How to Dropshot - Surf Fishing in Southern California
December 20, 2008 by Sinjin Kim
Hooks: Countless plastic sizes and designs exist on the market today. Because I often target a variety of fish in a single day, I carry an assortment of hooks ranging from dropshot style hooks and straight shank worm hooks.
There are two hook models that I use when “nose hooking” smaller baitfish imitations such as Zoom Tiny Fluke and Bass Pro Shop Quiver Minnow: Gamakatsu Splitshot/Drop Shot and Owner Mosquito. Sizes vary from #4 - #1/0 (depending on the size of the plastic and the fish I am pursuing).
When fishing with larger 5″ soft jerkbait style plastics such as Zoom Super Fluke and Berkley Saltwater Jerk Shad, I prefer fishing with a #1/0 -#2/0 long shank worm hook (designed for freshwater bass fishing).
When vegetation is a problem, wide gap offset hooks such as #1/0 - #4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hooks are fantastic.
Line: I almost always fish with fluorocarbon line. The lack of stretch, finer diameter, abrasion resistance, and “invisibility” are key characteristics that helps with proper hook setting and getting a fish to bite.
When fishing with smaller profiled baits, I use 6# test. With larger plastics, I prefer 8# test. When I am fishing plastics such as Super Flukes with a weedless manner, I will often scale up to 10# test as stronger line is needed to properly hook fish and because fish may tangles themselves in vegetation.
Weights: Traditional freshwater bass dropshot sinkers in the 1/4- 3/8 oz. range is what I use most. When conditions get a rough, I may use 1/2 - 2oz. torpedo sinkers.
If you fishing in areas where the sinker is constantly getting hung up, simply crimp a large split shot or two. When you get hung up, you will be able to free your rig from the snag by gradually pulling on your rod.
Dropshot Rig:
The Palomar Knot- Click Here
Tie a Palomar knot leaving a 6"-18" tag end.
To keep the hook point upright, thread the tag end throw the eye of the hook (top to bottom).
The finished rig. Note: the tag end by the sinker. Tie a simple underhand knot to prevent slippage and loss of the sinker.
Presentation: This rig is so easy to use and effective that a person with no prior experience can expect to catch fish in little or no time at all. Simply cast out to the desired area, tighten any slack line, keep the rod tip in the 10 o’clock position and begin to twitch the rod tip just enough to have your plastic offering twitch and shake its tail. That is it! You can add appeal to your plastic by adding a scent of your choice. I personally favor Smelly Jelly (especially “Bass Feast”).
"Weedless" rigging.
To make the rig even MORE weedless, slightly insert the point of the hook just under the "skin" of the plastic.
5" soft jerkbait rigged with a #2/0 long shank hook.
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