Shallow Water Drop Shot ?

[ChrisD46]

While the Drop Shot excels as a  deep water , vertical finesse application - there appear to be differences of opinion for using the Drop Shot in shallow water , casting out and working the Drop Shot back in a more horizontal fashion . *Are you one who uses the Drop Shot fished more  horizontally in shallow water OR  do you elect to go with another finesse tactic in shallower water , horizontal fishing applications ?

[Bluebasser86]

I don't use a DS in water deeper than 10' very often. It's really good for fishing shallow cover, or if I want to keep a bait in one spot and move it without moving it.

[JustJames]

I like Light Texas rig, Neko rig and weightless worm if no wind for shallow water.

Like @Bluebasser86ill do dropshot if I have specific area where I know bass would hold, like in front of tunnels, hole between weed bed.

My last 3 bass caught on this 1/16oz Texas rig with Zoom 6” dead ringer.

[Hammer 4]

If, your fishing from shore, I use a split shot. This is for lighter baits, i.e. 4" worms , ect. On 8 lb or less line. I favor slow rolling it just off the bottom if possible.

 

Fishing from a boat, 6 to 10 ' of water I'll use a drop shot.

[Spankey]

I'm primarily a river rat. Not Fishing that deep for the most part. 5 - 13 feet on average. My presentation is more on the horizontal side. I use a variety of 4 1/2” to 5” finesse style worms. Light T-rigs and splitshot rigs are the norm also. 

[Hook2Jaw]

I like to use a drop shot in shallow water.  My primary bait is the YUM Kill Shot but I've recently been using a ZOOM Fluke with good results.  When my fish are suspended off the bottom in the ponds I fish on post frontal days, dragging those baits very slowly with a 3/8oz weight on the bottom and the Kill Shot of Fluke about 20" above it gets bit for me.

 

My reasoning behind the distance between bait and weight is the diagonal orientation of the line decreasing how high up I am off the bottom.  I like to try to get it in their face while they're suspending and reluctant to eat.

 

I also like to drag a drop shot with about a 10" leader to keep it near the bottom on heavily pressured water when the conditions call for them to be near the bottom and catchable.  They're just very pressured at my local PFA.

[TnRiver46]

I throw it up against the bank at drag it down steep drops into 20-40 feet. It gets hit instantly up shallow sometimes and way deep other times 

[ChrisD46]

Good replies - lots of variety !

[thunderblack]

Love fishing DS in any depth. One of my favorites is fishing docks with it. Grab a light plus or ML spinning rod and catching big bass under docks mid summer when boat traffic is busy. Love it. Hey!! did you just hook my pontoon cover?!! Wasn't me

[5/0]

12 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I like Light Texas rig, Neko rig and weightless worm if no wind for shallow water.

Like @Bluebasser86ill do dropshot if I have specific area where I know bass would hold, like in front of tunnels, hole between weed bed.

My last 3 bass caught on this 1/16oz Texas rig with Zoom 6” dead ringer.

Do you always use a centering pin on your T-Rigs? If so, what are the benefits of doing so?

[JustJames]

25 minutes ago, 5/0 said:

Do you always use a centering pin on your T-Rigs? If so, what are the benefits of doing so?

No I don’t always use this type hook. I use whatever I have on hand EWG, Worm hook, or roboworm rebarb hook. This CPS hook, plastic might last a little bit longer but not always. 

[MickD]

One of my really good days was in clear water, big water, and about 3 feet deep.  We were very busy for about an hour with casting and working the DS back with white super flukes about a foot up from the sinker.  It works in any depths for keeping the lure a set distance from the bottom.  SMB

[WRB]

Does 3" to 4" drop shot in a bass bed count? Yes, otherwise I cast a slip shot rig and verticle fish a drop shot rig. I will cast 10' to 20' using a verticle dropping drop shot rig and work it back sometimes.

Tom

[5/0]

1 hour ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

 This CPS hook, plastic might last a little bit longer but not always. 

Yeah, really thinking about it the EWG would help the bait last longer. But I would guess that would depend on the bait used. Keitechs get pretty chewed up on a CPS.

[FryDog62]

Drop-shotting will work at most any depth.  That being said, I tend to use DS in mid to deeper depths... and Neko in mid depths, Wacky/Ned when shallow.  For me, Neko and Ned have replaced the shallower/mid depths where I used to DS, just a preference/confidence thing...

[Bankbeater]

I hate using a DS around here.  Most of the ponds are covered in vegetation by mid June.  I fish weightless, split shot, or a light Texas rig.

[Bass Rutten]

Power shot has been my jam this spring. Usually 4-12” from weight to lure, shallow cover, heavy gear, 15# fluoro. Just loving this technique right now, seems to do well in almost all conditions I’ve encountered so far.