Drop shotting question

[slick814]

What knots do you prefer when drop shotting?

I've tried Palomar & Trilene, but feel like they don't always get the hook sitting straight enough out from the line.

Any suggestions?

[Deitz Dittrich]

palomar knot.. then when done pull the tag end of the line back threw the top of the eye then attach your sinker.. If you pull the knot threw the eye of the hook pulling on the tag end the hook will sit quite level...

[slick814]

Great idea, Deitz. Hadn't thought of doing that myself. I can definitely see how that would make it stand out better.

DOes the kind of hook make a lot of difference? I've thought about the differences in an Aberdeen compared to a circle or octopus, Tru-turn, etc. and am thinking the longer shank would make it stand out more too.

Or would putting a bit of a bend near the eye help no matter what kind of hook it is?

Lots of questions here, I know, but it's a technique I only tried a few times last winter with some success, but I'm pretty sure that it'd work better if I'm doing it better, if that makes sense.

[Deitz Dittrich]

The hook can make a difference for sure. However, the type bait you are using is going to dictate that pretty much. Aberdeen hooks will work, I also like the octopus hooks by gamakatsu. The longer shank hooks deffintaly helps get the hook more level. There are a few hooks on the market now that are spacifically for drop shotting. Gamakatsu makes one called a dropshot hook.. and Owner makes an offset hook called a down shot hook. They both have angled eyes like you talk about.

Good luck!

[slick814]

I'll have to look for those hooks next time I'm in a store. looking forward to becoming more successful with this technique. Always good to add to the old "tool box".

Thanks for the replies, Deitz, I appreciate the info!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Glad I was able to help Slick...Let us know how it works for you this winter.

Persoanlly I dont do it a whole lot during the hard months.. It is a great way for depth controll. You know exactly how far off the bottom you are that is for sure. However, all that said, I think good electronics are imposible to replace. Being able to change depths is key. Bringing a fish out of its comfort zone. No matter what species that is.

[WAG416]

What is drop shotting?

[slick814]

Deitz -

I agree completely with the depth control and having good electronics being essential during the hard water months.

I generally used the drop-shot as a way to basically dead stick my second rod. Set the hook to be just above (within a foot or so) where I'm marking fish on the flasher/sonar (I've got the Lowrance M68C Ice Machine.. highly recommend it, too, but that 's another post), add either a big bunch of waxies, larvae, or a nice lively minnow, and let it sit there.

I jig with the other rod, and it seemed to work pretty well when I'm not using a tip-up. I'll definitely keep you posted as to how well it works.

WAG- Drop shotting is when you attach a hook above your sinker. You tie a hook on the line however high above the bottom you want it to be, leaving a long tag end below it. You attach whatever kind of sinker you want to use (I prefer either a no-snagg or egg, but know of folks who use spit-shots) to the end of the line and during ice time, let it drop to the bottom. You take in most of the slack, still letting the sinker be on bottom, and the bait will be however high you tied the hook above it.

It gives the fish an almost weightless feeling to the bait, and can be quite effective on almost any species in open water. It's something that I've heard of being used more and more during the hard water season, and am looking forward to giving it more of a try this year.

Do a google search on it, and you'll find a load of articles about it, mostly by Bass fishermen on using it for open water, but the rigging is the same through the ice. Here's a pretty decent one I just grabbed off of ESPN's web site. (Hopefully it's not considered an improper link, if so, sorry about that...)

http://espn.go.com/outdoors/tips/s/f_fea_02_drop_shooting_F&HN.html

Good luck, and as you can tell, there's always people here on FM that are willing and able to answer any questions you might have on it.

[CrappieJohn]

Drop shotting can be extremely effective on open water crappies when they get into wood and have tight lips after cold fronts.

Drop shotting is also an effective tool for a second rod when fishing the dams on the big river when you are in two rod areas. Many times I will find the best bite two feet or more off the bottom and it is hard to stay in touch with these fish using a jig. The drop shot method will allow you to keep a line right smack in that zone as you jig the other rod.

Drop shotting has a much broader range of use than it gets credit for.

[WAG416]

hey thanks guys !

[Swimmer]

Thanks for the info. Question: what do you call it when you remove the center hook on a swimming lure and attach a 5" dropper line/hook? Is that called a "dropper" too?

[CrappieJohn]

Yuppers swimmer

[Mr.Bluegill]

You guys are missing out on the whole drop shot thing...Check out the Stand Out Hooks from TTI. These things absolutely kick some serious tail.

Once you try them you will not use anything else. no worries about breaking off. A simple polymar knot and you are ready to go.

Let me know what you think of these. I use them ice fishing with dropper spoons below for perch and walleyes. Summer fishing, i use them a lot for deep water gills and crappies. They make a bunch of different sizes so you should not have any worries.

Troy

[Rick]

Very interestting hook there Troy.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Swimmer]

Ingenious hook. Is it legal to use a dropper on lets say a swimming lure with two hooks seperated by ~3" on the dropper? In other words you might have a minnow on the first hook below the swimmer, and some wigglers on the second hook. You would have to have fish brains to be able to resist striking one of those.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Swimmer-for ice fishing I would think that would be legal... However, it would count as both of your rods. Anotherwords, you could not have the rig you describe or a tip up in Minnesota. ANd the rig you describe I believe would be illegal in the summer time in Minnesota. Ice fishing we are allowed 2 rods, open water only 1 in Minnesota.

[Scenic]

Sorry guys. Not legal in Minnesota even in the winter. Only one hook may be on your line unless you are using flies for panfish.

[Rick]

Or if it's on a lure.

[slick814]

Where did you pick up those hooks, Mr. Bluegill? I don't Know that I've seen them in a store...

As far as up missing on this whole thing, I'd say that from the replies, it's me that's been missing out on it, and the other guys who've replied know their stuff.

The whoe lure below a lure thing... I read an article last spring about a pro Wwalleye fisherman who was doing something similar with crankbaits. He'd tie a deep diver on, with a floater behind it on a 5' leader or so... the theory is that you cover different depths that way. Emailed the DNR about it, was told it would be considered 2 lures, so not legal here. the only way to do something like that is to tie a drop hook from a lure, no lures can be ties in that manner.

[slick814]

Mr. BLuegill-

WHERE did you find those hooks?

I've checked a couple of local baitshops, Sportsman's Warehouse, Cabela's in Rogers, Fleet Farm, Gander... get the idea? Can't find them ANYWHERE...

I'd love to give them a try this winter thru the ice, and then some for open water too, but would love to know where in the world you picked those bad boys up!?!?!