I just started drop shottin about a month ago, and it's really growing on me. I've caught some great fish on this rig, and I'm so glad I've finally taken the time to learn it.

My first question is about this really weird bite I was getting yesterday while fishing it. It was almost like the fish would only grab half of the bait and just chew it! I tried changin color, but then they just wouldn't hit it at all. I tried waiting and letting them "hook themselves" but still nothing.

My second question is for those who use fluoro like myself. Even though you're throwing fluoro do you still tie a palomar knot? I've been mixing it between that and a sandiego jam. I have only had the worst luck fishing a palmoar with fluorocarbon. I mean one time I tied a perfect knot, pitched my jig up into a tree and set the hook only for the line to break at the knot : Pigsticker was there to witness all the fish I missed because of the broken knot. Anyway, if you don't tie a palomar, what do you tie?

Thanks

Matt Strykul

Yup, tie the palomar. As for breaking what brand are you using? One of the biggest reasons I find for it breaking is not wetting the line enough as your tying it. I'm usually always using 6 pound line, either Sunline, Trliene 100%, Seagar Invis-X.Also remember to thread the lie back through the hook after you tie the knot so the hook stands out. Second, depending on the hook, the fish dont exactly hook themselves.  And I have learned if your feeling those bites you are in the bait, and just keep waiting, because the smallie being the curious aggressive monster it is will come and grab it from them. So you will feel tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, then dead weight, and zzzzzzzzz.  I use a 1/0 Gammy Split Shot/Drop Shot and that sort of hook almost just pinches the fish. I'm shaking and moving my dropshot a lot so I can feel the weight of the fish. As soon as I do, I don't even move the rod, I just reel. Doing it this way I have lost mybe 5 or 6 smallies all year after I hooked them (Have caught atleast 150-160). One of the ones I lost acctually jumped about 5' out, landed on the lip of a bridge pilling, flopped around, and when it went off the other side, the line rubbing on the pilling snapped it off. But the same goes for largies, if you do it right, they don't pop off.

Those bites were probably perch.

As for knots, I use the Palomar for dropshotting, which is the only time I use it.  And I don't use Fluorocarbon line.  I use copolymer line.

I agree with Glenn...small bream, bluegills or baby bass hitting the bait can drive you up a wall.

You need to use a Palamor Knot and then run the tag end back through the hook eye from the front of the hook to have the hook stand straight out from the line.  But you and Pigsticker know this.

So tie the Palamor Knot and try not to burn the line.  Be sure to pull the line end first so it is snug and then pull the tag end.  Wet the line so help avoid line burn, too.

When knot is setup, you can then pull both the tag end and line end to tighten the knot.

In my experience, I have had the bass take the bait and run like crazy; take the bait and walk away with it; and take the bait and just sit there for some reason.

If I feel some weight on the line I set the hook.  This also happens when I accumulate grass on the sinker but I would rather look silly than miss a strike.

I may take Glenn's advice and use copoly in lieu of fluoro.

I use 8 pound test when fishing the drop-shot, although I may go up to 10-pound test if fishing in lots of strutucture.  I have used 6-pound test on a spinning rig and have caught two nice 6+ pound ladies in a private pond.

You and Pigsticker have fun. I hope you can out-fish Pigsticker.  

I use the palomar knot 100% of the time while drop shoting and have yet to break off a fish on the rig this entire season. I use Berkley Trilene 100% Pro. grade flurocarbon, 6lb test.  I must be doing something right as I have 3 5lb+ smallies, and 1 6lb SM this year, as well as hundredes of 3-4 lbers both SM and LM, I even landed a 10lb pike on it.

I never broke my line dropshotting, but I broke it with 17 pound test throwin jigs.

I am using 8lb Berkley trilene 100%. I might go down to 6 lb though for dropshotting. Tin, do you like the sunline? How does it compare to 100%? I saw a review of it on Tackle tour a while ago and wanted to try it. It's on sale at Tackle warehouse too..... ;)or atleast was last week.

Haha Sam, no I do not drop shot. I would much rather fish a 10 inch worm or swimbait  

Matt, you need to step up to some seaguar or gamma flouro none of that cheap Berkeley stuff 8-)

A funny side note to this thread is I got Matt into using flouro, since I have been throwing it for several years but as soon as he switched I went to only using braid ;D

I never broke my line dropshotting, but I broke it with 17 pound test throwin jigs.

I am using 8lb Berkley trilene 100%. I might go down to 6 lb though for dropshotting. Tin, do you like the sunline? How does it compare to 100%? I saw a review of it on Tackle tour a while ago and wanted to try it. It's on sale at Tackle warehouse too..... ;)or atleast was last week.

It's line.....  :

quote]

It's line.....  :[/quote]

I do not understand? :-?

quote]

It's line..... :[/quote]

.

I do not understand? :-?

It's a good line, nothing special about it, just pricey. For the price I don't think you can beat Trilene 100%

Thanks for clarifying. I don't want to waste money on line that's gonna have the worst memory on the market. I'll just stick with trilene 100%

quote]

quote]

.

I do not understand? :-?

It's a good line, nothing special about it, just pricey. For the price I don't think you can beat Trilene 100%

Hmmmmm forgot to mention Vicious fluorocarbon. That beats the 100% garbage in price and quality. I can 550 yards of Vicious for less than 250 yards of berkely 100%. Plus Vicious is better. Line is not just line ;D Fish with Cajun line in a tournament if you disagree with me. ;D ;D :