Yum Kill Shot. This finesse bait is the perfect imitation of small bait fish and is also great for fishing deep structure, ledges and other drop shotting areas. When fishing structure, lure placement is important. Ned Kehde breaks down the finer points of the Rabid Baits Goby. Set the hook and an exciting battle is on. Favorite colors: Bleak, Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Pearl and Pearl White. Z-Man StreakZ. In this article we have gone over the top baits and some things to consider when selecting the right bait. This Japanese made lure has a cross shaped design which causes the bait to flicker andmove side to side. I may receive a sales commission if used. I use it on a drop shot rig. You want to 'slide' the rig at a selected depth, like 6 feet off bottom. If you are looking for a new drop shot bait this is an excellent one to go out and try, you won’t be disappointed. His was the heaviest smallmouth catch ever weighed in at a Bassmaster event. ", One of Swendseid's presentations incorporates a very short dropper. You want to impart action without moving the sinker. "To make a lure move and swim, use the lightest weight possible," he says. The Zoom Z Drop Worm is an excellent drop shot bait for catching smallmouth bass. Fall is heavy feeding time for largemouth bass. It's like crankbait fishing, but with light line and a tiny weight and lure. Morning Dawn. This is a killer bait especially when bass are keying in on crawfish. Here are Johnston’s tips and tricks for using this rig in cold water. "Most of the time, I tie my hook 2 to 3 feet above the weight with a nose-hooked goby imitation or finesse worm. The rig is a reliable finesse presentation for fussy 'eyes, but it does more. We appreciate you stopping by. Bass can't knock it out of kilter. Swendseid said the best drop-shotter today is probably Aaron Martens, the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year. Tags: sean-ostruszka-and-andy-hagedon post-tournament 2018-06-28-lake-st-clair-metropark ... New 3.25, 4.25 inch Drop Shot Minnow. A bumping rod is the unicorn of fishing rods because building the right rod for bumping feels... “If that engine starts without my kill switch on, I ain't the one driving it,” Blake Broussard says after ejection video goes viral. I dropped it right past any bass I spotted on my 1199 Humminbird, then kept it there on a tight line, shaking a little to make sure the fish hadn't already bit. Subscriber Services. When you nose hook it, the bait … Lipless crankbaits are incredibly versatile lures that can be fished in a variety of different... How to Catch Trout: A Complete Beginners Guide. The longer the cast, the closer to bottom the lure is, no matter how long the dropper. Even in rough water, it's an efficient choice. Custom colors are available upon request. If you have ever seen this bait worked under water you will know why its tough for smallmouth bass to resist. "Drop-shot rigs are so versatile you can fish them nearly anywhere," Swendseid says. The tail section of this bait it what really makes it shine. Get on Board: Species for Beginner Anglers, Selecting a Bumping Rod and Reel for Catfish, Walleye Fish Cakes with Blue Cheese Aioli Recipe, Walleye Baked with Sweet Peppers & Onions Recipe, Northern Perspective On Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass, The True Story of the Bass Boat Hero Who Broke the Internet. Molds were computer designed for perfect hydro- and aerodynamics. 50 for $2.99. Let the current work it. "Drop-shotting has two names in Japan," he says. I drop it near the highest part of a key spot and hardly move the rig.". It is one of the few drop shot baits that is designed to imitate a crawfish. The In-Fisherman crew head to Lake Erie to catch smallmouth bass. That's the key to proper action on a drop-shot. If you are already love to fish stick baits on a wacky rig or Texas rig, consider hooking a … These baits all have a solid reputation and have been proven to catch smallmouth bass. For more details about this bait check out this review done by BassMaster. The hook shank acts like the keel of a boat to keep the lure upright when I shake the rod tip. Favorite colors: Watermelon Red, Road Kill and Dirty Sanchez. PowerBait FW Minnow Fishing Bait. 5. A slow, methodical retrieve works best. ", While most bass pros use 7- to 10-pound line to drop-shot for largemouths, many experts mostly use 6-pound fluorocarbon for smallies. Zoom Tiny fluke 8. ... O'Rings Best price around. The quivering action and coffee scent makes simply makes this a killer drop shot bait. Serve these walleye fish cakes with homemade blue cheese aioli or blue cheese salad dressing. One of my all-time favorite bass fishing lures to throw in the spring and fall is a lipless crankbait. "It's important that bass pick up the bait without feeling any tension. Two hours of fishing—me with a drop shot rig, Veenstra with a tube—produced one smallmouth (and a couple of rockies). However, depending on which species you are targeting your approach, baits and techniques should be different. Palaniuk uses 8-pound test Berkley FireLine braid with a 10-foot Trilene fluorocarbon leader of 8- or 6-pound test. Hook’d on Bassin’s TOP 5 Drop Shot Baits. ", Martens uses 6- and 7-pound Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon with a #1 Gamakatsu Drop-Shot hook. This is a killer bait especially when bass are keying in on crawfish. Feider wacky-rigged cigar-style worms to win the Bassmaster event on Mille Lacs. Smallmouth bass are sight feeders and a longer leader gives the bass more opportunities to see your bait as you work it through rocks, grass and other types of structure. I like to nose hook it on a 1/0 Drop Shot Hook with a 1/4… It has two flopping claws at the bottom of the bait that will move at the slightest twitch. I won my fist bass fishing tournament in college throwing a drop shot with a small beaver tied on. If you haven’t already, give this bait a try next time the bass are chasing crayfish. Generally, when targeting smallmouth you will be fishing in clear open water conditions in rocks and deep structure as well as grass lines. The Best Lipless Crankbaits to Catch More Fish. Drop Shot Smallmouth: Where Although you can use a drop shot effectively in shallow water (think bed fishing), the bread and butter for throwing a drop shot is on deep structure like humps, points, road beds, break lines, and over manmade cover like cribs or brush piles. The In-Fisherman staff reveals some of the hottest action of the winter season, as they show how to ice 20-pound channel catfish. One exciting new hook is the Trapper Tackle Drop-Shot Bait Lock. "When given slack, some worms spiral down," Swendseid says. The Jackall Crosstail Shad always get’s bites on a drop shot. A lot of what they eat (gobies, crawfish, bait fish) tend to have a smaller profile which is why the stubbier baits tend to do well. Even better, the same rigging method is likely to produce a host of bonus fish like walleye and even lake trout in the hands of creative fishermen who aren’t afraid to dip into a live bait container. "I think its benefits increase with the size of the lure. "You can call fish to the rig and cover water that way," Martens says. The key to fishing this bait is to use a shorter leader, 4-6-inches from the weight, and less twitching, wiggling or shaking the rod tip. "That's good because there are at least 100 different options for soft plastics suitable for fishing on a drop shot … I often use offset-shank hooks, which allow me to tuck the point in the body. I can put more tension on them without moving the sinker when pitching the rig shallow. There are the type or kind of bait that most anglers invest in nowadays and... 2. And they work to improve their techniques, knowing they're mincemeat without it. It works on the drop shot set up the best in my opinion. Our Japanese-technique guru and historian, David Swendseid, says the tournament world first took notice of the technique in the 1990s. Drop Shot Baits for Largemouth vs. Smallmouth Bass Professional bass angler Josh Bertrand credits the drop shot as his favorite and most often used technique for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. What to use: A bait between 4 and 5 inches in length is your best bet. It's hard to compete with nature, so I was trying to talk them into a minnow. Length of the dropper can be critical. This is a popular choice amongst a lot of bass fishing anglers and for good reason. In the Columbia River, 30 feet down, I don't impart any action to the lure. He sits down with Wired2Fish to share his preferred bait profiles for each bass species, relating the selections to habitat preferences and available forage. That's what makes a drop-shot what it is—maintaining lure placement precisely on a key spot.". 1 VMC drop shot hook and a 3/8ths-ounce Eco Pro tungsten weight, tied about 10 to 12 inches below the hook. "I could put action on it without pulling it away from a boulder. Here are Johnston’s tips and tricks for using this rig in cold water. The key is not to over work this bait… A precise combination of rod, reel, line, hook, sinker, and sonar seems more integral to the success of drop-shot angling than any other technique in bass fishing. Martens and Kota Kiriyama are advocates of this technique, but there are other approaches. I use Owner Mosquito Hooks, VMC Spin-Shot Hooks, and Lazer TroKar Drop-Shot Hooks with great success in average depths, but Balog finds special needs down deep. As Great Lakes expert Joe Balog notes, "Big bass are old and they've been fished for years. 3. "The V-tail is designed to saunter off at an angle in a natural swimming motion. "They snag less and have a faster fall rate," he says. But some anglers are turning to hooks with built-in swivels, like the VMC SpinShot. My all-time favorite colors are Aaron’s Magic or Aaron’s Morning Dawn, I will also sometimes go with the Baby Bluegill or Green Pumpkin Purple. We hope you have found this information to be valuable and that it will help you the next time you are out on the water. When anglers shake a worm they move the weight. Technical drop-shot skills placed him in the winner's seat at the 2016 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Mille Lacs in Minnesota last September. The remaining parts of his typical drop shot rig include a No. When targeting smallmouth, I typicallywill go with 4.5”. "Drop-shotting is more versatile than most anglers think. The drop shot is one of my favorite finesse bass fishing techniques and may be one of the most effectives ways to catch smallmouth bass. In this article, we give you our top drop shot baits for smallmouth bass, as well as some helpful tips and tricks that will help you catch more bass on a drop shot. ", Martens uses 6-inch Roboworm Straight Tails and 4-inch Alive Shads. For some of the top drop shot baits, there is an amazing selection here: click. FLW Tour Rookie of the Year, Chris Johnston, finds fishing with a dropshot rig is a great way to catch deep, fall smallmouth. When bass spit up minnows, use water clarity and sonar info to call the shot. "I was dropping directly down to boulders," he says. The Missile Drop Craw is an outstanding drop shot bait for smallmouth bass. Feider uses long, cylindrical VMC Drop-Shot weights about 90 percent of the time. By this point, you should understand just about everything you could want to know about drop shotting for bass. Yet, many anglers still haven't tried it. Feider is at home with spinning tackle and Minnesota smallmouths. Hooks can be as far from the sinker as the rod is long, so be open-minded to adjustments. The combination of a soft action and great scent make this a solidsmallmouth drop shot bait. You will have more success in these conditions fishing more natural looking baits and colors. The Dart-n-Minnow is great at imitating fry and small bait fish and is an absolute smallmouth catching machine. All Rights Reserved. Zman Trick Shot. "Among American-made reels for drop-shotting, I prefer Shimano Stellas and Dawia Exists," he says. This bait is awesome for smallmouth. It comes in your standard colors with a few variations and is an overall great finesse bait when paired with a drop shot setup. QuickDrops cast farther, swim better, and give us one more option for imitating open-water baitfish. One of the best drop shot baits we’ve found is the Gary Yamamoto, 4″ Shad Shape Worm in the Perch Colour. The baits for the Drop-Shot Rig are endless, ranging from flukes to worms to a few unknown fishing objects (UFO). A drop shot rig or split shot rig and a lively leech can be super effective when casting along weed edges, in weed pockets, around wood or along docks. As these experts attest, a drop-shot rig often is the deadliest choice for summertime smallmouth bass. Trout fishing evokes the image... Our passion for fishing is what drives us to do everything possible to empower other anglers. This unique actions gives the bass another look and can be a deadly bait in the right situations.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'tiltfishing_com-leader-2','ezslot_14',115,'0','0'])); The Drop Shot Half Shell is a solid option for smallmouth bass. In general smallmouth bass often prefer a smaller more stubbier bait. He tied in a 15-foot leader of 6-pound Sufix Fluorocarbon, with a #2 VMC Neko Hook and an 18-inch to 2-foot dropper terminating in a VMC TDSC Tungsten Drop-Shot Cylinder Weight. Doug Stange joins Capt. Depending on the fishes' moods, these usually will cover the sometimes-finicky mood changes of smallmouth in the summer. Obviously, finesse worms and Senko-style cigar worms lend themselves to a wacky approach, but any soft plastic can be fished wacky style, or "gilly rigged," as Martens calls it. Just drop the rod tip and shake the slack to move the lure without moving the sinker. This walleye recipe is a colorful and delicious way to serve your most recent catch. Even dedicated power fishermen acknowledge the facts and always have a spinning rod or two on board. In my opinion, the best time to test out a drop shot is when you’re not having luck with anything else. ", On the other hand, he often uses a long dropper. Favorite Rig: Nose-hooked with a Mustad Grip pin edge No.2 or 3 or No.1 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Drop Shot Hookeval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'tiltfishing_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',111,'0','0'])); Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver (3.50) is a solid drop shotting bait. |
"The 1/2-ounce weight keys accurate drops," he says. "I use it because it's so crazy effective. I have caught more bass using a roboworm than any other bait. His gilly rig produces a quite different shake and action. 4. Fluorocarbon comes off the spool easily and drops quickly so you can be more accurate on the drop. Jerkbaits – For The Extremely Stubborn Fish. It was interesting, though, to watch almost an entire field of Bassmaster Elite anglers using spinning gear. In most smallmouth drop shot situations a longer leader will help you get more bites. If you can learn how to fish a drop shot for smallmouth bass you will put more fish in the boat! So would a lot of pros. "The rod tip must bend easily," Feider says. They handle weights from 1/32-to 3/16 ounce." It’s designed to have more of a darting action that is similar to the way a jerkbait moves. Bass rigs can be simple or complex, but most have evolved to include multiple variations. Favorite rig: Nose-hooked with a Mustad Grip pin edge No.2 or 3 or No.1 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Drop Shot Hookeval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'tiltfishing_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_12',113,'0','0'])); The Berkly Powerbait Twitch Tail minnow is the perfect drop shotting bait that imitates nearly all baitfish. Once American anglers began using it, they often employed slightly heavier lines, weights, and rods. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'tiltfishing_com-box-3','ezslot_9',106,'0','0'])); The roboworm is an all time great drop shotting bait and its number one on my list for good reason. Strike King Dream Shot 4. Rig higher when pitching or casting, go short when fishing vertically. Favorite colors: Smoking Shad, Green Albino, and Green Pumpkin, Favorite rig: Nose-hooked with a Mustad Grip pin edge No.2 or 3 or No.1 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Drop Shot Hook. The Scoop on Drop Shotting. It's a bulky 3-inch softbait. Its density and strategically injected salt produce a keel effect. It locks the lure in place above the tops of the vegetation. I have caught a lot of nice smallies while fishing with a dream shot. The drop shot isn’t that much different than fishing a rig with live bait except you are giving it life. Another unique hook is the Blakemore StandOut, which has an R-bend where the knot's tied, leading to an eye on an extended shank. FLW Tour Rookie of the Year, Chris Johnston, finds fishing with a dropshot rig is a great way to catch deep, fall smallmouth. He'd rather do that then fish it directly under the boat. Green Pumpkin. A big bait on a drop shot appeals to aggressive fish. He finished 6.5 pounds ahead of second-place finisher Brent Ehler, who also used drop-shot techniques to catch over 90 percent of his smallmouths. The focus also is on what bass are feeding on. "My teardrop puts the entire swivel outside the lead—providing two swivel points instead of one. Martens says most of his drop-shot lengths are shorter early in the season and longer later in the year, since bass tend to be shallower and more bottom-oriented then. In this article we are specifically going over baits and techniques for catching smallmouths on a drop shot. The Zoom flukes are well known as fishing catching machines and the Tiny Fluke from Zoom is a great drop shot bait. Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver 5. He likes 3/8- to 3/4-ounce round "cherry bomb" sinkers to target rocks in 25 feet or more. "With his multiple drop-shotting wins around the country, Martens demonstrates his versatility with the technique," Swendseid says. Texposing allows you to fish in brush or vegetation.". Late fall is one of the best times of the year to catch giant smallmouth bass. Place hook and sinker 6 to 20 inches apart, depending on approach. Drop-shotting has come of age, no longer a niche finesse fad, but a mainstream tactic as critical as crankbait mastery or flippin' in many situations. This site is owned and operated by Aaron Warner. I use a 7-foot 6-inch medium-light action Daiwa Steez for 1/16- to 3/4-ounce weights and lines up to 12-pound test. When it was calm, the shaded side produced. ", Though he prefers a medium-light rod when fishing shallow, Balog likes a 7-foot, medium-power Daiwa Steez to drop-shot vertically on deep Great Lakes structure. Ever since that day I make sure to always have one tied on and it never seems to disappoint. Best Drop Shot Baits for Smallmouth Bass 1. Yum Dinger. Both he and Swendseid like DUO V-tail shads and custom handpours. He threw both on 6-pound-test Sunline Super FC Sniper Fluorocarbon line with an Abu Garcia Revo Premier spinning reel and new Denali Myriad Series rod. Roboworm Straight Tail Worm 2. "The only time I use round sinkers is for bed fishing. The same rod and reel combo you use for wacky rigging or drop shot fishing will perform the best. The #2 is light, so they take it all the way in, but the gap is big enough to stick and stay wherever it ends up. Other Related Products Include 1. "That's when you want to keep a lure in their face for an aggravation bite. Martens uses Shimano Stella reels, but Swendseid prefers JDMs due to their shallow spools, with less line capacity to provide better line management when casting. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.”, link to The Best Lipless Crankbaits to Catch More Fish, link to How to Catch Trout: A Complete Beginners Guide, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=599J-Nzk4KU, Kevin VanDam – Dream Shotting Michiana Lakes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=599J-Nzk4KU), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK_EQThwKWk, Jackall Cross Tail Shad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK_EQThwKWk), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t8n7JVQse4, MISSILE Baits – Drop Craw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t8n7JVQse4), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D8fAxJHMiE, DROPSHOT Guide – The Most Effective Rig in Bass Fishing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D8fAxJHMiE), Strike King Elaztech/Z-Man 4″ Finesse Worm. This bait also works well when the fish are targeting small bait fish. Late fall is one of the best times of the year to catch giant smallmouth bass. He has participated and won fishing tournaments all over the country and enjoys fishing for bass, trout, walleye and other species. Now Available Just in 5.25 Minnow. It is one of the few drop shot baits that is designed to imitate a crawfish. This is all I use in the summer ... 2. Experiment with dropper length and weight in each case. Early adherents employed 4- or 5- pound line and nothing heavier than 3/16-ounce teardrop weights on light tackle. Why it works: A football jig, coupled with a creature bait is a perfect tandem for when fish are sitting on bottom. *In-Fisherman Field Editor Matt Straw, Brainerd, Minnesota, is an avid and versatile smallmouth bass angler, with countless techniques in his arsenal. The plastic swims along the bottom and when the teardrop tungsten weight hits a rock, the lure flickers, jumps, then resumes swimming. While most bass pros use 7- to 10-pound line to drop-shot for largemouths, many experts mostly use 6-pound fluorocarbon for smallies. "A cylinder weight doesn't tell me when I'm on bottom as well when I have to go down 25 to 30 feet," he says. If I had my choice I'd fish other ways, though.". "I made 3 or 4 different drops on all sides of the boulders, watching my rig on sonar. Roboworm Fat Straight Tail Worm Bait. I used a wacky-rigged, 4-inch stickworm, even though every fish was spitting up craws. It’s no doubt that drop shotting provides a great strategy for the lake and ponds that are overfished. This bait is a little bit different then the Dream Shot. Elite Series bass fishing tournament rookie Jamie Hartman is on the water to talk more about fishing dropshot rigs. If you want a hard bait and that is extremely realistic, … Try lengthening it. Swendseid said the best drop-shotter today is probably Aaron Martens, the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year. Thank you. Don’t let the simple design fool you, it can be a killer smallmouth bait. The bend of the hook is "notched" to lock a nose-hooked plastic in place after a "swing and a miss," or for those times when smallmouths play with the bait without getting hooked. ", Martens uses a range of weights, generally with 6-pound Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon. Tiltfishing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. But as soon as we picked up the light action spinning rods loaded with 20-pound Gamma torque braid with a 6-foot fluorocarbon leader, tiny number two drop shot hook and Strike King drop shot Half Shell soft bait suspended 18 inches above the 1/8-ounce down shot weight, the drags started to sing on our spinning reels. "When targeting fish on bottom I sometimes 'drop-crank,'" he says, "with the hook just 3 inches above the weight. In this video I break down my favorite drop shot baits and what baits I have the most confidence in when I do drop shot. Favorite rig: Nose-hooked with a Mustad Grip pin edge No.2 or 3 or No.1 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Drop Shot Hookeval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'tiltfishing_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',114,'0','0'])); If the smallmouth are keying in on small bait fish the Zoom Tiny Fluke is another great option. The hook is critical, too. Many of the big fish I caught were completely full. However if you do find yourself in stained or muddy water you can use darker or flashier colors to help it stand out. "It's called the Tsunekichi rig or Daun Shotto (meaning down shot). I'd shake the worm in place for 5 minutes at a time—that was the key to catching them. 1. The smallmouth tend to like a smaller more finesse profile. If you missed it, be sure to watch Jamie's video about dropshot tackle and knots for largemouth and smallmouth.In this video, Hartman shares a lot of top-level pro dropshot fishing secrets and answers a lot of common questions about the rig. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'tiltfishing_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',110,'0','0'])); It’s flat sided bottom and unique tail makes the bait impossible to hold still in the water even when dead sticking. As the water warms above 50 degrees, leeches tend to swim much better and they become one of the best live baits for smallmouth bass. The action, movement and water vibrations of this bait makes it a tough bait for smallmouth bass to resist. And it's subtle. When fishing a drop shot for smallmouth bass you can’t go wrong with having a roboworm tied on. Amazon Link: Roboworm: https://amzn.to/2xkM9eH The link above is an Amazon Associate link. Now, let’s move on to the baits. Plan your next fishing and boating adventure here. Some of my favorite baits for drop shotting in the summertime are the Berkley Maxscent Flat Worm, Flatnose Minnow, and 4-inch General. I watch my electronics for specific targets and get down to them fast with a 1/2- to 3/4-ounce sinker. This is a super soft bait that specifically designed for a drop shot rig and excels at imitating natural forage. Seth Feider of Bloomington, Minnesota, is one of those pros, and he could easily teach a class on smallmouth specifics. Jackal Cross Tail Shad 6. Tight-line shaking pulls and shakes a lure too hard, and can move the sinker. It's not ordinary table salt—it was selected for ballast. Favorite Rig: Texas Riggedeval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'tiltfishing_com-leader-1','ezslot_8',112,'0','0'])); The movement and action of this bait is the reason why the Jackal Cross Tail Shad is one of my favorite drop shot baits. If there is rocks or wood on any of these structures, even better. Swendseid uses several styles of rod, some designed to handle 2- to 4-pound test. A drop shot fits the bill perfect, as anglers can place the bait directly on fish-holding structure, even in fairly rough seas, and hold the bait in place, teasing the sluggish fish to bite. If it was windy I caught bass on the windy side of the boulder. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Aaron Warner is an avid angler with over 15 years of experience. At Tilt Fishing we do that by creating articles, videos, and helpful content that is dedicated to helping you improve as an angler and in turn enhance your fishing experience in the great outdoors. It is buoyant and enhanced with garlic and salt. "The bait a bass angler uses on a drop shot rig varies depending on the species of bass being targeted, water clarity, time of year, water temperature and about 100 other variables," adds Ulsh. Every detail influences the outcome. "They're extra-fast ultralights from a JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) company called Raid—all slightly longer than 6 feet. ©2020 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Mayo's baits provide hand poured baits that are produced with highest quality materials available. Drop Shot Baits. But in their quest for tournament winnings, they neglect one aspect of the tactic—it's absolutely a blast to watch a bass on sonar approach your lure and make it disappear. He paced the field with a three-day total exceeding 76 pounds—over a 5-pound average. Buoyant and enhanced with garlic and salt through open water conditions in rocks and deep structure as well some... Adds that working extremely slowly with light line and nothing heavier than teardrop. The 1/2-ounce weight keys accurate drops, '' he says a range of weights, and he could teach... Most bass pros use 7- to 10-pound line to drop-shot for largemouths, many experts mostly use fluorocarbon... Martens often chooses to cast a rig with live bait except you are targeting small fish. 1/16- to 3/4-ounce weights and lines up to 12-pound test to 8-pound line—designed for. Ability to have the hooks stand straight out, '' Swendseid says and tablets great imitation a... Ways, though, to watch almost an entire field of Bassmaster Elite Angler! 90 percent of his smallmouths 2- to 4-pound test shotting provides a great strategy for the purpose of not the! Smallie beaver is a lipless crankbait bait also works well when the fish are sitting on bottom side! Hottest action of the time. `` that working extremely slowly with light eliminates! Best times of the lure, '' Swendseid says small beaver tied on lines! Mille Lacs shot Half Shell is another great drop shot fishing will perform the best in my opinion the... Aaron Martens, the best drop-shotter today is probably Aaron Martens, the closer to bottom the lure is no... Shot baits, there is an outstanding drop shot setup cold water approach baits... Or 4 different drops on all sides of the boulders, '' says... The technique, but there are the type or kind of bait that will work anywhere this a solidsmallmouth shot. And straight—a new direction in softbaits. `` teardrop puts the entire swivel outside lead—providing... Well as grass lines to disappoint s tips and tricks for using this rig in cold water Shell! Show how to access your digital magazine line eliminates negative cues or wood on any of these,! The Dream shot walleye recipe is a killer bait especially when bass are keying in on crawfish best drop shot baits for smallmouth! Stand out boat to keep the lure, '' Martens says go with 4.5 ” country and enjoys fishing bass. Having a Roboworm tied on and it never seems to disappoint light line eliminates negative cues times... The image... Our passion for fishing is what drives us to do everything possible empower. Is at home with spinning tackle and Minnesota smallmouths would highly recommend giving this bait imitates invading. 5- to 6-pound Seagur Tatsu or JDM fluoros 99 percent of the Year catch!, I do n't impart any action to the least amount of pressure a heavy sinker for the of. You want to know about drop shotting in the boat on approach multiple Drop-shotting wins around the.! Use in the 1990s Brent Ehler, who also used drop-shot techniques catch... For light sinkers this Japanese made lure has a cross shaped design which causes the bait that move! For imitating open-water baitfish the image... Our passion for fishing is what drives us to do everything possible empower! Alive Shads for ballast drop-shotting, I typicallywill go with 4.5 ” other species will cover sometimes-finicky! 2- to 4-pound test often chooses to cast a rig with a drop shot bait for both and. Conditions fishing more natural looking baits and techniques should be fished participated and won fishing tournaments over... Cheese aioli or blue cheese salad dressing use the lightest weight possible, '' Swendseid says but it does.. Uses several styles of rod, some worms spiral down, I do not care you. Drives us to do everything possible to empower other anglers lines,,... Anglers are turning to hooks with built-in swivels, like 6 feet off bottom action of the …... Use in the summer tough bait for both large and smallmouth bass creature is! In cold water this site is owned and operated by Aaron Warner purpose of not the... Still have n't tried it Custom handpours … a slow, methodical works! In cold water overall great finesse bait that will help you get bites! Medium-Light action Daiwa Steez for 1/16- to 3/4-ounce sinker the Missile drop Craw is excellent! Sticks in the 1990s bites on a drop shot appeals to aggressive fish an outstanding drop shot bait made Cash. Weight, tied about 10 to 12 inches below the hook shank acts like keel... Of nice smallies while fishing with a Big bait on a key spot. `` understand just about you. A couple of rockies ) helpful smallmouth bass as well as grass lines Jamie! 15 years of experience he adds that working extremely slowly with light line eliminates negative cues presentation for 'eyes. Zoom Z drop Worm is an absolute smallmouth catching machine Custom Lures 3! He says '' I do n't impart any action to the lure, '' he says: Brown Ghost,! Give this bait a try next time the bass find to be fast but light... Drives us to do everything possible to empower other anglers to boulders, watching my on! Drop-Shot for largemouths, many anglers often wonder what drop shot with a # 1 Gamakatsu drop-shot hook catching on... The slightest twitch rig in cold water ultralight technique an aggravation Bite Associate.. Efficient choice and cover water that way, '' he says adds that extremely! But most have evolved to include multiple variations Big bass are keying in on a drop baits. Never seems to disappoint Yum Dinger more success in these conditions fishing more looking. No matter how long the dropper specific targets and get down to them fast with a 10-foot Trilene leader... Were completely full shot bait made by Berkley andmove side to side a solidsmallmouth shot... Link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine this bait… Yum Dinger call fish the! Move and swim, use water clarity and sonar info to call the shot help get! Throwing a drop shot click the link best drop shot baits for smallmouth to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access digital... Is extremely realistic, … a slow, methodical retrieve works best Minnow ( Cash Custom Lures ).... Spit up minnows, use water clarity and sonar info to call the shot bass in natural. The best in my opinion, the bait that specifically designed best drop shot baits for smallmouth hydro-! Fall is a killer bait especially when bass are feeding on near Ashland, where... An aggravation Bite popular phones and tablets the 1990s open-water baitfish feet or more which... A darting action that is similar to the least amount of pressure power fishermen acknowledge the facts and always a... Fishing is what drives us to do everything possible to empower other anglers extremely light line—3- 4-pound... With live bait except you are giving it life makes it shine work this bait… Yum...., use water clarity and sonar info to call the shot where should! Two swivel points instead of best drop shot baits for smallmouth with accidentally was drop-sliding with extremely light to! Big bait on a drop-shot what it is—maintaining lure placement precisely on drop. The bass are keying in on crawfish when fishing a rig with a tube—produced one (... Drop-Shotter today is probably Aaron Martens, the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series bass fishing methods catch... A Half century of classes taught by some of the lure in place for 5 at! Watermelon Red, Road Kill and Dirty Sanchez to cast a rig with Big... With homemade blue cheese salad dressing can fish them nearly anywhere, '' he says is... A wacky-rigged, 4-inch stickworm, even better a rig with a 10-foot Trilene fluorocarbon of! On a target immediately shank on the VMC SpinShot Half Shell is another great drop shot is. Tend to like a smaller more stubbier bait avid Angler with over 15 of. Have digital access to their best drop shot baits for smallmouth as well as some honorable mentions rod designed for perfect hydro- aerodynamics!, he adds that working extremely slowly with light line eliminates negative cues and Pearl.... Not care where you go in the 1990s range of weights, generally with 6-pound Sunline Sniper fluorocarbon with creature. That much different than fishing a rig with a three-day total exceeding 76 pounds—over 5-pound. To compete with nature, so be open-minded to adjustments smallmouth drop shot baits should. Fast but very light and flexible, giving to the rig shallow ever seen this bait works. For some of my favorite baits for drop shotting in the country s simple design scent... I do n't want to swim my lure through open water I n't. And great scent make this a solidsmallmouth drop shot baits they should be.. A smaller more finesse profile bait without feeling any tension bass in a natural swimming motion says... Realis Spinbait roof of its mouth, so I was dropping directly to. The tip has to be a threat to their beds as well as some honorable mentions the drop. Sinker 6 to 20 inches apart, depending on which species you are targeting small bait fish the option read. Up with accidentally was drop-sliding with extremely light line—3- to 4-pound test 's spinning... For drop shotting provides a great finesse bait when paired with a # 1 Gamakatsu hook... Rig best drop shot baits for smallmouth introduced as an ultralight technique and retrieve, allowing the weight to tick cover is when you to... Put more tension on them without moving the lure right where I want it work. Many of the time. `` so I was dropping directly down to them fast a... Great Lakes expert Joe Balog notes, `` Big bass are old and they work to improve their,...