Drop shot questions 2025

Davisb reply :

Is a five inch senko too much for drop shotting? Also, when I tie the rig the hook doesn't stand out sideways from the side. Is this because it only does that in the water? Thanks.

SUPERHOT reply :

Actually popular to contrary belief you can drop shot basically any Soft Plastic. I'v seen people drop shot Beavers,Brush hogs,Lizards,Super Flukes,Tubes,10inch RT worms,Swimbaits and craws(with success and this technique is called powershoting) And try to tie the DS using a palomar knot. If you do it right the rig will look like the diagrams.

Davisb reply :

Oh I mean to say it stands out without the worm but with the worm it does not.

OkobojiEagle reply :

On 2/26/2017 at 5:12 AM, Davisb said:

Oh I mean to say it stands out without the worm but with the worm it does not.

sometimes gravity's a b*tch...

NorthwestBasser reply :

I dropshot big plastics, including 5" senkos nose hooked, actually caught my personal best doing this exact thing. Definitely use the Palomar knot and be sure to drop your tag end back down through the hook eyelet. No, it's probably not going to stand out when not submerged. I always drop mine in the water just at the boat edge and make sure I'm getting the presentation I want before making my cast.

RoLo reply :

The so-called "dropshot rig" is a modified version of the old "dropper rig" used in saltwater.

By tying the hook directly to the main line, the 'dropshot rig' eliminates the "dropper line"

That said, for presenting a clunky lure like a 5" senko (3/8oz w/o hook),

don't overlook the option to use a dropper rig with a short dropper line.

That would eliminate bait-droop and behave more like a C-rig.

Roger

Nscheele reply :

Most any soft plastic floats or is buoyant some degree so, yes, the plastic bait you choose will float perpendicular to your line once it's submerged.

NYWayfarer reply :

If you are dropshotting a 5" senko it's best to wacky rig it. When I drop shot a senko nose hooked it is in then3 to 4" size.

eyedabassman reply :

a SENKO WILL not float. Alot of plastic's will sink but not all will. I also would fish it wacky. Try a 4 in. Fish Doctor by Zoom !!!!!!!!!!!!

NorthwestBasser reply :

On 2/26/2017 at 8:37 AM, eyedabassman said:

a SENKO WILL not float. Alot of plastic's will sink but not all will. I also would fish it wacky. Try a 4 in. Fish Doctor by Zoom !!!!!!!!!!!!

I always get caught up calling soft plastic stock worms "senkos". I actually only have a couple bags of GYB Senkos. Many of my "knockoffs" do float enough to stand out on a dropshot. But you sir are correct, the GYB will not float...

On 2/26/2017 at 8:31 AM, Finesse Wayfarer said:

If you are dropshotting a 5" senko it's best to wacky rig it. When I drop shot a senko nose hooked it is in then3 to 4" size.

Well best for one situation isn't always best in others. There are obvious benefits to wacky rigging a 5" worm. Completely different on the fall and double the action. But that's not always what the fish are telling me that want. The nose hooked 5" has worked well for me.

NYWayfarer reply :

On 2/26/2017 at 8:50 AM, NorthwestBasser said:

Well best for one situation isn't always best in others. There are obvious benefits to wacky rigging a 5" worm. Completely different on the fall and double the action. But that's not always what the fish are telling me that want. The nose hooked 5" has worked well for me.

Too each their own. When I am dropshotting, i am looking for the bait to stand out perpendicular from the line. A 5" Senko will not do that. I would rather wacky rig that bait on my drop shot hook or rig it Texas style weedless instead.

if it is working for you I say go for it. The goal is to catch fish after all. No matter what way.

RoLo reply :

The great thing about fishing is that it's a flexible sport that puts the angler in charge.

There's no fixed matrix and no rigid rules; the angler is always free to alter the rig, the bait

and break the rules. For this reason, we will always see new ideas, new rigs and new techniques,

followed by a hundred fishermen who claim to be the founder of the new methodology

Roger

bmac31 reply :

I personally like the VMC drop shot hooks. Saves me time, I'm not the best at the polomar knot. I have them in a couple different styles depending on the size of bait I'll be using.

-Brian

NorthwestBasser reply :

And I'm certainly not saying I dropshot big plastics all the time. I prefer to dropshot smaller baits. The KVD dreamshot in watermelon seed is my go to. I first threw a 5" "senko" on a dropshot out of necessity. All they were biting was green and all I had left in green plastic was green pumpkin salty sinkin worms. Notice the sinking part, still hauled in two 4lbers with it. I do agree with what has been stated above, all of it in fact. I'm just saying finesse fishing doesn't have to mean small baits

NYWayfarer reply :

On 2/26/2017 at 9:41 AM, bmac31 said:

I personally like the VMC drop shot hooks. Saves me time, I'm not the best at the polomar knot. I have them in a couple different styles depending on the size of bait I'll be using.

-Brian

I love those hooks as well. I must be a glut for punishment as I Palomar knot both sides!

I recently bought a hook-Eze to speed things up.

On 2/26/2017 at 9:56 AM, NorthwestBasser said:

And I'm certainly not saying I dropshot big plastics all the time. I prefer to dropshot smaller baits. The KVD dreamshot in watermelon seed is my go to. I first threw a 5" "senko" on a dropshot out of necessity. All they were biting was green and all I had left in green plastic was green pumpkin salty sinkin worms. Notice the sinking part, still hauled in two 4lbers with it. I do agree with what has been stated above, all of it in fact. I'm just saying finesse fishing doesn't have to mean small baits

Love dreamshots except for the fragile tail. Bluegill tend to nip them right off. Try the Strike King half shell drop shot baits. They are much more durable.

eyedabassman reply :

On 2/26/2017 at 9:41 AM, bmac31 said:

I personally like the VMC drop shot hooks. Saves me time, I'm not the best at the polomar knot. I have them in a couple different styles depending on the size of bait I'll be using.

-Brian

I love this Spinshot hooks. What i do is fish two Spinshot hooks on one drop shot rig.I have my weight and then one Spinshot hook about 6 in. from the weight and now the 2nd Spinshot hook about 8 to 10 in. from the other hook.I can cover alot more of the water and if they are off the bottom all the better! No line twist and a chance at doubles!

On 2/26/2017 at 9:58 AM, Finesse Wayfarer said:

I love those hooks as well. I must be a glut for punishment as I Palomar knot both sides!

I recently bought a hook-Eze to speed things up.

Love dreamshots except for the fragile tail. Bluegill tend to nip them right off. Try the Strike King half shell drop shot baits. They are much more durable.

The ONLY knot I fish is the San Diego Jam knot. I have NEVER had this knot break or slip! GAME OVER!

NorthwestBasser reply :

WIll have to try those out Finesse Wayfarer. The dreamshots do get torn up fast, hence the reason I ran out of them. Good for one maybe two fish... or a few panfish nips like you mentioned, haha

Darren. reply :

I would not drop shot a 5" stick bait (senko), but

that doesn't mean you can't!

Agree with @Finesse Wayfarer about wacky rigging

it. At least that's what I'd do. I prefer to stay with

baits in the 4" range. All personal. As for buoyancy,

yeah, a true Senko, or heavily salted worm will fall

and require you to give it action every few seconds.

BassGirl71 reply :

On 2/26/2017 at 5:06 AM, SUPERHOT said:

Actually popular to contrary belief you can drop shot basically any Soft Plastic. I'v seen people drop shot Beavers,Brush hogs,Lizards,Super Flukes,Tubes,10inch RT worms,Swimbaits and craws(with success and this technique is called powershoting) And try to tie the DS using a palomar knot. If you do it right the rig will look like the diagrams.

I agree, I use a power shot quite a bit when fishing vegetation like pads. It is really just a drop shot, but with a heavier weight, a bigger hook and a bulkier bait. It works really well when the fish are up under the pads just sitting there in the shade. The weight drops through and the bait sits right in front of them. It's not a presentation they see often where I fish, so it seems to work pretty well.

lmbfisherman reply :

On 2/26/2017 at 8:31 AM, Finesse Wayfarer said:

If you are dropshotting a 5" senko it's best to wacky rig it. When I drop shot a senko nose hooked it is in then3 to 4" size.

This is what I do.

Mark888 reply :

On 2/26/2017 at 9:41 AM, bmac31 said:

I personally like the VMC drop shot hooks. Saves me time, I'm not the best at the polomar knot. I have them in a couple different styles depending on the size of bait I'll be using.

-Brian

i only use these hooks now - no line twist (braid to flouro line), and bait stands up straight

primetime reply :

I am not an expert in Drop Shotting by any means, but when I do use it, I really like those Damiki Stand out hooks as you can tie any type of knot you want and I trust an Improved Clinch Knot with Fluoro more than I do the Palomar.

I also like the VMC spin shot hooks or any hook with a swivel since I have a tendency to shake rigs too much. I like to rig all my drop shot leaders up at home before going fishing so I make sure I do a good job with knots, I think Swivels are ok, but for weedless, those Damiki hooks are strong and putting the line back through the bottom when you tie helps the hook sit out the right way. If using a big bait, then it can get tricky, I just use the Bigger VMC pre rigged with Swivel so I can texas rig.

Owner Down shot hooks are good for texas rigging smaller baits, a 5" Senko is kind of heavy and big so You may need thicker line, or maybe try the dreaded Mono. Mono also works well as a leader, I usually never drop shot Senko's but I would simply play around with different lines and hooks and test them in the water to get the look you want.

Ktho reply :

Drop shotting 5" Yum Dingers on a 2/0 EWG hook has been slaying it lately around my neck of the woods

mheichelbech reply :

Does anyone ever try a jig or the like as their dropshot weight instead of a sinker?

NYWayfarer reply :

On 3/2/2017 at 11:04 PM, mheichelbech said:

Does anyone ever try a jig or the like as their dropshot weight instead of a sinker?

You can use any weight as a sinker for a drop shot. I have used split shot and casting sinkers in a pinch.

The drop shot weights are nice because they clip on. They slip off if snagged so you don't loose your whole rig. They are have different shapes for different bottom types you might fish.

frosty reply :

I've got some pro senkos that are 6" long that say they are naturally buoyant, they have less salt, they are intended for shaky head, but I bet they would work pretty good for this.

RoLo reply :

On 2/26/2017 at 9:41 AM, bmac31 said:

I personally like the VMC drop shot hooks. Saves me time, I'm not the best at the polomar knot. I have them in a couple different styles depending on the size of bait I'll be using.

-Brian

Thank you...I've been looking all over for my Tuna Gaff!

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