Fishing A Drop Shot In Deep Water
Tips For The Beginner
Written By: Rick McFerrin
Owner Guide
www. Tennessee Bass Guides. Com
Introduction
One of the great benefits that we bass fishermen have here in middle
Tennessee is that we can chase our prey all year long. Under normal
conditions our lakes never freeze over. Most of the time even with
the winter draw down we have great boat ramps that are always assessable.
We have shallow water lakes and river type lakes that have a constant
current and flow. We have lakes that have hot water discharge plants
that keep several miles of water with spring like temperatures all
winter. We also have several clear deep lakes like Center Hill located
near Smithville Tennessee in middle Tennessee where the water temperatures
will get down into the 40's and offers fantastic "Deep" water
Smallmouth-Largemouth and Spotted Bass fishing. How "Deep" is "Deep"?
How about consistently catching bass straight down in 25 feet-35 feet-45
feet or even 50 feet of water or more?
There are several techniques that seasoned bass fisherman like Tennessee
Bass Guide Billy Campbell (pictured above) uses to reach these deep
water bass. But none more enjoyable than a "Drop Sot" rig.
Over the next several paragraphs it is our intention to give you some
useable information that Billy passed on to me that will help you immediately
on you next deep water bass trip.
What Is A Drop Shot And How Is It Rigged?
Billy
explained it this way. A Drop Shot is simply a finesse worm technique
that is is rigged with a plastic worm or small shad type
bait fished on a #1 wide gap hook tied approximately 18 to 24 inches
ABOVE a 3/16th ounce weight attached to the end of the line. The picture
to the right is a little deceiving so let me repeat this again. The
worm is tied ABOVE THE WEIGHT.
How Is The Hook And Weight Tied On? Billy stressed the importance
of tying the hook on correctly. I watched as he tied the hook to the
line 18 inches above the loose end with a Palomar Knot. He then took
the loose end of the line and brought it back through the eye of the
hook-when he did this it left the hook standing straight out away from
the line. By using this rigging method Billy believes it increases
your successful hook sets. He then attached the 3/16th ounce drop shot
weight to the loose end with another Palomar knot. Very simple very
easy procedure. Now what do you do?
Choosing You Bait: I guess the word "Finesse" defines
where you start. As with many innovative techniques it appears that
western
bass fishermen gave drop shotting it's birth. It is critical much of
the time that a "Small" bait be used in their ultra clear
lakes. So you can see how this technique fits perfectly in lakes like
Center Hill. Once again Billy's bait selection is very simple, he stays
with 3 and 4 inch worms and shad type imitations. The Case Plastics
Company of Clarksville Va. offers many great plastic baits that the
entire Tennessee Bass Guides Team uses for finesse technique fishing.
(see www.Madtoms.com) Bait color is dictated by water color. Billy
uses watermelon and green shades in clear water and reds and June bug
in stained water.
How Do You Rig It? There is basically three methods used. (1) Texas
Rigged- where the hook point is buried back into the worm to make it
weed less. This is the preferred method if fishing structure such as
deep timber and logs. (2) Hooked directly through the tip of the nose
where the hook is left exposed (3) Wacky Style where the hook is placed
through the center of the worm and left exposed. The last two rigging
methods work great out in deep open water where the fish are suspended
away from structure.
Rod And Line Selection
Lets start
with the rod: It's no secret that the All Pro APX Series Spinning Rods
in the medium 6 to 7 foot range is our rods of choice
for this technique. Why? It's simple. These rods are the most sensitive
graphite rods we have ever used. When you have a 4 inch worm with a
3/16th ounce weight hanging in 50 feet of water directly below your
boat you must be able to feel even the lightest "TAP". There
are times the bass will almost rip the rod out of your hands, but there
are also times that the hit is very subtle. That is exactly why we
use the APX series rod. (see www.allprorods.com)
Next lets talk about line: Billy explained that line weight and color
depends much upon water clarity. Under most conditions on Center Hill
you can easily use 6 and 8lb test line. Billy had rods rigged with
both clear blue fluorescent and lo-vis green high quality line.
Where And How Is The Drop Shot Fished In Deep Water?
Take
a look at the picture to the left. What do you see? Much of the time
on Center Hill you will find the bass suspended in and around
pods of shad out in "Open Water" When this situation occurs
it is extremely important that you rely on "GOOD" electronics.
Billy's approach to finding shad is to probe various coves and creeks
starting with the deepest water and working his way in by zigzagging
back and forth across from bank to bank until a good pod of bait fish
was found. Some of the fish were found in 50 feet of water some in
30 feet or less. At that point Billy would man his trolling motor and
look for suspended bass (This Is Important) on the out side edges of
the pod. Billy would then search out the larger fish and watch his
electronics as the drop shot fell into the strike zone. Billy would
make the bait "Quiver" as he gently twitched the rod tip.
He explained that this presentation is much different from using a
spoon where you want to impart a more erratic motion. If you have good
electronics you can actually see the the bass move up or down to attack
your bait and immediately feel that "Tap" we talked about
earlier. Billy explained that another method of presenting these little
baits is called "Strolling". This method is used when you
know which direction the bass are pushing the shad and you simply drag
the bait along as you move with the trolling motor, letting the motion
and boat movement impart all action.
Conclusion
Will
this technique work? I guess the proof is in the picture to the right.
A beautiful 4 pound plus largemouth that came out of 55 feet
of water (Yes 55 feet) suspended on the out side edge of a pod of shad.
Just a couple reminders if your planning to try this technique on
Center Hill or another clear deep water lake near you. (1) Remember
that under normal conditions shad won't suspend around cover like bass
do. They prefer open water where they can mill around and travel freely.
(2) You have to rely on your electronics to help you find and stay
on the bait fish. (3) The Drop Shot method is deadly on both active
and not so active fish "IF" you get it in front of his face.
(4) Don't over power your finesse baits with rods and line that are
to heavy for this technique. (5) Stay alert watch the birds for feeding
action and last but not least don't get discouraged if your results
the first trip or two is slim. Like all other effective methods there
is a learning curve to this technique. Have fun....enjoy and let us
know how you do fishing the "Drop Shot"
More
Tips by Rick McFerrin
Tennesseebassguides.com