Question for the Redear gurus

[KScott]

Pretty new to targeting Redears. Took a while to put something together, but since summer, I've done quite well as far as consistently getting on fish. The method I've used is drop shotting crawlers at depths ranging from 8 to 20 feet, depending on where the fish seem to be holding that day. Intuition tells me that I shouldn't start tampering with a system that's working, but my question is this... At those depths, is the drop shot the best presentation, or is there any advantage to tipping a jig with a crawler and sending that down. The drop shot gets down quickly, stays down, and has exceeded my expectations as far as catch rate (again, from a relatively inexperienced point of view), but I want to make sure I'm not missing out on something that might be better (i.e. slower fall rate, advantage to jighead color, etc). If so, for those depths, what jig head weight do you feel would be most appropriate? Thanks in advance!

[Eagle 1]

Really depends on how you enjoy fishing . What you are doing is as good as any . I Carolina rig a 1/64 jig tipped with a meal worm. A bead about a foot up the line allows fish to pick up bait and run without feeling the weight . My favorite was is to cast 1/32 roadrunners (black on black ) . Both will catch red ear but not any better on a given day as what you are doing . I prefer to be casting and winding, as toss and sit .

[Alphahawk]

Nothing wrong with your method at all. I prefer to cast and retrieve a Trout Magnet tipped with a very small piece of a Berkley Power Wiggler. Here is a video of how I do it and it works out great...not better just a different way to do it. The max size jig head I use is 2 grams but have recently started using a 3 gram blade bait that is very good and gets me down to deeper water.


Regards
YouTube

[trypman1]

I drop shot a lot, but prefer to cast nd retrieve. Your system is great, Stick with it.

[JUNGLEJIMJIGS]

If drop shotting works stick with it. When fishing is slow is the time to experiment and I would try a small jig tipped with plastics or crawler pieces, wax worms, crickets. On my trips to California we fish deep water with jigs tipped with crickets with 2 lb. line and catch some really nice gills. Red ear seem to prefer jigs tipped with a worm out there. Totally different techniques are used here in Missouri since I bank fish small lakes and ponds so it's best to have more than one method to try if your favorite isn't working.

[KScott]

Thanks guys for the replies so far. I'm fishing from a kayak, so double anchoring and sitting is a bit of a hassle, but manageable. Tried the sit and wait approach, but I much prefer and have done better with the single rod in hand method. Love feeling the bite! I've also found with the drop shot, since I'm actively holding the rod, I very rarely deep hook a fish. Most are hooked right where the should be, which is a plus as I'm 95% of the time a catch and release guy. Alpha, I've seen your YouTube stuff, you catch a bunch of fish on those trout magnets! I've become a fan of those as well, especially for gills! My success with the Redears on those has been limited to prespawn/spawn though.

[KScott]

Jungle, knowing guys out there tip jigs with crawlers is on of the reasons I'm asking in the first place! Is it that much better for taking the big fish, or is it preference? Just another way to catch them

[catchNgrease]

The lightest rig that you get away with the given wind and current. Red wigglers is a preferred bait for me at least. Sandy bottom with wood structure. As far as casting or drop shot I've become a fan of pendulum casting. If I'm in 20 fow I cast out 20 ft and let it swing to the bottom. Covering water in a fan type presentation.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[KScott]

When you guys say "tip a jig", I'm assuming a bare jighead? Or are we talking like a soft plastic, or a hand-tie of some sorts?

[Techno2000]

When you guys say "tip a jig", I'm assuming a bare jighead? Or are we talking like a soft plastic, or a hand-tie of some sorts?

It means to..."sweeten it up" to add some sort of flavor or scent to your plastic or hair jig.