Drop-Shotting

[prine_ryder]

I'm kind of new to the site, so I hope my questions aren't that dumb.

I was out on Lake Mead Saturday and fished from 6 to 3. We were mainly throwing a drop-shot rig, which I'll have to admit was my first time throwing it. I'm still pretty new to bass fishing.

Anyway, I didn't catch anything. The guy I was with caught 3. Mead is a tough lake.

Here's the question: I have a hard time sensing the bite when I finesse fish...does anyone have any recommendations? Is there a way to change my setup to improve the sensitivity?

Even when I grub fish at Lake Powell, I've noticed that when I fish the bottom, I have a hard time sensing the bite.

Any suggestions are appreciated. I'm new to this and want to learn from some of you old timers. ;-)

[bcklash]

Welcome ryder glad to have you on here. Not much help but I think maybe when anything feels different be on alert. There will be some guys on here that can help ya alot more than I can.

[Gbassman]

try using flourocarbon line. Or try suffix elite line, it works great.

[wareagledc]

i try to keep my finger on the line to feel for bites. also be a line watcher. sometimes the fish doesn't smash it just picks it up and swims off or sits still you gotta notice twitches and sideways movement in the line.

[islandbass]

Take advantage of the search function and try fluorocarbon line as already mentioned.

Kevin has an awesome video on drop shot:

http://www.bassfishin.com/

Also, it really helps to use a very sensitive rod, but it isn't necessary. The activity level of the fish plays a role too. When you use the search tool here, you will come across a wealth of information covering just about everything from set up to even what the bite can feel like. And I can tell you from my own experience that fluorocarbon really helps in detecting that bite that can felt even when the line is semi slack.

[BigBassin144]

For finesse baits, you want a good sensitive rod. For dropshot, I use a Shimano Crucial Dropshot rod. (7'2" M). Since I don't like deading with straight fluro on a spinning reel, I've got 10lb Sufxi Performance braid with a 4-5ft leader of 6-8lb Seaguar Carbon Pro. Tie with the Uni knot. Very sensitive and, with my little Abu Cardinal 301, a very light weight combo.

BB

[Bassboss]

Well, I'm no old timer, nor do I have much experience with a drop shot, but I do have some--and I have lot of it when It come to bottom fishing. '

Try keeping a tighter line! If it's not tight, you won't feel anything! You could also switch to braided lines. They are more sensitive than mono, and flouro lines! But if make sure to use a 10lb flouro leader if you do use braid.

You can also keep you finger on the line, I was so surprised when I first did this, how many more bites I feel with my finger than I do through the rod!

Keep doing until you get it!!

[BigBassin144]

When dropshotting, I prefer not to have a tight line. I let the line sag slightly so the bait falls a bit. Or if there's wind, let the wong put a SLIGHT bow in your line.
Keeping your finger on the line does give you a better feel, but move it before you set the hook with braid, or you'll soon have a cut up finger.


BB

[lazycricket000]

well i sort of new to drop shot but i have caught almost half of my fish off of it and ill tell you what i feel for

. i bounce the tip of the rod and when i let the bait sit still and fall i pull the line up tight just a little and leave some slack to see if i can feel for any tip of bumps or jerks and when i start to see the line move or tremble set hook

thats just what i do hope it helps

[aikenyounggun]

yeah i dont have any experience with drop shot but shaky head is defiantley finesse... an im great with a shaky head.... you need to: watch the line (look for it to move, drop faster than usual, if it starts moving(after resting for a while)), feel the line and the rod, keep your senses on 100%...... i did this with all mono and i could fell 8 inch bass in 15 feet of water..... so i dont think line plays that much..... also if their is a tap,,, tapppp,,,,,,,tap,,,,,, (you have to wait for the) holdddddddddddddddddd

hope this helps

[Bender]

I drop shot a lot and have 3-4 rods rigged up all the time in my boat for it. Bass rarely seem to "slam" the bait, normally they just peck at it or pick it up and swim away. If you are not comfortable feeling the bite you can also watch your line. Keep a very close eye on it and concentrate, any slightest movement and I start to sweep the rod to apply pressure if there is a fish. It is hard to watch the line so closely so I don't do it much, but I think it is one of the best ways. The sensitive rods really let you feel what is going on down there also.

[prine_ryder]

Man, I love this site. Thanks to everyone for responding. I got some really good tips from all of you and can't wait for this weekend to try them out.


Thanks again to everyone for responding.

[sharpe012010]

is there another video for drop shotting other than how to tie ??