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Proper Dropshot Retrieve?

Do you guys think theres a "proper" way to retrieve your dropshot?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on April 20, 2011 at 6:36pm

Maybe you should try it sometime, maybe you could do better than the two dinks your holding in you avatar picture.......LOL yeah Joel I got your back!

Drew Wilson said:

Dropshots for quitters Joel

Permalink Reply by Dan Johnson on April 20, 2011 at 6:41pm

any of you guys ever drop shot for chicks ?

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on April 20, 2011 at 6:51pm

Here is my default setup, the place that I start. I usually start with an 8 to 12 inch leader, atleast that is what I think it is, I don't really measure it I just have a long tag end and attach a 1/4 oz. quickdrop where I think it should be. The hook is your preference but I prefer size 4 gamakatsu or the size 1/0 I don't mess with anything in between.

Now your question was how I retrieve it, I usually start out by fishing it fast and slowing down if I am not getting bit. If I get bit on the drop I speed it up more so that the bait comes up off the bottom swimming your bait and then after about 5 feet I let it touch down on bottom again. Now if I can't get bit this way I slow down, I still shake my rod I just slow the reel speed down. I start getting slower and slower as I am getting no bites.

Now their is one other deal breaker, SHAKE OR NOT TO SHAKE. I have seen this really make a difference. Slowly drug with no shakes can be deadly at times or a swim with no shakes as well. The guy that catches them best usually plays around with retrieves and figures out the mood of the fish faster than anyone else. Figuring out the correct retrieve for the day is greatly sped up if you have a partner with you, I like to shake my bait, my partners (dad and Wolsky) are really not shakers, and at times they kick my butt and others I kick theirs. If there are two guys in the boat that drop shot the same, I think it is hinderance if you are trying to figure out the puzzle.

Sinker sizes is another variable that can be a deal breaker, I have seen 3/4 oz. quick drops be THE DEAL in shallow water, less than 8 feet and I have seen 1/8 oz quick drops be THE DEAL in 50 feet, you don't know this unless you try it and vary the retrieve and all the components and other nuances of the drop shot rig, I want to reitterate again what Tag said it is a puzzle, if you are willing to experiment and expand your comfort zone with this technique the more productive it will be for you.

Joel Alinen said:

Ha ya I know it depends on what the fish want. I usually start with the slow drag/shake and work from there, but dropshot fishing has been a frustration for me of late. The more I learn and experience on the water the more complex it gets. Somedays they'll wack it on the fall, other times they wack it swimming, others times they want it hopped back, other times they want it drug back, and my favorite...sometimes they want it dead sticked....I really hate that ...then you have to worry about proper dropshot weight and leader length...just so many more variables!

Ron do you think theres a good starting point to begin with when fishing the dropshot? I'm sure it depends on all the variables such as season, weather, depth, ect? Maybe how do you fish it different when presented the lure to fish you marked on you graph vs fish on a dock vs fish scattered on flats?

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on April 20, 2011 at 7:21pm

So what you're telling me that it is really 4"? Thats funny! No I use a leader that is about 2 to 3 times longer than a 4" robo worm, so I guessed at 8 to 12.

Clif Kincaid said:

All I read was you think its 8-12" but you don't measure. Maybe you look at it "long arm style" also.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on April 22, 2011 at 11:11am

Drew just messing with you, you caught those fish on a drop shot didnt you?

Drew Wilson said:

As I recall Joel said,Dropshots for quitters about a year ago, on one of these posts.Haha I'm just joking around, I thought that was one of the funniest things I've ever heard haha.

PS.Stop looking at my smallmouth fingerlings in my aviatar photo.

Ronald Hobbs, Jr. said:

Maybe you should try it sometime, maybe you could do better than the two dinks your holding in you avatar picture.......LOL yeah Joel I got your back!

Drew Wilson said:
Dropshots for quitters Joel

Permalink Reply by RFatt16 on April 22, 2011 at 1:19pm

I was always told if you shake it more than twice your playing with it......does that same rule apply here?

Clif- Those very hurtful words you typed made a tear roll down my cheek......just messing with you........cwatididthere

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on April 22, 2011 at 7:24pm