New Drop Shot set up

[Fluker]

I finally completed my new Drop Shop set up this past weekend. I built a 4S76MLF SC LT blank as a casting set up. Will be using a Shimano Scorpion 1000 with 7 LB Sunline Sniper Fluro.

I'm not sold on the casting rod DS outfit idea quite yet, but look forward to comparing to my spinning set up (same blank, just extended to 7'11"). Hopefully I like it. The less spinning rods I have to use, the better in my opinion.

[Fluker]

By the way, I used silver "Electra" thread on this rod. I wanted to use something a little more out there since the blank is already pimped out in blue, and since Ike keeps calling me names. I think the electra thread is normally used for accent wraps. I don't believe it's nylon, so I'm curious if it's stout enough to be the primary thread. I guess time will tell!

[fishcast]

Fluker, nice looking rod, just wondering why do you say the less spinning rods you have to use the better?

[ikeslayer]

Very nice chuck. Those SC 4 are the prettiest pounder blue in the world. nice rod. i must say, But havent' you jerked the wheel now too far to the other side. A purple reel. YIKES, well at least you are intouch with your feminine side.

all kidding aside i look forward to see how you like DS with BC equipment. Spiral wrap?

ike

[turn_in_poachers]

Thats a nice setup fluker. Im guessing split rear grip, no foregrip?

The handle on the reel is on the wrong side though.

[RK]

Hiya -

Nice set-up. Be curious to see how you like a baitcaster as a DS rod. (I didn't at all - but I have no problem using spinning gear for all sorts of stuff most people would use casting gear for.)

Purple or not, those Scorpions are awesome reels. I have 1000s and 1500s. Love 'em for light stuff like small jigs and topwaters.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Fluker]

Now wait a minute here, Scorpions aren't purple, they're maroon!!!

Split grip, no fore grip, spiral wrap, yes.

It's just a personal preference to me to use casting vs. spinning. Spinning gear is just more of a hassle to me than casting. Bail flipping and rat's nests are things that I could do with out.

RK, I'm like you, hesitant to think I'll like it better. However, the line recovery is one thing that made me give the effort. I fish the DS with a high tip, then reel down before setting the hook. Will be nice to have a faster speed reel for that. I try not to set the hook too hard, and the MLF rod helps me offset that a little.

[RK]

Hiya fluker -

Look at it this way - if you don't like it as a DS rod, you've probably got an *awesome* combo for light crankbaits. Bet you could cast a #7 Shad Rap a mile with a Scorpion on that rod...heh.

I'm sort of the opposite on how I hold for DS rigging. Tip's right on the water almost, and then I just sweep set. Almost like live bait rigging for walleyes. I see a lot of discussion with bass guys down south that struggle with learning how to set the hook on a DS rig. I always think to myself "it's a lot easier if you've fished Lindy rigs your whole life..." I use the same power/action rod for drop-shotting (a ML fast action Diamondback Keith from Professional Edge makes for me). Mine's a 6'9" spinning rod.

Out of curiosity, what hooks do you (and anyone else who wants to chime in) use drop-shotting?

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Deitz Dittrich]

Last year I started to use the "Stand Out" hook.. my hooking percentage and caught fish went way up when I went to this hook..

To be honest I am not even really sure who makes them, but they have a really weird R bend in the hook and you tie to the R bend... then take your tag end through the eye of the hook.. the hook is always at a 90 Degree angle to your line... I see the red hook in many stores but ordered the black nickle as I feel red hooks dull quicker in my opinion.

[Fluker]

My favorite hook is one that I can't find anymore. It's a Eagle Claw feather lite hook and looks like about a size #1. It's has a twist in it (kind like the true turn hooks). I think the twist helps drive the hook in, and I like the "feather lite" for other reasons. I use these only on turney days since I've only got about 4 left now. I have only lost 1 fish on the hook and I think it was a MONSTER. My guess is the fishs lips for so thick that the hook had to go through the bone of the lop and it didn't stick.

In practice I've been using Gammy's. #2 to 1/0. I haven't lost many fish on these, but I have not hooked up a few fish on the hook set. They don't have the twist which I've developed confidence in.

DD and I spent a couple long days on the water last year, and were primarily using the DS. I can't say that either of our hooks out performed the other. I don't like Deitz's that much because I think it's too big. Almost looks like a 2/0. However, he proved it catches and hooks as many (ok maybe more) fish as mine did. He gave me one to try, but I havent' done it yet.

[Deitz Dittrich]

 Quote:

However, he proved it catches and hooks as many (ok maybe more) fish as mine did. He gave me one to try, but I havent' done it yet.

and dont you forget it.. LMAO... JK... Fluke is an awesome dropshot fisher... and as I have said in many threads, what works well for some may not work well for others... this is the perfect case... We argree to disagree on the hooks which are best for dripshotting. LOL

[RK]

Hiya -

Cool. Interesting to hear what other guys are using.

I've been using the Owner Mosquito hooks and like 'em. I tried the Stand Out hooks and didn't like them all that much to be honest. Had a couple smallies mangle the things. Also tried the Gammy Finesse Wide Gaps and REALLY didn't like them. Good wacky rigging hooks I suppose (although I prefer Kahles), but I had horrid hooking % with them drop shotting. I think the hook gap is narrower when it's facing up against the line on a DS rig. Mosquito hooks have a much more open gap. Mustad makes an UltraPoint DS hook but I haven't tried it yet.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[st.crioxfishin]

I also use the standout hooks. Deitz showed me them last year, and I really do like them. However, I haven't had much experience using other hooks...

[cjac]

Back to the initial post and since you guys are talking terminal tackle...

Fluker, can you or others speak to the line choice for DS? I was taken by the "odd" line rating ....7 lb Sniper flouro....what's the preferred line? Spinning reel or a small baitcaster like a Scorpion mg 1000 (I have one of those)?

Thanks, Chris

[TurnUpTheFishing]

You can use any line size you want. Most guys probably go with line less than 8lb since dropshotting is more of a finesse technique. I would imagine florocarbon is the line of choice for most who have a dedicated setup as well. With that said some people will bubba shot, basicly beef everything up for dropshotting in thicker cover.

I used Triple fish floro in 8lb last year. I did have a few break offs that I dont think should have happened. Im going to rig up some gamma floro in 6 or 8 this year.

For hooks I use owner mosquito hooks and gamakatsu finesse wide gaps in 1/0 when DSing tubes.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Cjac- I fish with 6 lb Gamma...

[Fluker]

I have used 10lb from time to time, and used 8 for most of the latter part of the year last year. I had a couple buddy DSers really try and talk me in to 6LB. I'm gonna give the 7LB Sniper a shot this next year and see how it goes.

I use a 3000 model Shimano Twin Power MG (basically a Japanese Sustain in MG) on my spinning set up and will be using the Scorpion on my casting set up.

Lighter line for finessing is correct, and with my sissy poles (ML) I can get away with lighter lines with out the fearing of breakage. The light action and great drag on the reel work perfect.

[Sproguy]

Fluker,

If you are going to go to the 7lb Sniper also give the 7lb Shooter a try from Sunline. The Shooter has a lot less stretch then the already low stretch fluorocarbons on the market. You might really like if for setting the hook. I used the 8lb a fair amount last year for other applications and it is rock solid on the hook set! Can at times be a little stiff for some peoples taste but on that casting outfit I think the Shooter could really be the ticket.

I personally use 3 to 6lb Sniper from Sunline. The 3lb is nutty thin. As I have stated on other posts on this subject, Sunline is IGFA rated and if you compare diameter to diameter the 3lb is scary thin. I have to be honest only had the guts to use the 3lb while fun fishing. If you spend a week with nothing but 4lb Sniper on your rod and you go to something like 5 or 6lb you feel like you have cable on there. It is all what you get use to. I have joked several times with buddies in tournaments that I "beefed" up today! Went from 4 to 5lb line. Also started playing with the Shooter Metan later in the year and that comes in 4, 4.5 and 5pd. Not quite at stiff as regular Shooter but has a camo look that the Japanese claim is invisible under the water. More so then regular fluorocarbon because this stuff is camo colored fluoro. Not sure if it is true underwater but it is almost impossible to see on a sunny day with human eyes.

As Fluker stated, if you use a light action rod you become amazed at how big a fish you can actually land on really light line. Think about it, we have all caught 3lb largemouth while ice fishing or spring crappie fishing with 2lb line. A soft rod is the key as stated.

[Fluker]

I'm familiar with the Shooter, and this goes back to my hatred with spinning reels. I do not like the Shooter on spinning reels. Too much memory for my taste. But you bring up a very good point that using it on my casting DS set up might be a good use. I just bought some at a good discount and wish I'd have bought some Shooter now.

I'm not familiar with the Metan. Sounds interesting and may have to check it out!

I also use Seaguar. I've been very happy with it on spinning reels. Triple Fish I didn't care for, Pline I was so so on, and the generic Cabela's stuff was TERRIBLE! I bought some Gamma in a high test rating and LOVED it on my pitching rod. I paid about 1/3 the price and if I can find it again at a discount, I'll buy more. But just can't justify buying it at full price.

[Saint Paul Dan]

I've never seen that shimano scorpion. Is that an older reel? Wow, a shimano bc reel that doesn't start with a 'C'.

[Deitz Dittrich]

SPD, its a reel made by Shimano Japan.. Shimano owns both companies but runs them separate.

[Saint Paul Dan]

I had never heard that before. I just looked on a site and there is another model of the scorpion that is only 6.2oz and can hold 110 yds of 12lb line!

[Fluker]

Just like Shimano US, they have some new models out there. The scorp in the pic is the older model. It very similar to the old Curado 100, but has a SF (wiffle) spool and external brake settings.

[RK]

Hiya -

I use 6# or 8# Triple Fish fluoro. (When do I use 6 vs 8? When I find the 6# spool first when it's time to spool up - there isn't a lot of difference so I grab what's handy...how's that for attention to detail ) Although to be honest I should use 8 more as I'm around rocks an awful lot when I dropshot. I like the way Triple Fish handles on the spool compared to other Fluoros I've tried (Gamma's not bad, Trilene 100% is dreadful, Vanish handles well but other than that I can't stand it...), and you can't beat the price compared to other brands. I've been happy with it.

Fluoro can be a pain on spinning gear sometimes, but it helps if you don't fill the spool quite as full as you would with mono. It helps keep the stuff from spilling off the spool as badly. Nice too because a spool of line goes a little farther that way, and it's not like you need a mile of line to drop shot anyhow - I bet my DS reels are 2/3 full of backing as it is... Also helps if you close the bail manually rather than using the handle. It gets to be habit pretty quickly.

Re: Scorpions - Fluker and Deitz have it right - the Scorpion like the one in Fluker's pic were made for the Japanese market in the 90s. Superfree bearings, wiffle spool, mag brakes. Awesome little reels for light stuff. We used to buy them from a place in CA that imported them from Japan. All the writing on the box and in the packaging lit is in Japanese. I was digging around in a box of junk the other day and found a Scorpion 1000 still in the box that I'd somehow managed to forget about. It was like Christmas...

Shimano has lots of Japanese market reels that they don't sell in the US (so do other mfgs like Garcia and Diawa for that matter.) Like the Metanium Mgs or the Antares (yours for a cool 68,000 yen - about $600US...) We used to buy hooks from Japan too, before you could get Gamakatsu or Owner hooks in the US. They used to come with plastic Mardi Gras beads in the box with the hooks, and we could never figure out what in the world the beads were supposed to be for. Finally found it that if they added beads they could register it as "mixed merchandise" with customs, and it cut the import duties in half. I bet I still have a box full of beads someplace... I should go to New Orleans and get rid of 'em sometime

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[turn_in_poachers]

I love my Shimano Conquest.

I have a buddy who dropshots with 12lb flurocarbon. He does really well. Ive also heard of "heavy dropshotting", 15-20lb test with swimbaits and such.