow technique, fishing it slowly. This is what is often called for on such days!

 

Drop shot catch yesterday in the rain. Flip phone photo is lousy but well over 4 pounds I'd guess.  

 

Brad

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resources ~ 

 Some fantastic info / advice offered above already.  

My version: I prefer a slightly different rod for my drop shot than my hair jig stick.

While both are similar in action, the hair jig are so light a little extra blank length helps in casting them.

So my drop shot rods are ML/F or M/F and 6'10" to 7', the hair jig rod is M/F 7'6". 

Main line on the drop shot is 10lb Sufix 832 and the Hair jig stick gets 8 lb, same braid.

As for leaders I use 6lb or 8lb (every once in a while 4 lb) AbaisX, InvisX or Tatsu depending on the deal needed. 

A-Jay

[offsidewing]

Yep, as others have said for drop shot - MLXF rod and a finesse focused line.  I go straight 6lb tatsu or straight braid.  6lb tatsu is amazing.  

 

[FryDog62]

I usually use Sniper 7 lb fluorocarbon, main line no leader...

[Yumeya]

braid to leader on all my setups.

[Bluebasser86]

I like braid to a leader when I can get away with it, but that's rare here because of the wind. Even a slight bow in the line makes feeling bites all but impossible. I've gone to Seaguar Finesse Fluoro as my main line and have been really happy with how it's performed. 

[J.Vincent]

Mostly 6 or 8lb Yozuri Hybrid lately...it keeps things simple : )

[TnRiver46]

This is a little off the wall, coming from a “whatever you’ve got on board” perspective. I fish a lot of unbelievably clear super deep lakes for smallmouth in the winter. I usually cast at cliffs and as you could imagine the action can be a little slow when it’s really cold so I started dragging a drop shot off the deep side of the boat while casting at the bank. I usually just grabbed a baitcaster with 10-12 Lb mono and tied some 4 Lb mono or Fly fishing tippet on as a leader. That setup has gotten me a surprising amount of bites. Not a great hook up ratio because I’m not good at drop shotting but if you drag one along in addition to what you are casting it can locate more biting fishing. Until of course you get one of your lines stuck and forget about the other, in which case you are ruined for about 10 minutes