Dropshot question

[MOPanfisher]

Not being much of a bass fisherman I have been trying to learn a new thing or three. Anyway the actual question is I see references to drop shotting for suspended fish, is there a benefit to drop shot suspended fish instead of dropping a basic jig crawler combo or jig minnow combo. If fish are on the bottom no question but not sure on suspended fish? Does it allow live bait to have more movement?

[jdmidwest]

Dropshotting is more precise than just jigging. Your bait is suspended at the depth you tie it on the line above the weight. The weight is on the bottom, the bait is suspended above at the same distance all of the time. You are putting it in the zone that the fish are suspended based on your graph, and keeping it there.

Jigging is just guesswork unless you are tapping the bottom and jerking up x amount of distance, consistantly.

[MOPanfisher]

So essentially you only drop shot if the fish are near the bottom, say within 3 feet? I thought I saw folks talking about drops shotting suspended fish 20 to 25 feet deep in 50 feet of water, but I may well have gotten it mixed up.

[5bites]

For me it's the precision of the fall. If you are cruising a flat looking for fish on your graph and you see a fish and let go of your line to drop the dropshotting to the fish, without a doubt that rig will go to where you intended. So when you back up with the trolling motor to get re-orientated you will be in position. I hope that makes sense. Think of it as a marker buoy at times. Also it drops to fish quickly unless you wacky rig your worm. One more thing is it is very streamlined in that your bait is all the fish see. No jig head or anything.

So it drops straight on target.

Drops quick.

Has a clean natural profile.

Does that make sense or help at all?

[5bites]

Oh and it's definitely good for fish at any depth in the water column.

[MOPanfisher]

Okay, a little more of a finesse presentation and better control. Does one work it like a jig or slower to not at all. Or more likely I assume it depends on what the fish want, if they don't like it still give it a little action?

[5bites]

So far I've only fished it vertically. Some guys here drag it and I need to put some time on that but just haven't. I impart no action at all usually. Sometimes I shake it but only for my own entertainment.

[Old plug]

I love to do it on LOZ. But I do it with 1/2 oz bell sinker tied on the end. A 0/4 hooks and Larger plastics like the magnum trick worm. Most of the time I just come up to to the edge of a dock and drop it straight down to the bottom. Then jiggle it a bit. If nothing happens. I retrieve it then try it again somewhere else on the dock. It is amazing how many times they will hit it as soon as it hits bottom. Only thing I have against it is sometimes that 1/2 bell sinker and hook can turn the rig into a awful tangled nightmare during the fight.

[fishinwrench]

For me it's the precision of the fall. If you are cruising a flat looking for fish on your graph and you see a fish and let go of your line to drop the dropshotting to the fish, without a doubt that rig will go to where you intended. So when you back up with the trolling motor to get re-orientated you will be in position. I hope that makes sense. Think of it as a marker buoy at times. Also it drops to fish quickly unless you wacky rig your worm. One more thing is it is very streamlined in that your bait is all the fish see. No jig head or anything.

So it drops straight on target.

Drops quick.

Has a clean natural profile.

Does that make sense or help at all?

Man that approach looks sweet in print, I'd love to see it work repeatedly in real life.

I pay zero attention to fish returns out on deep featureless flats because I assume they aren't just sitting there....they are on the move to somewhere else and will be 50' away from that spot way before I can get a bait in front of them.

[mjk86]

Less line twist and no pinch like a split shot rig. More finesse than a standard jig. More efficient cuz you use a heavier weight. I fish it vertically either just off the bottom or suspended. Ive caught fish on it over 150fow. That said its also just another vertical option. Some days I catch more with a split shot or spoon. Other days drop shot works better. Look at bablers old posts regarding drop shots. Its a good how to.