drop shot help!

[markgoetsch]

Always a swivel especially in current and deep water. The key is don't use cheap swivels buy highend ball bearing swivels and use bigger ones that won't go through your guides.  Again people always get crazy about fish being line shy and seeing hooks and such.  I don't think the fish put that much thought into it.  Heck I've even seen a smallie attack a maple leaf floating down the river!

[markgoetsch]

All good reasons. So then are you reeling the uni to uni knot through any guides at all? How long of a flouro leader do you use?

I might do it a little different than some... I grab the spool of floro and pull off 2 arm lengths... so about 6-8 feet or so.  And yes, the knot often goes thru several guides but the way I cast my drop shot is different than most.  I more or less flip it underhand by grabbing the weight, loading up the end of the rod, and "flipping" it out.  Very accurate this way since I often target docks and isolated cover with my drop shot.  You will never see me thow it overhand... side arm maybe but never over hand/head.  I once had the weight come back and snap off the end of my rod when casting it overhand.

If that is mostly what you do with it why not use a baitcaster to pitch to docks and cover?

[Waterfoul]

All good reasons. So then are you reeling the uni to uni knot through any guides at all? How long of a flouro leader do you use?

I might do it a little different than some... I grab the spool of floro and pull off 2 arm lengths... so about 6-8 feet or so.  And yes, the knot often goes thru several guides but the way I cast my drop shot is different than most.  I more or less flip it underhand by grabbing the weight, loading up the end of the rod, and "flipping" it out.  Very accurate this way since I often target docks and isolated cover with my drop shot.  You will never see me thow it overhand... side arm maybe but never over hand/head.  I once had the weight come back and snap off the end of my rod when casting it overhand.

If that is mostly what you do with it why not use a baitcaster to pitch to docks and cover?

I can only throw a bait caster for short periods most days due to lingering effects (arthritis) from a stroke in 2006.  I just don't have the strength in my left hand anymore.  Sucks in Missouri when we throw alabama rigs a lot.  I have to rotate constantly to a spinning rod.  And, I suck at baitcasting with my right hand!!

[markgoetsch]

Well that's a good reason.

[Big dreams]

You would lose sensitivity if you used a baitcaster.  Spinning rods are so much more sensitive.

[jjjmpv22]

Very enlightening thanks for sharing. Something im aiming to get into this fall on natural lakes.

I feel drop shot can be used on all kinds of lakes. I have had great success fishing the drop shot on almost every body of water I have tried it on.

[markgoetsch]

You would lose sensitivity if you used a baitcaster.  Spinning rods are so much more sensitive.

Absolutely not.  If you have an equally quality baitcaster as your DS rod I would say you have more sensitivity with a baitcaster and you can place your cast more accurately.  I DS with a baitcaster often (even in open water) and I like the added control when you're dealing with bigger fish.

[Team houston]

I totally agree with the post right above.

[Redbone]

I disagree.

I place my hand on the rod above the reel. This gives it almost perfect balance. It also puts my hand directly on the blank of the rod ahead of the reel seat.

With that being said, my partner uses a bait casting rod with success.

[bigmojet]

With  a spinning rod I always keep a finger on the line right off the spool mouth for sensitivity. I like using Fenwick spinning rods cause the have a longer fore grip which I can put my whole hand in front of reel when vertical fishing.

[PineLk 49]

Do you guys use braid flouro combo on clear lakes? I am one of those guys that believe that line is everything on clear water. I use flouro 8# only because it is a confidence thing.

Will you use a longer leader with braid in this situation or is set up the same?

Dave

[bigmojet]

This year I ran 6# 832 suffix braid with 6' 6# Berkeley 100% floro tied with double uni with good success. In the spring I caught a lot of big fish with no breakage issues.

I would usually tie a new leader each time out though cuz knot running thru guides always bugged me.

[bigjc]

Just out of curiosity, is the yellow line to more easily detect bites or what?

Not sure about drop shotting, but for vertical jigging for walleye in the Detroit River, I use nothing but yellow high vis. braid.  Reason is that it is so easy to see in any weather condition, which aids in maintaining boat control.

[Waterfoul]

Do you guys use braid flouro combo on clear lakes? I am one of those guys that believe that line is everything on clear water. I use flouro 8# only because it is a confidence thing.

Will you use a longer leader with braid in this situation or is set up the same?

Dave

I use it everywhere, in every water condition.  With a 6' leader your bait is about 5' from the braid and there isn't a fish in a lake that will NOT hit your bait because of that braid up the line.