Drop shot from shore?

[michael Lynn]

can this be done from the shores and banks? or is it only a technique used from a boat in wicked deep water

[fishinfiend]

I have fished a drop shot from the bank and have caught fish. If the water you are fishing is shallow you will probably be just as successful fishing a t-rig because the lack of depth would prevent the drop shot rig from being fish at its full potential, which is a vertical presentation.  Instead, you would be presenting the bait in a horizontal manner.

[cyph3r]

ive caught fish using a dropshot in 3-5 feet of water. it works well, but just shorten the distance between the lure and the weight.

[Iowa Matt]

I do it all the time as there are a few lakes around here that were old gravel pits and have been converted into emergency water supply for the city and as such we can't take boats on them.  I think as long as you can cast into some deeper water it works just as well from shore as it does from a boat, but like has been said already if you don't have deeper water it is not really any big advantage over other rigs.

Here is one from a couple weeks ago caught about 18ft deep from shore on a drop shot rig.  This was the first time I tried circle hooks on my drop shot rigs and am convinced it is a huge improvement.

matt

[islandbass]

can this be done from the shores and banks? or is it only a technique used from a boat in wicked deep water

Of course you can. If there is anything you ever learn about fishing, it's never ever limit yourself to certain techniques because of where you fish.  Don't box yourself in. If I limited drop shotting to only when I fish from a boat, I would never have tried it because I am permanently shorebound.

In addition, drop shotting is not relegated for only "deep" water. No way Jose.

Here is an excerpt from a piece I wrote about drop shotting. It is my closing paragraph:

..."Review of the (my) 2007 Season

The Drop Shot technique has been so effective for me even though it is my first season learning and using it.  It has accounted for 100% of the smallmouth bass and about 70% of the largemouth bass I have caught this season, and I caught a lot, the most ever!!!  And here is the thing that makes this even sweeter.  They were all caught from the shore. No, this is not a testament to my skills, but a testament to the effectiveness of the Drop Shot technique."

So there you have it.  

[Koop]

I use drop shot when I shore fish at the locks, anywhere with deep water works well.

[Crestliner2008]

No problems fishing it from shore. Think of it this way. If the fish want something presented to them, just off the bottom, then the drop shot is the way to go. Best part is, you can adjust and fine tune it to just where they want it best, by just varying the sinker to hook distance.

BTW, don't over look the "Wiggle Rig" with the drop shot, especially from shore!

[twitchfish]

Wiggle Rig?

[Lucky Craft Man]

I have used a drop shot from a boat, from shore, in 30 feet of water to 1 foot of water, to pitching it under docks, to using it in heavy submerged weeds.  To make a long story short, the drop shot can be used anywhere.  It is a great technique that really works.

[J Francho]

Its actually an ideal rig for shore fishing.

[bigbill]

All the different ways of bass fishing do work from shore too. I'm lucky to have the rocky points, drop off's, the flats and the weedlines in most of the places were i fish from shore. Lets face it, its just done backwards from the shore as it is with a boat. I like trying all the different ways of bass fishing too. Trust me everything that works from a boat will work from the shore too. You can also be more stealthy shore fishing too.  I fish 99.99% of the time from shore.

[DINK WHISPERER]

It can definitely be successful providing the timing/presentation and water depth is right. It never hurts to try!

[Little Luey]

I see an Aaron's magic roboworm on that picture!!!

yes, it can be done from shore!

[twitchfish]

Wiggle rig? Is it a different name for something else?

[32251]

That is how I got started bass fishing. Walked around ponds casting the DS.  Found that the advantage was you could use a heavier weight and improve the distance casting, but the downside was lot's of line out and hooksets.  Go with a 10 or 12# line, reel in slack before strikes and hit hard!

[moby bass]

What power and action rods are you guys finding best suited?  I too am shore bound.  I have never tried this technique but would like to.

[Iowa Matt]

I use a 6' 8" ML Shimano Cumara/Stradic MgFB 1000/6lb flouro for most of my drop shotting.  I use this where cover is not an issue.

If cover or weeds are an issue (common in bank fishing), I use a St. Croix 6' 9" LTB "drop shot"/Stradic FI 1000/8lb power prop with a 4-6 foot flouro leader.

Point is that both rods are rated Xfast, thought the LTB is faster than the Cumara, both are faster than most of the other rods I own.  seems to me this is crucial to dropshottting.  Its easier to cast and feel bites with light, fast rods.

Matt

[Raul]

Wiggle Rig?

Dropshot with a rubber band leader.

[32251]

What power and action rods are you guys finding best suited? I too am shore bound. I have never tried this technique but would like to.

If you have plenty of room around you ( no trees or bushes) use the longest rod you have with a medium action. Cast like you are surf casting.  Let the rig hit bottom then start shaking it a bit with plenty of pauses and drag it back to the bank slowly shaking and pausing.  

Carolina rig is also good from shore.  Put a 1oz weight on it and you can throw it a mile!

Just remember about the hookset.  You will HAVE to let the fish have it for a few seconds while you reel up ALL your slack before you strike.  You might be surprised how much stretch there is in most mono line.

[J Francho]

What power and action rods are you guys finding best suited? I too am shore bound. I have never tried this technique but would like to.

Cover, structure, and bottom composition dictate rod/reel/line combo. Use the lightest stuff you can get away with, but don't skimp out if the cover is nasty. I've fished thick pads with a DS 10" worm using flipping stick loaded with 65# braid, from shore.  I generally use a M/XF spinning rod with 15# braid and 8# fluoro leader for most of my DS fishing.

[Crestliner2008]

Wiggle Rig?

This is the same guy who originated the Daiichi "Stand-Out" hooks for drop shotting:

http://ezknot.com/

[twitchfish]

Seems kinda hokey. How do you feel anything with that rubberband dancing around? I really appreciate the link, Crestliner, but think I will pass.

I am a huge fan of the Stand-out hook though.

Twitch

[Little Luey]

not sure about the wiggle rig, how do you move it from spot to spot? when I dropshot I like to work the worm back to the bank and with the rubberband  I may have to pull harder to get it to move and usually there are weeds where it will get stuck.

I do like the cruizing cooler for those catting nights!

[steezy]

Drop shot from shore is awesome!

I created a thread last week with that topic:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1250704148

Ive caught about 20 nice size bass in the past week using drop shot from shore.

[Crestliner2008]

Drop shotting is the presentation of an attractive, easy meal in one spot. It can be retrieved and dragged, but it's primary effectiveness is when fished vertically over deep structure.

The wiggle rig is just a slight variation on the basic drop shot. It utilizes a "spectastic" cord or flex band from the sinker to the lower end of the DS leader. It gives an entirely different and extremely erratic presentation to your DS bait.

The wiggle rig does NOT replace the standard DS rigging. It is merely a variation which YOU have to determine will benefit you under the current conditions, with which you are faced.

When the fish are active and/or feeding on huge bait balls, this rig can really put fish in the boat. When the fish are in a very negative mood however, I would use the basic rig with very little movement from me.

I carry both and adjust to whichever mood the fish are in. You can never have too large an arsensal!

Here is how I rig both the standard DS leader and the wiggle rig: