Expanding my box.

[Craig Thoreson]

Looking for some advice on plastics and techniques for drop shotting. I've played with live bait and cranks and now that it is roasting hot they are moving deep so I need to get down to them. Looking for artificial plastics suggestions to use though I may tip with live bait as well.

Thanks guys.

[dick tabbert]

Can't help much on the drop shotting never done it but there are people on here that do it often  As for plastics the biggest thing is having confidence in what you are throwing. Iv'e been trowing curly tail for over 20 years Many color work depending on water clarity but I have 1 color I throw 90 percent of the time. Most likely 1/32 oz to 1/16 oz jig head all depends on how fast you want it to fall which the wind might have something to say about that. The heads I like Chart, White, Chart, White and Chart, White. Now remember what I said about having confidence and these are my color knowing other will work after 20 years these have paid of the best for me. Now the Tail and I'm here to tell you all curly tails are not created equal. You want the softest plastic you can find that will give you more action even on them slow retrieves. Lots of bite will be on the fall so pay attention to your line. If no bite on the fall I fish it ever so slow and if that doesn't work you can speed it up a little. Craig this has worked for me for over 20 years as I fished by trial and error. Oh by the way I love Pearl White on my curly tails I almost forgot. GOOD FISHIN..

[Craig Thoreson]

Thanks Dick!

[carl hendrix]

CRAIG;; KEITH RITTER DOES A LOT OF DROP SHOTTING;; USUALLY; I THINK;; HE USES NITE CRAWLERS; OR CRICKETS; ON A HOOK; DRAGGED ALONG THE BOTTOM

[Slip Sinker]

…dropshotting a great way to catch fish… started dropshotting for smallmouth bass years ago… very effective especially when they were tightly schooled in deep water during the cold periods… drop your bait in the school hook em and hold on. My common plastic baits were the jerk bait styles like the Berkley Power Minnow in the 2-3” sizes. I started to tag some big gills with the 2” power minnow while bass fishing.

As the years went by my pursuit has changed to the gill and I dropped the 2” power minnow as a bait of choice for the panfish… I was catching to many LMB, N.Pike and SMB when targeting the gill. I started using nite crawler chunks about 3/8” long on a #10 hook using a polamar knot and started hooking consistently many times thinking this technique should be outlawed! It is that productive.

I now use gulp waxies because they are cheaper, cleaner, more efficient and IMO more productive than live bait.

Find schools of deep water fish on your sonar and toss the rig into the school.

Lately during this hot summer period ive been drop shotting the thermocline break and finding fish all bunched up along that contour.

Its most effective dragging along the slow gradient contours where the gills are searching for daphnia or bugs in the mud.

I have also found it very effective punching thru the weed canopy to the bottom of the weed beds where some big ones are. Deadly, deadly deadly.

Currently I double up on the hooks and test different baits colors etc… even test one against the other. I discovered I started catching more fish on the gulp waxie then live bait. So ive stuck with em. Hey but there not for everyone. Like Dick says you have to have faith in your bait.

i detail a few of my setups in the group PATTERN-RIGGING-PRESENTATION FOR BLUEGILL

recently

learning how to tie a good polamar knot is key... In-Fisherman panfish drop shotting...

 

polamar Knot and set-up

[Craig Thoreson]

Nice videos, I only use a double palomar as it is the only knot that I trust with my braid.

[Slip Sinker]

Palomar is fine for my braid... Gliss and nano are different story for me

[Craig Thoreson]

Is there one of the members using braid for their setup, thought I saw it mentioned at some point. I'm really liking my Suffix Nano Braid though if I have to add a Flouro leader I could I prefer not to.