Still don't get this dropshot thing

[Guest avid]

Ok, I realize that Florida is not the dropshot capital of bassAmerica, but there are situations where I'm pretty sure it would work. I need a little more info please.

1. Is dropshoting basically a vertical presentation?

2. Do you essentially leave the bait in one spot with some shaking etc.?

3. Is their a proven "retrieve style" of dropshotting

4. How compatible is dropshoting to weedy cover conditons.

I understand that versatility and creativity are keys to fishing success, but at this stage I'm looking strictly for the convential wisdom one would give to a beginner.

thank you

avid.

[jdw174]

Not necessarily a totally vertical presentation. It can be cast out and retrieved just like a T-rig if you want.  That said, a near-vertical presentation is, IMO, optimum for a dropshot rig.  I like working them down points or drops, stopping each time I move it to shake it around a bit.

[Chris]

It is a way to keep the lure off the bottom and suspended. This would be a good way to fish areas that have a thick weed bottom and you want the bait to stay on top. Try a 6" redshad worm rigged Texas style and just drag the worm and let it swim while staying in contact with the weeds. You can also pitch it into small openings in the grass and let the worm free fall then pick it up till you feel the weight and shake it and let it fall back. It also is a jam up way to bed fish or when you want to fish vertical cover like pad stems or cat tails. You can also use it like a Carolina rig. I mainly just pitch it to a spot or cast it, let it fall, pick it up shake it or drag it, then let it fall again. You can also just bring the lure up and just shake it in a spot like in a bush and dance it around waiting for a bass to take it.

[RoLo]

I wish I could help you Avid, but I live in Florida too.

I always thought that "Drop Shot" was the bartender's cue to cut-me-off  

[Alpster]

Avid,

This is the way we always fished shrimp and cutbait for catfish when I was a kid. It just kept the natural (but dead) bait from getting lost in the silt or grass on the bottom. I started fishing plastic worms this way 25 years ago. I only learned it was called drop shotting a couple of years ago. I's no more than a way to suspend a bait 6", 10", 12" or 18" above the bottom. The action you impart to it (just like any other soft plastic) is up to you. It is my favorite dead sticking technique. I hope this helps.

Ronnie

[Catt]

No way Ronnie it was recently invented in California for fishing deep water; that would be like me saying I fished Carolina Rigs with live shrimp or live cocaho minnow  in salt water when we all known it came from Carolina and was invented for bass fishing.

avid like any technique you can vary the retrieve to suit the water you're fishing, I cast a drop shot and slowly drag it back to the boat while sitting on main lake structure.  

[Alpster]

No way Ronnie it was recently invented in California for fishing deep water;

Catt,

I wasn't at all trying to take credit for inventing the technique, all I was saying is that I had done something similar more by accident than anything, and only to try to answer Avid's question about what it looks like when I do it. I think your example of live lineing with minnows was a good one as a comparison to what Carolina rigging looks like. Didn't mean to tread on anyone, SORRY.

Ronnie

[Catt]

what I meant is that the drop shot and Carolina rig are long time salt water techniques  8-)

[RoLo]

I wasn't at all trying to take credit for inventing the technique, all I was saying is that I had done something similar more by accident than anything, and only to try to answer Avid's question about what it looks like when I do it. I think your example of live lineing with minnows was a good one as a comparison to what Carolina rigging looks like. Didn't mean to tread on anyone, SORRY

.

Ronnie, you tread on no one.

The advent of most techniques is nebulous and without any defined line.

We as anglers merely refer to some common "sticky", just so we're both on the same page.

No one really knows when or who invented most of these ancient techniques, and who cares?

In my opinion, drop-shotting is older than me, and IMO I was fishing "swimbaits" long before the sticky.

Roger

[Guest whittler]

When I was a youngster, many years ago, my grandfather and most of the guys on his lake were using drop-shot, they just did'nt know it. Then they simply attached some small aberdeen hooks on a cane pole with a large split shot on the bottom, bait with a minnow or worm and they were ready.

Had they only known they had to have a special drop-shot rod, drop-shot reel, drop-shot sinkers, drop-shot plastics, drop-shot line and of course a drop-shot hat they would have given up fishing entirely.

Any time a major tackle company needs more sales they just have one of their pros introduce a "NEW"

system. Only the tackle is different, the technique is the same.

[Alpster]

Catt,

what I meant is that the drop shot and Carolina rig are long time salt water techniques  8-)

That's what I meant also.

Roger,

Yep, it's funny how the circle always seems to wind up where it started.

Had they only known they had to have a special drop-shot rod, drop-shot reel, drop-shot sinkers, drop-shot plastics, drop-shot line and of course a drop-shot hat they would have given up fishing entirely.

Now I wish I had thought of the "Drop Shot Hat". That would have been a money maker right there. LOL  ;D

Ronnie

[Tucson]

What! No dropshot hat! How did they get by?

Real valid thought though. I sometimes wonder if we put too fine a point on our equipment needs.

By the way, Victoria's Secret now carries a dropshot bra and panty set, just in time for the Christmas season too.

[RoLo]

By the way, Victoria's Secret now carries a dropshot bra and panty set, just in time for the Christmas season too.

[fishbear]

What!  No dropshot hat!  How did they get by?  

Real valid thought though. I sometimes wonder if we put too fine a point on our equipment needs.  

By the way, Victoria's Secret now carries a dropshot bra and panty set, just in time for the Christmas season too.  

Bought the leopard print ones for my wife.....   ;D

[cwen]

I learned to fish the d-shot a miriad of ways this year. It is very versitaile. You can fish it vertically, pitch it, skip it under docks. It can be used with light line or on 7 ft. H rods with heavy line.

[Guest avid]

Well thanks y'all.  I'll give it a try once I can back into the canoe.

I saw Shakira in the the Vicotrias Secret ad for drop shot collection.

Unfortunately I shot my drop way short of the honey hole.  

[FIN-S-R]

Well thanks y'all. I'll give it a try once I can back into the canoe.

I saw Shakira in the the Vicotrias Secret ad for drop shot collection.

Unfortunately I shot my drop way short of the honey hole.

How did you get away with that, they always junk my good posts ;D ;D ;D

Anyway, the Drop Shot:

Cast it, Fishing it vertically is really somthing to do using your electronics after youve buffed up on the "general use" stuff

Fish it with your rod, not your reel.

I have found that I do best on a drop shot when I attempt to "feel" what is on the bottum with it (this bit of wit might make it under the radar ;D)

What I mean by that is try to identify wether your encountering rock, sand, mud, a combo, or grass , or wood, or whatever.

The fish will hook itself so dont hammer back on it.

It can be fished from 1ft to 100ft of H2O

I typically rig skin hooked t-rig style on a 1 owner wide gap for weedlessness (is weedlessness a word)

no matter what type of bottum or cover your fishing, a long skinny weight will keep you snag free the best.

[Rattlinrogue]

Although I use a vertical presentation in certain situations,I mainly cast and use an ultra slow horizontal retreive.I catch 'em both ways.I never dreamed that I'd use the drop shot way down here in grassy,woody MS,but it is a great technique when they won't touch it anyway else.It's one of my favorite ways to fish.

[Guest avid]

Thanks for the dropshot tip.  As for the "other thing"  I find that if I think to myself "How can I word this so if a guy is reading the post with his kid, he can explain it in a kid friendly way " works best for passing the moderator guillotine.  Sometimes I too get the axe.  

[earthworm77]

Avid, I live in Florida and do well with a D/S rig. Do you have a VHS? I can lend you a great video. I also wrote a few D/S articles for the site, one talks specifically about how to make the D/S a horizontal presentation for shallow water. If you can't find it, pm me and I'll email it to you. PM me your address for the video.....then I'll teach you how to float n fly!

[Guest avid]

Thaks for the offer earthworm.  My VHS ate a tape and died a horrible death about 2 years ago.  I never bothered to get another one because of DVD.

I will check out those articles though.

My home lake is very weedy with a soft bottom.  I think a dropshot could be a real fish catcher.

[jomatty]

the thing that got me to start catching more fish on a drop shot was when i started to think of it differently than a t-rig or other things that im used to fishing.  when i fish it i think of the weight like an anchor and try to keep it in one place while shaking and lowering the worm.  then i pick it up and move to new spot let it fall and "anchor" again, rinse and repeat.

i caught some fish dragging it around like a t-rig but for me this was more productive.  i like nose hooking small roboworms.  although im almost always casting it i have the best success on short to medium length casts from the boat in at least 5-6 ft of water.  im certainly not saying that it cant work with long casts in shallow water this is ideal for me because when you make a long cast in shallow water it flattens the presentation out so much that its not as effective imo.

just my opinion on it and im certainly no dropshot expert,

matt

[pete s]

avid,in fla you have a big problem drop shoting because of the aquatic grass invasion problem in the lakes in fla. check my drop shot idea in tackle section it may help. dosnt seem to hang up as bad as the commerially available weight systems. most items already in your tackle box. but,the better question is are you fishing the carolina rig? tends to catch legal fish better.(especially with a lizard on) but,you probably already know that.  the key ingredient in fla is deeper,clearer waters .

[Guest avid]

I have fished the c-rig and it does work.  But I rarely fish it.

I think it's a boring way to fish.  If I was going to fish that patiently I would get some shiners.  That's why  I asked about retrieve methods for the dropshot.  If it was a simple vertical presentation method I doubt if I would use it.

I was thinking of using a zoom finesse worm as my starter bait.  What would be a good hook design for dropshotting that bait?

thanks

avid.

[pete s]

avid,in fla you need to bury the hook and skin hook a small light wire ewg type of hook. cant get away with exposed hooks in fla(too much grass). more importantly,this is a light line type of situation(flourocarbon???);and you cant set the hook like you have been doing with this light line. bass here tend to like 8-12 ft comfort zone in our clear lakes with submergence grasses.  also,3/16 weight seems to be about right for that depth with a 4 or 5 in worm(8lb line).