Drop Shot Hooks and Weights Choices

[Chonch12]

Hello,

 

Just started to try out the drop shot and had some success. I am going to a lake that is very clea water and is well known for drop shotting. 

 

What are your favorite:

 

• Hook Brands
• Hook Sizes
• Weights
• Weight Style
• Lure brands
• Lure colors

 

More info - Going to Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. Last year did really well with Ned rig, neon Pink TRD. Want to try some other things this year

 

Water is usually crystal clear see a good 6-10ft down. I'll be throwing on ledges 10-12ft that fall to 20-25Ft.

 

I think the typical is 1/0 or 2/0 with 1/4 weight, preferable tungsten, but not sure on the style of weight. Placing an order tomorrow so thanks in advance! 

 

Edit- Lire brand and color too please. I know roboworm is usually king here. But also the Berkeley power bait flat worm got a lot of press recently 

 

John

Edited July 19, 2020 by Chonch12
Added more info

[ike8120]

I have been using VMC spin shot hooks,1/0 and 2/0 I use cylindrical drop shot weights both tungsten and lead

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, ike8120 said:

I have been using VMC spin shot hooks,1/0 and 2/0 I use cylindrical drop shot weights both tungsten and lead

I'm also using the VMC spin-shots, 1/0 for slim body baits, 3/0 wide gap for fatter plastics. Cylinder weights in 1/8 and 1/4.

[CountryboyinDC]

I think it was Jason Christie that said clear water scared him to death.  In really clear water with no cloud cover, I'll probably spook all the fish with a drop shot or anything else I try, but dropshotting, spybaiting, and other techniques that require lots of patience sound like something you'll need to learn.  For dropshotting, my hooks are usually Trokar size 1 to 2/0 for the baits I use.  I've tried Gamakatsu and I had to buy some Berkley Fusions when I ran out of hooks once, and I can say that I more hookups on the Trokars.  They do tend to tear baits, so you can use a Owner CPS secured by a piece of shrink tubing to hold the bait by the nose (learned that trick on this website).  For weights, I usually use tungsten cylindrical or teardrop shaped weights 1/8 to 1/4 oz.  I'm not one that has developed the skill to target fish suspended at 30+ feet with a dropshot video game fishing; the opportunity doesn't present itself enough where I fish.  So I don't know if I have any weights over 1/4 oz.  For baits, there aren't many I use.  The last time I got into them good dropshotting, I was using a Missle Baits Bombshot.  This was in relatively shallow water, maybe 4-6'.  I have found the straight-tailed Roboworm to be the best in most places.  I feel you really want the bait to assume a neutral attitude, so it can't be super buoyant like the Z-Man baits, but if it assumes a tail straight down attitude, that's bad too.  I have had reasonably poor results with flukes, paddletails, and craws including the Missle drop shot craw.  I'm not the best drop shot angler by any stretch of the imagination, but I end up fishing it as a desperation measure quite a bit.  It is usually good for getting the skunk off.

[Fishin' Fool]

Size 1 Gamakatsu drop shot hook and anywhere from 1/8 to 1/4 on the weights. Titanium is preferred.

[TOXIC]

You will find that dropshotting is a personal thing and everybody will have their favorite technique and baits.  It also depends on whether you are casting, dragging or vertically fishing your dropshot.  I use a gamakatsu #1 (not1.0) ewg offset hook.  That is because I rarely nose hook my dropshot baits.  I Texas rig them.  I use a QuickDrop weight most often in 1/4oz.  QuickDrop weights are the highest quality dropshot weights I have ever found and hang up much less.  As for baits, the Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm, Cali Roll and pro Senko are my go to baits.  I have dropshotted from Florida to the Great Lakes and have had lots of success.  I have been dropshotting for over 30 years.  Lots of baits will work but these are my personal favorites.  

[Chonch12]

22 minutes ago, CountryboyinDC said:

I think it was Jason Christie that said clear water scared him to death.  In really clear water with no cloud cover, I'll probably spook all the fish with a drop shot or anything else I try, but dropshotting, spybaiting, and other techniques that require lots of patience sound like something you'll need to learn.  For dropshotting, my hooks are usually Trokar size 1 to 2/0 for the baits I use.  I've tried Gamakatsu and I had to buy some Berkley Fusions when I ran out of hooks once, and I can say that I more hookups on the Trokars.  They do tend to tear baits, so you can use a Owner CPS secured by a piece of shrink tubing to hold the bait by the nose (learned that trick on this website).  For weights, I usually use tungsten cylindrical or teardrop shaped weights 1/8 to 1/4 oz.  I'm not one that has developed the skill to target fish suspended at 30+ feet with a dropshot video game fishing; the opportunity doesn't present itself enough where I fish.  So I don't know if I have any weights over 1/4 oz.  For baits, there aren't many I use.  The last time I got into them good dropshotting, I was using a Missle Baits Bombshot.  This was in relatively shallow water, maybe 4-6'.  I have found the straight-tailed Roboworm to be the best in most places.  I feel you really want the bait to assume a neutral attitude, so it can't be super buoyant like the Z-Man baits, but if it assumes a tail straight down attitude, that's bad too.  I have had reasonably poor results with flukes, paddletails, and craws including the Missle drop shot craw.  I'm not the best drop shot angler by any stretch of the imagination, but I end up fishing it as a desperation measure quite a bit.  It is usually good for getting the skunk off.

Thanks great info. I'll be fishing around ledges 10-15ft that frolic to 20-25ft. Last year I did really well with Ned Rig and neon pink. Wanted to explore more options this year. The water is prob 6-10Ft crystal clear to what you can see.

 

Thanks for the advice 

2 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

You will find that dropshotting is a personal thing and everybody will have their favorite technique and baits.  It also depends on whether you are casting, dragging or vertically fishing your dropshot.  I use a gamakatsu #1 (not1.0) ewg offset hook.  That is because I rarely nose hook my dropshot baits.  I Texas rig them.  I use a QuickDrop weight most often in 1/4oz.  QuickDrop weights are the highest quality dropshot weights I have ever found and hang up much less.  As for baits, the Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm, Cali Roll and pro Senko are my go to baits.  I have dropshotted from Florida to the Great Lakes and have had lots of success.  I have been dropshotting for over 30 years.  Lots of baits will work but these are my personal favorites.  

Thanks so much! I'm going to Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. Go every year. Last year I did really well with simple ned rig neon pink TRD. Cleaned up the smallie.

 

Wanted to try new things this year. Water I'll be fishing will be around 10-15Ft and drop to 20-25ft. I'll check out those soft plastics to use as well. 

 

For the deeper drops should I go over 1/4 or is that the max you suggest? Thanks again

[TOXIC]

At the depths you are fishing as long as you are vertically dropshotting, 1/4 oz will be fine.  We bump it up for going like 75ft in Lake Erie or lake Lanier.  Usually 45-50ft is where we start to consider heavier especially if we are dragging or there is current.  

[Chonch12]

Just now, TOXIC said:

At the depths you are fishing as long as you are vertically dropshotting, 1/4 oz will be fine.  We bump it up for going like 75ft in Lake Erie or lake Lanier.  Usually 45-50ft is where we start to consider heavier especially if we are dragging or there is current.  

Awesome thanks again really appreciate it.

[A-Jay]

4 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

Hello,

 

Just started to try out the drop shot and had some success. I am going to a lake that is very clea water and is well known for drop shotting. 

 

What are your favorite:

 

• Hook Brands
• Hook Sizes
• Weights
• Weight Style
• Lure brands
• Lure colors

 

More info - Going to Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. Last year did really well with Ned rig, neon Pink TRD. Want to try some other things this year

 

Water is usually crystal clear see a good 6-10ft down. I'll be throwing on ledges 10-12ft that fall to 20-25Ft.

 

I think the typical is 1/0 or 2/0 with 1/4 weight, preferable tungsten, but not sure on the style of weight. Placing an order tomorrow so thanks in advance! 

 

Edit- Lire brand and color too please. I know roboworm is usually king here. But also the Berkeley power bait flat worm got a lot of press recently 

 

John

Grew up fishing much of northern New England include Lake Winnipesaukee.

cut my brown bass fishing teeth there some 45 years ago.

Have been there in a minute but this is some applicable drop shot info John  . . . . 

A-Jay

[Tim Kelly]

Absolutely love these nogales suwacky hooks, size 4 or 3. They are just evil. If you hook the fish, you will land it, then have a battle getting the hook out of it!

Baits, Reins bubbling shaker 4" in scuppernong or a Keitech easy shaker. I use a 3/16 weight more often than anything, usually pencil shaped.

 

https://www.varivas.co.jp/en/Product/searchgroup/name:Nogales+Suwacky/type:/view3:2/id:3108

[Chonch12]

18 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Grew up fishing much of northern New England include Lake Winnipesaukee.

cut my brown bass fishing teeth there some 45 years ago.

Have been there in a minute but this is some applicable drop shot info John  . . . . 

A-Jay

Wow lot to take in there. Thanks so much

[WRB]

6 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

Hello,

 

Just started to try out the drop shot and had some success. I am going to a lake that is very clea water and is well known for drop shotting. 

 

What are your favorite:

 

• Hook Brands
• Hook Sizes
• Weights
• Weight Style
• Lure brands
• Lure colors

 

More info - Going to Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. Last year did really well with Ned rig, neon Pink TRD. Want to try some other things this year

 

Water is usually crystal clear see a good 6-10ft down. I'll be throwing on ledges 10-12ft that fall to 20-25Ft.

 

I think the typical is 1/0 or 2/0 with 1/4 weight, preferable tungsten, but not sure on the style of weight. Placing an order tomorrow so thanks in advance! 

 

Edit- Lire brand and color too please. I know roboworm is usually king here. But also the Berkeley power bait flat worm got a lot of press recently 

 

John

Owner and Gamakatsu

Size 1 mosquito or Gammy 504 for nose hook, size 1/0 5133 for weedless hook.

1/8, 3/16, 1/4 Owner flat bottom or cylinder mojo style.

Roboworm and Iovino

MMIII, Oxblood/LT red flake, Baitball, Iovino Smallmouth Killer, lightning Shad.

7 lbs Sniper FC, spinning.

Tom

 

[Hook2Jaw]

For some more budget oriented drop shotting, I opt for these terminal items and baits.

 

Lunkerhunt Dropshot Hooks, size 1 and 1/0.  I believe this is the only quality item this company makes.  It turns out as long as your dropshot hook is a razor, as these are, and shaped correctly, as these are, you'll hook fish with them.  They are very, very cheap!

 

For my weights, I use Water Gremlin Dipsey Swivel Weights.  I use ⅛ in less than 15 FOW and ³/¹⁶ in water deeper than that. 

 

For my first bait, I use YUM Sharpshooters in 4.5/6, depending on the size of fish I'm around.  I use the size 1 hook on the 4.5 and the 1/0 on the 6.  I wacky rig both sizes.  Bold Bluegill, Ghost Shad, and Morning Dawn are the three colors I primarily carry.

 

My second preferred dropshot bait is the YUM Killshot.  It's a little thicker than dropshot worms, so I use the 1/0 hook for this little guy and nose hook it.  My preferred colors for this guy are the same as the Sharpshooter.

 

Just throwing out some cheaper options, and I wish you good luck on your trip!

[Way north bass guy]

I tried the vmc spinshot hooks and found that they seemed to get tangled in the dropper line way too much for my liking when battling big smallmouths. I’ve been using Gamakatsu split shot/drop shot hooks (size 2 I believe), for a while now and my hookup and land ratio has been amazing, no matter what size bass hits. Pretty much the only bait I use any more is the Maxscent Flatworm, been using them for a couple years now and I managed to grab a bunch of packs before all the latest “madness” hit and they disappeared off all shelves and online. For big northern smallmouth, they are like crack!

[MN Fisher]

2 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

I'm going to Lake Winnipesaukee in NH.

One of my old haunts - fished Winnie many times when I was growing up in Worcester back in the 60s and early 70s.

[Bluebasser86]

1/0 Owner covershot, green pumpkin Zoom shakyhead worm, 1/8oz homemade cylinder dropshot weight.

[Hammer 4]

8 hours ago, WRB said:

Owner and Gamakatsu

Size 1 mosquito or Gammy 504 for nose hook, size 1/0 5133 for weedless hook.

1/8, 3/16, 1/4 Owner flat bottom or cylinder mojo style.

Roboworm and Iovino

MMIII, Oxblood/LT red flake, Baitball, Iovino Smallmouth Killer, lightning Shad.

7 lbs Sniper FC, spinning.

Tom

 

This is also my DS set up almost to a tee, sans the Iovino baits..Must be a west coast thang..lol

[Chonch12]

On 7/19/2020 at 3:52 PM, A-Jay said:

Grew up fishing much of northern New England include Lake Winnipesaukee.

cut my brown bass fishing teeth there some 45 years ago.

Have been there in a minute but this is some applicable drop shot info John  . . . . 

A-Jay

First off thank you to everyone was a fun and successful trip got my PB Smallie at 2.8lb and a bunch over 2lb. Biggest before was a little over 1lb from up there. Got all but 1 of them on 3/8oz drop shot with 4.5 - 6in roboworm around 20-30ft deep on the rocky ledges. The other was shallow (around 10ft) and got her with a 3/8oz brown jig. 

 

I know the Lake has much bigger Smallies in there but was only really able to get out 2 days for long stretches in tiny boat myself. Little struggle with small boat and motor, could only go so far. Forgot how awesome it is to catch Smallies, the fight is really fun, and they like to torpedo up and out of the water from deep.

 

Wanted to update and thank you all again. @A-Jay that write up is unreal, incredible info that really help, thanks again for that.

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Chonch12 said:

First off thank you to everyone was a fun and successful trip got my PB Smallie at 2.8lb and a bunch over 2lb. Biggest before was a little over 1lb from up there. Got all but 1 of them on 3/8oz drop shot with 4.5 - 6in roboworm around 20-30ft deep on the rocky ledges. The other was shallow (around 10ft) and got her with a 3/8oz brown jig. 

 

I know the Lake has much bigger Smallies in there but was only really able to get out 2 days for long stretches in tiny boat myself. Little struggle with small boat and motor, could only go so far. Forgot how awesome it is to catch Smallies, the fight is really fun, and they like to torpedo up and out of the water from deep.

 

Wanted to update and thank you all again. @A-Jay that write up is unreal, incredible info that really help, thanks again for that.

That's Awesome 

Nicely done and I'm glad you caught some bass. 

Congrats

A-Jay 

[Tony johnson]

I do alot of dropshot in summer in socal.... my main lake is heavy pressure and 25ft visibility.. its been hot so I have been finding schools on ledges about 35ft deep right before it drops to 60 ft plus... i use 1/0 owner circle hooks for nose hooked roboworm and 2/0 ewg for Texas rigged with 1/8 - 1/4 cylinder wieght