Rora

Hey guys. I’ve been using the owner mosquito size 1 hook for drop shot from the shore. Wondering if you guys rig your worms swim baits slightly off kilter (at an angle) basically to match the hook offset. I feel like when I rig it straight the swim bait or worms are slightly rolled.

Thanks a lot for all the help guys. I’ve actually had some more success since I last posted. Including catching my PB (I think it was almost a 5lber which I think is the biggest these ponds hold). I started learning more about my local ponds and where I think the fish are holding. One thing I have noticed is that I catch more on the initial fall than the actual retrieve. Which leads me to believe that it’s more of a reaction bite than my presentation. Still have to work on it! But wow the rush you get catching a bigger fish is amazing.

Ah ok. That’s good to know. Just figured fishing before sunrise was more like night fishing than fishing during the day.

If I make it out to the pond before sunrise should I be fishing more creaturebaits and curly tails? When do you guys determine to switch over to straight tail worms? When sunlight hits the water? thanks in advance!

Awesome. Thanks for the help guys. I ended up getting the 702!!

Hey all. Just wanted to ask what were your thoughts on the dobyns fury 702 vs 703. I’m in socal so I really only throw finesse (drop shot) from the shore/bank in small city ponds. I am looking for an all around rod that can kind of do it all(Weightless senko, wacky, Ned, drop shot). I don’t really plan on throwing anything outside of soft plastic. But this will be my only rod. I know that’s asking for a lot out of a budget rod (under 100) but I’m just getting into it and don’t plan on spending too much. If there is another good budget rod please let me know. TIA

Finally caught two today morning during a 2 hour span. Both were pretty dinky but was ecstatic none the less. Thanks a lot for the help guys. Appreciate the support and advice from this community. Caught them on the drop shot but I might try and change things up tomorrow and see how I do. I have a dobyns fury 702 so I think that helps alot to detect the bites.

I appreciate that. After seeing all the information about SoCal I kind of knew going in it would be hard. Will try to take your advice. Might stick with the drop shot a little longer but won’t be afraid to toss out a weightless Texas rig before I leave.

i think my soul just died a little when i read 30-40. I'm strictly from the bank. I struggle cause from what i read on here, finesse is the way to go for SUPER pressured waters. Thats good to know cause i go in the early morning and the fish go nuts trying to feed. Its pretty shallow so i can see the churning and swirling. Imagine me just watching that as I get nothing to bite my drop shot roboworm (IN EVERY COLOR!!!).

That’s the problem. I’m literally a month into my bass fishing career. So my repertoire of “known” techniques is… ds. ?

Fellow addicts. As a newly inducted I am trying to really perfect the drop shot before I move on to the next technique. However I wonder if I’m just wasting my time when I could be just throwing what works (if I even knew). Been skunking ALOT, added to the fact that I fish in Southern California city ponds. Should I be saving myself from the frustration and throw something new everyday(Ned, wacky, Texas rig) or is there something to be said about becoming the drop shot master before I move on.

Yeah I do two of the three you mentioned. I always close the bail by hand and I try and get the twist out at the end of the day at home. Guess I have to pick up some better sinkers.

I thought about that. I am using the cheapest tear drop sinker from Walmart. Can’t really say the weight swivels cause it’s so crudely casted.

Dear all, I’m practicing my drop shot technique (the only one I’ve caught fish on so far) and after I switched to braid and fluoro I am noticing a lot more line twist on my line. But I’m not entirely sure the worm and hook spinning in the water would contribute to this. Especially since I am casting from the shore and twitching it back. Wouldn’t the roboworm only trail the line and hook and not do rotations around the line underwater? Not sure If I’m making sense. Any explanation would help.

So I ended up getting the Dobyns Fury 702 SF. The Penn Fierce i already have has 15lb J braid on it with a 8 lb seagar leader. is that appropriate? or do i need to change out the line?

I kid you not it was actually my wife that broke it (snapped the tip rolling up the window). Albeit on accident but she felt bad enough to let me get the dobyns fury.

I did read that for finesse its really all about the rod. Its just the reel seems so mismatched to the rod. Either way, taking your guys' advice and going with the fury.

Dear all. Long story short the rod rip of my ugly stik broke which means UPGRADE TIME. I am a relatively new fisherman. My original setup was a ugly stik gx2 medium 7’ with a penn ii fierce 4000. I’m leaning heavily towards finesse fishing as I primarily fish clear and Pressured water in Southern California. My question is for 100 dollars should I upgrade the just the rod? Hoping to stretch out to a dobyns fury 702sf and use my existing reel. Or should I upgrade both rod and reel? In which case I’m Looking at the Berkley lightning with the pflueger president. Thank you for any help in advance.

This is actually an interesting idea. I just got into fishing so I have a pretty limited exposure to the wide world of fishing. But I might look into this.

Should I actually be pushing the hook out and then flattening the barb so I can ease it back out?

Accidentally gut hooked a fish today. Was dropshotting and tried to practice watching the line, but I think I waited too long before I set the hook (to be honest I still can’t tell real well if I got a bite). I got it out but man I felt terrible. Minimal bleeding but still. Felt like it was my fault being a beginner. He swam away ok and hopefully he lives. just wanted to share an experience.

Thanks everyone! Kind of rough being a beginner fisherman but I think I see some progress thanks to this community.

Hey Everyone, I'm a relatively new bass fisher (although i got hooked catching a bluegill with my daughter), and currently living in Southern California near North OC. I look forward to learning alot from you folks and hopefully sharing my PB's in the future.