Have you ever tried Carolina rigging or drop shotting in a river?

[Ohioguy25]

Do you find they produce when the bite is tough? I’ve noticed the Ned rig isn’t producing the quality it used to. I started throwing tubes but I’m wondering if a Carolina rigged fluke or craw or drop shot might be productive for the simple fact that it is something they rarely if ever see or if there are any reasons why these presentations don’t lend themselves to moving water?

[IcatchDinks]

Bouncing a dropshot rig through the current is my favorite way to fish it. My first fish of the year came on a river dropshot. It could be that secret sauce when the bite is tough. 

[MIbassyaker]

32 minutes ago, IcatchDinks said:

Bouncing a dropshot rig through the current is my favorite way to fish it. My first fish of the year came on a river dropshot. It could be that secret sauce when the bite is tough. 

 

Friendly heads-up: Drop-shotting isn't legal in rivers and streams in MI:

 

"Drop-Shotting: The practice of having a weight suspended below a single-pointed hook that is tied directly to the main fishing line is lawful on inland lakes, drowned river mouths (see p. 18), Great Lakes and Great Lakes Connecting Waters only. This gear may not be used on rivers or streams." (p. 10)

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/LED/digests/2024_fishing_guide.pdf?rev=49da29dcbc97409aafc8427f19fc0943

 

My understanding is that this is to protect salmon and steelhead from snagging during their spawning runs.  

[Bazoo]

I've been learning to Carolina Rig some on the Nolin River. I haven't had stellar success, but some. I've lost a dozen rigs for these 3 fish caught.

 

BPS Hellgramite.

 

Zoom Trick Worm

 

YUM FF Sonar Minnow

[IcatchDinks]

10 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

Friendly heads-up: Drop-shotting isn't legal in rivers and streams in MI:

 

"Drop-Shotting: The practice of having a weight suspended below a single-pointed hook that is tied directly to the main fishing line is lawful on inland lakes, drowned river mouths (see p. 18), Great Lakes and Great Lakes Connecting Waters only. This gear may not be used on rivers or streams." (p. 10)

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/LED/digests/2024_fishing_guide.pdf?rev=49da29dcbc97409aafc8427f19fc0943

 

My understanding is that this is to protect salmon and steelhead from snagging during their spawning runs.  

Holy smokes, I totally missed that in that pdf the DNR gives you with your license. Super thanks for pointing that out. 

[RRocket]

When I'm drifting while working a chatterbait or other technique, I'll have a drop shot thrown off the back in a rod holder just letting it do its thing. Complete deadstick.

 

It's rare that I don't get a fish during a pass.

[TnRiver46]

I’ve done lots of both, they work well but both are snaggy. I much prefer the soft plastics on a jig head for rivers but a change of pace can be good. Since Carolina rig takes forever to retie I use pinch on bullet weights when I know I’m going to be losing them. They are called bull shot

 

my problem with the drop shot is usually current twisting the rig but it will catch them. I need to rig it weedless more often but I just love the small nose hook 

[Bazoo]

I don't make a true Carolina Rig. I use an egg sinker and a small split shot to keep it up the line. I wrap the line around the body and through the mouth 2-3 times before pinching it. Often times if it snags, it'll run down to the hook anyways.

 

It's not perfect, but I lose a them more than I catch because I am fishing in the white water and boulders around a dam most of the time.

 

Mostly I just started experimenting with it to see how it'd work in the river since someone told me it wasn't a river fishing lure.

[JackstrawIII]

I dropshot in the local river for walleye. Works great. Heavier current needs heavier weights. 

[RRocket]

22 minutes ago, JackstrawIII said:

I dropshot in the local river for walleye. Works great. Heavier current needs heavier weights. 

Excellent point.

 

Dropshot for walleye has become big in the last few years and those guys are always on rivers with current.

[33oldtimer]

Not long ago a guy told me he catches lots of nice smallmouth out of our local river with a split shot rigged tube. Split shot rig is just a mini Carolina Rig. I've got a rod rigged up and ready to try it. 

[Munkin]

Carolina rig gets snagged too much and I can't keep sunfish off a drop shot bait.

 

Allen