drop shot with deep vegetation from shore

[kiteman]

the pond i fish at most frequently i can only access from the bank.  there is about 10 feet of heavy vegetation between the bank and the open water of the lake, then at the bottom at least  2-3 feet of really think vegetation too.  i think it covers just about all of the pond.  when the wind is still i can see this vegetation on the bottom, but otherwise i know it's there from having a shallow crankbait get caught in it.  i'm only guessing its growing 2-3 feet off the bottom, but it could be more.

 

anyway i'm wondering if trying a drop shot is even a worthwhile venture.  i feel like i might need so much lead between the weight and the lure that it would be difficult to cast, but even more concerning is it just getting stuck in all that vegetation.  on the flip side i also think it could be an intelligent fishing method if i can just hang something right on the top of that vegetation to attract some of the bigger, lazier bass that sit in the vegetation that normally aren't interested in chasing the other lures i have that go right by them.  thoughts?

[EGbassing]

Hard to say without trying it, but if you could avoid snagging it that does sound like it would be effective. I don't have much experience with the dropshot though so someone else here can probably help more.

[A-Jay]

Here's some thoughts ~ 

 Your pond offers some distinctly challenging conditions - especially fishing from shore; but I believe it's manageable.

 

 Initially, you'll need to be able to accurately & effectively present a bait to the bass in order to get bit.

  Then, you'll need to be able to detect the strike, set the hook and be fishing tackle (rod, reel, line & terminal tackle) stout enough to land a big & no doubt determined bass up, though or out of all that vegetation to your waiting thumb.   

 

In my mind, a traditional light line drop shot may not be the way to go.   Although often thought of as more of an open water presentation, a drop shot can be an option if you pump up the tackle sufficiently to get a fatty out of that mess.   I'd consider a Texas rigged bait instead of anything open hook though.  Still a weight dangling down into cover and behind a hooked bass during a fight through matted vegetation might be problematic. 

 

 Have you considered or tried a weightless Texas rigged stick bait - like a Senko ?  Allowing these baits to settle on the vegetation on the bottom and then slowly working them back, (with plenty of long pauses) is in many instances very effective; especially when fished in the conditions you've presented here.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

[Tim Kelly]

28 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

 Have you considered or tried a weightless Texas rigged stick bait - like a Senko ?  Allowing these baits to settle on the vegetation on the bottom and then slowly working them back, (with plenty of long pauses) is in many instances very effective; especially when fished in the conditions you've presented here.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

X2 My first thoughts as well. A weightless fluke would be another, but similar option.

[Deleted account]

Drop shot wouldn't be high on my list of things to do in those conditions, but hey, try it and see. I like a weightless or lightly weighted t-rigged lizard or craw. A swim jig with the right trailer comes through stuff like that surprisingly well too. If I had to do a drop shot, I'd go with a power one with a short(ish) tag.

[Team9nine]

Ditto the above comments. A weightless wacky rig with small wire weedguard also works surprisingly well in that exact circumstance. 

[NYWayfarer]

5 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Ditto the above comments. A weightless wacky rig with small wire weedguard also works surprisingly well in that exact circumstance. 

The weightless wacky with a weedless hook would be my first choice. A slow falling stickbait, like a Yum Dinger is a must in this setting.

[kiteman]

thanks, good advice!  i fish a wacky senko/dinger weightless a lot though i haven't recently.  i have found it's hard to cast far because the lack of weight, so i've been wanting to experiment with something than can get me a little more distance to some other points on the pond, hence the drop shot.  a texas rig with a weight just buries in the vegetation and is rarely all that productive--the weightless seems to be a better choice, but again i was just hoping to try something heavier to reach other parts of the pond that might have big fish lurking.

[Tim Kelly]

A 6" senko is a fair weight and would cast pretty far. Throwing a topwater would cover huge areas quickly and might at least show you where fish are even if you don't hook up.

 

[OkobojiEagle]

54 minutes ago, kiteman said:

 i was just hoping to try something heavier to reach other parts of the pond that might have big fish lurking.

60'-80' will be plenty of distance to fight an angry bass back to shore through the habitat you're describing.

 

oe

[Fishingmickey]

I'd kind of think with vegetation to the top of the water out to 10'. A hollow bodied frog or ribbet frog would work for coming through the grass. pretty much anything you throw would need to be weedless. You might try a light shakey head work 1/8 oz or less. Definitely a top water popper or small walking bait for the open water.  The Senko or very lightly weighted Texas rigged soft plastic fished slow yaaah. Fishing light line (flouro or mono) is asking to lose fish burying in the weeds.

Good luck,

FM

[Derek1]

Those are almost the exact conditions of my favorite pond, except the pads are reeds and tall grass. Weightless t rigged plastics have been the key when the topwater bite is off. Really far casts with a good fish can be a nightmare to get through all of it at times. A good pair of glasses on a calm day and you can spot the holes in it (this was key to know we’re they were). Also early in the season there are almost trails running through it that were another great spot to drag through. Weightless senco s and heavier flukes are definitely the way to go. 

[JustJames]

9 hours ago, Tim Kelly said:

X2 My first thoughts as well. A weightless fluke would be another, but similar option.

x2 on Fluke and would be first choice even before Senko.

 

8 hours ago, kiteman said:

thanks, good advice!  i fish a wacky senko/dinger weightless a lot though i haven't recently.  i have found it's hard to cast far because the lack of weight.

How far is your target area? 5" Senko is almost 3/8 oz you should be able to cast pretty far even wacky rig (at least 20-30yds even more with Texas rig) What is your setup?

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Don't think so much light line drop shot, but think of a PowerShot, or sometimes called a bubba shot. I've had great success in fishing the kind of conditions you've described.

 

Tie on a bell weight I usually use 1/4 to sometimes 3/8, whatever it takes to get the bait to hold still on the bottom, and usually a 3/0 ewg with your bait of choice(zoom trick worm is my go to) and I usually tie it 1ft-2ft up

 

Just throw it out let it settle, give it a shake or two, let it settle. Then pull it in couple feet and give it another twitch. You'll kinda figure out what works best for you. But thats my advice! And again I've had great success with it in grassy thick vegetation ponds

[TOXIC]

If it were me..........1st choice would be a T-Rigged 5 inch Senko.  I can't imagine on spinning gear needing to throw a bait any further.  On the Potomac in heavy grass and current, I will use a screw in nose weight on a Senko as well.  If I were to dropshot, I would most certainly not nose hook the bait, I would T-rig it as well.  Point of note, I can throw a 5 inch T-rigged Senko a lot farther than my dropshot.  You also lose the vertical presentation of a dropshot bait the farther you cast it out, so you will still be pulling your bait through the weeds.  A Yamamoto DShad (fluke style bait) will outcast most other fluke baits because of it's weight but it will not track deep (unless you pause it) and will ride up on any weeds it encounters on a long cast.   You might want to try the old ball and chain.....a c-rig.  

[Bankbeater]

Are you trying to suspend the bait over the top of the weeds that are 2-3 feet deep?  Since you can see the weeds in the center of the pond I'm thinking that the pond isn't that deep.  You might try a wacky rigged senko type bait under a bobber. 

[Big Rick]

4 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

Are you trying to suspend the bait over the top of the weeds that are 2-3 feet deep?  Since you can see the weeds in the center of the pond I'm thinking that the pond isn't that deep.  You might try a wacky rigged senko type bait under a bobber. 

Google Float-N-Fly. It's a deadly way to catch fish. and big ones as well. At first look it appears to be a dink slayer, but it's known to catch monsters because it's so unassuming and a SLOW presentation. 

[WRB]

From shore it's hard to beat GYCB Fat Ika weedless hooked.

Tom

[fishballer06]

This sounds like a Neko rig presentation to me.

[snake95]

I fish a place that meets that description in Ontario.

 

I also T-rig everything in there, but like to tick the top of the vegetation out further, and then pull up through the vegetation.

 

In warmer weather: toads or craws fished as toads.

 

Craws on a T-rig.

 

Otherwise: weightless super flukes and larger Dingers, with a larger EWG hook to add a little weight, and also jigheads with paddletails: Zoom or Keitech.  Yes they hang periodically but can be ripped out.