Drop Shot

[bourbeusefisher]

I am reading post that people are catching nice Kentuckys on the rig and I would like to try this setup since I have never tried it. My question is, how much line to I leave from my sinker to my hook? In one post I read that Bill Babler said the fish are in 26-40 foot range. Do I make the distance between my sinker and hook that long? I understand that I am going to be using my depth finder to find the fish but besides that I am kinda lost.

Thanks for the help

Kenny

[op79]

Cut about a 2ft sec of line off tie on a swivel attach section, i use clinch not, (wet the line before tightening) then tie on hook using palomar knot leaving tag end, attach sinker on tag end about a ft below the hook adjust the distance as needed. There is a drop shot hook with a swivel built into it i had some and they work well.good luck

[Quillback]

Here's an Aaron Marten video on basic DS setup. I use a Palomar rather than the double-uni that he uses, but I'm used to tying Palomar knots. There is a bazillion videos on the DS out there, use Google and type in "Drop Shot video".

http://www.advancedangler.com/featurearticle.asp?Selectvalue=Aaron%20Martens%20Setting%20Up%20the%20Dropshot

Read some of Bill Babler's reports on this forum as to the type of lake structure is the best for the DS on Table Rock.

Zoom finesse worms and Yamamto 4" cut tails have been working for me lately.

[Bill Babler]

Couple of quick point I have learned with years of drop shot usage and 1000's of fish to the boat on it. First, I like a 7' spinning rod. This enables me to move the complete outfit out and around the trolling motor if I need to. Personally I prefer a 2500 series reel. I am using either a Sustain or a Stradic. The drag systems are just heaver and more refined with this size reel. I always spool with 8 Pound test Maxima. It is by far one of the fienst mono-lines for a spinning reel, with absolute ZERO memory.

From my main line I always tie a 3' section of 10 pound fluracarbon line usually invesX to use as the drop shot. My first move is to use a ball baring swivel like the Sampo. Usually a size 12. I tie the FC Leader onto one end of the Swivel with a palamar and then tie the other end of the swivel to the main line. This big ball bearing swivel complete eliminates line twists.

I know you all have questions on why my leader is heaver than my mainline. Easy reason first is I Like the abrasion resitance of the heaver line, expecially for toothy critters line Kitty's and Eye's. Second the heaver line and I will go up to 12 pound falls better and straighter than the 8 pound and keeps the bait from ever wrapping around the main line. Believe me the less tangles or broken lines the better. Lastly most often line breakage 99% of the time occurs at the hook, so the heaver line helps me there. Most of my breakoffs occur on the last run a fish makes. You get him wound up and are just getting ready to net him when he makes a power dive and breaks the line. A Small Jaw will do this 9 out of 10 times. The heaver line helps to solve the problem big time, along with the smooth drags of the Shimano reels..

Now from the Swivel down the leader bo about 18" and tie a size 1 dropshot hook onto the leader with a palamar. Thread the line thru the hook eye with the hook facing you. This will help in making the hook point up when the bait is attached and finished. If per chance the hook is facing down, simply run the end tag line back thru the hook while it is facing you and it will turn the hook upright.

I like a 3/8th. ball DS weight, as it gets where it is going quick. Most folks use a 1/4 but I'll take the 3/8th. everytime. It also lets the shot drop ffall faster and straighter. It also maintains more tention on the rodtime and give you a better feel of the bait.

For baits I either prefer a Chompers 4" dropshot worm or a Yamamoto 4 inch cuttail worm, you choise the color. TR fish always line purple or flecks or shades of it, in a bait are most always a plus.

If you get a chance go out with a dropshotter and see how they rig and that first hand knowledge is worth more than anyting I could ever tell you. From hook setting to presentations.

Good Luck

[johndarin]

I have only started the drop shot this year but I love the VMC Spinshot hooks. They have a swivel built in and it is quick and easy to rig up.

[johnboy2bfishin]

Bill

When you pick a rod for ds what kinda action do you prefer? The rods that are designed for ds or something else?

[bourbeusefisher]

Wow thanks for all the help I will let everyone know how it goes!

[Bill Babler]

I use a 7' Falcon Cenduri, they are no long made. I wish i had a dozen of them, but the Cara Dropshot rod is very nice. I like a very sensitive tip with a bit of an easy midsection, that has some bend when a fish is on and a very strong butt section from about a foot above the handle clear thru the handle. You for sure do not want a ful flex rod or a extremely fast solid rod either. Most of these dropshot rods are medium to medium lite.

The hook set, using the circle dropshot hook is just a lift, never a snap or hard jerk. Just lift. Remember when setting the hook, that the bait is only about 30 ft. from you and you just don't need to pull it to hard.

Good Luck

[powerdive]

...and people get all wigged out about fishing "deep" water, but 30 feet--if you're sitting up front, just look back at your motor and double the distance, and you're there. Not so far, is it? Ten yards on a football field.

[dwiebenga]

I agree...the depth seems odd at times, but this is an effective technique.

I have a fairly economic rig

Falcon Lowrider Dropshot rod

Shimano Symetre

8lb Maxima

8lb Floro leader (approx. 3 feet)

lots of Chomper drop shot worms

I have used this technique all they way into November and anywhere from 22-100 feet.

I can not emphasize the importance of a good graph. Really makes a defference.