Is it possible to be effective at drop-shot when fishing from docks, bank, ect. ? If so how would you do this?

Here's my take for dropshotting from shore. I fish from both shore and a kayak so I actually know some benefits of being on a watercraft versus shore. The main difference between dropshotting from shore versus on a boat or something is that from shore you will fish a horizontal dropshot by either dragging it along the bottom or twitching the bait and working it back to you. On a boat, you can vertical dropshot for suspended fish better. You are also able to fish a horizontally if you wanted to also. I hope this helps.

Thanks, that makes sense

I fish from both shore and a kayak so I actually know some benefits of being on a watercraft versus shore.

Some? The only benefit for shore fishing is you can relocate to another body of water faster.

I drop shot from shore frequently and it is very effective, as most fishermen shy away from it. Some believe it's strictly a water-craft presentation, for whatever reason. I would recommend using a stick type sinker, or substitute a bullet worm sinker, in order to reduce bottom hooks. I also use a weedless hook such as the Gamakatsu for nose hooking, or I'll use a downsized off-set worm hook if the water is especially weedy.

You'll catch a lot of fish most folks can't entice with other presentations. Just don't "jiggle" it too much.

I have more confidence in the split shot from shore. Sort of a drop shot technique for land locked anglers.

Split shot sinkers stink IMO so I use bullet weights then a small swivel.

I rig several leaders with light wire worm hooks and a small snap on either end. They're from 1 foot to 2 foot in length.

Main line is usually 20# braid and the leaders are 6-8# fluoro, I have used everything except stray cats for bait with some success.

Plastic minnows, creatures, worms..experiment.

I'm actually going to do some drop shotting from shore today. I live in Florida and fish a lot of private ponds as well as public parks. I agree with the stick type sinker and you should also remember that when drop shotting from the shore the distance between the hook and sinker might need to be a little longer due to the different angle. I have had a lot of success with a 4" roboworm straight tail in Aarons magic color. Sometimes I'll just barely shake the line with just a slight bit of slackness, and sometimes just slowly dragging it a few inches will do the trick. I think is something a lot of pond bass just simply don't see and I have a ton of confidence in it. Try it and i'm sure you will have success!

There´s no reason why you can´t dropshot from the bank, but that doesn´t mean that the sinkers, hooks, the way you hook your bait and the length of your leader will be the same as you do when you d-shot from a water craft. You need to do adjustments to the length of your leader ( depending upon the slope degree ) to compensate the angle ( longer leaders ), sinkers ? ball shaped sinkers hang up easily so elongated sinkers are a better option, open hooks are surely hang up magnets so it´s better to use either weedless versions of the hooks or use regular longer hooks but rigging your baits weedless.

I have caught many bass on a drop shot from the bank, and one advance I got is that use straight tail worm. It doesn't matter which brand but i like robo worm, and it will reduce your line twist.

i drop shot from the bank all the time. i tie the hook further up the line from the sinker as well. except i use bass casting sinkers, attach a split ring and swivel and tie my line to the swivel. it works rather well, and i dont have problems with getting hung up. i prefer to use a gamakatsu octopus hook or an eagle claw gold abeerdeen hook.

It's my #1 spinning presentation from the bank ( I fish a lot of no water contact reservoirs). I leave about 24" between the hook and weight initially, and I prefer to use Jackall Flick Shake worms above all others, although I will also use baby Rage craws and chigger craws time to time.

From the bank or a boat, it's a Slug-Go for me!

I'm actually going to do some drop shotting from shore today. I live in Florida and fish a lot of private ponds as well as public parks. I agree with the stick type sinker and you should also remember that when drop shotting from the shore the distance between the hook and sinker might need to be a little longer due to the different angle. I have had a lot of success with a 4" roboworm straight tail in Aarons magic color. Sometimes I'll just barely shake the line with just a slight bit of slackness, and sometimes just slowly dragging it a few inches will do the trick. I think is something a lot of pond bass just simply don't see and I have a ton of confidence in it. Try it and i'm sure you will have success!

 

I am curious about trying it but the advice I was given was to have a very short gap between the hook and the weight.  Less than 6 inches.  Have you tried the shorter leader as well?  When you say a little longer how long do you mean?  

What kind of weights would you use?  1/4 or less?

I've never gone shorter than 12" but it certainty wouldn't hurt to experiment.  I've had times where i had the hook about 15" up and wasn't getting bit and went down to about 12" and started catching fish.  Also, i typically use a 3/16 mojo weight.  

Good topic.  Thanks for the advice.

Good topic.  Thanks for the advice.

x2 ... Thanks to all.

The drop shot rig gained its popularity from deep water fishing in clear water. Since its early roots anglers have found that it can excel at any depth. It doesn't make a difference as to whether you own a boat or fish from the shore.

I prefer more of the longer slender type of sinkers most of the time. These seem to come through cover best for me. As long as you aren't fishing areas that have weeds that are growing more than 2 feet off the bottom you should be fine. Adjust your leader legnth to help your bait stay above the weeds.

I had the same question, thanks for the post and the replies.

 

While I was looking for some slip-bobbers online to rig for panfishing, I ran across something called Bobber with a Brain, and it occurred to me this might be useful for dropshotting from shore, making a more vertical presentation possible

 

I ordered a couple of them and I'll let you know how it turns out

VERY old topic, but one I am attempting this year.  No success yet, but I think the water temps and pre-pre spawn conditions are a bigger negative to success than presentation right now.