Drop shot set ups?

[jd39]

I tried drop shot fishing yesterday for the first time and had some success for perch. I'm liking this technique for cold water fishing and am planning to do more of it for perch and trout. I was using noodlely 6' sst trout rods and mono. Worked ok but thought braid and a faster action rod may be better for hook sets at depth. What kind of rod and line are optimal for this fishing method? Thanks for any reccomendations!

[Amx]

What lake were you fishing? Where do you live? How deep were you fishing? How did the bites feel, soft, sharp, light tug, soft pull?

Lots of people like florocarbon, some like co-polymer with floro coating. Some use braid with 5' to 6' leader and most people use a 10" to 12" dropper to the weight. Some people use up to 6' dropper to the weight.

Most people use 6 to 8 lb line, some use 10lb, and a few use 4lb.

[jd39]

Hi Amx, i was at American lake but would use at Sammamish as well, fishing in 50-100'. Bass reports coming out of American are what clued me into this technique, they kept complaining about catching trout and perch instead and that's what I'm trying to catch! Bites were soft but we managed to hook 8 perch and 1 bow and missed a bunch and several came off, think it was because the hook sets didnt transfer well with the set ups we were using. Was pretty happy with the results for the first time putting any serious effort into trying it now just curious if there are better setups then we were using. I'll be pretty happy if it continues to prove effective at catching perch in winter. Love eating those tasty critters but have had no luck in winter until yesterday. 6 were nice fat females full of eggs.

[Amx]

In the winter the 2 main methods people use around here are dropshot and skirted jigs. Give those a try also.

Just be sure if you fish Sammamish the rule is single pointed hook only, and barbless only. May 1st it goes back to whatever hooks you want with a max of 3 hooks, HOOKS, not points, per lure, but you probably know that.

[blackjaw2]

generally in winter time, i like to start with about 18 in. between weight and hook. as far as gear 6'10" st croix mojo bass drop shot rod and okuma rtx spinning reel loaded with 10lb suffix 832 ghost and about 6 to 8 feet of 8lb pline fluoroclear. winter time perch and smallies you can get as little line between weight and hook as possible down to maybe 4 inches. baits go to are dry creek drop shot tubes and berkeley drop shot minnows in pearl olive shad or emerald shiner.

[Polyangler]

I like a light weight fast action graphite rod with 10lb Power Pro for my main line, and a 6-8lb fluoro leader with a #2 octopus hook. I've gotten far better hook up ratios using the octopus hooks because you don't have to "set" the hook. Let them grab it then raise the rod tip and reel a few ft quickly. For American I like 1-2 1/2" Gulp minnows, or Sniper Snubs in snot color. If your targeting perch, Gulp is the better bait since its full of stink. For wintertime, maybe 10" between hook and weight. Maybe 18" in the summer. I caught the bass pictured on Jan 6th, and she weighed 4.9lbs

[jd39]

Thanks Amx, I'll check those jigs out too! Appreciate the tips!
Thanks for the set up advice blackjaw and Polyangler! Nice fish Polyangler!

My drop to the weight was probably too long from the sounds of it, it was in the 18-24" range. Will shorten that up next time. Good to know octopus hooks work as well, save some $ buying drop shot hooks for awhile.

Looking forward to trying this out some more!

[Polyangler]

Good to know octopus hooks work as well, save some $ buying drop shot hooks for awhile.

I forgot to mention. Tie that octopus hook with a Palomar knot, then run the tag end back through the eye and pull it straight after the knot is complete. This will make the hook stand out properly. otherwise it will try to lay along the line.

Tight Lines!