Drop Shot weights

[TOXIC]

For the longest time I was a dropshot addict.caught them in every depth, every season and even bed fished with it.  I am pretty proficient on what works best for me in certain situations.  For example, on lake St. Clair I really like to drag a dropshot like a tube, especially if we are in some of the more grassy areas.  I have posted my setup way too many times so I won’t do it again but as far as weights, I use Quikdrop.  Hands down the best dropshot weights I have ever thrown.  I threw the same weight for a week on St. Clair in grass, rocks and tulies and never lost it.  Priemum dropshot weights don’t hang up nearly as much as the cheaper ones and for sure not as much as the ones put together by using sinkers, bullet or pinch weights.  The priemum weights with premium components will also cut waaaaay down on line twist.  I’m not as locked in to the dropshot as I used to be but I still have one rigged on every trip.

[the reel ess]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

 

 

Maybe it's not the right rig for what you are doing.  Using the wrong tool isn't the tool's fault, though.

Oh, I'm not blaming the rig for anything. I've hardly tried it. It's also usually stained water where I fish. It's my understanding that dropshot is more of a clear water technique. Is that true?

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Oh, I'm not blaming the rig for anything. I've hardly tried it. It's also usually stained water where I fish. It's my understanding that dropshot is more of a clear water technique. Is that true?

'Tonka ain't the clearest water around. 2'-3' visibility in the areas I fish are pretty normal. DS still works.

[J Francho]

47 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Oh, I'm not blaming the rig for anything. I've hardly tried it. It's also usually stained water where I fish. It's my understanding that dropshot is more of a clear water technique. Is that true?

Not really. I don't consider water clarity when fishing it. The Erie fish above was probably 5', the second more like 1'. 

[Fishin' Fool]

For the guys that fish a drop shot, why not tie on a 2nd bait instead such as a tube bait or a TRD worm? I've definitely had days where the bottom bait way outproduced the lure on the DS hook.

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, Fishin' Fool said:

For the guys that fish a drop shot, why not tie on a 2nd bait instead such as a tube bait or a TRD worm? I've definitely had days where the bottom bait way outproduced the lure on the DS hook.

Ya - could do that...long as there's not more than 9" between the two - state regs.

[Fishin' Fool]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - could do that...long as there's not more than 9" between the two - state regs.

 

We don't have that regulation in Michigan. The biggest challenge because i run a braid to fluoro leader is usually if i break off it requires a whole new leader being tied on.

[WRB]

Before single 1 hook drop shot rig we used 3 hooks about 12” apart called the stacking rig. 3 hooks are the maximum allowed in California fresh water. Rock cod in deep salt water they use up to 10 hook rigs and 5 lb weight. 

The 1st drop shot rig was Owners Down Shot rig in the early 80’s and still uses that term.

California bass use drop shot as a standard presentation everywhere. Owners bell shape down shot weight is exactly the same swivel design as Western Tackle Qwik-Drop with a bell shape weight. The photo online of Owners weight should be updated!

Tear drop weights are the most popular out west along with 5-7 lb FC spinning outfits.

Tom

 

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, Fishin' Fool said:

For the guys that fish a drop shot, why not tie on a 2nd bait instead such as a tube bait or a TRD worm? I've definitely had days where the bottom bait way outproduced the lure on the DS hook.

How do you know what hookset to use? I mean, you'd have to know what bait it took. It's the same reason I don't tie a trap to dropper off my spinnerbait. 

[Fishin' Fool]

27 minutes ago, J Francho said:

How do you know what hookset to use? I mean, you'd have to know what bait it took. It's the same reason I don't tie a trap to dropper off my spinnerbait. 

 

You don't need a big hook set on 15 pound braid to a 7 pound fluoro leader anyway. Just a reel set or lean back into it. If you've never tried it before it's worth a shot. 

[J Francho]

I tried it over a decade ago with a small jig or a tube.  It wasn't great, lots of hang ups and lost fish, and a bajillion bites from gobies.  I don't use braid unless I'm very shallow, and in weeds.  Whet ever you use for a weight will always pick up a bunch of slime, which is another reason to keep the bait off the bottom.  

[Jigfishn10]

Can't agree more, the bottom lure and/or weight picks up way too much slime come late spring early summer.

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Can't agree more, the bottom lure and/or weight picks up way too much slime come late spring early summer.

It's really the reason tubes fell out of favor.  Used to be the jam back in 90s.  For whatever reason, the changes in the environment caused changes in the way we fish.

[Jigfishn10]

23 minutes ago, J Francho said:

It's really the reason tubes fell out of favor.  Used to be the jam back in 90s.  For whatever reason, the changes in the environment caused changes in the way we fish.

Can't tell ya how many bags of tubes I have from the 90's. Not gonna lie, love to fish them.

[Fishin' Fool]

12 hours ago, J Francho said:

I tried it over a decade ago with a small jig or a tube.  It wasn't great, lots of hang ups and lost fish, and a bajillion bites from gobies.  I don't use braid unless I'm very shallow, and in weeds.  Whet ever you use for a weight will always pick up a bunch of slime, which is another reason to keep the bait off the bottom.  

 

Have you ever tried a stupid tube rig? I use more of either a TRD worm or the Zman Trd tube on the bottom. I don't always do it and agree it tough to fish whenever the weeds are thick in the summer. Its pretty good from the spring to early summer.

[J Francho]

We're specifically talking about  alternative weights for drop shot, not alternative baits, but yes, I've fished a tube jig rigged weedless.  Tubes are not really my thing anymore.  I'm sure they work, but after using 43,257 different baits and rigs, I settled on a dozen or so that almost always work and cover most situations I encounter.