The drop shot

[Blackpolar2021]

Are there any dropshot users here in MN? If so, is it producing? I'm just curious. I've tried it a few times this year with no success.

[MN Fisher]

Several reports on Omnia shows catches with drop-shots on Minnetonka. I'm planning on rigging up for it this coming week along with my Ned that's been producing for me...ya, I got two finesse rigs.

[gim]

Nope, no drop shots for me.  I'll use a ned or a finesse t-rig, but I'm done drop shotting.  Its like watching paint dry.

[Blackpolar2021]

Ok. I don't get out to Minnetonka to often. I should try some Ned rigging myself. I have the stuff but have never tried it. Not sure what a finesse t-rig is Gimruis.

[gim]

6 minutes ago, Blackpolar2021 said:

Not sure what a finesse t-rig is Gimruis.

Like a texas rigged plastic.  Fished slowly through or around weeds.

 

I have done ok recently with a neko rig.  Its a wacky rigged stick bait with a nail weight in the end of it.  Increases the fall rate.  A very established weed line is now in place and that's where I fish it.  You could also skip it around/under docks but right now I just use a wacky rig or a tube instead without a weight since its not very deep under the docks.

 

I see your favorite lakes are northeast metro.  Where are you located @Blackpolar2021?

[Blackpolar2021]

Thank you sir. I do know the neko rig. Have never used it but know of it. It's just so weird. I caught my PB largemouth (3lbs 5oz) a few weeks ago fishing for crappie. I had a gulp minnow on a 1/32 oz jig with a rocket bobber. I have 3 baitcasters, Texas rig on one, swivel on another to change between topwater or swimbait, chatter, whatever and a bfs setup. None produce like my plain ol spinning reel.

[MN Fisher]

2 hours ago, Blackpolar2021 said:

Not sure what a finesse t-rig is Gimruis.

For me, a finesse T-Rig is a light jig with an off-set hook and a Zoom Finesse Worm...slowly drag it along the bottom and through the weeds.

Runs 3/32oz to 1/4 oz

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_Offset_Hook_Finesse_Jig_Head_4pk/descpage-GOHF.html

[Glenn]

This should help:

 

[Fishin Dad]

7 hours ago, Blackpolar2021 said:

Are there any dropshot users here in MN? If so, is it producing? I'm just curious. I've tried it a few times this year with no success.

Drop shot is amazing in Minnesota.  When I take my wife and kids fishing, it is usually a drop shot, sometimes a Ned rig.  I love drop shot for them.  It helps them keep the depth correct and they can leave it or move it and it works.  I don’t love fishing it , but sometimes, like right now it can be necessary.   The weeds have recently died and are laying on the bottom rotting.  A drop shot keeps your bait up and out of that garbage.  Wife and I just hammered them this morning on the drop shot.  I also threw a football jig, Ned, Texas rig.   All a pain in the weedy rear end.  Drop shot was the ticket.  

[Pogues2300]

9 hours ago, gimruis said:

Nope, no drop shots for me.  I'll use a ned or a finesse t-rig, but I'm done drop shotting.  Its like watching paint dry.

Just curious how ned rig is more exciting or do you just mean you have success with that versus drop shot?

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Pogues2300 said:

Just curious how ned rig is more exciting or do you just mean you have success with that versus drop shot?

Drop-shot - toss it out and LEAVE IT ALONE - kinda like bobber fishing...you stare at your line instead of the bobber.

Ned/Finesse jig - slowly work it back...at least you're doing something besides sitting and watching.

 

Gim is young yet...still hasn't learned patience.

 

 

 

[Pogues2300]

I actually work a drop shot differently. I’ll hop it back, let it sit, hop it back again. I experiment with the cadence and as what works. Thanks for the response. I’m always trying to learn and this site has been helpful. 

[gim]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Drop-shot - toss it out and LEAVE IT ALONE - kinda like bobber fishing...you stare at your line instead of the bobber.

Ned/Finesse jig - slowly work it back...at least you're doing something besides sitting and watching.

That is exactly how I would describe it. They are both ultra finesse applications but with a Ned you can actually move it and hop it. Drop shot basically sits there like a bobber.

 

[Deephaven]

I've never caught a bass on a drop shot.  Of course I've hardly tried.  It's like ice fishing.  Screw that.

[Captain Phil]

9 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

I've never caught a bass on a drop shot.  Of course I've hardly tried.  It's like ice fishing.  Screw that.

 

I have never caught a bass on a drop shot.  I have never been ice fishing either.  When the drop shot came out, I tried it.  It was so boring, more like bottom fishing for catfish than bass fishing.  I can see how it would work for kids or beginners.  I suppose if you fish in a gin clear deep water Northern lake, it may be an option.  If I did, I would fish for big pike instead.

[Fishin Dad]

10 hours ago, Pogues2300 said:

I actually work a drop shot differently. I’ll hop it back, let it sit, hop it back again. I experiment with the cadence and as what works. Thanks for the response. I’m always trying to learn and this site has been helpful. 

 

9 hours ago, gimruis said:

That is exactly how I would describe it. They are both ultra finesse applications but with a Ned you can actually move it and hop it. Drop shot basically sits there like a bobber.

 

I must work a drop shot different like Pogues describes.   I always have contact with the bait, nothing like bobber fishing.  I cast it out, tighten up, and reel a little bit, shake it a little, reel some more, pop it, etc.   I feel it is more like Texas rig fishing off the bottom.  There are days when they want it sitting more still, and you can do that while keeping it off the bottom.  I would also rather chunk and wind a chatter or flip/skip a jig and jack em, but the drop shot is unreal when you need it and not that boring to me.  Keeping a bait suspended in the strike zone is amazing!!

[Mike L]

Looking down at a screen all day, holding a light spinning rod with 6# line waiting for 1# fish to come swimming by so I can jiggle a 3” worm in it’s face….

 

Nope, That’s not me

 

 

 

 

Mike

[TOXIC]

There’s a whole lotta different ways to fish a dropshot.  Not just vertical.  One of my favorite ways to fish. You can jig it, vertically drop it, cast and retrieve it, suspend it in different water column depths, bed fish with it, drag it drift fishing, it’s always a top producer when we go up north.  

[TOXIC]

Just to add a little update, I just read an article in Wired to Fish that every angler in the top 10 fishing the MLF tournament on St Clair used a drop shot on a spinning rod as their main bait.  ???

[WRB]

My trips to MN and Canada started in the early 70’s to meet my in-laws and do some fishing. Musky was my #1 goal buy my in-laws were Walleye anglers, so we did a lot of dragging minnows in jigs. 

When my father in law had enough confidence in my ability to run a boat and find my way home I started Musky fishing alone and doing some bass fishing. I soon learned my hand poured western soft plastic worms worked better the minnows for walleyes using a split shot rig and lots of Smallmouths on the same reefs.

The next year I brought more finesse worms and shipped a spinning outfit to Canada. Back then a spinning reel-rod was considered kids tackle not suited for fishing. I also brought a medium fast Phenix rod  with Abu 2500C reel with 8# Max UG line as a gift for my farther in-law who reluctantly accepted it and learned to really like it after 1 outing.

I rigged a drop shot and motor oil w/red flake Smitty worm and started catching bigger and more walleyes then the Minnow anglers. 

Fast forward a few years and the drop shot with soft hand poured finesse worms or minnows became my in-laws bread and butter technique.

So yes drop shot works everywhere, when you know fish are located where you fish.

Tom

[Pogues2300]

21 minutes ago, WRB said:

My trips to MN and Canada started in the early 70’s to meet my in-laws and do some fishing. Musky was my #1 goal buy my in-laws were Walleye anglers, so we did a lot of dragging minnows in jigs. 

When my father in law had enough confidence in my ability to run a boat and find my way home I started Musky fishing alone and doing some bass fishing. I soon learned my hand poured western soft plastic worms worked better the minnows for walleyes using a split shot rig and lots of Smallmouths on the same reefs.

The next year I brought more finesse worms and shipped a spinning outfit to Canada. Back then a spinning reel-rod was considered kids tackle not suited for fishing. I also brought a medium fast Phenix rod  with Abu 2500C reel with 8# Max UG line as a gift for my farther in-law who reluctantly accepted it and learned to really like it after 1 outing.

I rigged a drop shot and motor oil w/red flake Smitty worm and started catching bigger and more walleyes then the Minnow anglers. 

Fast forward a few years and the drop shot with soft hand poured finesse worms or minnows became my in-laws bread and butter technique.

So yes drop shot works everywhere, when you know fish are located where you fish.

Tom

I’ve fished Minnesota for 45 years. My grandpa taught me how to fish so naturally I used his techniques to start. Minnows, lots of Lindy rigged leeches and worm harnesses. I’ve also fished drop shot and caught some as I ventured off and learned more. Your sample size seems pretty small to what I’m interpreting you are saying your way was superior. You did show the fish something different and that certainly can help but I’ve caught way more Minnesota walleye using live bait than artificial. I absolutely could be misinterpreting you though. Happy fourth all!!

[WRB]

Drop shot in MN 45 years ago was more then likely unknown.

The idea of tying a hook directly on monofilament line was thought to be ridiculous, you should use a dropper rig with at least a 4” loop was the consensus of local opinion.

My in-laws wouldn’t leave the book without a bucket of minnows! The thought of using a drop shot rig with soft plastics was absurd to my in-laws who are ( were) native Minnesotans. Being from California only added to their disbelief such a rig would work in their lakes.

Drop Shot works but like everything thing else with finesse fishing it takes skill that must be learned with time on the water. Drop shot is over fished by nearly everyone starting out because we are use to adding “action” to our lure presentations. Drop shot is very similar to Senko fishing, less action imparted the better it works. Sonar fish finders was another gadget that Minnesota wanted to ban. I sent my Lowrance 1510 paper graph to MN and that also raised eyebrows. If you drop shot sonar eliminates a lot of unproductive water, giving you confidence fish are located where you are fishing.

Going from Dacron braid line to light monofilament line was a big step for my in-laws 50 years ago. Today spinning and finesse is common and accepted nearly everywhere.

Didn’t say hand pour soft plastics always out fish live minnows, some days it does.

Tom

[gim]

6 hours ago, Pogues2300 said:

You did show the fish something different and that certainly can help but I’ve caught way more Minnesota walleye using live bait than artificial.

I have too. But it’s very likely because I used live bait more often too. If I applied my bass techniques to walleye fishing nowadays I could catch walleyes that route. Especially in smallmouth waters with jerk baits.

 

The problem is that I really have almost no interest in specifically targeting them anymore. They’re like wet socks when hooked.