Drop Shot

[Central Bassman]

First i need a new Drop Shot Rod?? Price really doesnt matter, Weight is more of a issue, I want it to be light???

Second, What is some lures you guys like to use for drop shotting??

[Sproguy]

Central, I use a Falcon CS-4-169 for most of my drop shot work. Real light weight and good feel. As far as baits go I really like the 4.5" Roboworm and the 6" version from them. I also use a lot of GULP. The Roboworm is the best straight tail worm I've found because it is hand poured so it is super soft and floats. I also use the Chompers 4" Drop Shot worm from time to time but feel the colors are a bit of a limit or at least what I can buy at the local store is limited. Check out websites from CA they tons and tons of options for baits, rods, fluorocarbon, hooks and all that is drop shotting.

Also check on pros like Brett Hite, Aaron Martens, and Rich Tauber all of them are known for their drop shotting and all have rod ideas that are top of the line stuff. Brett even uses a Evola which is from Japan and retails for $600 or more. You said price was no issue!!!! LOL

[MattWtech]

Quote:

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baits go I really like the 4.5" Roboworm and the 6" version from them.

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robo worm? is that a brand?

[luckycrank]

GOOGLE

[st.crioxfishin]

Matt,

Yeah, thats a soft plastic bait company. I think they started out west. I just bought some of their finesse worms for that tournament comin up this weekend in case the fish are a little finicky, we'll see how they work.

[SupaMan]

Drop shot doesnt work too well for me...I catch fish, but other methods worked better for me.

[ikeslayer]

bob what tourney do you have coming up??? where are finding this open water.

i have only dropshotted once in my life. i don't even know if i would know where to start or even when to do it. ike

[Central Bassman]

Thanks for the Info...Keep it comeing!!!

[RK]

Hiya -

I use a 6' Medium power fast action Diamondback for drop shotting, with 8# Vanish Fluorocarbon. Fluoro's nice for the visibility, and the low stretch.

I have some Bakudan weights and stuff like that but to tell you the truth Water Gremlin Bull Shot work fine and they're a lot cheaper and seem to pick up weeds less. Really, you could use a rock or a fender washer if you wanted to. Probably doesn't matter much. I will definitely be using Northland Sling Shot weights this year though. Those things should be ideal.

A lot of my drop shotting is actually for smallies rather than largemouth. Probably just me and where I fish, but drop shotting for LMB is a great numbers deal but not so much for big fish... Another story with smallies though.

So for the drop shot lures I use, they tend to be a little smaller. One of my favorites is a Persuader Paddle Tail grub. Also like Roboworm flat tail worms, Reaper tails from Bait Rigs Tackle, 4" Power Minnows, 3" Yum Dingers or Senkos.

One thing with drop shotting, it's easy to over-work the baits. You don't have to do much of anything to them. I just give them a shake now and then. Watch them in shallow water and you'll see what I mean.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Daze Off]

Ditto on the Roboworms and Persuaders, also like the BPS McCreatures - very nice action and smallies love 'em.

From time to time I use a drop shot jig which is skirted hook (Reaction Innovations has some as do others) jsut to show a different look.

Daze Off

[Sproguy]

For the smallmouth another one to check out is Prey Lures. They have several different options in a 3" straight tail grub that turned out really cool. I know that it sounds odd but the Great Lake guys are using them a lot and really scoring big on them.

From above (not sure who said it?) you can catch some great largemouth on the drop shot just put down the jig on your favorite rock pile and you will catch the same sized fish and usually more of them. I personally caught several over 5lbs last year on the drop shot and tons of fish over 3lbs. I use the drop shot more then other folks so I tend to attack the same area other guys are throwing jigs, carolina rigs, big cranks, etc...... I feel as though I can catch the same fish and more of them, just my two cents.

[fisher98]

For drop-shotting I have experimented with almost all different types of soft plastics. I have used 6-7 inch worms, tubes, straight-tail worms, grubs, small lizards, flukes and senko style baits. All have worked very well for me.

I prefer a baitcasting set-up. I use a 7ft medium/medium lite Shimano drop-shot rod. I use Fireline as my main line, usually 12 lb. test, and then attach it to a 8-10 lb. flourocarbon leader. This set-up is very sensitive and I can feel everything transmiited through the line and my rod.

I have caught some huge largemouths this past summer, my biggest was a 5.75 lb. hawg in a tournament. I like throwing the drop shot where most people would throw a jig-worm, carolina rig, or a texas rigged worm.

I feel the more I have used this, I feel more and more confident and I can get a feel for the exact type of water and conditions that I feel it will out-perform other techniques.

My tip is to experiment with any types of plastics that you may have, and don't be afraid to add a ratle to your plastic lure, or try wacky rigging the plastic bait. I have found this to enhance my catches tremendously!!!

Good luck!!!

fisher98

[jalberg]

I've had good luck with Reaction Inovations "Flirt" and 4 inch Power Minnows. I use a 6.5 foot medium spinning rod with 8# vanish.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I use the Shimano DropSpot rod, I think its a 7'2" LOVE the thing... as for a lure, I just use a straight tail 4" worm. Or a tube usually.

[Central Bassman]

Thanks Guys for the Info...

[st.crioxfishin]

Ike,

I have a tournament in Southern Illinois on Sunday (18th) called the "Big Ten Classic". 10 guys from the big ten schools come to compete in the event. This is a lake that has a hotwater discharge into it so it always stays open. It's a resevoir with two main arms, one warmer than the other because of the discharge, which will make things interesting in figuring out the certain stages of the spawn they are in throughout the lake. I'll let ya know how it goes.

[Central Bassman]

i wish i went to a college that had that!!!!

[delmuts]

good luck!

[Central Bassman]

How long of leader (bait to weight) do you guys use??? I see some ppl use a long one and then on TV this morning i seen Shaw using a really shot one??? How long or short???

[Sproguy]

Central, I know you hate to hear this but it all depends on the conditions. I usually start with a 12" to 18" dropper. It has been my experience that the more stained the water is the shorter I like my dropper and if it is super clear you can go longer. Remember when you see some of these guys on TV they are fishing suspended fish in Southern Res. then you use a long dropper so that it is out to the way. I did it once on Table Rock and it was an adventure to say the least. I prefer to stick to our beautiful lakes where fish aren't suspended 30ft down over a 60ft. Crazy stuff!

Just stick with about 12" and you should be good for the first couple of times. Then start to experiment from there. I will tell you that 95% of time my dropper never goes longer then 18" and with the exception of bed fishing it never goes shorter then 9". Just my two cents.

[Central Bassman]

Thanks for the info Sproguy!!! Your .02 is more then welcome