drop shotting Smallies

[bassmaster3000]

Hey,

Anyone have some tips for Drop-shotting? I am going to try more drop shotting this year and need some advice. I need advice on depth, cover, color, and length of the weight from the hook. I know that all of this relates to time of year and weather, but I'm just looking for advice.

THANXZ!!  ;D

[Jaheff]

Look down around 10 posts in this section you will find info on drop shot.

[Crestliner2008]

Yep and also do a search at the top of this site on "Drop Shotting". You'll find a tremendous amount of detailed information.

[fishnjohn]

I have been dropshotting for two years now. I use it everywhere I go and in all types and depths of water. After you do your research and learn tecniques there is one thing you must do. Be patient because it can be a very slow method of fishing but when you do find fish it will be worth it.

[Crestliner2008]

I have been dropshotting for two years now. I use it everywhere I go and in all types and depths of water. After you do your research and learn tecniques there is one thing you must do. Be patient because it can be a very slow method of fishing but when you do find fish it will be worth it.

You really think it's a "very slow method"? Any method will be slow if you fish where they ain't. If you find bait on structure, you're going to kill 'em on the drop shot. In the six years I've been drop shotting, it's my most consistently productive presentation - when I find the fish!

[roadwarrior]

In the six years I've been drop shotting, it's my most consistently productive presentation - when I find the fish!

If you don't mind sharing a secret, I would like a detailed description,

starting with line, rod & reel; suggested length between lure and weight

(size?); lure/bait suggestions. Also, if you fish the rig in current, do you drag

or hop the weight?

8-)

[Crestliner2008]

In the six years I've been drop shotting, it's my most consistently productive presentation - when I find the fish!

If you don't mind sharing a secret, I would like a detailed description,

starting with line, rod & reel; suggested length between lure and weight

(size?); lure/bait suggestions. Also, if you fish the rig in current, do you drag

or hop the weight?

8-)

To start off with, here's a copy of the diagram I posted sometime last year as far as terminal tackle goes:

The rod I use is a 6'6" Med-Light action (spinning of course) BPS rod, with a 1500 Sahara. I load this with 6# test fluoro for my main line and the diagram will show two variations of pre-tied leaders which I use in 4# test fluoro. You can't set your drag too tight, remember! A 4# smallie will snap 4# line very easily. We have to use this light a set-up where I fish, as water clarity is usually down around 20'. The length of the leaders varies; what I do is run a length of line between my two outstretched arms. Then I tie the hook to the center of this leader (using the palomar knot). Some I leave with long droppers, which are effective if the bass are very active and tending to suspend off the bottom. Others are short, which I use when they are very finicky or early in the season. Weed growth and the distance the bait is off the bottom, dictates which I use when. You want to keep your worm in the midst of the bait or just above the weeds.

The leader's are pre-tied and wrapped on a "Tackle-Tamer", which is a velcro tube available from Netcraft (www.jannsnetcraft.com). I carry two tubes with six of each of the leaders in the diagram. You have to change your leader after every 3 fish or so caught. I run the line near the hook, thru my lips to see it needs replacement. Any kind of nick is just asking for trouble with line this light! Replacement with the Tackle Tamer set-up is fast & easy. The clips (also available from Netcraft) make snapping the old off and snapping on the new one, very quick and efficient.

I like to nose hook 4" razor worms with some green in them. I've also had a lot of success with helgramite imitations, tubes and fin-S fishes or those kind of fish shaped plastic bodies. A lot of selection is based on the forage and the depth they are in. The newer Gulp products seem to be exciting the DS world, so I'm going to be trying some of those this coming season. Hope this is of some help.

[Crestliner2008]

One or two follow ups: As far as presentation of the DS goes, I've learned a very important lesson over the years. That is, not to overwork the bait you present.

It's very easy to want to "do" something with it, while it sits there, suspended above the bottom. However, if you have a chance to see your presentation in VidCam (i.e.: AquaView) on the bottom, you would see your bait quivering lightly there, with no movement required on your part. Pretty neat stuff! What I do is dead-stick it as soon as my sinker settles. If nothing after a minute or so, I'll give it a few shakes, then stop again. Sooner or later, your rod tip will bend toward the bottom, at which point, all you have to do is to start reeling as fast as you can! I mean, FAST! When the smallie feels the hook, there's only one place he wants to be....in the air! Most fish are lost when slack is given on this initial line take up.

As far as rivers go, I have used it in eddys and some current breaks. In this case, most of my success occurs when I "slip" (Dan Gapen, circa 1970) the current with my trolling motor. That means that I allow my boat to drift downstream - bow up - at a rate slower than the current. What this does is to make it easy for you to maintain bottom contact with your sinker. All you need to do is to raise your rod tip a bit to move the sinker downstream with you as you drift. Very effective! And no movement on your part, like shaking, is required. Also, in river, I'll up-size my sinker from 1/4 oz. to 1/2 oz....sometimes even up to 3/4 oz., depending on the current and depth I'm targeting.

I think I've covered just about everything in your question rw. Let me know if I missed anything. Good Luck!

[Guest Grandfather]

 Very well done Richard. Looking forward to seeing you soon.      Tom

[roadwarrior]

Thank you!

Very well done.

[jenga]

I drop shot everytime I go out on LSC.  I like to let it drag and fish a faster bait with my other rod.  I also like to tie a tube on for the bottom weight and have a Bass pro gobie above it.  Sometimes the smallie will hit the gobie and other times they will hit the tube.  I have also had two fish on at the same time.   Man smallies are funl, I can't wait until Ice out.

Jenga

[Blade-Runner]

At almost all reasonable depths I use 8# fluorocarbon on a long rod and a 3/16 oz. sinker. Don't have a specific hook, but it's usually a small quality baitholder.

I really like Zoom Superfluke Jr's in Chartreuse Pearl on the D-Shot.

[marktfd]

Two key factors in dropshotting smallies.  The hook you use and the legnth of the leader from the weight to the hook.  I have tried them all and I have settle on two different hooks for dropshotting.  If the bait is really small or needs alot of action imparted on it, I use the Gamakatsu dropshot hook in #1.  Most of the time about 75% I use the Owner down shot hook.  I have had much better hookup to land ratio with this hook.  The down side is this is a full size hook. With really small baits I then use the Gama.

 The other key is the legnth of the leader from hook to weight.  On any given day, this will change.  I have experimented for 3 yrs now with tourney partner and me, working different length's and it comes down to one thing.  The smallies will change every day on you.  One day they want it 6" off the bottom, the next day they want it 3' off the bottom.  As a rule of thumb.  If the forage is a baitfish, then I start around 18" off the bottom and adjust from there.  If the forage is a crawdad type bait I start around 6" off the bottom and work from there.  It's amazing that smallies predominently feeding on crawdads, will not hit a jig or carolina rig, but put a crawdad imitator on a drop shot a few inches off the bottom, and bam, fish on.

Hope this helps

Mark

[MJEFF]

Lots of great advice, if I am fishing very deep(30ft and beyond) I use 10lb braid with flouro leader for a ft or two.

I also start at about 6" of the bottom and work up from there. Of course if you find a whole bunch of smallies at one depth and they are running small you may need to change you location or depth to see if you can get out of the school.

Often my fishing partner and I will do different approaches , I drop shot, he banges grubs or small swim baits of the bottom until we come up with just what they want.

It sure helps having good electronics to locate the fish.