| Drop-shotting has been touted as one of the hottest | | | | If the conditions on the water change, such as the |
| "new" techniques around, but it has been around | | | | wind picking up, the current increasing, or if you |
| since the mid 1970s. Drop-shotting has been revived | | | | move to deeper water, you can quickly change to a |
| in the last 5 years by Japanese anglers, who started | | | | heavier weight without having to retie. Some |
| using this technique to catch the bass in their clear, | | | | examples of this type of weight are the Duel Quick |
| highly pressured lakes, but saltwater anglers, and | | | | Change Lead Sinker, and the Zappu. These rigs are |
| panfisherman have been using this technique for | | | | specifically tailored for drop-shotting techniques. |
| many years to catch finicky fish suspended off the | | | | Another really good type sinker that we found |
| bottom. In the past few years, tournament anglers | | | | recently, is the Bakudan. This weight is ball shaped, as |
| have adopted this technique to put hard to catch fish | | | | has a swivel-like line tie that reduces line twist.Line |
| into the boat. It is an excellent technique for catching | | | | twist can sometimes be a problem with these rigs in |
| deep bass, and bass that are highly pressured in | | | | wind, or deep water situations, and anything that |
| many of the tournament waters all over the US. | | | | helps reduce this is a definite plus. This type of |
| The techniques that are used today have been | | | | weight also has something the others don't. It has a |
| refined, but the basic technique has remained the | | | | line clip that lets you change the distance between |
| same for 30 years.BASIC TECHNIQUEThe most | | | | the lure and the weight, without having to retie. |
| simple explanation of this technique is that | | | | Another method for changing the sinker quickly is to |
| drop-shotting is a vertical presentation using light line, | | | | simply tie a loop at the end of the drop-shot leader |
| over top of fairly snag free structures.A sinker is tied | | | | using an overhand surgeon's loop. To properly fish |
| to the line, which is usually 8-12 pound test, and a | | | | this, and other rigs, a knowledge of many different |
| hook is tied on the line, about 1-3 feet above the | | | | knots is recommended. Practice tying these knots in |
| weight. A soft plastic bait is usually nose hooked, and | | | | the off season, and it will increase the time you |
| the rig is lowered to the depth of the fish. Most | | | | spend fishing, instead of tying.Another technique for |
| anglers use their electronics to locate the structure, | | | | drop-shotting, is to tie a regular bass jig, (usually a 1 |
| baitfish, and bass, and the rig is brought into the area | | | | 4 to 3/4 of an ounce), at the leader end instead of |
| where the strikes are suspected. The baits action is | | | | the lead weight. With a surgeon's loop, different |
| controlled by a slight shaking, or gentle twitching of | | | | weight jigs can be changed quickly. Sometimes, the |
| the rod tip.This is a very simple explanation, but | | | | bass will hit the jig while you are using the drop-shot |
| drop-shotting can be much more refined and more | | | | rig in your usual areas. Some anglers like to use a |
| complicated.The types of hooks used for this | | | | "pinch-on" split shot also. You can also thread a bullet |
| technique vary greatly with each individual anglers | | | | weight on the drop-shot leader, below the hook and |
| preference. There are many anglers out there today | | | | lure, with a split shot squeezed on below the bullet |
| that prefer the short shanked style of hooks for | | | | weight to hold it in place. More weight can easily be |
| drop-shotting. These are called "Octopus" hooks. | | | | added to this rig quickly, and you can spend more |
| Many times these hooks are colored red, which many | | | | time fishing.TYING THE HOOKSTying the hooks on |
| anglers believe bass see as a wounded bait. There | | | | drop-shots is a refined technique, and can be done a |
| are also many companies who manufacture | | | | couple of ways. I always use a Palomar knot, |
| pre-rigged drop-shot rigs, so you don't have to | | | | beginning the knot on the hook point side. This is |
| waste a lot of time tying them when you get on the | | | | done before tying the rig on the sinker. This is done |
| water. Others prefer to tie the rigs themselves, but | | | | so that the hook lays at a right angle to the leader. |
| this is something that most do ahead of time, so | | | | This is a better way to get a good hookset on light |
| they can save valuable time on the water for | | | | biters. Another way can be to take the leader end, |
| fishing.Most bass fisherman, myself included, prefer a | | | | after the Palomar is tied, and thread it back through |
| straight shanked hook, because in places where there | | | | the hook eye, then attach the rig lead. This way the |
| is current, these styles resist some of the line | | | | hook shank lays against the line, which I believe, |
| twisting that occurs in these situations. I like to use a | | | | improves hookups.PLASTIC BAITSI like to use a |
| ball-bearing swivel myself, which prevents most of | | | | variety of soft plastics on these rigs, but most of |
| the line twisting that can occur. I tie on a swivel as a | | | | the time, I use a small 4" finesse worm, or a |
| connection between the line and leader. I always use | | | | Yamamoto "Senko," in the 4 inch size. Another good |
| a black swivel for this and other techniques in clearer | | | | choice is the French Fry worm, and other types of |
| water, as I believe it doesn't spook wary bass. I also | | | | hand poured plastic baits, such as a Roboworm. A |
| use the smallest swivel I can get away with. I use a | | | | small tube can also be effective, as can a Yamamoto |
| Superline for these techniques also, as I believe it aids | | | | spider grub. This is only one of many great finesse |
| in detecting subtle strikes in deeper water. I like a | | | | fishing techniques that produce bass when they are |
| braided line such as "Spiderline" for this. I always use | | | | deep, or highly pressured. Learning the many |
| the "Spiderline" in stained water, but at places like | | | | different techniques available today, will help you put |
| Table Rock Lake in Missouri, and some other clear | | | | more bass into the boat when they are hard to |
| water areas around the country, I use a Fluorocarbon | | | | catch.Steve VonBrandt |
| line, as the braids are easier for the bass to see. In | | | | Sponsored by: GYCB (Yamamoto),Okuma, Delaware |
| most of the clear, deep, highland reservoirs that we | | | | Tackle, TTI-Blakemore, and Ambush Lures.Steve is |
| fish, this is very important. Also, by using a | | | | the owner of Reeltime Anglers Guide Service in |
| fluorocarbon line, I can go up in size to a higher | | | | Wilmington, Delaware, Anglers Radio in Delaware and |
| pound test without the bass being able to detect | | | | New Jersey, Reeltimeanglers, Bass Lure Review, and |
| it.This type of fishing is really a "Finesse" technique, a | | | | Delaware Tackle in Delaware. He also is a tournament |
| term which has been abused in recent years by | | | | angler and freelance outdoor writer. He has over 40 |
| many anglers. If you aren't delivering a small bait, on | | | | years of fishing experience in the Northeast, 5 years |
| light line, in fairly deep water, then I don't really | | | | exp. in California. He has fished freshwater and |
| consider it finesse fishing.WEIGHTSYou can use | | | | saltwater since 1962, and has devoted to freshwater |
| almost any kind of sinker for this technique, but I | | | | only since 1989. |
| really like to use the "quick release" style of weights. | | | | |