Drop Shot Rig

[John_S]

Not sure if I have the correct name. I read an article in a fishing mag (InFishermen?) this last summer. Suppose to be a great thing for inactive smallies. It consists of a hook tied to your line, a varing distance, usually 1-3', from a sinker. No leader on the hook, and it is tied such that the hook is perpendicular to the line, facing like a jig. You can use numerous types of plastic and live bait. You use it similar to a jig, but with less rod action, and leave it sit longer. <br /><br />Anyone here, try this? Is it also good for walleyes? Seems like it would be. I have two poles rigged this way, and plan to try it next time out in the boat.

 

[JB]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

Minor difference, John. I use about 6" leader on the hook.<br /><br />Learned this about 35 years ago fishing the Wolf River in WI for white bass. It was called the Wolf River Rig then. Works well for any fish sitting on the bottom and bored. Bringing the bait or lure just over their heads seems to give them some incentive to play.

 

[MarkAB]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

I also use that rig for largemouth bass when fishing deep drop off's or when the weather is hot. A fluke, superfluke or worm is my preffered plastic on this rig. Move the rod tip until the line is taught, shake the rod and let the bait fall to the bottom. Requires a little practice and is a much slower form of fishing so be patient. I prefer using a light sinker as a heavy sinker may cause you to lose the feeling of the strike. Water current also is a factor when determining sinker weight.

 

[John_S]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

As long as it is not a constant rain Sat morning, will be trying it out. I'll post back on how it went.

 

[Barlow]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

right on JB .. 'slippin' the Wolf is a good time in the spring with that rig. it's been modified to using a three way but still the same principle.<br /><br />Marble eyes first then come the white bass.<br /> <br />And when they run...the feed bag is on!<br /><br />FYI -in recent years on the Wolf the spring run hot bait is a natural 3" streamer fly - such as black, brown or white hair (preffered is white mostly due to the emerald river shiners) with a strip of silver mylar wrapped, tied and centered. <br /><br />That's something most should experience!.. The Wolf in the Spring ... awesome!

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

The drop shot is a very effective rig. I use it when the summer heat drives the big hogs onto deeper cover. Instead of just using a sinker I'll use a skirted jig head, usally something similar in color to what I have tied on. Why just have a hunk of plain old lead down there when you could have something that will attract fish. I first tried this a while back and it will put you onto a fish or two you otherwise would not have picked up.<br /><br />Tightlines.

 

[John_S]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

Results from yesterday:<br /><br />Water temp: 55F<br />Depth Fished: 12-21ft<br />Current: Mild<br />Weather: 40's, mixed cloudy and sunny periods, some rain showers<br />Wind: light breezes, and changed direction numerous times during day<br /><br />Drop shot rig: 3/8oz sinker, chatruse fuzzy grub body, tipped with fathead<br />Jig: 3/8oz chatruse, chatruse fuzzy grub, tipped with fathead<br />ie: made both as similar as possible<br /><br />Fishing side by side, rig produced about the same as jig. We caught numerous small walleyes, on both. When we were in the eyes, they were hitting both. Did not find any bass while using both rigs. <br /><br />Rig did not hang-up as much as jig, but when it did, it never came free. Note: we were fishing around old stumps and submerged logs (bass wintering spots). This is probably due to the jig having a wire hook, and the rig having one that won't bend. <br /><br />Will try to refine, try different hooks and weights.

 

[JB]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

Use a light, mono leader from the hook to the sinker, John. That way if it hangs up you can break it off and not lose your jig/bait.<br /><br />I often used a floating jighead with the Wolf River Rig, too. Even less likely to hang up when fished slow.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

Using the dropshot rig has a lot of advantages if you are after perch and crappies.The heavier sinker sends the bait down faster so the little pest perch don't get to it before it reaches the depth where the bigger ones are.White perch often sits in a pyramid shape next to or in a weed bed.When you use a dropshot you aim at anywhere between 4 inches above bottom to three foot above.This makes a great way to fish a wider depth range. I use this rig a lot in Honeoye lake.This is an old lake with depth up to 30 feet.My version is five hooks about 10 inches apart with a mix of minimites tipped with spikes(top ones)fatheads and worms in the middle and a bigger minnow on the bottom one.This contraption is used while drifting giving the impression of smaller bait chasing each other.It is good for walleye,perch,crappies, bass and one 30 inch pike neatly hooked in the lip(any other way it would have ripped this six pound line contraption to shreds).<br />I picked up the basics from in-fisherman.And yes it does work better with red hooks and I have no idea why.

 

[John_S]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

I am pretty sure it wasn't the sinker hanging up. It was always located were sonar indicated a taller stump/log. I did tie a "lessor" knot at the sinker, too. Should have broke off there, if sinker was trapped. All the snags I had were very strong, ie took considerable effort to break the 8lb mono.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

Thanks for reporting back, JohnS, I been reading about that, too but haven't tried it yet. I wonder: what if you added another leader behind the jig with a t-rig lizard or worm, sort of a carolina-dropshot bass buffet sort of thing?

 

[John_S]

Re: Drop Shot Rig

Carolina rigs used for walleyes, are called Lindy Rigs or just walleye spinner rigs. But no lizards While they seem to work well on lakes, my attempts on the river, have been only mildly effective. I still try them from time to time.