Post By: Little D Posted: 6/16/2012 8:37:03 PM Points: 738
Well after catching some smallmouth from Union last week I'm thinking of going back up this week in the float tube and trying for them that way.. I'm gonna try the drop shot rig for the first time and was wondering if any of you who have used it have any suggestions... Right now, from what I've read, I should be using 6lb Flouro with a number 1 size gamagatzu drop shot hook and a 1/4 to 3/8 ounce drop shot weight... I wanna try to get the bait right in the fishes face and from what I've read this is the best way to do it. Does that look like it'll work or does some one else with more experience have any other suggestions? Thanks for the help
Reply by: pbs Posted: 6/17/2012 12:01:58 AM Points: 3334
Little D...sounds like you did your homework on the drop shot rig. All I can add is this you-tube video to watch.....hope this helps some. Good luck to you!
Reply by: kirbydog Posted: 6/17/2012 8:20:22 AM Points: 69
To start, you should try with the bait 8-12" above the sinker. A finesse worm works good. The bite is usually not a hard one, more like the line just gets heavy. With an exposed hook you don't need a cross their eyes hookset, a sweep set will do.
Reply by: tatonka Posted: 6/17/2012 10:35:23 AM Points: 468
I drop with a #6 Gama circle hook. Mini flukes, gulp minnows, live leeches all work well. Short sweeping hook set is all that is needed, hook in the lip everytime.
Reply by: Little D Posted: 6/17/2012 6:14:34 PM Points: 738
Thanks for the suggestions guys went out today and picked up the stuff for it... With being out in a belly boat I won't be fishing much live bait so I picked up some Gulp! Alive 3" Leeches, Some Gulp! Alive Minnows, and some of the powerbait shaky worms... from what I've read those should do the trick..Thanks again!
a little twist that has worked for me with smallies: same set up but replace the wieght with a weedless rigged small craw imitation, they work as attracters for eachother and as you probably know, when you have a smallie on there is usually another following it. opprotunity for doubles!
Reply by: Little D Posted: 6/20/2012 2:42:34 PM Points: 738
Thanks Dangly! Should I still tie a palmer knot or no? because I was reading a similar presentation idea like this but someone said that the knot used for the top hook will leave the flouro weak and if a fish bites the bottom jig it will have a higher chance of breaking... any ideas? Thanks again!
I use a stand out drop shoting hook, and have had no problems. but I do not tie a pollamer on my upper hook, I just feed a loop, through the hook eye and wrap it back around, this allows me to adjust the distance from my wieght/ bottom lure to my upper bait easily.
Reply by: Little D Posted: 6/23/2012 4:08:35 PM Points: 738
Well guys fished union and I did alright for my first time using the drop shot rig.. Landed 3 smallies on it (none of any real size) and had a good time. What I really did good with though was 3in Berkely power tubes dragged along the bottom. Caught 5 fish this way and a decent smallmouth at 14 inches ( maybe 15 but didn't have a scale. Will post pictures once I get the downloaded!
Reply by: bayprowla Posted: 6/24/2012 11:48:48 AM Points: 175
I always have a drop shot rig tied on . I use a 7 ft rod with 4 lb Seguar flouro carbon usually with a 1/8 weight , My main lures are a 4 inch fat Robo worm in morning dawn color or a Yamamoto 3.5 cut tail worm in watermellon .Givem a try .One tip is I fish off shore and cast pretty far out so if you do this tie your drop shot abut 24 " above your weight , if you tie it 12 inches and have your line on a big angle when you cast , the lure is almost on the bottom .Tying it higher will keep it raised off the bottom .
Bayprowla is right...if you tie it 12 inches and have your line on a big angle when you cast , the lure is almost on the bottom .Tying it higher will keep it raised off the bottom
Reply by: Little D Posted: 6/24/2012 5:40:47 PM Points: 738
Thanks for the tip! I was pretty much vertically jigging it and not using very big jigging motions almost letting it just dead stick. When I did cast it wasn't very long but more of just a short pitch to a pile of rocks or some sort of structure on the bottom. Do you recommend the longer casts with this rig?
there are a couple ways to fish it . I wouldn't jig it . Try casting out ( i like to get my lure out out there far as i can unless i have a certain spot im fishing but thats just me ) Drag the sinker on the bottom ( raise the rod tip then lower the rod tip and reel the slack in and repeat ) , use the sinker as a way to tell what kind of bottom it is , sand , rocks ,weeds etc. .If i am fishing a spot and dragging it in and its a soft bottom and all of a sudden i feel rocks or weeds i stop and let it sit there and twitch it a little ,noting crazy just jiggle the rod tip . you will also sometimes get bites just letting it sit there . It depends on the fishes mood. This is what the drop shot produces .( caught this one on the morning dawn color robo worm)
Reply by: Little D Posted: 6/24/2012 8:06:15 PM Points: 738
I will definitely give that a try next time! I use the same drag technique you described above with tube jigs for smallmouth so it shouldn't be that hard to pick up on. Thanks again and great looking fish!
