Dropshot Line...

[BigBassin144]

Ok, I started DS fishing with FireLine tied to a swivel then 6-8lb fluoro leader. I have'nt been too impressed with the FireLine, but I wan't really surprised, being a Berkley line... It wasn't really bad, but definately not my first choice.

So now, I'm decided weather I want to stick with the mainline and leader, or go to one line.

For the mainline and leader, I'd be using 10lb Sufix Performance braid for mainline, tied to a swivel, and then the same 6-8lb fluoro. For straight line, It'd be the same 6-8lb Seaguar Carbon Pro.

So, braid w/ fluoro leader, or straight fluoro? Also, if I go with the leader, do you think it's better to use the swivel or not?

BB

[garry_3000]

I use 10 pound vicious floro and an 1/8 tru tungston dropshot weight and 2 ot gama dropshot hook and an 7 md setyr spin rod.

[carolina-rig-01]

i use 6# seaguar

[MIbasser]

I use 8# BPS Fluoro

[Buzz Wing]

Make sure when buying small diameter fluorocarbon, buy on a normal 5" spool, not a 3" spool. Since smaller diameter lines tend to come on the small, 3" spools, the fluorocarobn tends to curl more than on a 5" spool.

As for me, I use one main line, 8-lb. Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon. A swivel or knot is one more thing to go wrong in a rig.

-Buzz

[Bender]

I've been using a straight line, no leader but I might change this year. For me it had been P-Line Halo 6#, 8#, and Seaguar 8#.
No problems but I have to decide if the increased sensitivity and visibility of using braid is worth the hassle of having a leader and extra knot in the line. Hmmmmm.

[aikenyounggun]

my friend just uses 6# to 8# mono, whatever the kind berkeley makes... i forget the name

[abu4600]

I use 8# green mono. No leader.

[bassboogieman]

Drop shotting usually means a deeper presentation and I prefer braid on a 7' medium spinning rod. No stretch gives a better hookset when fishing deep. A reel spooled totally with flurocarbon works well also, but braid eliminates the issue of line memory. With braid I want a flurocarbon leader - about 4'. Swivel is a matter of preference, I don't use one. As for the sinker I have stopped using the "special" dropshot weigts - regular bell sinkers are half the price of a dropshot weight and do the job just fine. I secure the sinker with a bobber stopper, so it will still release if it gets hung up.

[Joel]

Like bassboogieman, I Drop Shot using 10 lb braid. For now it's still Power Pro, but when the time comes it will be Sufix Preformence Braid for sure. I tie on a 8 lb test Berkley XL mono as a leader using a Albright or Reverse Albright knot, usually 4 feet does the trick. I don't use a swivel. No need to as braid has absolutely no line twist issues. Make sure that you leave a min of 1 ft from the hook to the main line so there is no line visibility issues to be concerned with. I'm also careful that my weight is 12-14 inches from the hook.

You can fish this setup shallow or deep. No line stretch, no big hook sets needed. Works everytime.

[BigBassin144]

Alright guys, I was still thinking about what to do when Iwas looking at BPs at line, then, I looked down and saw a spool of 10lb Sufix braid in the cart... Must've been the monkey.

I also switched my Shimano Sahara with my little Abu Cardinal 301. After a bit of backing, I spooled it up with 10lb line. Right now I've using a swivel, but Imay change later. After a hour or so of ice breaking on the pond with the little boat, I got my DS rod, the only thing I didn't try a couple days ago. I got 3 bites, and almost had one to the boat. For this early and the majority of the pond covered in ice, I'd say it was a good day, even though I didn't catch anything.

BB

[Joel]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

Alright guys, I was still thinking about what to do when Iwas looking at BPs at line, then, I looked down and saw a spool of 10lb Sufix braid in the cart... Must've been the monkey.

I also switched my Shimano Sahara with my little Abu Cardinal 301. After a bit of backing, I spooled it up with 10lb line. Right now I've using a swivel, but Imay change later. After a hour or so of ice breaking on the pond with the little boat, I got my DS rod, the only thing I didn't try a couple days ago. I got 3 bites, and almost had one to the boat. For this early and the majority of the pond covered in ice, I'd say it was a good day, even though I didn't catch anything.

BB

Why the swivel? There is no line twist issues with braid. The swivel only adds one more knot to the equation. Use either a Albright knot or a Uni to Uni knot to join your leader to the braid.

[BigBassin144]

I never thought of that. The main reason I'm using it now is to I can easily change the length of the fluoro leader, or the whole thing if it breaks off.

BB

[Joel]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

I never thought of that. The main reason I'm using it now is to I can easily change the length of the fluoro leader, or the whole thing if it breaks off.

BB

You never have to change the length of your leader. Use a 4 ft leader 1-2 ft down to the hook via a Palomar knot then through the hook eye a 2nd time front to back. The weight is 12-14 inches below the hook. If you're using a regular drop shot hook, you'll never break off due to getting hung up. If you tie on, then you will break off at the weight 8-10 times. Just retie the weight on. If the tag end gets too short, then cut the tag end some and and tie on another 2 ft leader for the weight. Trim to fit. The fish don't care about the knot below the hook.

75% of my drop shoting is done by pitching so the line isn't directly below the boat. Since I fish most shallow weed lines I want to keep the boat out deeper. You fish the Drop Shot with a semi slack line, so your lure is actually a lot closer to the bottom. Twitching the rod tip will get them interested sooner or later.

I don't fish a Drop Shot in heavy or thick weeds as I'm always loosing my weight.

[Bob Smith]

BB, I am pretty much ditto with Joel on this one. I use 15# or 20# Power Pro (braid) for my main line, and 10# Seaguar Carbon Pro for the leader. I just double unit the two together (no swivel). I use the same leader set up regardless of whether I am dropshotting or Shakey Head. I haven't foudn water too clear to use this set up in yet.

[BigBassin144]

I'll probably stick with the 8lb fluoro, and go down to 6lb in super clear water. I may just tie the fluoro straight tot he braid though. I'd go fishing tomarrow, but I'm getting tired of breaking the new ice that's forming on our pond.

BB

[tnfisherman]

im going to try some pline foroclear in 10lb for drop shoting and wormin

[Rebbasser]

tn, that is what I use and it is a fantastic dropshot line, although I use 8 lb.

[tnfisherman]

how does it look in the water

[BigBassin144]

I've used the fluoroclear, and it's not bad. I haven't fished it in any of the crystal clear lakes of Michigan yet, but in my pond (about 3 ft vis) it's not bad. It's pretty much between mono and fluoro. It handles well too.

BB

[tnfisherman]

thanks the lake i fish has bout 2-4 foot vis mostof the time some times it lookd like 10 foot vis,,,,,,,, i have use the berkley vanish for drop shoting but it was as a leader

[Rebbasser]

Originally Posted by tnfisherman

how does it look in the water

Like fluoro-invisible. The fluorocarbon coating does the trick.