Thread: Drop shot

I use 'em all the time for white perch. Works great.

Hey Boston, Crappieday makes and sells drop shot jigz. I would pm him for more information on that. He's a great guy!!

The February '08 issue of Crappie Baits (Freshwater Media Group) has an article about several diifferent drop shot rigs.

To revive an *old* thread, I use it often. Since Crappie tend to be at different depths I found it a p.i.t.a. to tie the weight "leader" to the hook or using the tag line as it's too permanent. I use the new VMC hooks that have the built in swivel in the eye of the hook most of the time when using single baits that can be nose hooked (like small worms, grubs, etc) but for tubes and feather jigs, I use an inline barrel swivel about 6" above the baits and I use small clips tied on the line with a palomar knot and to those attached tube jigs on unweighted hooks or unweighted feather jigs that I have had made for me by a friend that ties them. I tie the top eye to the tag line with a palomar knot. I then clip my pre-cut drop "leaders" on with a small clip (small swivel would work too). I rig a variety of lengths of drop "leaders" and sometimes using a variety of lines. If I fish 4lb line I use 2lb leaders, 6 lb line 4 lb leaders, etc. I rig them, complete with weights and a loop knot that won't slip which is connected to the main line "clip" and allows you to easily vary the length of the drop shot. I usually rig 2 of each which are in 1 foot increments starting at 2 feet long and up to 6 feet, sometimes even longer depending on depths I plan to fish. I also rig more in the depth(s) I tend to or expect to use most. This all saves a lot of time and it allows you to easily and quickly alter the depth. I wrap them around a piece of 1/2" pvc pipe to keep them from tangling. I have written lengths on the pipe with a black magic marker and hold the leaders on with rubber bands.

As for choice of baits, I use 2" power worms, feather jigs, tube jigs, minnows, grubs, even small swim baits. I mix them a lot as well.

Tackle choice is as follows: Falcon FS-UL-15 5' Ultra-Lite with 4# line (typical). I use either Bass Pro mono or P-Line copolymer line. I have 2 of these rods, one with a Shimano Stradic and the other with a new reel I picked up at BPS on sale for $19.97 which is a Browning Superlight (5 ball bearings and very smooth!). I'm not sure if these rods are available any longer, mine are easily 18 years old. I plan to pick up a St Croix 6'6" Lite / Fast rod to pair with a 1000 Stradic to give me more casting prowess. I sometimes use my BPS Crappie Maxx UL 9' rod with a Shimano Stradic (all my Stradics are 1000's).

Sometimes this works great, much better than traditional rigs. Other times they seem about even in effectiveness. That said, I have never experienced them working less effectively than other presentations. Give it a shot, you'll have a blast.

One thing to mention, the Browning Superlight reel I mentioned really impressed me. I'm a bit of a reel snob and used to high-end Shimano gear. I bought this little guy (750 size but 500 available as well) to use on a pole I loan to people I take fishing. However, after using it a bit, I decided to use it on one of my 5' Falcon rods as it's so smooth. The front drag is nice, consistent and surprisingly strong. The reel has 5 bearings 4+1 roller and is light, comfortable and has a great bail spring which stays open. Bass Pro had them on sale for $19.97 (ad showed the 500 model only but both 500 and 750 were on sale) and they go on sale again starting 6/9 for $19.97. I'm not affiliated with either BPS or Browning and actually have been less than impressed with Browning in the past, however, I'm very impressed with this reel and thought I would pass along the recommendation.

Happy Fishin'

-Bill