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So the obvious next question is...

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 1:45 pm
by marinerfandave
Observation, I have read countless articles and seen numerous videos where very experienced amateur and even some of the pros say this: "When fishing is tough and you are looking for a bite, use a drop shot". So for a simple minded person like me, "why not just start with the drop shot?" I understand it's boring and not as fun to use as reaction baits, but the point is to catch fish so why not just use it more? Like all the time?

Re: So the obvious next question is...

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 3:22 pm
by M Pollard
on our mother lode lakes a drop shot tends to be a fish catching machine, but most of the time it lacks the
better quality bite. Most tournament guys will throw a jig, some sort of topwater, underspin, or swimbait
for a better quality and use a drop shot as a fill the limit bait. That being said, you can catch quality on a drop
shot as well. I have caught several 6's on a drop shot. Also my friends wife caught a 10 on one at Berryessa.
Also another friend caught several 8's on one at Clear Lake. Watch Weds. Windy night tourney here on western bass
with Calab, his dad drop shots the Delta all the time and is real successful and catches some nice ones as well.

Re: So the obvious next question is...

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:34 pm
by Smokie
ahh it comes down to right bait, on top of perfect presentation for the right set of circumstances in most competitive events, the better sticks i know have the skill to adapt as well as make the read on whats going on like an eagle... theres some days where all they'll bite is persay the senko, than there comes to the slight differences that equal big bags over alright bags... for theory lets say theres a hundred boat tourney that has a tough bite where all theyre eating is a senko, and theres twenty guys solidly throwing the senko, lets say all the bigger bass are exactly three feet back in grass patches, and lets say the bass are buried in the grass but not super thick but not on the outer edge patroling. Lets say 25 guys figured out the senko near the grass was it, but 10 really caught more better fish by figuring out where in the grass they were hiding, but two or three of em added a heavier nail and got it in slamming it to the bottom causing a bite those other guys hadnt figured out, the other guys only knew the bass were by the grass and caught some gooduns, but didnt fine tune the pattern those winning guys did... thats my two cents about taking any patteren and really tuning it in, sometimes its the right color but alot of times its the right every lil thing dialed in... now to the question at hand, why not drop shot all the time everytime? well simply because it just isnt the right thing to do sometimes and thats just my opinion, man... but when it comes to numbers or getting a limit, it flat catches em, and lots of em when nothing else will... if the day gets real rough n u put a senko on one rod and either tie the drop or ned on another and cycle those two heavy at each spot, youll catch a few even on the toughest days to get bit. they flat work, but like other guys said, a lot of times to tune into the right sized ones its just not the way to go, but if you wanna catch as many fish as you can every trip out its a sure bet to keep a drop shot tied on, in the world of drop vs ned im a drop shot guy myself. its a gem in the spawn but like i said most presentations we know had a day they won it for someone and reason why it worked in those conditions, and theres so many other options that shine, especially in the summer... my two cents as a guy trying to outstick the fellas on the wild west, and those guys are good... but in my opinion if your trying to catch as many fish as you can the drop is hard to freakin beat, especially if you get tricky with it... :roll: my p.b. on the drop is 7 n a half, the bigguns eat it too butt theres just so many other options and some days they want it swimming, fast... ive had more hundred fish days throwing the drop than anything else though and those is facts... i believe being able to tune it in, quickly, creates consistancy which im hoping to go out and live by my words... hope the next drop shot fish you go stick is a giant though, cause cycling threw em all that next one could be it, good luck to you man...

Re: So the obvious next question is...

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 4:57 am
by Dave Brabec
Drop shot works year round but other presentations are just much more fun.I can go out on Clearlake with 10 rods rigged different and catch fish on each one. Much rather catch them on topwater or even a jig.But when temps drop and bite gets tough its hard to beat a worm.

Re: So the obvious next question is...

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 9:33 am
by ash
Dave Brabec wrote:Drop shot works year round but other presentations are just much more fun.I can go out on Clearlake with 10 rods rigged different and catch fish on each one. Much rather catch them on topwater or even a jig.But when temps drop and bite gets tough its hard to beat a worm.
Dave nailed it - I know I can start catching fish on a dropshot or wacky rigged stick bait. The issue is the quality of bites vs quantity. I prefer to fish fast and aggressive (power fish) then slow down to finesse. It also matches the tempo of the fish low light morning generally fish are more active and aggressive and big fish are chewing. With all of that being said, I don't like drop shooting - it reminds me of dragging a worm, effective yes, fun NO. Give me that Brabec Buzzbait or my JaJaJig anytime over shaking a worm.

Re: So the obvious next question is...

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 3:28 pm
by marinerfandave
I hear you but think about this, all the rod/reel combos we have, all the $$$ we have been forced to use for all the latest and greatest lures (thanks to the bait monkey!), etc. IF someone new to bass fishing asked me for advice on how to learn about bass fishing and how to do it CHEAPLY, I would recommend they get a couple of set-ups, one would be a drop shot setup and the other would probably be some type of mod/fast rod for crankbaits/small keitech with underspin. Those two would catch them a lot of fish and not break the bank whatsoever. Topwater/large swimbaits/pitching and flipping/and all the other technique specific could wait. The drop shot set up could also be used for wacky rig senko and ned rig. The mod/fast crankbait could also be used for jerkbaits. I'm a Dobyns guy and since we're talking about not breaking the bank, maybe a casting rod Fury CB 705 and for the finesse - spinning rod Fury 702. Those two and pick a couple decent reels and you would be set. I know that is more than "just drop shotting" but that would enable them to try different techniques but not stray too far from the finesse which is what started this thread, and everyone is confirming how drop shot 'works". My PB is a 7lb. 10oz. up at Clear Lake and it was on a drop shot, that was a quality bite!

Re: So the obvious next question is...

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 9:16 am
by ash
Great Point, whenever someone is new to fishing I typically have two rods for them. One with a wacky rigged stickbait (weighted or not) and one with an underspin or spinner bait. The wacky rig turns into a drop shot rather quickly as the actions are similar. For those starting out in the sport I advocate that a decent Medium Heavy Rod like the Veritas and a Medium Action Rod are great starting points. Most of the baits that we throw as bass fisherman can be accommodated on these two rods. Just don't tell my wife i said that, she has seen the pile of rods and reels I have acquired through the years.

But even for newbies, especially my kiddo, having a moving or topwater rod is great to keep their attention and lets face it there is NOTHING like an explosive top water bite to turn someone into a fishing junky.

Re: So the obvious next question is...

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 1:32 pm
by jiggin4bass
Jigs are by far the easiest lure to learn to fish with. Its a year around lure.
I also like use a drop shot but i like pairing it with a finesse jig and trailer as my weight. It really works good on spotted bass and smallies.