Drop shot Technique

Wanting to learn more about using the drop shot technique. Seems like it could be very effective. Trying to learn what weight sizes do better, type and weight of line, hook size, and lure types. Does it fish similar to a Carolina rig with a drag and pause technique or is it mor of a let it sit technique?

I generally use 1/8 most of the time. I tend to texas rig in senkos more (I fish in/around a lot of cover with it). But I will switch it up and use finesse wide gap hooks when needed. You can drag it and pause it, that works. That is actually one of my favorite ways of working it, while shaking it during the pause. But there are plenty of times when they want it sitting still, letting current induce the action on the bait.

[QUOTE=bkbobbit;516384]Wanting to learn more about using the drop shot technique. Seems like it could be very effective. Trying to learn what weight sizes do better, type and weight of line, hook size, and lure types. Does it fish similar to a Carolina rig with a drag and pause technique or is it mor of a let it sit technique?[/QUOTE]

You don't even have to let the bait hit the bottom. It can be suspended up above the weight. Tie the weight to the bottom of the rig and keep the baits about 12" to 18" above the weight. I tie on a hook with a loop knot on the main line and leave an 18 " long tag line to attack a Bass Pro Shops Finessee Weight. I like the 1/4 oz weights as they help keep the line tighter so that I can feel the bites of crappie better. I use it with live minnows and a Number 4 gold thin wire Aberdeen hook. Or you can attach a small 1/32 jig to the main line with the loop knot.

What size hook is recommended?

[QUOTE=bkbobbit;516400]What size hook is recommended?[/QUOTE]

I think it depends on what type of fish you are going for. I'll speak for Crappie only. I like a size #4 to size #2 Gold Aberdee thin Wire Hook.

The most important thing is the hook should be sharp. I use a diamond dust embedded tool to sharpen the hooks on my lures. And they are sharp as I hooked into my fingers two or three times today while fishing. I caught 5 bass today while trolling crank baits down about 10 ft deep. I took a couple of pictures using my new GPS Garmin Montana 650T and they looked pretty awesome on the 4" wide Screen. I need to figure out how to transfer them into my computer and work with them to resize them so I can post them in here. The built in camera is a 5 Mega Pixel camera so I figure I'll have to reduce them a little bit to fit the file size restrictions of Fishin.com

There are so many different types of hooks that it would be nearly impossible for me or anyone to fish with them all to really do a good accurate comparision of which one hook is best.

A hook to me must be strong and not break easily and it must hold a sharp point when sharpened.

The gap size can vary weither it twists or turns is up to the individual IMHO.

Now if your fishing for huge 100 lb catfish in the Ohio River then you might want to get a bigger hook. :)

If your fishing for trout in a cold mountain stream then a tiny fly with a #22 hook might be the ticket.

I use a number 10 Size hook when fishing for bluegills to use as bait.

I like the Mr Twister Hooks with the pointed barb thing attached to the eye of the hook. The pointed barb is stuck into the head of a plastic worm and the hooks' point is then imbedded into the plastic worm so that the worm is straight. I've caught over 50 Large Mouth Bass using this setup over the years.

Note: Most of my bass fishing has been done with Crank Baits such as Bombers and Bandits or Rapella. I don't fish that much with plastic worms or jigs.

PSS: I don't think I've had many hooks break when I've had a fish on the line. They may rust in the tackle box if it gets wet. Most all the fish I lost was due to line breaking or the rod breaking but never the hook.

Everyone else can add their two cents as I'm sure that everyone has a different idea of what hooks work best for them.

Just remember that different fish have different types of mouths. LM Bass vs a Catfish vs a Crappie (paper mouth)