Loooong Drop Shot dropper

[Comfortably Numb]

Anyone ever tried like a four foot drop shot dropper below the hook to the weight?

 

I usually use 12-18" and keep contact with the weight, but was thinking with the longer dropper and lowered rod tip you could let the bait fall weightless a few feet.  

[Fishes in trees]

Guess you could - give it a try & find out.   Me, I drop shot quite a bit, most of that is with the bubba drop shot rather than finesse.  A foot more or less is where I put the weight.  I haven't encountered a situation where I thought the fish were a few feet above the bottom & I thought drop shooting was the best option.  Something to be aware of and look for though.

 

If I have an area in mind where I want the bait to end up, a foot leader and bait, half ounce bait makes accuracy  problematic and a challenge.   Makes me wonder about trying to hit specific spots 15 to 20 feet down with a 4' leader.    Challenging to be sure.  Of course, your casting skills, depth perception skills and sensitivity to the bait skills might be better than mine.   Wouldn't take much for your skills to exceed mine in this area.

[looking45]

Using a dropper that long won't work. You will have a tangled mess when you catch a fish. It will just keep wrapping around the main line as you fight the fish. A friend tried it one day and he had to retie after every fish. He was fishing 30 feet down, but the depth shouldn't make any different in what happens.

[deadadrift89]

We spent last two Summer's in Minnesota and half the time spent drop shotting largemouth in deep weeds. We usually used around 4ft distance between hook and 1/4oz weight no issues except for pike?

[jbsoonerfan]

7 minutes ago, looking45 said:

Using a dropper that long won't work. You will have a tangled mess when you catch a fish. It will just keep wrapping around the main line as you fight the fish. A friend tried it one day and he had to retie after every fish. He was fishing 30 feet down, but the depth shouldn't make any different in what happens.

 

4 minutes ago, stratoliner92 said:

We spent last two Summer's in Minnesota and half the time spent drop shotting largemouth in deep weeds. We usually used around 4ft distance between hook and 1/4oz weight no issues except for pike?

Looks like we have a duel......

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, Comfortably Numb said:

was thinking with the longer dropper and lowered rod tip you could let the bait fall weightless a few feet.

This is how you fish a senko in 20'+ of water.

12 minutes ago, looking45 said:

Using a dropper that long won't work. You will have a tangled mess when you catch a fish.

Not every time.  And really, who cares? Untangling and retying after catching is better than fishing without a bite any day.

[detroit1]

In water temps below 50 I go with 6"-1' "dropper. As the water warms, the further apart they get. By summer peak I go with 4' to 6' droppers, and as the cold water returns the smaller it gets. Works for me, but what do I know...

[Comfortably Numb]

Ya I'm talking winter now and dropping straight down in 30-35' with 3/8-1/2 weight. so no casting.

 

I'm thinking more Like John said with a wacky Stick. Lifting till I feel the weight on bottom and giving some slack so it falls slow and naturally.

Ty

 

[detroit1]

I don't know how to fish in January. December,and February either.

[J Francho]

13 hours ago, Comfortably Numb said:

Ya I'm talking winter now and dropping straight down in 30-35' with 3/8-1/2 weight. so no casting.

 

I'm thinking more Like John said with a wacky Stick. Lifting till I feel the weight on bottom and giving some slack so it falls slow and naturally.

Ty

 

You're basically cutting down the time waiting for the bait to get through empty water, from the surface to where ever you think the fish are biting.  Turn 30' into 4' with a drop shot rig.

 

13 hours ago, detroit1 said:

I don't know how to fish in January. December,and February either.

For us northerners, it's like fishing in November or April.

[Crestliner2008]

I rarely use a dropper less than 3'. But where I fish, the bottom algae is at least 8" - 10" off the bottom and the drop shot is really the only way to approach this deep structucture (20'+).  I've offen used 4' droppers with little ill effects. Especially effective when you see the fish off bottom or suspended on your sonar.

 

I am not a big fan of casting the drop shot. I prefer vertical presentations when approaching deep structures. So I may not experience the "tangles" that some folks say they have when attempting long drop lengths.

[J Francho]

Just now, Crestliner2008 said:

I am not a big fan of casting the drop shot.

Me neither.  Often, I use an underhand pitch to make a 20' cast, especially if fishing on a drift.  I'd rather pitch in front of the drift than drag behind.