Dropper Loop vs. Drop Shot

FishFood · 04-21-2008, 07:23 PM

I'm pretty new to freshwater bass, but not new to bass. I've fished quite a bit for kelp bass (nearshore ocean), and we often used a rig called a 'dropper loop' rig. From what I can see, the only difference is that in the dropper loop rig, the hook is on an extension from the line about 4-6 inches as opposed to being right snug against the main vertical line.

I was wondering if anyone has used the dropper loop rig for freshwater bass, and if there's a reason why the hook being right up against the vertical line is better. I always thought the extension off the vertical line maybe allowed for a bit more movement of the plastic/bait and perhaps a lighter look to the fish.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Steve

Tar Heel · 04-21-2008, 07:49 PM

I know what your talking about, and really, ain't much new you can do that ain't been done before.... All of the surf fishing I ever did with bait was with a pyramid sinker with 2 bait hooks on loops-- a "drop shot" rig. Having the loop or xtra leader could give you more chances of tangled lines/lures and makes casting a hassle, but I don't see why it wouldn't work, and maybe would add some freedom of movement to the bait. I sometimes use a Texas Rigged worm or jig on the terminal with a small 4" finesse worm dropper on the line anywhere from 10-15" up from the bottom. The fewer knots and less leader, the easier it is to cast and handle,i.e.,the longer the drop and more leader you use, the more difficult it gets to cast. If your fishing vertically, it probably doesn't matter, and I have landed two smallies at a time a couple of times using the double "drop shot" rig.

IslandBass · 04-21-2008, 09:44 PM

I know about the dropper loop, but given the simplicity of the drop shot's default set up, perhaps it is faster and therefore more convenient to just tie a palomar and you're done.

Go ahead and give it a shot and let us know how it goes. Thinking out of the box is a good thing.

tuanchau · 04-22-2008, 06:51 AM

Does your dropper loop look like this?

I think this rig would work out nicely on a small river with strong currents where the current would impart all the action in the bait.

I think some of the reasons why drop shots are tied snuggly against the main vertical line is that this rig would have a tendency to cause wind knots in your line and also that without current its much harder to impart action if the bait was tied on a separate leader. That and since its generally used to target suspending bass it is much more accurate to target a certain depth with the bait tethered to the main line.

FishFood · 04-22-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuanchau

Does your dropper loop look like this?

I think this rig would work out nicely on a small river with strong currents where the current would impart all the action in the bait.

I think some of the reasons why drop shots are tied snuggly against the main vertical line is that this rig would have a tendency to cause wind knots in your line and also that without current its much harder to impart action if the bait was tied on a separate leader. That and since its generally used to target suspending bass it is much more accurate to target a certain depth with the bait tethered to the main line.

That makes a lot of sense, the current issue. Usually, the dropper loop is tied using a blood knot in the middle of the line producing a loop (the set-up with the 3-way swivel is different in that it's more flexible and limp). The loop is then cut on one side at the base producing a line that sticks out fairly stiffly. This line can be as short or long as desired, and a shorter line will stick out more stiffly. The sinker is then added at the bottom (as in the drop shot). I guess the main question would be if there's any benefit to a short extension from the main line. I wonder a little with the drop shot if, as the bass goes to chomp, it might encounter the main line and think it feels odd. I could see that in low current, the drop shot would be better because it would make the bait stick out, where the dropper loop would tend to hang limply down. So maybe the dropper loop for current, and the drop shot for no current.

I'll try both and let you know if I discover anything

Hunt'nFish · 04-23-2008, 07:34 AM

Yeah, I agree & think the Drop Shot rig is just simpler, less hassle, with les potential for foul ups.

But that being said I used those little plastic trot line clips with snelled leaders for pearch and bass a lot.
So whatever works for the conditions....no right or wrong when it comes to fishing techniques.
Hunt'nFish

myxxolydyan · 04-23-2008, 10:11 PM

I had the opportunity to go fishing with some friends from Portland last May on the Powder River arm of the Snake River. One of the guys was busy tying up a drop shot rig, when I asked him what he was doing. He explained to me the drop shot rig, and proceeded to give a clinic on catching SM bass with a drop shot rig. No less than 7 casts later, 7 bass later, I was convinced. I watched him work that drop shot rig and just catch the heck out of them.

I wouldn't worry too much about the main line distracting, or making a bass think it's a little weird. I have rigged a drop shot since then, and have caught numerous SM bass on the rig. I think just like all rigs, the drop shot has a time and a place. He just chose the right time and place to give a clinic! I will also add that it is a very simple, quick rigging to tie.

As far as the weight goes, he introduced me to a small brass swivel with a loop for tying to your main line and a small straight stem for a piece of pencil weight to be inserted. He just bent the small stem over to hold the weight on. If it became snagged on rocks, or whatever, the small brass stem just straightened out, and the weight slipped off. I bought some and have used them for drop shotting. I wish I knew the "official name" for this little swivel.

"you say potato, I say pototo"

good luck

FishFood · 04-23-2008, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myxxolydyan

I had the opportunity to go fishing with some friends from Portland last May on the Powder River arm of the Snake River. One of the guys was busy tying up a drop shot rig, when I asked him what he was doing. He explained to me the drop shot rig, and proceeded to give a clinic on catching SM bass with a drop shot rig. No less than 7 casts later, 7 bass later, I was convinced. I watched him work that drop shot rig and just catch the heck out of them.

I wouldn't worry too much about the main line distracting, or making a bass think it's a little weird. I have rigged a drop shot since then, and have caught numerous SM bass on the rig. I think just like all rigs, the drop shot has a time and a place. He just chose the right time and place to give a clinic! I will also add that it is a very simple, quick rigging to tie.

As far as the weight goes, he introduced me to a small brass swivel with a loop for tying to your main line and a small straight stem for a piece of pencil weight to be inserted. He just bent the small stem over to hold the weight on. If it became snagged on rocks, or whatever, the small brass stem just straightened out, and the weight slipped off. I bought some and have used them for drop shotting. I wish I knew the "official name" for this little swivel.

"you say potato, I say pototo"

good luck

I love that sacrificial stem idea. Thanks for the info. I definitely plan to use the drop shot, and I just ordered an underwater camera, so I'm hoping I might get some shots of how it works, and maybe what a dropper loop looks like.

huntinwithlabs · 04-24-2008, 05:25 PM

would love to hear more about that sacraficial stem idea, anyone have a pic or a drawing of how that works??

GraphiteZen · 04-24-2008, 10:37 PM

A buddy of mine instead of using the typical slinky weight when salmon or steelhead fishing uses pencil lead with a piece of surgical tubing that you pierce at one end and attach to a swivel. You put a little saliva on the piece of lead and slide it into the tubing. Same concept and saves you a LOT of gear when steelheading.

Hunt'nFish · 04-25-2008, 03:13 PM

No need to over complicate a simple thing....just take a little hollow core and crimp it on the end of the line. It'll pull loose when hung up. No need for special drop-shot sinkers or wires.
Hunt'nFish

GraphiteZen · 04-26-2008, 02:31 AM

While bass fishing today I discovered something that may be of value...

I tried drop shotting and decided to use this simple rig, keeping in mind all the rumors of problematic tangles. What you see is just a normal barrel swivel with a clasp:

I had a 1/2 ounce weight on the bottom with a senko worm and using this setup I didn't get any kind of wrap around. I think the reason is that the lead and the bait are separated by a swivel from the mainline. I figured that in order for the bait to wrap itself around the lead, one of the two has to be stationary or pinned down. If they are both on the same swivel that lies before the mainline they can't wrap because as soon as one line builds the pressure needed to wrap around the other the second will just spin thereby negating the pressure needed. In still water at least. I haven't tried it in a current. Worked great in a pond.

myxxolydyan · 04-26-2008, 10:53 PM

This is the brass wire swivel.

myxxolydyan · 04-27-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IslandBass

Cool!! I devised a similar thing a while ago. Instead, I used Hollow core pencil lead and a very thin wire and formed just like yours.

Ya those little things make it very easy to rig up. The one shown in the picture is set up with a 3/8 oz. lead bullet weight. I usually use very light tackle with this. 8 lb. fluorocarbon on a light spinning combo. I've had very good luck "NOT" losing weights with this set up. I ordered some nice plastics from BPS to use with a drop shot rig. I ordered some 5" and 7" super finesse worms and also will get some 6" shakey tail worms to try out. I was really looking for some smaller diameter soft plastics to use with the drop shot rig, and will have to try out what I ordered from BPS. I didn't have any finesse worms at all last season, and thought they would be a great type of plastic to use with a drop shot.

IslandBass · 04-27-2008, 09:54 PM

Oops!!! I tried to edit it and absentmindedly hit delete. Glad my thread got quoted by you.

As for "finesse" worm types, Roboworms, Sniper Snubs, and reaction innovations flirts all have worked for me. I just acquired some manns jelly worms (I think they're called) and are a bit longer than traditional sized finesse fishing, but I can't wait to experiment with them. I haven't measured them but I guesstimate they are in the 5-7" range.

I use 6# Seaguar Invizx line and I have a spool of Cabela's Fluoro which I heard was the same stuff under the Cabela's name and it isn't bad at about $9.99 for 200 yards.

If your cover can allow you to get away with it, drop on down to 6#. I've done a lot of experimenting and I am getting more hits on this 6# fc line than 6# mono, 8# mono, 8# Pline Fluroclear ( I like the line too), 20# braid and 10# mono. 85% of my bass caught last year, was on 6# Seaguar. Also no fish were lost from line breakage. Premature hooksets from heart pumping excitement, yes, but not line breakage.