Drop shot

[GoneFishingLTN]

New to drop shots I know all about the set up but having trouble seeing on my graph. I’ll break down all the details I can think of below. 

I’m in 20 foot of water so I am deep enough, I drop the bait slightly behind the bow to the left and the right. I’m running carbons with the sensitivity bumped up to a+4. 

Do I have to have the arrow of the trolling motor facing forward?

also I’m on a tin boat and do get blown around quite a a bit is there any tips for this when drop shooting  like  where and when to drop it?

what could my issue be?

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

New to drop shots I know all about the set up but having trouble seeing on my graph. I’ll break down all the details I can think of below. 

I’m in 20 foot of water so I am deep enough, I drop the bait slightly behind the bow to the left and the right. I’m running carbons with the sensitivity bumped up to a+4. 

Do I have to have the arrow of the trolling motor facing forward?

also I’m on a tin boat and do get blown around quite a a bit is there any tips for this when drop shooting  like  where and when to drop it?

what could my issue be?

I have old school graphs so on windy days I can only see if for a second or two before it exits the cone angle. . On calm days I just drop it right next to the trolling motor and can see it easily . You don’t have to be able to see the bait on the screen to catch the bass. Just keep the Sinker on the bottom most of the time or count it down (or back up) for suspended fish 

[WRB]

You see the fish not the soft plastic and 1/8 oz weight is on the bottom. Try a structure spoon it shows on sonar. 

Tom 

[GoneFishingLTN]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

You see the fish not the soft plastic and 1/8 oz weight is on the bottom. Try a structure spoon it shows on sonar. 

Tom 

Really I always thought you drop down to the fish and jig the lure watching how the fish reacted . The drop shot is a little different as you don't really want to move the weight and just the bait but I still thought you watched the lure go down and then seen if it was close to the fish 

[Glenn]

Shake the bait, not the weight.  Even then, shaking is often too much movement.  Here's a video on how to do it:

 

 

[00bullitt]

The technique is called "dropping in" on fish. You can see the bait on 2D sonar, but the movement is too subtle for it to see, but Livescope, Active Target and now MegaLive all see it in real time which is a whole other ball game.

 

Don't get hung up only fishing the drop shot that way.....fish it like a carolina rig, but drag it slowly a few feet and just sorta shake it/vibrate it in place for a few seconds. I fish longer worms (Zoom Trick, Xzone Deception, Netbait Tmac) on an Owner 3/0 Cover Shot hook when fishing that way.

When I drop in, I am typically nose hooking small 3-3.5" baits (Zman Trick Shotz, Zoom Zdrop) on an Owner #2 Sniper Finesse hook.

[A-Jay]

28 minutes ago, 00bullitt said:

The technique is called "dropping in" on fish. You can see the bait on 2D sonar, but the movement is too subtle for it to see, but Livescope, Active Target and now MegaLive all see it in real time which is a whole other ball game.

 

Don't get hung up only fishing the drop shot that way.....fish it like a carolina rig, but drag it slowly a few feet and just sorta shake it/vibrate it in place for a few seconds. I fish longer worms (Zoom Trick, Xzone Deception, Netbait Tmac) on an Owner 3/0 Cover Shot hook when fishing that way.

When I drop in, I am typically nose hooking small 3-3.5" baits (Zman Trick Shotz, Zoom Zdrop) on an Owner #2 Sniper Finesse hook.

Agreed ~

In fact I very rarely fish a drop shot vertically, regardless of depth.

A long cast 'to' whatever I'm targeting, gets me way more bites than sitting on top of them.

Working the trolling motor right over their heads doesn't seem to help either.

So if I can sit off them without detection, seems the stouter fish are much more willing to bite.

btw, if you're looking to use a drop shot to 'cover' a little water, whatever you do, do not nose hook a little swimbait on a drop shot.

Might get your arm broke.

Fish Hard

A-Jay 

[TOXIC]

There’s so many ways to fish a dropshot, don’t get hung up on just 1.  Even with a vertical presentation like you are describing, I don’t try to target individual fish, I look for them on the sonar and cast to them or drop to them.  With the advancements in electronics, I can appreciate the new level of thrill being able to watch the fish actually come to and strike the bait (ice fishermen have been doing it for years) but luckily that bug hasn’t bit me yet because it’s gonna get real expensive if it does.  

[Big Hands]

On 6/12/2021 at 6:19 AM, A-Jay said:

Agreed ~

In fact I very rarely fish a drop shot vertically, regardless of depth.

A long cast 'to' whatever I'm targeting, gets me way more bites than sitting on top of them.

Working the trolling motor right over their heads doesn't seem to help either.

So if I can sit off them without detection, seems the stouter fish are much more willing to bite.

btw, if you're looking to use a drop shot to 'cover' a little water, whatever you do, do not nose hook a little swimbait on a drop shot.

Might get your arm broke.

Fish Hard

A-Jay 

a) Yep, and b) thaaaat would be terrrrrrible,

[00bullitt]

I will also mention that while most only use spinning rods for Dropshotting, I use a baitcaster often. I still always have 1 and sometimes 2 spinning rods rigged up for a drop shot, but there are days when I want to use a heavier than 1/4oz. weight and will prefer a baitcasting setup. I use my jerkbait rod as it is set up perfectly; its a 6'8" Med Action X Fast Tip, with an 8.3:1 reel and 10# Tatsu. 

I rig up a 2/0 offset shank Gamakatsu or an Owner 3/0 CoverShot (they are basically the same size). The Gama has a slightly wider bend than the CoverShot. I use the cover shot more on a spinning rod when I am trying to be more finesse. I use bigger works on the baitcast setup.

While I grew up on a Carolina Rig and have caught a bazillion fish on it, the Drop Shot has all but replaced it for me and I use it much the same and then some.

 

As far as Live Sonar goes, it may not be for everyone. I don't stare at it and watch the fish bite. I use it to eliminate water and understand behavior. Its just another tool in the tool box.

I can now pull up to a spot and determine if fish are on it without having to drive over it. I can determine if the fish are interested in a given lure or presentation. Its a time saver, which in turn translates to more fish in the boat due to efficiency and better understanding. It does not catch the fish for me.

 

I will say, in the 40 years I have been fishing, its the best investment I have ever made in fishing.