Drop Shot from Shore? - Thoughts ?

[steezy]

Any thoughts on drop shot from shore ?

[Lucky Craft Man]

I have fished the drop shot from a boat in 40 ft of water to from shore in 2 ft of water.  It works everywhere and anywhere (I have even fished a drop shot in heavy weeds, but this can be challenging)

[Raul]

Yup, from shore, wouldn 't dropshot in a place choked with weeds up to surface level or in a place choked with sumbmerged brush but other than those exceptions  I would.

[Grey Wolf]

Yes I've had thoughts about shore drop shotting and in certain conditions  , it works.

[islandbass]

As with many other techniques that work on a boat, the drop shot is definitely effective from the shore.

It is one of my most heavily used tactics when I target smallies from the shore, as a shorebound angler.

[Crestliner2008]

I never leave home without a drop shot rod. If I'm targeting smallmouth in a river, I'll use the same rigging I do for boat fishing. If I'm targeting largemouth, I'll beef up the leader to about 10# test fluoro, instead of the 4# test I use from a boat.

Also, from shore I'll always tie an off-set worm hook on so that I can texpose the plastic. This will reduce your hang-ups tremendously.

[InLikeFinz]

Drop shot + Finesse worm + JJ's = Deadly. No matter where you throw it.

[J P]

works great for bedding bass when walking around a pond/lake. when you cast it out though it is almost like a carolina rig but more effective at times. try drop shotting from shore late at night too. its harder for the bass to see you, and you can get some real giants. dont be scared to beef up your line at night either.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

This definitely works. Just remember to adjust leader length for casting distance to maintain the desired distance from bottom. Good luck!

[Five-Alive]

Works for me. Just like when I am in the boat, I lengthen the depth of the sinker when casting versus vertical presentation.

[ABLE2DISABLE1]

Ever try drop shot-en under a slip cork for suspended bass, pretty wild how some of the hits are.I like the F-S Worm, or a B-GULP, Minnow.

[Hammer 4]

We have city ponds that are usually 6' deep max..the depth where we cast to is only about 4' deep that tapers to less than a foot deep at the shore line..we use the ds all the time, in fact right now at one of the ponds, it's the Only way we are able to catch bass. So yup the ds works well from shore..Unless you have a fairly smooth bottom on the lake, I'd use the Mojo weights, rocks play havoc with any other type...lol

[steezy]

Thats an awesome fishing technique !

Its a different bite, I barely felt it, the fish just casually swam away slowly until I yanked and set the hook then he went crazy.

Hooked and caught a nice one first try. Lost one the same size the second try, the line broke when it scraped a rock wall.

Thanks a heap for all the tips, especially the info via PM from Hammer 4 !

[Koop]

Is braid good for drop shotting? I don't use this technique very often but usually use like 6-8# Seaguar InvisX Fluoro when I do.

[daviscw]

Thats an awesome fishing technique !

Its a different bite, I barely felt it, the fish just casually swam away slowly until I yanked and set the hook then he went crazy.

Hooked and caught a nice one first try. Lost one the same size the second try, the line broke when it scraped a rock wall. Gotta get some braid on that setup!

Thanks a heap for all the tips, especially the info via PM from Hammer 4 !

Glad it worked out for you. Braid is the worst thing you can use around rocks though. Just a heads up..

[DINK WHISPERER]

Thats an awesome fishing technique !

Its a different bite, I barely felt it, the fish just casually swam away slowly until

Steezy, all those high end rods and you barely felt em!?! LOL, nice fish man!!!!

[steezy]

Very strange, I knew the second the fish touched it but it was nothing like I imagined, very soft and slow, I mean he just took his time and started swimming away.  I thought it was a baby until I pulled back on the rod and set the hook, them I made him mad.  

I guess the fish thinks that suspended bait is just a free meal since he doesn't have to work for it.

BTW, what are the best line choices for drop shot when Ive got some big rocks around me.  Several have said braid is a bad idea, so whats the best.

[Koop]

PLINE CXX should be used around rocks.

[DINK WHISPERER]

Fluorocarbon is best in the rocks imo! I use BPS XPS and it stands up to just about anything! You could always use braid and a fluoro leader?

[Hammer 4]

Glad that worked out for ya ....as for line, I have all my reels spooled with Yozuri Hybrid Ultrasoft, in mist green and clear, not to say other lines won't work..Izorline xxx is fairly good to.

[islandbass]

Very strange, I knew the second the fish touched it but it was nothing like I imagined, very soft and slow, I mean he just took his time and started swimming away. I thought it was a baby until I pulled back on the rod and set the hook, them I made him mad.

I guess the fish thinks that suspended bait is just a free meal since he doesn't have to work for it.

BTW, what are the best line choices for drop shot when Ive got some big rocks around me. Several have said braid is a bad idea, so whats the best.

You will experience other takes, that's for sure. The one you describe is just one possiblitiy. You will get what I call "nibblers" because they'll start at one on of the worm and gradually get to the hook. With this type of take, it is best to wait til they get the hook in their mouths.

Other times it will feel like a tug and pull. Chances are they engulfed your bait in a more aggressive vs. "nibbling".  Reel up the slack and it's game on.

I fish rip rap 90% of the time and my choice is Seaguar Invizx at 6#. I can get away with it.

I'm tempted to use braid as a main line with a very long fc leader, but I'll admit, I'm not willing to change what is kicking phanny for me yet and I'm too lazy right now. ;D

[Hammer 4]

In most, but not all cases, you'll feel a tap-tap, time to set the hook..nibbleing is likey a bluegill or a dink, if you wait and let them take the whole bait, your likely to gut hook em, not worth it to me, I'd rather lose a dink...Other times you will feel a tap-pull, set the hook, this is a more aggressive fish, and sometimes a larger fish..With the Ouctopus hooks I find you don't need a real hard hookset, if you use the Owner hooks..  Once you start gettin bit on a dropshot, you'll feel different bites, find ways to fish it, and hopefully catch more fish when the going gets tough..just my 3 cents.

[NewAngler]

nice fish, steez. you've inspired me to give it a shot!

[steezy]

This is some cool fishin, grabbed another nice one in 18" of water on the first try this morning. This time he took it hard and ran. Hit it so fast (as soon as the weight hit the bottom) he almost caught me off guard. 8-)

Nice having another weapon in the arsenal.

[Steven Ladner]

This is some cool fishin, grabbed another nice one in 18" of water on the first try this morning. This time he took it hard and ran. Hit it so fast (as soon as the weight hit the bottom) he almost caught me off guard. 8-)

Nice having another weapon in the arsenal.

Congrats. What plastic were you using?