Small DS Bass

Andre/Chris,would like to see photos and read descriptions of how you rig your drop shot rigs.Also ,which  shot ,hook, and worm type.

  I always used a split shot above a floating worm and it caught some real nice fish for me in the 3 and 5 lb. class .That is a form of drop shotting I guess. Lately I rigged a wacky style 1/0 hook in a 4 " Charlie Brewer worm and going with that .Only caught one small bass and a white Perch in the dorsal but I'll stick with it to see if I get more success.

Hey Guys the drop-shot technique rigging a senko wacky -style, I call the Wack-Drop. I first used the wack-drop late last summer.  It was an effective presentation during hot days when the fish are in deep cooler waters.  I fished this presentation successfully in depths up to and including 40 feet.  The hooks shown in the photo are made by Stand-Out purchased from the Bass Pro Shop.  The sinker can be any type of finesse weight, I prefer the cylinder type shown in the photo for the least amount of snags, simple rigging, and the ability to break them off if need be.  The bend you see in the hook is where I tie my palomar knot leaving maybe 3-4 feet of tag line to run through the eye of the hook and then attach my weight.  You can adjust the length between your hook and sinker as you see fit.  Now when I rig the senko, I never run the hook all the way through it coming out the other side.  It’s hard to explain but, if you look at the photo notice the hook goes into the bait and comes out on the same side.  I find the senko last longer when rigged this way.  Now don’t limit yourself to just a senko!  Any soft plastic can be used on a drop-shot.  This spring I have had success using tube baits.  However, the senko worked best during warm months, using it to entice lethargic fish.  After the water cooled down, the presentation did not work so well. 

Now during this spring, I have had loads of success catching pre-spawn fish on crankbaits.  This could be just the bodies of water in my area?  But whatever the case, guys using soft plastics on Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore County have not been having as much luck as cranking anglers.  Why is that?  Not sure.  But I well take a guess and say that pre-spawn Bass are looking to feed on their natural forage this time of year.  And getting a crankbait that will match the forage and fishing it at the right depths and speed often will lead to success.  In the photo is a picture of a Rapala DT-3.  I love this bait!  I would pay to be its sponsor.  The tight wobble given by the square bill and bouncy of the balsa wood, makes this bate irresistible to fish.  When throwing any crankbaits, just make sure you alternate your retrieve. Most of my strikes have come while slowing or even completely stopping the bait.    Also, look for wood and cover to bounce off of.   Don’t fear vegetation.

Would love to hear what others are using this time of year?  Keep Fishing Well, See YA!  

ANDRE !!!Great info !Thank you . I will be modifying my Drop shot .I had the bell singer six "s from hook today casting from shore but I can see the variety of depths this tecnique can be employed as the conditions dictate the suspending fish position.

most of my fish lately have been coming on a watermelon strike king zero nose hooked, the i put a weight 12 to 16 inches under it.  i have been using a 1/0 gamakatsu finesse hook.  the strike king zero is a cool worm its made of elaz-tech and i have not lost a single worm to a fish yet.  the drop shot rig has caught about 15 bass and 1 pickerel so far.  

john- that fish before was caught on the rig i was talking about above 

Bass are taking to  Beetle Spins and Cotton Cordell Rattlin' Spots

Love that interruption on a slow or moderate  steady retrieve or pickup after a stop and go

Caught on a 16th oz.Beetle Spin. 4lb.test line,UL rod /reel

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/p5080214-1/next?context=album&albu...

A method I need to improve upon is jig fishing?  Learning how to flip and pitch correctly not causing a splash!  That is tough for me to get a handle of with my baitcaster but I plan to master it this year.  I'll be out tomorrow afternoon giving it a try.  I plan to be flipping a Stike King Rodent on a 3/8oz jig.

Biggest so far this year came from a small Ringwood pond fishing from shore .Got her on a 5 and 1/2 inch Bluegill caught minutes before from the same spot .First time using a Gill for bait . Patience after fish wouldn't hit lures payed off nicely.

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/2036984:Photo:162007?xg_source=activity

Heres the bait: http://bigbluegill.com/photo/2036984:Photo:162007/prev?context=user

landed this bass a few weeks ago on my homemade trick worm.

only bite i had.

little bass fishing vid last friday. was hot. the bite was ok. public lake.

http://youtu.be/gQSyV00VzlQ

Smallmouth Bass really put Largemouths to shame when it comes to fight and energy.  At least that is my opinion?  What do ya'll think?  Catch a 3 pound smallie or 5 pound largemouth?

Nothin fights like a Male Smallie guarding a nest and hittin a crankbait!

In defense of Largemouths right about now they really start fighting hard!Also I caught a 3.9 lb. Largemouth last year on Dec 6th and it swam hard and long all over a flat.An excellent fight so late in the year on 6#test and a medium light spinning rod.

I’m learning this year that so much about successful Bass fishing is about figuring out the pattern on that particular body of water.  Different bodies of water appear to have similarities in the most successful pattern however; each has a few vital nuances that can make the difference between success and struggle.  For example at both Piney and Loch Raven in my area, Bass are going nuts over 7 inch power worms.  But at Piney Run the Bass will only key in on a black worms, meanwhile at Loch Raven greenish worms are the ticket. 

got the bottom one on a strike king zero in like a foot of water.  the top one came on a tru-tungsten tru-life swimbait waked on top he whacked it pretty hard

Curious post Sharon! You must have special bass.

But it got me thinking how floppy feeling Bullheads bellies are if thats worth anything.

Sharon,things ,as of now, have changed for the better !I was just able to post i a pic in a group,and a funny one at that :http://bigbluegill.com/group/trout-bums?xg_source=activity

I think the Fur fish fixed it!

I just read online that a artificial worm is one of the hardest things to catch a bass with. Therefore, it's what the "ultimate" bass fisherman uses. If that's so, what does one use that makes it easy? Tried just about everything in the store dead or alive. Dangle it right in front of the bass or reel it in, they're not interested.

That sounds like a disinterested nesting fish.

I can try that tonight. My bass ARE moving around, though, and I can't see the bottom of the pond to find nesting sites. Guess, I can just guess they are there, and drag the bait across the same place a few times. I'll look harder for a hole too. Thanks