Dropshot Depression

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by BigBass Dez on May 18, 2009 at 4:01pm

HERE IS A GOOD ACTICLE THAT MAY HELP ..

Every bass angler is faced with the problem at some time — shallow fish and heavy pressure. You know where the fish are holding, but so does every other angler on the water. You're the third or fourth boat to fish a spot in a matter of hours. What to do?

"When you're fishing behind other boats and targeting heavily pressured fish, try the power drop shot," says Elite Series pro Jared Lintner, currently ranked third in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.

"It's a conventional drop shot setup — hook tied to a tag line above a drop shot sinker — only using heavy tackle and big baits. I start with 20-pound-test line and a 1/4-ounce sinker. If the water is really clear I may downsize to 15-pound-test fluorocarbon, but that's as low as I ever go."

Lintner normally rigs a big plastic bait — full-size Zoom Brush Hog, 5-inch Yamamoto Senko or maybe a 10-inch worm — on a 4/0 hook. He starts by suspending the hook and bait 12 to 15-inches above the sinker on a very short tag line. He'll quickly adjust his depth or tag line, however, depending upon what the fish tell him.

"With some experience, you can handle this rig pretty well with a medium-heavy flippin' stick," he advises.

Lintner first began experimenting with the power drop shot on his home waters. He needed something that would fool educated California bass, something he could flip or pitch into shallow water. To find that something, Lintner studied the problem carefully over the course of several seasons.

"Everyone was pitching and flipping the same baits with the same rigs. Every bass in the lake had watched a hundred Brush Hogs or Senkos fall to the bottom. I'd see a big fish, pitch or flip one to her, and then watch her slowly swim away. Most of the time she wasn't spooked or scared, just disinterested — couldn't have cared less. It was frustrating."

He reasoned that by suspending a bigger bait off the bottom he could give it a different look. If small, finesse baits on a drop shot rig worked in deep water why wouldn't big, heavy baits work on that same rig in shallow water? Why not give it a try?

He did. It worked.

"I cashed a check in three Elite Series tournaments this year that I otherwise wouldn't have without the power drop shot. In one event, I was behind three other boats and still catching quality fish. They'll eat it, I guarantee that!"

Permalink Reply by David Parnicky on May 18, 2009 at 4:37pm

Very cool article! Nice find Dez!

Permalink Reply by Ben Hanes on May 18, 2009 at 5:08pm

Dez,
Great article. Thank You. I've considered this application, but I couldn't get the fish I wanted applying a heavier weight and bait. I'm concerned the finesse setup won't work with a baitcaster, and I'm not familiar with using braided line or heavier line on a spinning outfit. Any thoughts on braided line or other heavier lines used on a spinning rod? I know there's a lot of downsides to braided lines, and it might be a nightmare trying to dropshot with it, but I don't know.

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on May 18, 2009 at 6:09pm

Ben,

Try using 20# braid with a fluorocarbon leader. Use whatever size fluoro you feel is appropriate for the cover you are fishing. Use a Slim Beauty knot to attach your fluorocarbon leader to the braid. Many of the snook and redfish guys use this knot religiously due its impact strength and durability. It is an excellent splice, easy to tie and I have yet to have a failure. Although it is not 100% necessary, I like to use a dab of super glue to lock the knot and offer additional protection/abrasion resistance in cover. One feature I really like about this knot is that the tag ends face back towards the reel so they do knot catch on the guides during the cast. Here is a diagram and video clip for tying the Slim Beauty knot:

Note: You can tie this knot without doubling up the main line as well.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.netknots.com/asse...

Permalink Reply by Ben Hanes on May 18, 2009 at 6:14pm

Tag,
Thank you. Good info. Any suggestions on brands for braids? What is the reason for the leader on the braid (& how long should it be)? Is it for softer hooksets?

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on May 18, 2009 at 6:50pm

Hey Ben,

Power Pro is tough to beat in the lighter lb. tests.

You can definitely use straight braid. However, I've found that the fluoro performs a little better in wood cover than braid, which has a tendency to dig into the wood. If you are using a light wire hook, the fluoro will act a shock absorber to help prevent straightening the hook or ripping it out.

Ben Hanes said:

Tag,
Thank you. Good info. Any suggestions on brands for braids? What is the reason for the leader on the braid (& how long should it be)? Is it for softer hooksets?

Permalink Reply by Keith Brooks on May 18, 2009 at 7:30pm

I like to drop shot largies when I get out to potholes. The setup I have found to work well for me is a seven foot medium action rod, either spinning or baitcasting, with 10 pound test mono, 1/8 to 3/16 sinker, 1/0 or 2/0 EWG, and a 5 inch Zoom Lizard. I have found that if you just put pressure on the fish as you would a smallie in open water they will usually swim out from the cover, if you set the hook like your jig fishing they will pull into the cover and then youre screwed. Braid may be a real pain to use for this application as it tends to cut into wood.

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on May 18, 2009 at 7:47pm

Hey Ben-
I just started using bait casters the past couple years and have been using fireline, and Stren Super Braid, and Power Pro on spinning outfits ever since I started bass fishing about 6 years ago. All work well, I like the round profile of Stren and Sufix, but Fireline and Powerpro all work well in the lighter lb tests. The best part is they have such small diameters you can hold more line on a spinning reel and they are very strong. Like Tag said use a good strong leader and you will do just fine. I have been using 8lb Pline floroclear leader and it works well, but last weekend I was at potholes and lost a nice smallie that broke my leader on a live bush. Thinking about going up to 10lb since the diameter is not much larger.

PJ

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on May 18, 2009 at 8:01pm

Ben,

To answer your question one would first need to know how heavy the cover is that you are speaking about. Put a better way, what pound test line do you need to get the bass out of the cover?

The problem with using braid to compensate for making a spinning reel work when you need more pound test is that you are still stuck with the shortcomings of the spinning reel and spinning rod; mainly a lack of power. It will do you no good to have strong enough line if the rod and reel do not match. The bass will pull off the hook before you get your line untangled from the cover.

If you can get away with 12lb test, then you can get away with the spinning gear. If you need more than that, go with a baitcaster. Don't forget to match your hook strength to the task as well. A normal dropshot hook won't hold up to heavy cover or jerking a big bass out of the cover.

So if the key to your bites was a slow fall, look for other ways to accomplish the same presentation. This can be done by using heavy line (larger size falls slower), or a lure with more surface area that causes it to fall slower. Another way is to use a heavy QuickDrop with a baitcaster, but then use a long leader and a slow falling bait. The QuickDrop will hit the bottom quickly, but the long leader keeps the bait well above the weight. You then give the line some slack and let the bait fall slowly. If no bite, lift the lure again and let it fall again. I wrote about using this technique more than 8 years ago, and guys like Steve Sapp has won a lot of money on the Delta doing this in thick weeds with my 1/2 ounce QuickDrop. We do the same thing punching mats with a dropshot rig using the 3/4 and 1 ounce QuickDrops. I think the next issue of Bass Angler's Guide will be running one of my articles about DropPunching.

There is always a way to achieve the presentation you want; sometimes you just have to be creative.

ciao,
Marc

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on May 18, 2009 at 9:21pm

Ben I have never heard of cxxx I use cxx and it is a copolymer. If you are using a 1/32 weight then you must not be putting the bait into the cover but beside it or on top of it. If you don't think any heavier line will work then the bite ends their it doesn't matter what rod you use the end result is the same, just because you use a baitcaster doesn't mean it gives you line more break strength. Did you use heavier line? I have used 12lb. flouro back in the brush and have had 4 pounders wrap me in the willows and not break off, I just had to stick my whole shoulder and 1 ear to get a hold of their lip. After I landed it I cut the bait off pull it back thru the branches, guess what no knicks or abrasions not one, pretty impressive.

Ben I think you just need to practice more with light line, I don't think it is too light for there, I have pulled 5 pound smallies out from way under docks with 4 and landed largies up to 6 in heavy brush with 8. It just takes practice and a strong gut. The fight starts at the hookset and is the most important part if you are gonna land it or not. You can get the fish moving in the right direction before it even knows its hooked which gives you a huge advantage. You can catch huge fish on ultra light line if everything is done right. My largest smallie was on 4lb. test and was over 8 and the largest largie I have caught on light line 6lb. was just over 6. Trust me I didn't catch either on a barren rock flat with no weeds or obstruction you can do it.

Good Luck

Permalink Reply by Jon Werner on May 18, 2009 at 9:21pm

Ben,

I have encountered this problem. I tie my bait 12 - 14" above the weight and provide a little slack in the line to provide the slow decent. Works great but the drawback, as Marc mentioned it light line and dropshot poles can provide additional obstancles. I lost a hawg yesterday. I need to find a happy medium between finesse presentation and having the correct gear to move the fish with out having the fish move you.

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on May 18, 2009 at 9:25pm

Ron said: "You can get the fish moving in the right direction before it even knows its hooked which gives you a huge advantage. You can catch huge fish on ultra light line if everything is done right"


You should have told my partner that Saturday morning. We would have been in the top ten. I tried to tell him after the unfortunate incident and was threatened with bodily harm.

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