Drop Shop Vs. Carolina Rigging on emerg. weed question

[RandyFish]

Deitz (and another FMer) mentioned that he liked drop shots over carolina rigging for tyring to put a lure above emerging weeds.

I have what could be a dumb question, but my concern is this:

How do you factor in the line angle in with a drop shot rig?

Say you have weeds growing to about 2 feet. Now vertically you can set your "tail" on the drop shot to give you just above two feet. That's fine...

...But if you cast 40 yards away (you can cover ton of ground with a carolina rig), aren't you going to have to lengthen the tail, since your line will be at 45-degree or so angle back to the boat. Your plastics will actually be lower than you want. And of course, this angle will change and the bait approaches the boat.

How do you know how to adjust the length...if this makes any sense. Feel the weeds on the hook?

Or do you simply not expect to cover the same amount of ground as a carolina rig, and use the drop shot rig as strictly vertical.

RandyFish

[Deitz Dittrich]

RandyFish,

Quote:

---

How do you factor in the line angle in with a drop shot rig?

---

You don't. With a drop shot rig you tend to keep your casts short. You want to saty as close to verticle as you can without spooking the fish! The dropshot does not cover the water that a carolina rig does.. but it can cover it better.

Dont get me wrong, I use both, and I may even c-rig more than I dropshot throughout the year. But for weeds, and wanting to keep your lure above the weeds, the dropshot is the key. Keep in mind you dont always want your lure above the weeds!