Drop shot walleyes on the reefs Lake of the Woods

I’ve never done it before but while up at the north-west angle of Lake of the Woods I want to give this a try!

Attachments:

1. 

   20150627_103801.jpg
   

I have caught walleyes drop shotting the Wingdams on Pool 2 in the Fall. I have also caught Walleyes drop shotting the reefs while targeting Smallmouth on Mille Lacs. I would think livebait would be a great presentation.

One comment on those VMC spinshots is I have had the swivels bend and eventually break after a few fish. I have had better luck with Gamakatsu hooks.

kwp wrote:

One comment on those VMC spinshots is I have had the swivels bend and eventually break after a few fish. I have had better luck with Gamakatsu hooks.

X2 –

Dave, for the last 10 years or so I found mid-summer patterns of walleyes holding tight in deep sand grass. Drop-shotting has been by far the best presentation I found for this. If you can find good clumps of sand grass, it seems setting the depth to about 4″ awbove the average grass height has been best for me.
I also got away from using the lightest possible weight and went heavier. Between boat movement, wind, and all the other factors, I’ve had the best success with it shaking Vs getting drug through the weeds on a gust of wind.

This product was discontinued years ago, but I bought about 140 bags when Culprit cleared them out. I’m down to about 8 bags left . But as a reference to match up to, this has been my #1 producer on a D/S with a leech being #2.

Attachments:

1. 

   DSCN6025.jpg
   

2. 

   DSCN6026.jpg
   

X2 Randy. When I retired my spot with Culprit on their panfish tackle side I did so with LOTS of the Gobi baits. I have quite a few yet hanging on the closet pegs. Not only are they a great drop shot bait but they work great on a jig. I love the Ghost color.

I have been drop shotting walleye on Rainy for years ,very effective .I use the VMC hooks I like to use a leech.Lunker city has some small minnow type baits that work real good here too.I watch my locater real close ,when I determine about how far they are off the bottom that’s the distance I set my weight from the hook,once I have the right depth I don’t jig it much just a little ,I like to keep the bait right on there nose.This presentation can be very deadly.One more thing I use fluorocarbon leader and a heavier sinker.
Good luck
BB2

Attachments:

1. 

   image41.jpg
   

Very good info you guys…

I will also be trying to use some of the trigger x plastics for bait as well !!!

Can a guy pre tie a bunch of dropshot rigs of varying lengths roll them on a tackle keeper? Then add a swivel at the top to just snap it on your line. That way you can change different set ups easier. What do you think?

aleb wrote:

Can a guy pre tie a bunch of dropshot rigs of varying lengths roll them on a tackle keeper? Then add a swivel at the top to just snap it on your line. That way you can change different set ups easier. What do you think?

Sounds like it would work to me !!

Drop shot rigs have produced our biggest eyes every year on Petenwell this time of year. We do about the same as everyone else has stated. Fluorocarbon leader to a vmc drop shot hook and a heavy enough weight to keep us perfectly vertical if needed. Position the boat directly over them and basically put it right in front of there nose sitting there with maybe a small wiggle hear or there. Such a fun way to fish.

Another side note. If you buy the actual drop shot weights that slide on and grab the line I find they don’t get tangled in the net as much. Only downside to this rig IMO.

Dave Koonce wrote:

aleb wrote:

Can a guy pre tie a bunch of dropshot rigs of varying lengths roll them on a tackle keeper? Then add a swivel at the top to just snap it on your line. That way you can change different set ups easier. What do you think?

Sounds like it would work to me !!

Instead of pre-tying leaders you guys might want to use adjustable weights.

Shur-Set Drop Shot Pencil Weights

These weights can be slid up and down the dropper line to adjust the distance the bait is fished above the bottom. I find they hold the line very, very well but they will slide off the line if you snag the weight which means you don’t loose your entire rig.

This style of drop shot weights are available in tungsten as well but a guy would have to be filthy with excess discretionary income to fish them on the rock reefs of LOTW. Plain lead for this guy… your mileage may vary.

PS – I picked up an assortment of the spin shot hooks as well and plan to give them a shot up on LOTW. I also nabbed some in 5/0 size to see if I can’t drop shot up a laker or two this summer on Superior using this technique.

Those are the same style of drop shot weights I make for myself as James shown in the link. just a FYI for guys using them for the first time. It doesn’t take a lot for them to cinch down on your line. I see guys pulling them too tight and they will cut your line. Most of the time you only need to lightly tug on them and your done.

Did you guys give the drop shooting a honest effort on LOTW?

Results?

Thanks!

No
lead core was going so well that I just never gave it a try…

This just means I’ll have to go back up to try !!

I will be up there this week and will be doing more jigging than trilling sonit looks like I will bring along the DS rig and give it a shot. There are many days on lotw that just holding ur bait steady 1ft of the bottom is the ticket and this would play well into the DS rig.

Jeff B wrote:

I will be up there this week and will be doing more jigging than trilling sonit looks like I will bring along the DS rig and give it a shot. There are many days on lotw that just holding ur bait steady 1ft of the bottom is the ticket and this would play well into the DS rig.

Good Luck Jeff !!!