I was trying to fish a drop shot in rocky waters of less than 10 feet. It seemed like I got hung up on every cast. I was using a 1/4 oz drop shot weight.

I would cast it out and try dragging and hopping it back to me.

Was I wrong to consider this technique?

Chunk rock and casting a DS just doesn't mix. You can try cylindrical DS weights but you will probably yield the same result.

I fish rock all the time with a DS. You are going to break weights off, thats just part of it. The more you fish it the better you will get at not getting hung up. The best style weight I have found in rocks are the pencil style or bannana shaped.

Buy a spool of 3/16 inch hollow core pencil lead. Cut a section that gets you the contact you want. Crimp it on and when you hang up it should just pull off. It's a rigging anyone who drift fishes for steelhead is familiar with. The upper Columbia River eats DS weights so this is the best option I know of.

you definitely get hung up way less with lighter weight. and no dragging. use gentle high lifts when you want to move it.  i use 1/16 oz in chunk and tend to keep it in one place more vs using it as a search bait.  in chunk i'd also try weightless senko or fat ika and a 1/16 oz tube b/c they don't get hung as easily.

Latest issue of bass master had an article by Gary Klein on split shotting. He mentions split shotting instead of drop shotting in this condition (rip rap / rocks).

your weight is too heavy. tie on a 1/8oz cylidrical style weight

Thanks guys. I will try lighter weights and a slow lift n place retrieve to see if I can make the drop shot work in these conditions. I will also have the other techniques in my back pocket.

A few suggestions, Felix:

 

- Keep the rod tip high with tension on the line at all times so the weight won't settle into the rocks. This has worked surprisingly well for me in the same conditions. It even seems that a light (1/8 - 3/16 oz.)  cylindrical ds weight gets hung less than say, a tube with a 1/8 oz. internal jig head. Remember to keep a high stick and keep the bait moving slowly. The fish will like this.

 

Also, as ClackerBuzz says, try a weightless Senko. Don't let it settle for long - they get hung too. A twitch and pause retrieve while reeling slowly will get the fish's attention.

I recall Hank Parker saying to bend your cylindrical weight slightly into a curve and it helps reduce snags in big rock chunk like you describe. I have never tried it myself but might be worth a try.

If you let the weight settle down into the rocky crevices....it gone. I would suggest a nail weighted worm rigged wacky style, 3/32 oz is perfect for 6" worms.

Tom

Use a Fat Ika as your weight or like FnP says get the lead tube.