Drop Shotting? Would like some advice

[bassman186]

I am VERY new to this, this is something I have never tried. Is it effect? When and Where? Also how do you rig the bait, do you use a small hook, or a regular 3/0 Tube hook like I normally use for my plastics?

Any help would be great.

~Matt Jung

[Deitz Dittrich]

a good post.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB57&Number=495733&Forum=f57&Words=dropshot&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=495620&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=5&newertype=w&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post495733

[zaxdad7]

Bassman- Did a lot of drop shotting while in California. Primarily used size 4 Octopus hooks. Drop shotting is killer as you can leave your bait in front of finicky fish, on a fairly tight line, and doodle (wiggle) the bait right in front of their noses. We used 4" do nothing worms as well as the larger GULP minnows. Simply hook only about 1/2 inch from the end of the bait, no need to make weedless (might work tho). On the deep Cal. resevoirs, also worked well for deep panfish/crappies with a tube jig or other small plastic. For the pannies, we slowly power drifted to cover more ground. Drop shotting can be deadly.

[zaxdad7]

Sorry I couldn't finish my earlier post. They make special drop shot sinkers that are designed to slip off the line in case of snags, you only lose the sinker. The weight depends on depth, wind and/if any current. We fished very little vegetation, so not sure how it would work in weeds. We primarily fished rocky bottoms in depths of 10-50 feet. I do have a friend in Cal. tht fishes drop shots for rainbow trout in lakes. He uses a small weight 1/8 oz. and the GULP earthworms (I think the come in a jar), he slays the trout. The drop shot keeps the bait in the fish zone for much of the retrieve. I think drop shotting would be deadly on smallies if fished over gravel/rocks.

[cheektowaga]

I gave drop shots a try last summer when it got hot and the bass were finicky. I love it. I usually use a 4" power grub and they are effective in the weeds. Just adjust your tag line to about the lenght where your bait sits just above the thick matted weeds. While not as much fun as casting your arm off this works really well when fished slowly and dancing the worm in front of the bass. Good luck.