Hey y’all,

 

As I’ve mentioned before, I am dedicating a portion of my hours this year to learning to fish a dropshot. What size weight is a good starting point? Please describe how you adjust the weight you use. 
 

Thank you to @WRB and @Darth-Baiter for your posts on other threads regarding dropshot fishing. I have found them helpful. 

3/16 & 1/4 oz weight light wind 3’ to 25’.

Tom

It"s a rare outing if i don't pick up my d/s rig at some point of the day. For the clear natural lakes i fish, a 1/4 oz. wt.  is used the most. I use the long "cylinder" style the most, as it slithers through the weeds the easiest. I'm cheap - so no tungsten for me. If fishing deeper than 20' or so, i will up it to 3/8. Inspring, i use a shad shaped worm on a traditional d/s hook, but after that it's a size 1 ewg and worms. I have tried wacky rigged, but haven't found a reason to rig "normal". 

found a reason to not normal

Using pliers I pinch a worm weight on the line.  If it slides you can adjust the height.  Am I cheap or frugal?

smart.

I try to use the lightest weight I can get away with, on days where it’s windy I’ll go heavier. I use 1/8 and 3/16 most of the time but will go up to 1/4 (or slightly heavier than that) on windier days. 

 

I use the cylinders ones all of the time, lead or tungsten. Usually the ones where the line can be pulled into but sometimes I’ll tie it on or use a Great Lakes finesse quick shot clip if I think I’m going to be tinkering with the weight all day.

 

Im a big fan of the owner cover shot hooks in a 1/0 and with a 4.5” fat roboworm (Aaron’s Magic and Morning dawn)

I haven't used live bait in a couple of decades but am considering shiners on a drop shot through a slip bobber. In this case the weight would be heavier to keep the bait exactly where wanted.

I use 3/8th oz for Great Lakes smallies in 20'+ of water.  I will go down to 1/4 if it is very calm which is rare.  If it's breezy/wavey I will go up to 1/2 oz.  Shallower water for largemouth will see me use 1/4.  The lightest I ever use is 3/16th ounce.  

I dont have any drop shot weights. I just slide on a worm weight , add a bobber stop  then tie an overhand knot on the end . 

Actually learned to drop-shot from this site several years ago.

An extremely effective method in clear water.

Been using the same artillery since day 1.

# 1 mustad wide gap drop-shot hook, 1/8 tungsten cylinder weight,

8# flouro leader, med light rod fast on 2500 spinning...... nose hooked.

You don't have to do to much to catch fish, just keep slight tension, dead stick, drag slowly.

Finesse worms, Robo worms and even Zoom lizards.

I know many here like to wacky hook but I've had great success with nose hook and hookup ratio has been great.

 

I’ve posted my drop shot setup multiple times but you just asked about weights.  While there are a lot of ways to put a weight below your hook for a dropshot, from pinch weights to worm weights to bell sinkers tied on, I prefer to use a premium weight after my 30+ years of trial and error.    I have used everything from the cheap bass pro dropshot weights in all the different forms like cylinders, egg drop, hexagonal, adjustable by snipping lead off, and many others.  What I have found is that a premium weight with top notch components like the harp and swivel, hang up less, come through cover, structure and grass better and last longer.  My weight of choice is a QuickDrop in 1/4 oz size but that is all dependent on whether I’m casting, vertical jigging and how much current and depth I’m fishing in.   

15 hours ago, TheBaitMonkey said:

Im a big fan of the owner cover shot hooks in a 1/0 and with a 4.5” fat roboworm (Aaron’s Magic and Morning dawn)

Good because that’s what I’ve got in my TW cart already

Did someone say weedless dropshot? Now you’re talking my language! It's by far my #1 most used and productive rig. I use pencil shaped round eye tungsten 1/4 & 3/8oz mostly, but like scaleface I also use a tungsten worm weight with bobber stop at times, I like this rigging because it makes the dropper length adjustable. Also some context like your setup, line, lures, cover, target depth, etc would be helpful. 

I use heavy weights like 3/8 or 1/2 oz.  I like to get to the bottom fast and I fish rivers mostly.  Once on the bottom, there is no difference between a 1/4 or a 1/2 oz weight, except you get better control with the last one.

I just use a 1/4 oz tungsten bullet weight

I don't use a drop shot very much but I'll use either a 1/4 or 3/16 oz bullet weight.

There is a reason drop shot weights have a swivel molded in; to reduce line twist when the rolls on the bottom.

You increase weight to over come line resistance from moving water. I use small diameter 7 lb FC fr for drop shot,

Tom

I like a tapered cylinder weight.  The weight is dispersed, so it doesn't sink into soft bottoms and get covered in grass or slime like a ball or tear drop and if they do get grassy, they shed it easily.  Ringed weights are far superior to clips IMO.  You have to tie a knot, but it takes 10 seconds to tie a quick clinch or uni.  Clips weaken line and they don't hold as secure as a knot.  If a fish decides to start tail walking say goodbye to that clipped on weight.  A solid ring also means you can use it a free weight.

Like anything else, I want to use the lightest weight I possibly can.  I use lighter weights but the vast majority of time I use 1/8, occasionally I have to go to 3/16 and very rarely do I have to go to 1/4.

 If I didn't have bills to pay, I would only use Reins.  The tungsten and swivels are top quality, which helps minimize line twists.  I use a lot of swagger tungsten, but it appears TW stopped carrying it, which is a shame.  It was budget friendly, and the quality was great for the price.  Picassos' products are good quality, and their tungsten is no exception.  Ill likely be sticking with them and Reins. 

One of my favorite DS baits that doesn't get the attention it should is Robowoms' Alive Shad. The buoyancy is perfect and the action is great.     

I like cylindrical shaped sinkers.   I started w lead.  Now I use tungsten.  You don’t snag often.  
 

3/16th gets it done for me.