T-Dot,

You can drop shot any size bait. Heck I have caught fish drop shotting 6" worms. Its the action that you impart in your bait that matters to the fish.
Russ

Quote:


other people also suggested 3" is the maximum they use for drop shot fishing

I like the last one Glenn.

My personal favorites (in random order) are:

• How to dry-dock your boat at Silver lake
• How to use your lower unit as a depthfinder on the Snake river
• How to pop the rivets and split your hull on your aluminum boat (a personal favorite)

And don't forget, coming soon to a late night cable station near you, a show I'm working on, "How to spend tons of money on fishing gear, nice truck and boat, and still not catch fish!" 

AAHHHHH!!!!!! That was funny MarK I am cracking up!!

There are a few I have made, one is "How to lose #5 at the boat and lose a tournament" or "The art of losing your boat down the interstate at 60 mph" Thats a crowd favorite. Or the one "How to kick several rods over your boat at Once"

Hey Mark I think I may have seen a few of those shows. 

I do have my own show.  It's called how to finish in the top 20 at your local bass club tourney.  It's then followed by a weekly special, how to let those around you out fish you while working the same area's.  A new one is in the works though.  Called "How to get two really small bags" for serious tournement fishermen.

Mark

Exactly Mark....Man you should have your own show!

Rob and Says,
  There is a huge difference in the way a plastic reacts split shotting vs drop shotting.  And trust me, leader length on both rigs can make a BIG difference.  Twice last year, I had the humbling experience of being out fished by guys who's drop shot leader length was different than mine.  Same bait, same water, same technique, vastly different results....
  The biggest difference for me in drop shotting vs split shotting is how I want to move the bait.  I split shot / carolina rig when I want to cover more water and not certain where exactly the fish are holding.  The bait swims more with split shot / carolina rig.  Looks more like a small bait fish swimming along the bottom.  Drop shotting for me is more of a target bait.  I know where the fish are holding and I want my bait to go right there.  Also the bait looks more like a dying bait fish.  It will jump up off the bottom and slow sink straight back down.  It will jump up off the bottom much more vertically than split shotting.  Each has it's place and can be deadly.  Most of the time switching back and forth will produce an extra fish or two from a given area.  Not all fish will react to a single presentation.  Changing the presentation or bait / color can get that extra fish or two from the area.

My .04 cents worth

Mark

It's all in the action of the bait. Since you have leader above the hook you loose sensitivity. Take a drop shot and put it in a pool ot something you can see the bait in. Plus at times the fish are only six inches off the bottom. I use any where from about and 18" leader to about a 3" inch leader. I use shorter leaders for shallow water and when I'm fishing for Largemouths. When targeting largies I use a 6" or less leader. This is just what I focus on. I beeginning to get the drop shot bite down. It turning into my go to bait when the times get tough.

The difference is simply the fact that you can still shake a dropshotted worm in place even if the leader is shorter. You can't do this with a splitshot because it moves the weight and pulls the bait away from the spot. A subtle difference but it will make a difference especially if your dragging over deep bedded fish. Instead of moving the bait out of the bed, you are able to shake it right in it.

Does this help?

another question

If you are fishing shorter than  12 inches from the bottom anyway what advantage is there to drop shotting vs split shotting? especially if you are using a bouyant worm like a robo?

this is just my limited experience but  when a larger  fish takes while using a finesse worm there isn't much doubt as to what's going on  so I cannot see an advantage in terms of detecting the strike.  I can see an advantage if  your fishing with a longer leader  but if it's short i don't see an advantage, what am I missing?

Dan...I saw that on TV with running the line back down the eye of the hook.  I think I'm working the bait too fast.  I may have to slow down and work it slower.

Says,

Go use the Ordella Drop shot rod and you  will catch more fish. Best drop shot rod on the market, so good you can feel the fish breath on it. Heck just ask Bob Payseno how good it is.
Russ

Says,

You may already know this, but I didn't until Terry S. showed it to me, and I have never been more pleased with a modification of rigging. After tying the palomar knot, take the leader peice that goes to the weight and slide it through the top of the eye of the hook. This will keep the hook pointing straight up. I struggled for a year trying to get those stupid hooks to stand up until I finally learned what everyone else in the world was doing.

Danny