MrBigFishSC

Let me add my 2 cents. Drop shotting is fun no matter what others say. It isn't a search bait so you gotta find the fish or know where to go. Once that happens I use a 3/16 weight mostly and never larger than a #1 hook. Baits range from senkos to craws but the dreamshot usually works if they are going to bite. I always check the action of the bait in shallow water first then replicate the action I like best in deeper water. Don't overwork the bait however. Tag end lengths can vary based on the water temp and cover but 12-18 inches works well. 8 would be my shortest. I would stick with a single hook to start and get the feel of the action and the bites. There will be different bites so you have to pay attention. You can catch big fish this way not just lots of small ones so don't be afraid to use it when you know fish are around. It's a great technique for the tough bite times and pressured water. Good Luck.

I use a 692 ML and love it. It has a cork handle btw.

I'm not in the drop shotting is slow or boring camp. If I know bass are suspended in an area and I drop shot the time to trigger a bite is no less than any other bait. If they aren't interested I will move on to something else.

Me too I wanna know what Aldo knows that the rest of us are clueless about. Maybe he has an 800 number that we can call to get this week's free tip on how to wipe out bass populations. This has to be a joke because no one is that arrogant.

Same for me. Skip gap books are quite easy to use and rig a variety of baits well. Never had any problems

Stay with the senko either weightless or with a very light bullet weight. Since we are into fall I would also recommend a chartreuse black back square bill crank bait. Stay with mono and fish as much as possible to gain back experience

I bet we are all doing a very similar thing just explaining it differently. Unless you are fishing absolutely vertical you have to take up some slack by reeling and then a quick lift to set the hook. I fish DS mostly by casting and dragging back very slowly. I get 3 types of "hits": the conventional worm thump, load ups, and loss of connectivity. The last one happens when the bait just ain't there when you shake it cause the fish is swimming with it. In all of those cases I will take up enough slack first to get a good lift set. I did catch a pig this summer on DS and it hit like a truck. I did a reaction mini swing before I could stop. The hook was destroyed but didn't break and I landed the fish.

Chatterbait and ratltrap in spring Trig and dropshot in summer Squarebill in fall Jerkbait and jig in winter

For dropshot I use 2 or 1 but not 1/0 or larger unless it's a bubba shot setup. I also use spin shot books

Dobyns 692 ML

Palomar works fine for me and I have caught some big fish using it. Last DS pig I caught destroyed the hook but no issues with 7# sniper or the knot. I use a Dobyns 692 ML rod with a Symetre reel.

I too am surprised that smallies are present in that size BOW. I don't see many smallies in SC and those are in deep clear highland reservoirs. Anyway a good small BOW will have steady creek or source of water coming in to maintain depth and provide movement. Other than creek channels I don't usually find much structure but always lots of cover. Keeping the right balance and number of fish is important. Down here I tell people to keep the crappie out of small waters if you expect to catch anything other than crappie.

Squarebills are my go to in fall. Bass are far more aggressive than in late summer. I start at the entrance to coves or creeks then work towards the backs. Shallow flats with cover near creek channels or deeper water are great.

7# Sniper works great and is 1st choice. 8# invizx works good and I have used red label as well. If you spool it right several will work for you. Need the right rod to get the most out of these lines and baits.

Veritas are solid but stiff. I have one and regretted not spending $40 extra for something better.

*** or Dobyns Savvy ML are my choices for your applications. Dobyns will be more than $100 but you will understand why when you fish them. No free hats though.

There are lots of options in 10-12 lb range. Trilene XT is available everywhere, is inexpensive, and casts OK on BC. I use BPS Excel mono on my M BC setup. Cheap but works great for me.

Any finesse or trick worm will work. I like 1/8 oz or 1/4 oz at most to keep it a finesse technique. My favorite head is the Gama skip gap because you can rig anything on it without a problem. Screw lock heads are a pain with some baits.

Tom you're spot on. Top water outside of a buzz bait is very presentation oriented. You have to make the bait act in a certain way which varies based on lure and conditions but the technique requires a deliberate approach. You won't always catch fish on a topwater bait but you will remember the ones that you do for awhile.

Just use straight FC Sniper 7# or 8# spooled properly on a spinning reel and be done with it. Spend your time fishing.

Never. I will die happily with a rod on my hand. I target shoot often but sometimes need a break. I have never said I need to stop fishing for awhile and focus on something else. Fishing is my break from people and life. It's what keeps me sane.

Hey Bill Dance is an I icon. I watched him every week 40 years ago and still do when I can. He was and still is an inspiration to go fishing. Your PB will probably come from a small body of water with less pressure and size than a reservoir. It's a fact of life but frankly who cares? Do you wanna catch and watch people catching big fish or not?

As I post all the time here I use 7 or 8# Sniper FC on a Shimano Sahara or Symetre reel for drop shot, wacky, and weightless worm presentations. Drop shot is 7# and the other are 8#. I have 1 7# and 2 8# dedicated setups on ML and M rods. These work great for me. I will throw a weightless super fluke on BC 14# FC.

I'm all in on the *** rod. I love the 3 I have and two are MH. I also have a Veritas 2.0 and it's one full weight stiffer than the tag. I use a Dobyns Savvy for drop shot but have no experience with the Fury.

Caveat Emptor on Veritas 2.0 rods. It's a solid rod but the weight ratings are off IMO. I bought a MLF spinning rod that feels like 1/2 way between M and MH. I was gonna drop shot with it until the first time I used it and couldn't get a good cast or feel a 1/8 oz weight and 4" bait. Anybody else feel the same?