Drop Shotting

[springlakebassman]

Today was my first attempt at the drop shot.  I picked a good legal lake to try it on and overall had a decent experience.  I have two questions. First, should I reel set a fish or give them a sweep set of the hook? I lost a lot of fish I feel because of this.  Second, what is a good bait to put on the hook? I found some finesse worms deep in my boat that seemed to work alright.

[fishonfly]

I put the Prey Shot Shaker in my old Berkley Gulp Bags.  Sounds nuts but I think the "scent" helps them hold on a little longer, as advertised, and the Prey hand pours are differnt then anything they have seen.

As far as the hook set, I have been reeling them up tight and doing ok, not saying that is the right thing.

Good Luck.

http://www.preylures.com/

[Revtro]

Gotta say the dropshot tube from Xtreme has been awesome this season.  I nose hook it on a 1/0 Gamakatsu Drop Shot hook.  Personally I favor a sweeping hookset.  My partner and have been fishing dropshots side by side.  I sweep set the hook and he reels it.  He loses more than I do and when he does get them in the boat the hook isn't set very well.  Most of the time it falls out of the mouth into the net...not good. 

[smbassman]

Hookset does depend on the hook also.  A circle hook requires and slow reeling hookset.  For a dropshot/mosquito/wide gap finesse hook I usually reel down until the line is tight and as soon as I feel weight, I let them have it.  I use Med.lt rods so if you are using a heavier rod, you should lay off a little on the light line.

[DDBethke]

Set it... I believe your drag is the most important thing and depending on what line you use you need to adjust your drag as well.

Here something I learned (the hard way) that may help you.

Mono - if you are you using mono set your drag a little bit tighter due to the elasticity or line stretch.

Flourocarbon - Set your drag a little bit looser due to the lack of stretch.

I don't think there is a "wrong" bait to use...

Duane

[Slipkey]

Your weight size is also a big factor in feeling bites.  I've played around with lighter weights but usually fish with a 3/8 oz weight now because it stays on the bottom, gets down fast, and allows me better feel of the bait.

If you're experimenting with leader lengths, weights, and plastics, one money saver in lieu of expensive badukan weights is to purchase a roll of hollow lead wire like this (You can find it locally for a buck or two less), cut it off to 3/8 oz or so and crimp it down lightly on the line.  When you lose a badukan weight it often takes everything below it, but when you lose one of these to a snag, they tend to slide off and leave the length of your leader.  When practicing around or experimenting, this can save some time as well.  A weight with a built-in swivel is still the way to go, once you get things figured out.

As for hooks and hooksets.  I tend to use a #4 Gamakatsu Octopus for most plastics and move up to a #2 Wide Gap Finnesse hook for bigger stuff like darters and large goby imitators.  Reel down and a firm sweep-set seems to work best for me.

[DOWD]

Here is my setup for dropshoting.
St. Croix Avid Drop shot rod.
Quantum Cat. size 30 reel
14 pound Fireline with 15 pound Seagur 4 foot leader tied on using Double Uni knot
#1 Mutu hook
3/8 or 1/2 oz round drop shot weight, hand poured.
When I feel the weight of the fish I just start reeling, the Mutu hook is designed to grab the fish's mouth, skin or whatever then when you apply a slight pressure the hook penetrates.
And I drop shot just about any bait. Believe it or not, I have caught smallies using a cigerette butt on the drop shot.

[Cheetam]

...Believe it or not, I have caught smallies using a cigerette butt on the drop shot.

Menthol or regular?  Hey, there's coffee flavored tubes now, why not a menthol flavored dropshot bait?  I hear they are really addictive 

[dashaver63]

I use those stand-out drop shot hooks. They are good hooks, I don't lose fish on them but the line tends to wrap around it. My problem is when I want to use a bigger hook, I tie the palomar knot but can never get the hook to hang straight. Any tips on that?

[Revtro]

When using a regular drop shot hook, tie the knot, then run the tag end thru the hole again to make the hook face upwards.  Works like a charm. 

[motocross269]

I'm with Rev...I drop shot combat tackle's 2.5 inch tube...
I use a 7 foot medium action rod with crystal fireline and 8lb xps Flourocarbon

I use 2/0 gamy ewg
It is the same set up I use for my tubes.
As far as hook sets go I just reel down on them and let them have it.  I was struggling with burying the hook in the larger fish and my boater at the state fish off told me to tighten down my drag.  After I did that my hookup percentage went way up.  I think my drag was loosening up some after fighting a fish and I wasn't tightening it back down when I went to fish.

[WayneC]

I struggled with the drop-shot last year but that's all turned around now.  I'm working with a 6'6" medium spinning rod right but would prefer to go up to 7' or 7'6" medium spinning as soon as finances allow.  A 1/0 hook was an upgrade this year and so was a switch to 10 lb. test.  I use a co-polymer but don't think that matters as much as using the line you have confidence in.  Since moving up to 10 lb., I can set the hook hard and don't have the hook falling out of the fish like before.  Also, a pencil weight on a snap at the bottom keeps me fishing instead of re-rigging.  My friends that use the official "drop shot" weights are reaching in their box for more all day long.  I've had staff tell me they used up to 4/0 hooks, nose hooked 4" tubes and really got on 'em.  Play with the distance from the bottom of the rig up to the bait.  You might find confidence in a distance that isn't what you read in magazines or books, but works best for you.  Have fun!

[springlakebassman]

Thanks for all the Info guys.  This site has been a great help!

[Mojo]

I just started the tournament circuits, learning a ton, but I'll say this: When fishing for Smallies 6 ft deep or greater, or in the rivers with current, nothing is more effective on the flats or in the rocks than Drop shot .. put it at least next to Tubes. You'll miss more weeds & zebra mussels dont nick your line to heck.

set up:

Rod: ultra sensitive tip on a Med backbone rod. Any rod (and my 6'0" is a prime example) that has a good soft tip will do. My next rod is a 7'2" Shimano Crucial. Fenwick HMG 7'0" MFT is my tube rod it slays em on drop shot too.

Line and Sinker: 10 lb flouro and as light a pencil sinker as possible while still being able to feel the bottom. Current will tell you when to bump up an 1/8th. I usually start at 3/8 on St Clair and end up with a 1/2 in the faster current. Wayne is 100% on pencils, I lost a box of the diamond shape and and a box of plum shapes in 2 tournaments.

Hook: (very important) I use a 2, sometimes a 1 Gama ewg - stay off the octopus because the bait doesnt want to stay horizontal. Revtro is on target with knotting back throught he eye. Makes all the difference.

Bait: I started with Poor Boys Goby magic, but I was schooled one day against a softer goby. So get ahold of McCarter and his hand pour Gobies. The action is off the charts, plus he's a pretty neat guy. He has colors specific for St Clair, the Channels and Erie. Lots of folks like Gulp green pumpkin but I always catch em short or bump with the bait. Maybe they attract aggressive fish too well. All I can say is Purple flake works for me - Motor oil or green pumpkin with white, gold and purple flakes.

I reel down to the weight, 45 degree rod, and because I'm on flouro with a 6'0", I 'reel set' the hook. Only because if they miss, I can put it down right back in front of them.