BigMack's Drop Shot System

[BigMack]

One thing I have learned from Mr. Ernest Paty is that I like to share knowledge and promote crappie fishing.

or as I see him:


Any of you who have fished with me know that I'm a system kinda guy.
Order is better than chaos any day.
You would think 7 hours in a tourney is plenty time.
Even a regular day on the lake to me is a countdown.
I am picky about where to keep the net, how to net a fish and other things in the boat.
I have come up with a system for rigging that is very versatile.

Here is the basis of the system.
I tried all other ways to avoid using it but, as I’ve learned, sometimes you gotta do what works.

Next is the clasp on braid. I prefer 15 or 20#.
I’ve been using different brands and colors for 3 years now.
Yesterday I was using a dark green(Stren) and a bright orange(Suffix).
As the sun was setting behind the trees I couldn’t see the green anymore,
the orange stood out from my rod tip to the water.

I also use braid for the 36” drop shot.
I also have some drops rigged for 18” when they are closer to the bottom.
I have found 4” leaders to be the best length. 10# mono.
Size 3 split rings, #2 Matzuo Sickle hooks(From ED @ ProAngler) and 3/8 to 1/2 oz low profile slip sinkers on 8ft ProAngler Rods.

When I am not sure what depth they are I use 2 hooks 18” apart.
This system allows me to add that on with a clasp & ring between the 3 ways.

The “Tackle Buddy” is a great way to store hooks & sinkers.
You can get these at BPS or Finny Tribe.

If anyone is crazy enough to try this let me know how you did.
Give it at least 6 trips before throwing it all in the lake and realizing I'm just a nut.

[bugman]

WOW.......way too complicated and entirely too many knots for me to fool with......i'm sure it works for you but ease of use works for me.

[Skypilot]

Good info, 'mack....always lookin' for a little edge...Could see how this makes a good spider riggin' set up too...thanks!

[chaunc]

Glad it works for you but thats way too much hardware for me. My brushpiles would keep me twice as busy as they do now. And with the braided line, i'd either move my brush or tear it up. We use similar rigs up here but thats only when we're fishing Lake Erie for perch in 50ft water.

[BigMack]

No brush torn up with this rig.
the wire hook bends or the mono leader breaks before any damage can be done.
Yeah, lots of knots and pre lake work, but all the snaps make it fast to change out and be back in the game pronto, Tonto.
If you've ever run 8 rods with C & C rigs you know how often you have to retie the whole pole leaving your partner to watch the other 7 & run the boat.
Lots of our teams slow troll especially this time of year. We call it Vacumming up the fish.
Just thought I would see what others folks in different states thought of this.
Thanks for your responses.

[striperking]

I use this same set up in the winter when there holding close to the bottom,I thought about trying this when everybody started dropshotting for bass and it worked so why not try it for crappie.And it works very well for me.

[olduckhunter]

big, you went to a lot of trouble to try to teach people something new. if they haven't tried it they shouldn't knock it. thanks for the pictures and information.

[bugman]

big, you went to a lot of trouble to try to teach people something new. if they haven't tried it they shouldn't knock it. thanks for the pictures and information.

Didn't knock a thing quite the contrary,i think it's an impressive rig but just a little complex for my uses......just gave my opinion.

[barus243]

Looks like a good rig. I've used something similar for catfishing but never thought about using the quick disconnects that is a great idea. Thanks for sharing.

[Ferdi]

Thanks for the info Big Mack, good looking rig. Helps out with the old bones moving slower and the eyes in the sun light trying to hit the holes less. Now I have something to do with all those 3 way swivels from green carp fishing. Ferdi aka Fred