When To Use Drop Shop Fishing in the USA
A drop shot rig can be used to catch bass all year round, and at any depth. However, it performs best in summer and winter, when bass move into deeper water and become more lethargic. At these times, finesse drop shotting is the absolute top method for catching bass that are not feeding aggressively.
What is a drop shot and when is it used?
The drop shot rig provides the ability to keep a lure off the bottom, with weightless action. Usually the bait is fished by letting the weight hit the bottom and then shaking the lure by twitching the rod. But can also be flipped, dragged, hopped, or jigged along the bottom.
What is a drop shot used for?
When to Use It When you have been hitting with power: The drop shot is so effective during rallies or during multiple spells of rallies. The point is to catch your opponent when they least expect it, especially when they have been comfortable rallying with power from the baseline.
What kind of hook do you use for drop shot?
The size 2 is the most commonly used hook for the drop shot technique.
How long should a drop shot leader be?
“The leader is an important part of the drop-shot and that length can change depending on different variables,” Martens detailed. “If the water is really dirty, then I go with the shortest leaders I use, around 1 to 2 inches. In clear water where the visibility is around 20 to 30 feet, I go with 2- or 3-foot leaders.
What weight should I use for drop shot?
“Use the lightest weight you possibly can, and still be able feel your drop shot,” says Lee. “But as a rule of thumb, if you’re fishing less than 15-feet deep, try starting with a 1/4–ounce weight, and if you’re fishing those deep zones like 25 or 30 feet, it’s probably best to use a 3/8-ounce in most situations.”Aug 4, 2017.
Do you need a weight for bass fishing?
You’ll need a sinker or a weighted jighead to get a buoyant lure like a plastic worm or tube bait to the bottom and keep it there. Here’s a roundup of the various weights BASS pros use to get their lures into the strike zone. With tube baits, finesse worms and grubs, try a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce sinker or jighead.
When should you throw a rig?
“From the time water temperature dips below 65 degrees in fall until it climbs again above 65 degrees in the spring, it is one of the primary baits I throw.”Jan 21, 2020.
Can you drop shot with braided line?
Many will suggest that you should always drop-shot with braid because it is ultra-thin and thus, hard for the fish to see. Better yet, they’ll continue, braid doesn’t stretch so it’s highly sensitive, allowing you feel a fish sneeze. Unfortunately, all these advantages can add up to be too much of a good thing.
How do you tie a Palomar knot for drop shot?
Do you cast a drop shot rig?
Drop-shotting is not just for deep-water situations, try casting a drop-shot rig at weed edges and around floating docks. I cast the drop-shot rig to just about every place I would cast any other sub-surface plastic bait for bass.
How far should the weight be from the hook on a drop shot?
Depending on the depth, the distance from the hook to the weight needs to be adjusted. For shallower water, it is recommended to place your hook three to six inches above the weight. For deeper water, the hook can be adjusted to nine inches from the weight to no more than a foot and a half because of the leverage.
Can I use a circle hook for drop shot?
The key to drop-shotting is to maintain contact with the bottom. Unless the sonar is showing fish suspended high off the bottom – which requires a different technique – keep the sinker on the bottom and the bait just a 12 to 18 inches from the sinker. Using circle hooks means you don’t have to set the hook.
What is best action for a drop shot rod?
The best rod action for drop shot is fast action. You want to have a tip that’s soft enough to be able to impart subtle movements to your hook & bait. This requires a sensitive tip, which is why you shouldn’t go with extra-fast action for most drop shotting scenarios, since this comes with a tip that’s too stiff.
Do you need a leader for dropshot?
A drop shot rig consists of a hook with a leader anywhere from a couple of inches to a few feet below it attached to a weight. The dropshot is a basic presentation that will catch fish no matter where you go. It is a technique that every bass angler needs to know.
What is a shaky head in bass fishing?
A shaky head jig is a lightweight leadhead, with 1/16 to 1/4 ounce sizes being the most common. This ball-shaped jig is coupled with a light wire bass-style hook, making the use of finesse plastic baits a reality.
How deep should you fish for bass?
While productive depths during the early summer are dependent on the lake, I like 6 to 12 feet of water. During the height of summer, bass may move as deep as 15 or 20 feet, especially in clear water. Fishing crankbaits along weed edges is a proven summertime tactic for big largemouths.
What’s the best bait for bass?
What is the best bait for largemouth bass? In terms of live bait, fish (like shiners, minnows, or shad) and crawfish work very well since these are what bass usually eat. Because largemouth bass are carnivorous, the best artificial baits tend to be those that mimic their prey in some way.
Should I use a leader for bass fishing?
For bass fishing per se, you don’t need to use a wire leader, as their teeth do not manage to cut through fluorocarbon line. But in waters that hold a lot of pike or musky, using a thinner wire leader of 10-12lb can reduce the risk of getting bite-offs significantly.
Is dropshot good for trout?
Drop shotting allows you to get the best of both worlds, a real-life trout bait and a trout lure. Worms generally kick hard once hooked, so the main idea behind using them as a dropshot bait is to allow you to cover water more effectively without having to think about how much action to impart in the bait.
Can you drop shot with live bait?
The drop-shot rig is best known for gently presenting soft-plastic lures, but with a few tweaks, the same setup can present live bait, especially minnows, to bass. For soft-plastic lures, tie a drop-shot hook in sizes No. 1 to 2/0, to your line with a Palomar knot, leaving the tag end long.