I remember when I first started drop-shotting when I was young, I had mixed success. Later, when I was out with a guide, he told me I was working it too fast, that less is more in terms of action. "Slow down, don't over-work the bait..."

 

Years later, I've been at the strolling/hover rig game for awhile now and it does work. But I'm finding the same thing - I'm getting less bites with the constant twitching of the rod, and catching more fish with a straight retrieve with either light or occasional more aggressive twitches. 

 

Curious to get other's opinion on this as well...

 

 

I've used a bit of both this season.  My default is 'swim jig' on FFS- rod tip high, as slow reeling as possible to maintain the depth, and a wiggle of the tip of the rod.  Then observe the fish.  Ones closer to the bottom sometimes don't want to come off the bottom much to eat.  They might come up a little and turn back down.  Those ones I'll swim it until it's close to the fish and then kill it.  That has pulled the bass to suck it off the bottom.  More suspended fish will sometimes repond to a quick upsweep, but I've found that while that will get their attention a lot, it gets hits less.  Then again, getting their attention tells me that they are at least partly interested so I'll swap plastics or try something different.

14 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Later, when I was out with a guide, he told me I was working it too fast, that less is more in terms of action. "Slow down, don't over-work the bait..."

 

I'm twitchy as a tweaker who hasn't scored for a score of days, so I'm sure glad you shared this anecdote. 

38 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

I've used a bit of both this season.  My default is 'swim jig' on FFS- rod tip high, as slow reeling as possible to maintain the depth, and a wiggle of the tip of the rod.  Then observe the fish.  Ones closer to the bottom sometimes don't want to come off the bottom much to eat.  They might come up a little and turn back down.  Those ones I'll swim it until it's close to the fish and then kill it.  That has pulled the bass to suck it off the bottom.  More suspended fish will sometimes repond to a quick upsweep, but I've found that while that will get their attention a lot, it gets hits less.  Then again, getting their attention tells me that they are at least partly interested so I'll swap plastics or try something different.

Yes, lots of different retrieve approaches - are you using a spinning or casting rod with the swim jig? 

 

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

Yes, lots of different retrieve approaches - are you using a spinning or casting rod with the swim jig? 

Spinning rod.  And not a swim jig lure, a swim jig retrieve- steady reel with rod twitches.  Normally I'm using a sonar minnor, a fluke, or a freeloader on an open hook.  

The bait should determine the retrieve or how much rod action you impart in my experience.   

 

The Sakamata Shad requires a totally different retrieve than a Jackall Drift Fry.   If you try to retrieve the Sakamata Shad like the Drift Fry with a 45 degree rod angle, the bait wants to rise to much and doesn't roll.    Whereas if you put your rod on the side and make less, and more drawn-out twitches it causes the Sakamata Shad to stay at depth and dart more like a fluke vs. roll like a traditional strolling minnow.  

 

This is a Japanese technique and I default to their usage, and they believe in constant subtle twitching while retrieving.