Dropshotting 2

[AddictedToScopex]

Can someone please give me some guidance regarding drop shot hook sizes. I am looking to buy these Stand out hooks but I am unsure what size hook I need to marry up to a 2.5-3.5 inch soft bait. I am just assuming that the drop shot style hooks may be larger than a standard hook and so wondered what size you guys are using with a similar sized bait.

[Dick Dastardly]

Take a look at the vidio at the bottom of this page-

 

http://www.agmdiscountfishing.co.uk/specta...els-p-3300.html

[Anderoo]

I normally use a 4. Best advice I think is to imagine you're livebaiting and use the same size hook for the lure as you would with a fish of the same size. In both cases you're 'lip-hooking' them.

[AddictedToScopex]

I normally use a 4. Best advice I think is to imagine you're livebaiting and use the same size hook for the lure as you would with a fish of the same size. In both cases you're 'lip-hooking' them.

Ok anderoo. Thanks. I will buy a 4 and a 6 just in case I decided to use a very small bait or even with a worm. I have got myself some worms and quite a few different patterns of shads so by the time I arrive home tomorrow I should be ready for a go on saturday.

[JV44]

Caught all mine on size 1 amazing how the little beggers get that in there gob but they do.....Thought about going smaller but i am after big stripeys so dont see a reason to change and the little uns take it anyway Steve.

[AddictedToScopex]

Caught all mine on size 1 amazing how the little beggers get that in there gob but they do.....Thought about going smaller but i am after big stripeys so dont see a reason to change and the little uns take it anyway Steve.

Well at least you know you are covered for the eventuality that a shark comes along and snatches it

[Rusty]

Caught all mine on size 1...

 

Same here but only because that's what the shop recommended and sold me. I thought they were far too big but that hasn't proved to be the case. Are larger numbers smaller sizes?

[Phone]

Rusty,

 

Yes, (kinda)

 

A 1/0 hook is larger still than a 1. So, it would look like this from small to large. 6,5,4,2,1, then 1/0,2/0.

 

Phone

[Dick Dastardly]

I don't often do this but after recently buying some Daiichi Stand Out hooks to try from agmproducts (www.agmdiscountfishing.co.uk) I thought I would put up a recommendation for them.Very good service and fast delivery.

 

On the subject of getting started out with drop shotting gear don't get to bogged down with getting all the right gear. You don't have to have specialist drop shot hooks or Standout hooks or even specialist drop shot weights.Normal hooks can be used as long as care is taken tying them on so they are point up and stick out.You can easily get "grip swivels" to add on to your own weights or simply attach a normal bomb with stops or shot so it can be easily adjusted. Obviously braid and fluorocarbon are easily available in local shops. As for rods you can use any light spinning rod or as I have tried a 9' Quiver Tip rod! Not perfect but good enough to give the method a go. In fact Ive found the 9' Quiver rod Ive cut down the handle on and trimmed the tip a bit to be "better" than the purpose built drop shot rod I got! (the extra length helps from the bank).

 

As for hook sizes (for perch) I'm still not decided. The bigger hooks can give better hook ups but I still don't like using singles over size 4 for perch due to the deep penetration problems.

[AddictedToScopex]

I agree with budgie regarding the daichi hooks. Got some myself and they are very good quality.

 

Well I had my first go at dropshotting yesterday. After hearing of the pollution incident on the small river the canal was to be the target. I got myself one of the berkely dropshotting kits and a load of other rubber shads and worms. Got my rod tackled up the night before and my other tackle and was shocked at how little I actually needed to take. Even less than when I go lure fishing usually. All I needed was a rod, net and my terminal tackle in my pocket.

 

Tackle was as follows: Light 6foot spinning rod, Mitchell Avocet reel loaded with 20lb braid, 8lb flurocarbon leader for the dropshot terminal tackle to sit on, Daichi red standout hook in size 4, flat bottomed 10g dropshot weight and countless styles and sizes of rubber lures.

 

I made my way to the canal and conditions looked less than favourable. Bright sunshine and pretty windy. I was already commited however so decided to go for it regardless.

 

Lure of choice to begin with was the one shown below. I got some berkely shads too which were soaked in a fishy oil so I put all my other lures in that to allow them to soak up the flavour.

 

 

I decided the first location was to be a bridge that had brought me good results in the past. In went the tackle and off I went. I was little bit uncertain about how to use the tackle but decided to give it my best shot and try different retrieves and movements. I left the rig in one position and worked it a little and then pulled back and did the same. As I pulled back the 3rd or fourth time I found that my line felt heavier. I assumed I had picked something up off the bottom or got the lead in silt. Little did I know it was my first living thing to be caught on drop shotting gear. Although it wasnt quite what I expected

 

 

I tried to figure out a way to remove the thing and opted to drop it back into the water and let it remove itself. I dropped it into the middle of the channel and left it stationary for a minute. I then lifted the line a little and suddenty the tip of my rod snapped round. I had a fish on. It fought very well on such a light rod. I picked up my net and slid it under the fish. I had done it on my first time out. My very first perch caught on dropshot gear. I was over the moon.

 

 

I continued to fish for about an hour and a half however I could tell I was beginning to overthink what I was doing and wondered if it was maybe effecting performance. I had two more follows and a couple of nips at the tail but couldnt induce another bite despite changing lures and movements.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed myself though and I like the freedom that you get with dropshotting that allows you to keep a lure in some reeds or tight to the far bank for a long time rather than it plopping in there and then being out of there in a second or two when spinning or plug fishing. I think this is the biggest selling point for me.

Edited October 23, 2011 by AddictedToScopex