BRAND AND STYLE

what brand and style of drop-shot weights do you prefer and why? also what size and style of hook do you prefer? just curious what everyone else uses –tim

Usually I just use the cheaper round lead sinkers with the inserts – one exception is when I am fishing the drop-shot on beds in stained water – then I will use tungsten so I can feel my sinker coming off the silt and on to the bed. Nine time out of 10 I am using a #2 Gamakatsu octopus hook and nose-hooking the bait.

1/0 owner mosquito hook with a 3/16 round weight most of the time. I do a lot of dropshotting and never had a huge problem with hang-ups. BUT I’m also using fireline with a fluorocarbon leader so I am able to snap the weight free a little easier than if I were running straight mono

how long of leader do you like to use???

Always, always use Gamakatsu Drop Shot hook, usually in size 2 or 4. Why the small size? I nose hook the bait and the smaller the hook the harder it is for them to throw it.

As far as weights go, like above usually the round style, 95% of time 3/16 but will move up or down as wind/current demands.

My leader is usually 8 to 18 inches. Usually start around a foot and go from there.

Mack, where do you find those owner downshot hooks? I fished with a guy on erie who used em, but haven’t seen em at any local shops.

link w/ part #’s

Crawdaddy, Almost all Ganders should have them hooks!!

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Always, always use Gamakatsu Drop Shot hook, usually in size 2 or 4. Why the small size? I nose hook the bait and the smaller the hook the harder it is for them to throw it.

As far as weights go, like above usually the round style, 95% of time 3/16 but will move up or down as wind/current demands.

My leader is usually 8 to 18 inches. Usually start around a foot and go from there.

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I suck at drop-shotting, where do you guys apply it on the river? I have only hooked one fish on it here on the river, but I know a lot of people use it so I’m wondering where are they using it, I fish it alot with minimal success.

aWelter23,

I think what might be occurring is that you are using the drop shot in higher current areas on the river. I use mine a lot on pool 4 on Pepin but in traditional river situations you need to find slower deeper holes to use the drop shot in. Just my two cents. I admit I have not used it much on the river but when you find just the right situation is can be as good as anything. But whenever faced with normal summer current or more I go to something else that is more traditional bottom stuff. In heavy current it seems like the drop shot gets moved around to much and isn’t as effective.

I notice you live in Madison if so try it on the chain. I have used it a lot there and had great success with it. Just follow your weedline and you will catch fish. Perhaps not as big as usual but it is a finesse rig that generally doesn’t catch the size of a traditional heavy jig or crank will. Not to say I haven’t caught nice fish because I have but not as regular as the power options.

But don’t worry you don’t suck on the river with the drop shot. It just isn’t the best tech. for current. Just my humble opinion.

awelter, Shimano is right on the money – if you are struggling with it on the Madison Chain shorten your leader length – rarely do I go longer than 8″, sometimes 4″. When fish are glued to the bottom, often they do not going to want to travel far travel far to grab an itty bitty worm – put it in their face and you will be fine. If you fish the gravel bottom by Hog Island on Waubesa with this rig, you WILL get bit.

Hey Gregg,

How much did you use it that weekend we fished the chain that weekend?

Darin

Hi Darin,
I whacked them pretty good on the drop shot on that 16 foot gravel ledge – those fish got spanked real hard in the Saturday Big Bucks Bass tournament though.

I started dropshoting last year and had pretty good luck using Lindy no Snag weights. The reason I started using these weights is because it works very well on wing damns and rip rap shore lines. I dont know if it is the right thing to do but it works for me

I actually have never fished the madison chain, although I would love to. I live in Madison this fall\winter for school, Prairie du Chien is my hometown! I’m a riverrat through and through! So anybody willing to hook me up on the Madison Chain this spring, your more than welcome to!

If you are going to be in school in Mad town find someone that needs a partner for the Madison Bass weekly tourney…….You could learn a bunch.

when do they usually start? I’m outta there in May.

They start the first Wednesday after the season opens. So you will either just be leaving or already gone. I don’t know maybe if I am living back in Verona this summer, you will have to make a few trips up on Wednesday’s!

You might be able to get a few in before you leave……look on their website.

When I lived there I used to go down near the zoo on wingra pre-season and fish for “crappie” with a #2 mepps spinner. I would keep a couple of crappie just in case sombody thought I was actually fishing for Bass and catching “crarrie” by mistake.