Power Shot/Bubba Shot - What Bait?

[Quarry Man]

Really trying to up my grass game this season. I want to try fishing the Bubba Shot/Power Shot. I am fairly proficient at normal drop shot fishing, but this is the other end of the spectrum. I am wondering what plastics would be best for this technique. I am looking for specific lures.

 

will be thrown on a 7'2" MH Mod-Fast or 7'1" MH Fast, Tatula SV with 20 lb floro and 1/2 oz skinny ds weight.

[Finessegenics]

I've never bubba-shotted before but my intuition tells me the zman fattyz or even mag fattyz would be great. They're elaztech so they'll have no trouble staying horizontal. On an open hook dropshot, elaztech baits tend to go "face down". The weight of and size of the flipping or widegap hook should be enough to hold the bait horizontal. And the action on the bulbous tail is crazy on a neko rig so I'd imagine it would be the same on a bubba shot. 

[Quarry Man]

2 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

I've never bubba-shotted before but my intuition tells me the zman fattyz or even mag fattyz would be great. They're elaztech so they'll have no trouble staying horizontal. On an open hook dropshot, elaztech baits tend to go "face down". The weight of and size of the flipping or widegap hook should be enough to hold the bait horizontal. And the action on the bulbous tail is crazy on a neko rig so I'd imagine it would be the same on a bubba shot. 

that looks awesome, well explained by you as well. Just checked tackle warehouse and im liking the colors. Will be ordering a few packs when I make my next order.

 

now I have to find a craw style bait, any suggestions?  

[Finessegenics]

Just wanted to remind you again, that I've never bubba shotted so take my opinion for what it's worth. I just took a few minutes to search my memory and the threads on here to find someone who I know bubba shots a lot. @Fishes in trees, hopefully he can chime in when he gets the chance.

 

Still, im clearly a huge fan of Zman so I'd go with their Turbo Crawz. Its more of a swim jig/chatter trailer but I don't see why it wouldn't work. It's the same elaztech material as all other Zman baits. That being said, I also really like XZone's Muscle Back Craw. Another good idea would probably be to use a beaver style bait. It'll get through the grass easily, and it imitates both a sunfish and a craw at the same time. I believe Zman has a beaver bait, but the reaction innovations sweet beaver is another bait I really enjoy. I dont think the exact brand of the bait really matters, just using the right style and being at the right place at the right time does.

[Quarry Man]

3 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

Just wanted to remind you again, that I've never bubba shotted so take my opinion for what it's worth. I just took a few minutes to search my memory and the threads on here to find someone who I know bubba shots a lot. @Fishes in trees, hopefully he can chime in when he gets the chance.

 

Still, im clearly a huge fan of Zman so I'd go with their Turbo Crawz. Its more of a swim jig/chatter trailer but I don't see why it wouldn't work. It's the same elaztech material as all other Zman baits. That being said, I also really like XZone's Muscle Back Craw. Another good idea would probably be to use a beaver style bait. It'll get through the grass easily, and it imitates both a sunfish and a craw at the same time. I believe Zman has a beaver bait, but the reaction innovations sweet beaver is another bait I really enjoy. I dont think the exact brand of the bait really matters, just using the right style and being at the right place at the right time does.

Was thinking the reaction innovations spicy beaver or zoom trick worm.

 

 

[Finessegenics]

5 minutes ago, Quarry Man said:

Was thinking the reaction innovations spicy beaver or zoom trick worm.

 

 

Yeah! The spicy beaver's appendages flap more aggressively than the sweet beaver so it could be great for active fish

 

[Bluebasser86]

I've done best with a baby brush hog on a bubba shot.

[J._Bricker]

Never really thought of it as “Bubba shotting/ Power shotting” @Quarry Man, I just always thought of it as drop shotting. I preferred bait casting gear to pitch to targets that others might throw a jig or a t-rig. As for baits, your favorite 6 or 7 inch worm, stick bait or brush hog. By the way, I like the setup you plan on using ?.

[Fishes in trees]

I think your rod, reel & line ought to work ok.  Last season I used a 7'5" Kistler telescopic flipping/pitching stick ( the blue one, Argon series I think) and a Calcutta 50 reel with 20 lb Abrazx fluorocarbon.   Going on 3 years with the same line and so far it is still ok and hasn't failed.   Plan is to keep fishing it til I'm unhappy with it.

 

I used to use a rod very similar what you're planning to use.  A Gerald Swindle Quantum 7' something rod.  It had some serious backbone to it but a little more tip than the rod I'm using now. I messed up a guide and haven't gotten it fixed yet so it is on the bench.   The jury is still out if the slightly more tippy rod is better for this technique or not.   I got 7 or 8 rods that need attention, with there was someone on the KC metro area who did that sort of stuff & returned phone calls.

 

Enough of that.  I've experimented with drop shot hooks quite a bit and the one I currently like the best is Gammy wicked wacky hook ( page 274, item #M in the 2020 BPS Master catalog). I've got all the sizes available, but I use 1/0 or 2/0 most of the time.  I like how when you run your line through the tube on the shaft of the hook it kinda guarantees that your hook will stick out straight and so will your bait.   For baits, I like the Berkley crazy legs chigger craw in various colors,  Okiechobee craw is a good color to start as are various shades of green pumpkin.  I will generally bust out my chartreuse marker and color up the flappers some.  The Berkley jerk shad in Albino is another good color ( I will put some chartreuse stripes down the side with my marker. ).  Another Berkley bait that has worked well for me is the old Gulp sinking minnow.  ( various colors, pumpkin, green pumpkin, June bug   These don't take dye worth a darn.  In my bubba drop shot bait bag I'm pretty sure that I have a dozen other options, but these 3 are the ones that have gotten used the most over the past couple of years.  All these baits, I just nose hook them and count on the weed guard on the hook to prevent me from snags.   Turns out the weight gets snagged much more often than the hook does.  I experimented with tx rigged hooks for a while, some modest success, but these days I think that nose hooking baits with the wicked wacky gamma hook is just as snag resistant and gets more consistent hook ups.

 

As far as hook sets go, I don't think that you have to power set,  when I determine that I'm getting bit, I just tighten up and lift up as quick as I can.  I lift up stoutly, but it isn't a power set, cross their eyes type of hook set.

 

I have experimented with a strike indicator using this rig.  Using a half inch styrofoam ball, like you might find in the fly rod section at Cabelas or BPS, using my electric drill I would enlarge & smooth out the hole, then thread it on the line above the hook.  Some days it seemed to help, in that the float would move prior to me noticing it through feel.   More experimentations are necessary before I come to a decision on this thing.  

 

Hope this helps.  These are just my current thoughts on using this bait.  I haven't mastered this technique IMO. 

[Catt]

Interesting...very interesting ?

[BoatSquirrel]

2 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

when you run your line through the tube on the shaft of the hook it kinda guarantees that your hook will stick out straight and so will your bait

Fishes With Trees, as I was reading down through the answers on this post was hoping to see you respond.  We have discussed the bubba in previous posts and I remember agreeing with your replies.

Now about that tube on the Gammy hook you fish, are you saying you slide the line through that tube for your dropper?

Thanks man!

[collinfiske_RFC]

I have caught a couple of big ones on a power shot fishing shallow around docks. 4.5 straight tail, aarons magic, 1/2oz weight is plenty, 2/0 Trokar drop shot hook,  6in from weight to plastic. Weight kicking up bottom turns their heads around a little bit. 

[Quarry Man]

12 hours ago, J._Bricker said:

Never really thought of it as “Bubba shotting/ Power shotting” @Quarry Man, I just always thought of it as drop shotting. I preferred bait casting gear to pitch to targets that others might throw a jig or a t-rig. As for baits, your favorite 6 or 7 inch worm, stick bait or brush hog. By the way, I like the setup you plan on using ?.

looks like you are using a smaller flipping hook? I was originally thinking of putting my 3/0 superfine eggs that I got at Walmart fir a quarter a pack to use finally, tho I am interested to hear what you think and why. There is no other option besides skinny weights here, but what weight size do you prefer?

8 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

I think your rod, reel & line ought to work ok.  Last season I used a 7'5" Kistler telescopic flipping/pitching stick ( the blue one, Argon series I think) and a Calcutta 50 reel with 20 lb Abrazx fluorocarbon.   Going on 3 years with the same line and so far it is still ok and hasn't failed.   Plan is to keep fishing it til I'm unhappy with it.

 

I used to use a rod very similar what you're planning to use.  A Gerald Swindle Quantum 7' something rod.  It had some serious backbone to it but a little more tip than the rod I'm using now. I messed up a guide and haven't gotten it fixed yet so it is on the bench.   The jury is still out if the slightly more tippy rod is better for this technique or not.   I got 7 or 8 rods that need attention, with there was someone on the KC metro area who did that sort of stuff & returned phone calls.

 

Enough of that.  I've experimented with drop shot hooks quite a bit and the one I currently like the best is Gammy wicked wacky hook ( page 274, item #M in the 2020 BPS Master catalog). I've got all the sizes available, but I use 1/0 or 2/0 most of the time.  I like how when you run your line through the tube on the shaft of the hook it kinda guarantees that your hook will stick out straight and so will your bait.   For baits, I like the Berkley crazy legs chigger craw in various colors,  Okiechobee craw is a good color to start as are various shades of green pumpkin.  I will generally bust out my chartreuse marker and color up the flappers some.  The Berkley jerk shad in Albino is another good color ( I will put some chartreuse stripes down the side with my marker. ).  Another Berkley bait that has worked well for me is the old Gulp sinking minnow.  ( various colors, pumpkin, green pumpkin, June bug   These don't take dye worth a darn.  In my bubba drop shot bait bag I'm pretty sure that I have a dozen other options, but these 3 are the ones that have gotten used the most over the past couple of years.  All these baits, I just nose hook them and count on the weed guard on the hook to prevent me from snags.   Turns out the weight gets snagged much more often than the hook does.  I experimented with tx rigged hooks for a while, some modest success, but these days I think that nose hooking baits with the wicked wacky gamma hook is just as snag resistant and gets more consistent hook ups.

 

As far as hook sets go, I don't think that you have to power set,  when I determine that I'm getting bit, I just tighten up and lift up as quick as I can.  I lift up stoutly, but it isn't a power set, cross their eyes type of hook set.

 

I have experimented with a strike indicator using this rig.  Using a half inch styrofoam ball, like you might find in the fly rod section at Cabelas or BPS, using my electric drill I would enlarge & smooth out the hole, then thread it on the line above the hook.  Some days it seemed to help, in that the float would move prior to me noticing it through feel.   More experimentations are necessary before I come to a decision on this thing.  

 

Hope this helps.  These are just my current thoughts on using this bait.  I haven't mastered this technique IMO. 

that hook is very interesting. I will have to test out on my own that, superline ewg and flipping hooks to see which works best for various baits. 

4 hours ago, collinfiske_RFC said:

I have caught a couple of big ones on a power shot fishing shallow around docks. 4.5 straight tail, aarons magic, 1/2oz weight is plenty, 2/0 Trokar drop shot hook,  6in from weight to plastic. Weight kicking up bottom turns their heads around a little bit. 

Hmmm, I was thinking 1' - 6" for leader length. Any time where you switch the length? or always rolling with 6"?

[collinfiske_RFC]

32 minutes ago, Quarry Man said:

looks like you are using a smaller flipping hook? I was originally thinking of putting my 3/0 superfine eggs that I got at Walmart fir a quarter a pack to use finally, tho I am interested to hear what you think and why. There is no other option besides skinny weights here, but what weight size do you prefer?

that hook is very interesting. I will have to test out on my own that, superline ewg and flipping hooks to see which works best for various baits. 

Hmmm, I was thinking 1' - 6" for leader length. Any time where you switch the length? or always rolling with 6"?

I'll shrink it an inch or two if i notice they wont pick their nose up on it. I know a couple guys that use it really short like 2in or 3in range that nail them. I think it really just comes down to confidence and whatever length it takes to keep it in front of their nose. 

[Fishes in trees]

Update & edit.  . ..1 yeah the wicked wacky hook has a little tube wrapped/glued on the shaft of the hook.  You tie your long Palomar knot, then thread the long tail end through the tube, keeps the hook positioned correctly ( for me) on the line.   ...  For me the dropper line varies - a foot or so is where I start nearly all the time.   I use the half ounce BPS Finesse drop shot weights ( page 269 BPS 2020 Master Catalog, the cylinder ones ). The diamond shapes and round shapes get stuck more often for me.  I considered using the tungsten ones, mostly because I've mostly converted to tungsten for tx rigged worms & pitching baits, BUT, at $8.50 for two of them - just can't do it.  

[J._Bricker]

 

   14 hours ago,  J._Bricker said: 

Never really thought of it as “Bubba shotting/ Power shotting” @Quarry Man, I just always thought of it as drop shotting. I preferred bait casting gear to pitch to targets that others might throw a jig or a t-rig. As for baits, your favorite 6 or 7 inch worm, stick bait or brush hog. By the way, I like the setup you plan on using ?.

“looks like you are using a smaller flipping hook? I was originally thinking of putting my 3/0 superfine eggs that I got at Walmart fir a quarter a pack to use finally, tho I am interested to hear what you think and why. There is no other option besides skinny weights here, but what weight size do you prefer?”

 

To answering your question @Quarry Man, that is a 3/0 BPS hook that I used some shrink wrap for the worm keeper. When the keeper fails, I’ll try on a new hook and replace the shirk wrap later when I’ve accumulated enough hooks to make the process worth the effort. Sharpen the old hooks up with a file, heat up the newly made keepers with a hot air gun and back in business. The fish don’t seem to mind either lol.  I started off with the Roboworm Rebarb hooks in 1/0 or 2/0 and kind of moved to BPS(cost), Owner, and even Trokar hooks.
 

I buy my dropshot weights in bulk from 1/4 to 3/4 oz and naturally tie on what I think is appropriate depending current, cover, or application. Fluorocarbon if you prefer to use it as a leader or main line, but I haven’t noticed any drop off in using 15lb or 20lb braid. Hope this is helpful....
 

 

 

[jbsoonerfan]

Imagine all the people who "drop shot/bubba shot/power shot" before they ever had a name. LOL

[Bankbeater]

We use to use a 1/2 oz weight and a large snelled hook. We called it a catfish rig. 

[J._Bricker]

37 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

We use to use a 1/2 oz weight and a large snelled hook. We called it a catfish rig. 

Absolutely! Of course IMHO it’s better to say “in the boat” ?

[ChrisD46]

A nose hooked  green pumpkin ZMan Zinkerz stick bait (i.e. elaztec senko) using a VMC swivel shot 1/0 hook and a 1/4 oz to 3/8th oz. drop shot weight .