Drop shot advice for a beginner

[Joss]

Well the title pretty much says it.... I guess my biggest question on this topic would be what size hooks do you use and which grubs/worms etc.

I have heard alot about fishing drop shot and want to try it... I fish the willamette mainly out of Salem.

[Chad S.]

Well this should get you started. A 6-6" med light rod with xtra fast tip, 6-8lb Gamma line, gamakatsu size 1 hooks for worms, and 1/O hooks for grubs or bigger baits. You'll wan't to stock up on 3/16"-3/8" weights. Danielson makes the cheepest weights. Everyone has there favorite dropshot baits. A waveworms 3.5" Tiki Drop Laminated Smoke Shad is a good smolt immitating bait that is killer in the rivers.

[bassin'87]

I'm sure a lot of other guys will have better advice since i have not drop shotted a ton but had good luck at green peter with it last summer. I know 3 inch senkos work well along with any other small finesse type worms. I found a couple good links with some good info that i think might help you on the rig and how to fish it. Hope this helps. - Casey

http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/dropshot-hotshot.shtml

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot_fish.html

[nitrobass]

Size one or two hooks, larger if fishing wacky style. I really dont think the bait is all that critical as long as its sized right. I caught a lot of fish last year drop shotting a tiny brush hog fishing deep, and a baby hog shallow.

Best advice I'd give is to get your boat on the umpqua and drop shot all day for smallies this summer. After 100+ bites you'll have a good idea on what works for you and what doesnt.

[1bigfish]

For the Willy in Salem, think dark colors(greenpumpkin, watermelonseed, ect) Or just look at all pics posted by Thecrease since the bait is usually in the pic.

As far as hook size you just need to match the hook to the size of the bait just like you would do with any other rig. Usually a size 1 to 3/0 depending on the size and shape of bait.

[Hunt'nFish]

I'm a fan of crimping hollow core pencil lead on for weight. Nothing fancy and it's cheap.
I also use a little peice of heatshink tubing around the worm when rigging wacky...which is how most folks rig for DS'ing.
Pierce the hook though the heatshrink & worm and it helps keep the worm from ripping off with every hookset.
I use black with dark worms and clear w/ the brighter colors.

For hooks I use the #4 Owner needle point octopus w/ 3" senkos.
Hunt'nFish

[Chad S.]

split-shots work fine for drop shot weights too!

[ExBassGuide]

I like fishing drop shots on the shady side of a dock. You can keep the bait in a good spot with out moving it away from the dock. It’s even better when you are standing on the dock then you can fish between the boardsJ .
Roger

[Ingraham]

use a little peice of heatshink tubing around the worm when rigging wacky
Hunt'nFish

This is a great idea and well worth the small cost of tubing. It saves you a ton of money down the road and even more frustration when you loose a handful of worms in one day!

I love how Hunt'nFish is always helping us make bass fishing just a little less expensive:applause:

[Hunt'nFish]

:laugh:With the price of fuel, a fellas gotta save every penny he can just to stay on the water.
But honestly this is not my idea, guys have been doing this for years.
Hunt'nFish

[cavdad45]

I tie on a snap swivel at the weight end, so that I can adjust weight sizes for different depth and finding that right feel.

[Hunt'nFish]

I tie on a snap swivel at the weight end, so that I can adjust weight sizes for different depth and finding that right feel.
Lead slinkys would work well with that technique.
Hunt'nFish

[Ingraham]

Well the title pretty much says it.... I guess my biggest question on this topic would be what size hooks do you use and which grubs/worms etc.

I have heard alot about fishing drop shot and want to try it... I fish the willamette mainly out of Salem.

I think we got a little off track from Joss' original question which was more about hooks, grubs and worms...

If you are wacky rigging or nose rigging a smaller worm I think most guys would use a #1 Drop Shot hook. I've used the Gamakatsu hooks and they work good.

When it comes to worms, I like the 3" ones for wacky rigging and nose hooking. Search some old posts and a lot of guys talk about their favorite colors for the Salem area.

[tnj8222]

these are some of my favorite drop shot baits for lm. from the left to the right is a kgm drop shot craw, i really like it on a jig as well. a 4 1/2 inch robo worm in black and blue with blue flake, and a 4 inch pudgy/june bug seducer worm.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/lm_drop_shot_baits-jpg.JPG

and these are my favorite smallie drop shot baits. also from left to right. 4 1/2 inch straight tail robo worm in aarons magic. 3 inch leech in aarons magic and a kgm i beleive sweet beaver.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/smallie_drop_shot_baits-jpg.JPG

all very good baits. but you can use almost anything on a drop shot. i evn use 7 inch power worms from time to time.

[sbasser]

Being a little unconventional is not a bad thing! If you don't follow "the book", you'll give the bass a new thing to look at...it's almost always productive.

I've been known to splitshot a 10" Powerworm on 14 lb. test and a stout pitchin' stick. The splitshot is not to help casting, but to change the action of the worm. A lot of stuff is great unweighted, too...like lizards. Those big flippin' tubes make a dandy Zara Spook-like topwater, with a circle hook in the nose.

Experiment! You'll learn a lot, and may just stumble onto a "sekrit" technique that will just slay 'em in certain situations. Then file that away in your memory banks for when that situation happens again. :meme:C&R, Steve

[Joss]

Good info. I just got my boat back from getting its annual maint. In a few weeks i can start heading out after work with plenty of time to spare...... I fish out of Wheatland/Salem if your in the area look for the green Northriver......