Best hook for Dropshot

[Adrian]

One of my most productives techniques is Dropshooting a 4 1/2" worm in folsom's clear water, well, I still feel like I miss way to many fish. I would say 1 every 4. Usually the bigger ones, they pull for about 5-10 seconds and then their gone. So I believe I'm not hooking them right, or the hook is not penetrating or something...
I tried Gammies #2, #4 (DS), I've also tried those wierd looking ones that have the extra shank to keep'em straight out on #2 and #4, tried circle hooks from 4 to 2/0 all withe the same result.
Maybe my set up isn't right, maybe I need to buy a new rod...or maybe I'm supposed to lose those fish anyways.
I use 8# test fluorocarbon 3/16 - 1/4 oz drop weight about 12-18" of line between the weight and the hook. The rod is a Daiwa Eliminator medium light action 8-14 # 1/4 - 3/4. Spining reel 5.4 to 1.
Any sugestions will be apreciated.
Adrian

[Mort]

Try using a reel set instead of a normal hook set. Most of the time this gets good results for me. I don't use expensive equipment either (Clarus 7' Med with a pflueger president spinning reel). Also try not to move the bait so you feel the bites better (I just keep the weight in contact with the bottom and let the slow rocking of the boat give the action). Last thing would be make sure that your hook is tied properly so the point is straight up and not angled to the side.


Hope this helps,

Marty

[B Becker]

I hate the nose hook concept.....but that is me....I switched to re-barb hooks by robo-worm and texas rig them...I use the light wire gamas in #1 and 1/0...I probably use more 1/0s than #1s....I use a little stiffer rod so that I can set the hook, but I rarely miss fish....that wire is so thin and it comes through a roboworm really easy.....I also use it for the dropshot gitzits by canyon-plastics, and it comes through them really well too....you may loose a little action, but the worm stands out better and straighter.....just my two cents.....

[big_gorilla]

I agree with Becker I use a little stiffer rod and set the hook a little harder then most people. I set my drag so it slips a little when I set the hook with 5 lb. Max. Fluorocarbon.

I use and Evola Drop Shot rod or the Steez spinning rod. You don't have to spend that kind of money but I would suggest looking for a rod with a little more back bone. I think alot of drop shot rods or to soft for me.

All I use is the Gami Drop shot/Split shot hook. I nose rig most of my plastics. Remember the mouth on a bigger fish is tougher so you have to be able to drive the hook into them.

Good luck!

[EGBASS]

I also use the rebarb hooks as B Becker. I use the light wire gammi for most applications with a ML or Med rod but will use the heavier Diachi version if targetting bigger fish or fishing near heavy cover. When I use the Diachi hook I use a stouter rod (Med to MH).

The rebarbs work really well but are a little pricey and difficult to find. I get mine at one of the big box sporting good stores, forget if its Sportmart or Sport Chalet.

The barb does a great job of holding the bait in place. The barb does tear the bait up a little when you catch a fish but I usually still get multiple fish per bait. You don't have to worry as much about fishing around cover either and I think the Texas rigging hides the hook better.

[ttb31183]

I like to use a 1/0 or 1 Gamakatsu G-Lock and texas rig the worm. I throw my drop-shot everywhere, in brush, docks, grass, rocks, so I do not like to nose hook the baits. I like the straight shank re-barbs, but seem to get even more line twist than normal.

[185vsfrog]

I think that the hook set is more important than the hook or the rod. I just fished a club tourney and caught a bunch of fish on the drop shot rig with a megabass aaron martens rod with a stradic 2500 on it and 6lb p line flourocarbon and #2 gamakatsu drop shot hooks. I lost zero fish, i snapped off zero fish and probably caught thirty to fifty fish that day. I did not miss any fish that I know of. They key for me was to reel up all slack and reel set as you sweep. It is ok to have a tight drag but be prepared to feed line with your hand right away if the fish is big. You need to keep pressure at all times too until you land the fish. Try different hook sets with drop shot. If you try to snap set with a drop shot rod, you will momentarily hook them and they will come off after about 5 seconds. You really need to bury the hook by reeling in the slack and reeling down onto the fish until the rod loads up and then sweep setting. Hope this helps.

[DeltaDan]

I split shot alot- my boys want to rig their own Dropshot, T-rig and fish the baits them themselves in their own way.


I belive I can honestly say why I have more hook-up's than my boys in the way that I take the hook all the way through the bait and pinch the barb back in -- were as Luke and Jack rig it just into the bait.


Not sure if it is because I am split shoting and giving the bait more action than the drop shot........ or I have a better hookset because the hook is there already there and it just takes a firm wrist action to set the hook.

[biteme]

http://www.standouthooks.com/

[Larry Hemphill]

I only use Gami #4 and 2 for my clients and they don't miss many fish at all. They are sometimes a little slow in realizing they have a bite and that may be a good thing. At Clear Lake we use #1, 1/0, and 2/0 for bigger baits. The 5 " Robo zipper worm is an excellent bait to drop-shot there, but you need a good size hook and 10 to 12 lb test line.

[Topwater All Day]

The only hook I use for dropshotting anymore is the Owner Downshot hooks. They are an extemely versatile hook as you can nose hook or tex-pose the bait depending on cover. It took me a long time to stop the snap hook set, but now that I am sweep setting along with reeling, my hook ratio has gone way up! And with the Owner, they stay hooked! I like to use a rod that has a soft tip, but plenty of backbone. Right now my dropshot rod is the Bass Pro Shops Woo Daves XPS 6'8". It is an unbelievable rod for $65!!! I use the Shimano Symetre reels as I like the double handle. My line is Cuda fluoro coated in either 4 or 6 lb test...well, 8 or 10 lb at Clear Lake or the Delta! here is a link to the Owner hooks I use. Good luck!!!

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage-ODSOW.html

Rob

[Robert F]

I caught 50 fish today on the dropshot and lost one. Should have retied and broke him off. If you use the Gamakatsu/Rebarb you need to watch the tip of the hook for bends. The fine wire Gami's are notorious for bending over the tip if it hits a rock. I prefer the Owner mosquito (number 2) for clear brush free water. It is a harder steel and the tip will not bend over like the Gami. I wacky hook the worm and it gives better action to the worm and positions the hook closer to the typical attack point of the worm, the egg sack. ONLY use high quality flourocarbon line. I use the GLoomis drop shot rods but I feel the line is more important of a component than the rod. No stretch puts you in direct contact with the sinker and makes for a more effective hookset. As others pointed out, Sweep and keep constant pressure on the fish.

[Adrian]

thank you all for your suggestions, It's awesome to learn from all of you guys!
THX
Adrian

[Jerry]

http://www.standouthooks.com/

I love these things, in my opinion, one of the better ones on the market.

[froteur]

for nosehooking i love the split shot hooks that yamamoto sells, usually a size 5 or 3 --- they are made by gamakatsu. just reel, baby.

for weedless, my son has been trying the rebarb. it seems to work pretty well. until we obtained these recently, we'd been using straight shank round bend hooks. sizes 1 or 1/0

-perry-

[Lancer]

HEY ..YO ADRIAN !! (sorry i jus had to)

I have been dropshotting over 7 years and for 4" -5" i use the gamakatsu #2 , #1 offset shank hook ( not roundbend ) i have also used #2, #1 EWG gama's too

I always rig TEXPOSED (never liked nose hooked) i have a great hookup ratio my brother also uses the same setup and has a 14-15oz largie off that . We both use 6'8" med extra fast ST CROIX rods (me avid him the legend elite ) 3/16 or 1/4 oz tungsten teardrop weights . goodluck on whatever you choose to change and improve. Also come back and let us know what works for you !!

[Big Rick KFOG]

A rod with a soft tip but good backbone. Size 2 Gamma G Lock hooks. Swing on anything with a HARD hookset. Works on Clear Lake.

[Rich hamilton]

Adrian,

I use a G loomis glx 722 with a stradic 2500. owner Rig N hook 2/0 with 4-6 pound seagaur flourocarbon and round water gremlin splitshot weights #2 or #3. Use a swivel 18 inches above your hook.

Hook size is dependant on water clarity, how the fish are biting the bait and numbers of bites. If it is an active bite I use the 2/0.

Line; depending on bait presentation and if you want the bait to perform a little different go with a 4 lb floro seaguar. 6 pound for the delta and clear lake or 8 pound depending on how you are fishing the drop shot. This line is like rope and worth every penny.

Weight size is of utmost importance and could be a reason why you are losing some fish. you need to change your weight size as the wind and weather change. If a fish can feel it then he might dump it more quickly. the length of the leader also comes into play with this as well. start with a 4-6 inch leader and progress in length dependant on bites and where you are seeing the fish on your graph in relation to the bottom.

Bait size and presentation type; try 6 inch first and see how the fish is biting your bait. Try texas rigging your worm and during active periods change up to nose hooking or texas rigging it. some big fish come on that 4" worm.

Drag/hookset; on river bass and any Florida strain fish a reel set or rod sweep does not work for me. I do a full hookset to penetrate the thicker mouths. On spotted bass a reel set works fine once the line slack is picked up. My drag is set fairly tight and I back reel all my hot fish. Once you hook a large fish back reel and keep constant pressure as you move them out to deep water.

The dropshot is a bread and butter technique, I would purchase the very best rig you can afford. fishing 60 feet deep or pressure bites conecting on these just one time will pay for the more expensive set-up. Hope this helps, richie rich

[Hollywood]

By far the Decoy Hunter Hook

[Sean Graf]

Try the SPRO pre rigged leaders!

I use the 6 & 8 lb fluoro leaders with #1 & 1/0 Gamakatsu hooks and love them!

http://spro.com/shop/product_info.php?p ... 21bec902a7

Good Luck,

Sean Graf
www.motherlodelakes.com

[TomAtkeson]

I've found that a 1 or 2 size Gamakatsu EWG is the best hook, dinks can eat it and so can big girls, like a 9lber I caught on Contra loma with a size 1 EWG they work with both 4 inch and 6 inch worms.

I've had alot of big bass throw mosquito hooks because the hook is only holding by pressure on the upper jaw bone. One good head shake and you've lost a giant, like the time I lost a huge fish during a California Fed tournament on clear lake. I ended up coming in third with less than a pound difference between me and first place. I've never noticed catching less fish because I was using a light wire EWG.

[BShafer]

owner drop shot hook, it's the only owner hook that I use but they are great for DS

[froteur]

for nose-hooking i love the split shot/drop shot hooks that yamamoto sells. they are made by gammy. i've fished it for over a year and i can only think of one fish that has come off on that hook.

for texas rigging, i like the rebarb hook.