Drop Shot - Usable from the bank?

[BassFishingMachine]

Hey, I never tryed the drop shot rig, but it seems to me like a rig that works best from a boat, because you can work the bait directly up and down, while on the bank you wouldn't be able to do this.

So my question to you, is do any of you fish the drop shot rig from the bank, or is it only good when fishing from a boat?

[Crestliner2008]

The drop shot rig can be used from the bank. The problem you run into is snagging the sinker. If you go with a pencil weight, you should be O.K. though. Just use the lightest sinker you can get away with; 1/16 oz. - 1/4 oz. tops. Just enough to keep bottom contact. Try 8# test line for starters (I'd recommend a quality fluorocarbon line). You may have to go down to 6# test if the bites are not forth coming.

Lot's of folks cast this rig, even from a boat. However, I fish it vertically most of the time, because I'm fishing deep water (25' - 35') humps and targeting roaming bass. I lock on a school of bait (using my sonar) and anchor. The fish keep coming around and around to the same spot. I do cast it when fishing shallower water in the spring and fall.

From the shore, you need to select a good ambush point, with direct deep water access. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

[J Francho]

It almost tailor made for bank fishing.  When throwing from the bank, it depends on the cover, and what you are trying to do with the bait.  if you are throwing into heavy cover, then use heavier line and gear.  If I want to keep the bait in place, while adding gentle action, then you might want to go up to a heavier drop weight, like 3/8 or 1/2 oz.  I'll go up to 1 oz. to cannon ball pads, and down to 1/8 oz. to "bottom bounce" along in current.

[Infidel.]

It is a great way to present a bait from the shore.  Just keep in mind that even though your bait may be tied 12" up from the sinker, it may only be a couple of inches up off the bottom.  Which is fine, but I have a buddy that will use a 2-3' leader to keep it up off the bottom on long casts into shallow water.

[BassinBoy]

I did great dropshotting at farm ponds last year.  I drop shotted a trick worm and caught dozens of bass along with one of my biggest of the year.

I see what you mean by not being able to fish the rig strait up and down, yet it is still definetly deadly from the bank.

It would be better in deeper ponds so you aren't casting way out because if may become ineffective there.  I usually target different types of structure found in ponds.

[fishizzle]

I like the drop shot from the bank the best because I can cast it a mile into the wind and get out to a drop off that I know about.

Don't drag it.  lift and reel then let it settle

plus you can let it sit like live bait and throw another rig or drink (soda) ;D

[Sam]

Caught a lot of beautiful bass in a pond using the drop shot.

In fact, I got so embarrassed catching them that I switched rigs.

So throw it!!!   ;D   ;D   ;D

[LCpointerKILLA]

I experiment with dropshotting off the bank in FL with tiny jerkbaits and even in weedy lakes with a lot of success. It is great in highly pressured ponds where nothing seems to work except for relatively obscure techniques that the bass have never seen.

[islandbass]

Hey, I never tryed the drop shot rig, but it seems to me like a rig that works best from a boat, because you can work the bait directly up and down, while on the bank you wouldn't be able to do this.

So my question to you, is do any of you fish the drop shot rig from the bank, or is it only good when fishing from a boat?

It is definitely apparent you haven't tried it.  ;D

In my 2007 fishing season, over 90% of the bass I caught was on the drop shot. 100% of them from the shore. You can work the DS rig somewhat like a carolina rig.

Broke my ankle in 08 that ruined fishing for the whole season.  Lucky bass got a year off.  

You do not have to work a ds rig vertically for it to be effective, boat or no boat.  

[Matt 825]

It works great from the bank.  Get the finesse drop shot weights and keep them as light as you can for the depth and the wind conditions and you will be all set.  It one of my favorite methods to use when fishing from shore.  

[twitchfish]

I also spent alot of time forcing myself to learn and use the dropshot.  All I do is bank fish and it proved to be my most successful method during the summer months. I did learn, as was previously stated, making a longer leader does help because then the bait tends to ride higher in the column the farther away it is.  Gulp minnows were a very high producer,  but also Senkos and Super Flukes, anything worked.

Another interesting method was shown to me by some random dude who decided between telling me his ENTIRE sorrid life story pipes up and says" Ya shuuuuuuld be usin' a jig as uuuurrrrrr drop weight".  This kind, caring fellow now shares a room in my basement with the baitmonkey.  First cast both the dropshotted fluke and the jig brought money fish.  It was well worth hearing about 3 wives and the stripper.

Hope you all are well.  By the way, who's turn is it with this dastardly monkey?

[Bassin_49er]

I used to ds from the shore all the time but the ratio of big to small fish was killing me so i stopped.  It produces no doubt.  It almost like finesse Carolina-rig in a way.

[cofishingrl]

Another post refereed me to this one.  I fish mostly soft plastics and since all my fishing is from shore, I believe I'll be trying this method more this Spring.  Looks like you guys have had a lot of success using it!

[GonzoFishing]

Think I better learn to rig a drop shot  ;D

[Calcutta]

I also spent alot of time forcing myself to learn and use the dropshot. All I do is bank fish and it proved to be my most successful method during the summer months. I did learn, as was previously stated, making a longer leader does help because then the bait tends to ride higher in the column the farther away it is. Gulp minnows were a very high producer, but also Senkos and Super Flukes, anything worked.

Another interesting method was shown to me by some random dude who decided between telling me his ENTIRE sorrid life story pipes up and says" Ya shuuuuuuld be usin' a jig as uuuurrrrrr drop weight". This kind, caring fellow now shares a room in my basement with the baitmonkey. First cast both the dropshotted fluke and the jig brought money fish. It was well worth hearing about 3 wives and the stripper.

Hope you all are well. By the way, who's turn is it with this dastardly monkey?

I too have used a jig as a weight from a boat with success.It would definetly get hung up from the bank. This is gonna sound dumb but, if youre having trouble getting your weight hung up you might try a bead,eggsinker,a bead. Good luck!

[OIFBasser]

I fish either from a kayak and from the bank, nad every once and awhile I get my buddy to take me out on his boat. If the bite got slow that is my first choice. I use a 7'6" spinning rod, it helps with the leverage and you can cast it a little farther. As for weights, I started out using a egg weight. I tied my hook on ( look up how to do if you don't know yet) and then about a foot down put on a barrel swivel. Then I tied a leader with 4lb. test ( The lighter the better) then at the end of the leader I tied the sinker on. The light pound test was easier to break of if it got hung up, and I would have to only tie on a sinker instead of the whole rig. Then one day I was at BPS and saw that they make a dropshot weight. It seemed gimmicky, but it works great. The weight has an eyelet that comes out if it gets hung up. I know my method sounds a little hokey, but it worked for me. Hope this helps.

[Btech]

So let me get this straight from what im reading and researching to make a dropshot rig...

Hook (With worm or grub) Than add 3-5 ft line and a split weight pinched on ? Fished like a jig? up and down or side to side?

Is it really that simple?

[schreecher]

Dropshot (downshot) was originally used in Japan (for bass fishing), from the shore, because a lot of the japanese people had no boat, but fish for bass. A very heavy weight was used for the increased casting distance, and did not impede the angler from feeling the fish bite.

[cbreeze22]

good luck from shore both in clear and semi stained water. robo worms and Jr flukes have worked for me. I was surprised at the lifelike action of the fluke on a ds when I tested it in clear water. 7'm/l Avid spin set up and with some wind you can really get good distance out from the shore if thats what you want then work it closer in 8-)