Drop Shotting

[KevO]

I have never used the drop shot technique before but I would like to add it to my arsenal this year.  So I have a few questions.

What is the correct way to rig it?  Do I use a 3 way swivel? or some kind of special knot?

What kind of weights do I use?  Bell sinker or something else?  What size do you recommend?  1/8, 1/4, 1/2 oz?

What kind of line should I use Flouro, Mono, or Braid?

What baits should I use?  Senkos, lizards, flukes?

I think thats all for now... If I'm missing somethings please feel free to fill me in.

[Alpster]

Here's a few articles from this site to help you........

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/drop_shot_bass_fish.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot_fish.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/drop_shot_bassfish_2.html

Ronnie

[Hooked_On_Bass]

You might also be interested in the following:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/drop-shot.html

(Check out the links at the bottom)

http://www.***.com/guides/dropshot.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Fish-a-Drop-Shot-Rig

[David P]

I have never used the drop shot technique before but I would like to add it to my arsenal this year.  So I have a few questions.

What is the correct way to rig it?  Do I use a 3 way swivel? or some kind of special knot?

What kind of weights do I use?  Bell sinker or something else?  What size do you recommend?  1/8, 1/4, 1/2 oz?

What kind of line should I use Flouro, Mono, or Braid?

What baits should I use?  Senkos, lizards, flukes?

I'm sure one of the links that someone posted shows the proper way to tie it up, no swivel needed at all, you're tying the hook directly.

I think thats all for now... If I'm missing somethings please feel free to fill me in.

I like to use a Mojo drop shot weight in 1/4oz. If it's very windy I use up to a 1/2oz.

I use Cuda or Pline Cx line in 6 or 8lb.

ROBOWORMS! 4 and 6" robo worms work GREAT for drop shotting. Great action.

[KevO]

thanks for the help guys.  I hope I can use it soon, it was 75* yesterday, then the tornados and cold front came through so I will have to wait a little while to fish again.

[burleytog]

For basic and experimental purposes...

Owner Mosquito hook size 1

1/4 oz. casting sinker (the ones with the brass loop)

plastic (Zoom finesse worm, Roboworm, Zoom Tiny Fluke, etc.)

Tie a palomar knot, leave 15-20" of extra line (the tag end).  When tying the knot, pass the line from the front of the hook to the back.  Once the knot is cinched, pass that tag end back through the front of the eye, that will let the hook 'stand up' on the line.

Tie the casting sinker onto the tag end with a double knot, simple clinch, etc.  You want at least 12" of space between the hook and the weight.

Nose hook the plastic and fish away.

[.ghoti.]

I don't use the drop shot rig very often, but when I do, it's just as Burley does, with one addtion. I add a good swivel about a foot up from the hook. The drop shot rig is the worst line twister ever.

If you're going to do this a lot, the Stand Out drop shot hook is an easier way to go.

Cheers,

GK

[detroit1]

First tried (and liked) mosquito hooks, then the "standouts", and got tired of my line catching on the standout hook. Now it's back to the mosquito hook,  8-) and will use it almost every time i go out. (fishing, that is)  ;D ;D beat you wiseguys to it.

[Triton_Mike]

Awesome technique for fishing both deep and shallow and a very very good panic bait rig to when all else fails.  

In edition to the great articles mentioned above here is one I personally wrote a few years ago.  

http://www.tritonmike.com/flattail.html

[smallieking]

ok i fish the drop shot alot!!! first the way to stand out the hook is to tie on a finess hook. use a clinch knot but leave yourself alot of extra tag line once completed run the tag line through the eye of the hook from the point side down so it stands up   then with the tag line tie on your dropshot weight  i like 1/4ounce for most places but when im fishing deep water shore structure i use 1-2 ounce weight    i use mono most of the time but ocassionally will switch to fluoro if they are not biting very well.  and finally the lure. my favorite is the strike kine 3x finess worm 4 inch   but other favorites are a wave worm paddle tail bait and a robo worm    

[Joel W]

The Drop Shot is my favorite presentation. It's just deadly fished around isolated brush, and cover. I keep it pretty simple, a spinning setup with a Med 6'6" rod with a fast tip. My line of choice is 8lb Sufix Elite with to a barrel swivel. I pre-tie up my rigs using a 1/0 Gami Drop Shot hook tied with a Palomar knot and the tag end goes through the hook eye front to back a 2nd time. This will make the hook stand out. I vary the length of the tag end from 6 inches to 3 ft with 18 inches being the norm. I usually use a 1/4 oz drop shot weight, but for deeper water or windy conditions I'll up the weight till I can feel the bottom.

As some one already said, a DS rig is the king of line twist, and that's the other reason why I use a good barrel swivel.

My standard go to lure is a 4 3/4 inch Zoom Finesse worm in Green Pumpkin or Green Watermelon with black flake.

[RobbyZ5001]

I dont understand how you guys are tying this up. I know how to do the palomar knot. I am a visual learner I guess. Do you tie a palomar knot and then tie another palomar knot with the line below the hook?

[Joel W]

I dont understand how you guys are tying this up. I know how to do the palomar knot. I am a visual learner I guess. Do you tie a palomar knot and then tie another palomar knot with the line below the hook?

When you tie the Palomar knot leave an additional 18 inches of line on the tag end. After you tie the knot which should be made by threading the line from the front of the eye, take the tag end and again go through the front of the hook eye and out the back, then pull it tight. It will do two things, 1st the knot will be right up tight to the eye, and 2nd it will force the hook to stand out horizontally.

Practice this and you'll get the hang of it. Also try a Google search for a visual presentation of the knot. Just add 18 inches more to the tag end.