How many of you guys have thought that it would be interesting to Drop-shot a lure that would imitate a 9" stocked trout? I'm sure it could be an effective approach, once the logistics are worked out. Imitating a sickly trout that barely has the energy to swim 2' before falling back to the bottom should get the attention of any big bass in the area.
The only problems are related to the logistics of presenting that size bait while still being able to stick the fish when (not if) it hits. In normal DS we use a small worm and a very sharp small hook to help stick fish with even a poor hook set as often happens with DS. So a trout size bait would use a larger hook but still a smaller hook than you might use on other techniques just to allow for poor hooksets. I have thought about using a Tora Tube, but it isn't a realistic enough looking bait for me to have confidence that an educated bass, with all the time in the world to look it over, will eat it even if I do slather it in scent. Most other baits that could imitate that size bait well, either have a bunch of hanging trebles (not good for Drop-shotting) or are a massive solid hunk of plastic. Such a hunk of plastic would either require a massive worm hook (not my idea of the easiest thing to set into a monster bass), or nose hooking (with the dis-advantages of having the hook only in 1 small end of the lure, possibly missing a lot of bites and hence tearing up/off a lot of plastics). Some of those torn-off plastics will undoubtedly be eaten by Bass, possibly killing a few of them from the intestinal blockage that such a big lure would cause. Do any of you have a suggestion for a trout sized plastic that looks good and is set-up for the use of a more normal sized worm hook? I think a hollow lure with a 3/16 to 1/4" wall thickness and a realistic look to it would be perfect. Is anyone pouring or able to pour something like this?
The next problem is what gear to use to present such a bait. I suppose I could start off with my usual swimbait stick and go from there. The only thing there, is the thought that a typical sissy-bait Drop-shot rod has a completely different action. Is this difference in action going to be enough to make it too hard to stick a big girl? Should I use Braid with a 4-5' Flouro section, or my usual mono? How much weight do I use?
Tight lines,
Wade
PS: Sorry about the novel, I'm just trying to cover the bases and get feed-back. What's your opinion?

What about a Huddleson ROF-0 dead stick bait it has an exposed hook which might allow a better hook up ratio. The set up you are going to need will have to be some seriously heavy gear. With a large plastic bait and the weight to get the bait down the it seems that your gear will have to be substaintal.

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what have-yous

I dropshot a lot of 7" to 9" worms with pretty good success. I have caught 5 fish over 4 pounds dropshotting a 5" big hammer. Not the mass that you speak of, but it's possible.

The record bass in Japan, 19+ lbs. was caught dropshotting a 4" Optimum swimbait on 25lb test.

Woodsac,
Could you post a pic and details of what you're currently using in the way of worms, hooks, weights, etc.? The Jap story was one of the things that originally got me thinking on this.
John,
I thought about the Huddlestone ROF 0. I'm having trouble swallowing the price, but it is a thought. I also thought about some of the larger stick baits like the Top-gun with some additional detailing.
Tight lines,
Wade

Ya Wade. Give me some time. I'll try and lay some stuff out and get a couple pics and put em up tonight after I get home.

Nothing too special here. For this setup


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/2651.jpg

I'm using:

5" Big Hammer
5/0 Mustad Ultra Point Ultra Lock Worm Hook
1/4 oz dropshot weight
17 lb P-Line Fluorocarbon
Kistler Helium 6'9" Medium Heavy

This particular Kistler rod is a little over rated. It's more of a Medium action. It's got a pretty good give in the tip. I like to use it for spinner baits.

Rigging the Hammer might take a little getting used to. On traditional hand pours and flat sided baits, you rig the tip of the hook in the nose and through the flat portion of the bait. With this setup, you have to stab the hook point through the round belly portion. I don't have any Owner or Gammy 5/0 EWG hooks to try this with, but with this hook it lets the tip of the hook lay perfectly flat on top of the bait. There is just enough down pressure on the hook to keep it pretty weedless without 'skin hooking' it.

I know a lot of people fish light line and weight with the dropshot, but because of the weight of the 5" Hammer, it makes it pretty easy to keep in contact with the bottom and be able to fill a bite. I haven't had too many 'finesse' bites on this setup. They usually just inhale it. Even the smaller fish. I like the 1/4 oz weight. You could go heavier, but I normally fish in pretty shallow waters. This gives it a good fall rate. Anything over 18 ft, and I would go up in weight.

You could even go to a heavier setup on your rod. I'm usually just kinda flipping this setup out there so the rod weight works pretty good for me. I've used my Kistler flipping stick for it, but I just wasn't as happy with the performance for this setup.

Like I said, this is really nothing special, but I hope this helps you out at least a little bit.

Attachment #1, (.jpg file)

I just wanted to add, that if you like to glue your baits in place, don't!

Unless you can get a hook with twice as much gap, don't do it. I know the Hammers are a bit pricey to lose one on each fish, but the glue will cause the bait to bunch up around the hook causing missed strikes. You're better off letting them throw the bait out of the way.

The dropshotted Hammer is one of the coolest ideas ive seen in a while. I'm going to have to give it a try this weekend on the spotties in Dana. :7

Jake

Thanks Woodsac,
That looks like it would work and will imitate a fair sized prey item. I will try it, but I'm still looking for a bigger bait that can be fished small if that makes sense.

Tight lines,
Wade

Ya I understand what you mean Wade. With the designs that are out right now it's kinda hard. You would have to modify the bait and they are too expensive to take a chance of messing up. But there's no reason you couldn't dropshot a big ol' Mission Fish. The 8 and 9 inchers are pretty heavy all by themselves and practically weedless.

Check this out. Just did this real quick and I think it will work fine. It allowed the bait to function properly in the tub. :P Use heavy line, 20 or 25 lb. I haven't used this technique before it just came to me, so use at your own risk! :+


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/2660.jpg


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/2661.jpg


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/2662.jpg

Attachment #1, (.jpg file)
Attachment #2, (.jpg file)
Attachment #3, (.jpg file)

Jake,

That is Nico-esque on the bait diagrams :D Thanks for taking the time to shoot the photos and do the diagrams.

I have been trying more lately to get dialed in on the Mission Fish, fishing it slow on the bottom like a jig. I finally got a fish doing it the other day. It was a 5lber, nothing giant, but it got my confidence up. That Okuma swimbait rod is sweet for Mission Fish, just super stiff and strong enough to drill a fish with that giant hook. Having the right setup on that bait seems key to me. You need incredible and direct hooksetting power. Drop shotting it is interesting but I think you might want to take the lead out of the head of the bait. Regardless of how you fish it, with the hook setup, you need to drop a major bomb on the hookset. Your post has me thinking ... and I like that :)

I am going to try this for halibut drifting. Thanks.

Bob

I might make some larger detaled dropshot baits in the future but for now you guys could just cut the lead out of a castaic soft bait.
They are not that expensive. I would cut them from the belly like a bass assasin and rig them weedles with a worm hook. That way you could get a few fish on each bait
Matt