[tubechucker]

Fished off the 400 club in 14 to 16 fow from 3 to 8 yesterday. Water temps were 80 degrees shallow and 77 to 78 out in 14 feet. Dragged three ways with shiners, threw tubes, cranks, and drop shots. The drop shot rig was working the best with eight smallies and two on crankbaits. No fish on shiners all evening. All fish seemed to be on a small patch of weeds or rockpile.

Drifted till I took a fish and anchored to try for a few more. 10 total smallmouth and two rock bass. The big bass was about 3.5lbs on a crankbait. Nice night with the Tigers game on the radio.

 

[Kayak Zak]

Sounds like a good day to me bro. I'm still stuck on tubes. I love using tubes for bass. Actually I really need to learn another technique, and I was recently researching drop shotting. I've seen a couple different rigs, do you use a large hook (3/0) with plastics or live? Thanks, and nice work on the fish. Can't wait to get back down there.

 

[tubechucker]

I normally use a size 2 gamagatsu drop shot/split shot hook mainly especially with small finesse baits and will go to a size 1 for gobies. I like the small hook because it seems to maximize action and most importantly keep the fish hooked. For shiners or spot tails I like using size 4 or even size 6 bait hooks for the same reasons as above. I have never used 1/0 or up hooks for drop shotting. The smallest hook you can get away with is how i like to fish.

I have been using #8lb. pline florocarbon all year to drop shot and I feel it makes a big difference. It has been my confidence rig this year for sure. Tubes used to be the ticket but the fish that seem to pass on a tube can't pass on a drop shot.

Maybe it was my ignorance before but I found this year that the more slack I have in the line to shake the lures the more bites I get. Having a bit of slack but keeping the bait suspended is the biggest key for me. Tight line dragging a drop shot like with tubes, gets me very few bites.

 

[tubechucker]

One more thing... I always use a good ball bearing swivel with a drop shot to keep from line twist. I had big trouble at first but after a fishing show tip (thanks Scott Martin) that's all I use and no more problems with twist.

it's not as easy to cast with a three foot leader but it sure does keep the line straight...

 

[Kayak Zak]

QUOTE(tubechucker @ Aug 15 2009, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>One more thing... I always use a good ball bearing swivel with a drop shot to keep from line twist. I had big trouble at first but after a fishing show tip (thanks Scott Martin) that's all I use and no more problems with twist.

it's not as easy to cast with a three foot leader but it sure does keep the line straight...

Cool, thanks for the tips. I will try this out next time on the lake. Excuse my ignorance, but is the ball bearing between the hook and the pole, or just where the sinker is tied on the end? I assume you meant proximal to the hook, since you said leader. Just want to make sure i set it up right the first time! I also have some Berkley Fluoro #6 that I have just started using, and I love it. Thanks again for the tips. Good luck.