Then They are not on Top....Gettin
the drop on Summer bass
Well
you knew that Finesse fishing the Delta would have to get off
the power techniques and get to this for the summer and Fall bites
on the Delta. Let me tell you I would much rather be getting reaction
fish but when that top water bite tightens sometimes you just
have to hit the depths with that drop shot rig. Drop shot rigs
work well in summer for a variety of reasons. The bass may be
deeper because they are keying in on bait moving off of the bottom,
boat traffic pushes them of the bank. The the extreme heat may
also have them looking for more oxygenated current.
Dropshotting
can be used to fish fast or slow and an excellent way to target
those outside weedline in the 8 to 14 foot range . Over the years
I have tried many different styles of rods and reels to accomplish
the task at hand and for the Delta here’s what I have come
up with My first choice is a 7 foot medium heavy spinning rod
with 10 to 15lb. test and a 1/4 to 1/2 ounce weight. I prefer
this rod if the fish are biting aggressively, for fishing in cover
or grass, or if I'm competing in a tournament. I find I have more
control over the fish with this heavy setup. I'm also able to
use bigger worms than you may use on lakes. In the winter if I
am beggin’ I would using a lighter rig. For this rig, I
use a 6 1/2 foot to 7 foot medium-light action spinning rod with
6 to 8 lb. test and a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce weight. The lighter rig
is good for most applications including finesse fishing with smaller
worms.
I
try not to use anything but fluorocarbon for dropshotting, and
I suggest that everyone use some type of fluorocarbon as well.
I use Falcon weightless-weed 3/0 for nose hooking and wacky style
rigging, which are the rigs I prefer unless I'm fishing around
timber or other heavy snags. For Texas style rigging. Gamakatsu
round bend offset hooks work well for thicker worms. My favorite
worms for dropshotting are the Robo Worm 7 inch straight-tail
worms. I also like Flukes Trick worms, Big bite Minnows, sculpins
and finnesse worms. Favorites, Green Pumpkin Texas Red, crawdad
and Blue gill. The sleeper in there line is junebug/bubble gum.
I
hate line twist, for me this is so frustrating! It’s worst
than getting hung up! Twist is caused by two things a spinning
worm during retrieve. To avoid line twist, make sure the worm
is always straight. I watch my worm as I reel to make sure it's
swimming straight. If my line does twist, I take the worm off
and cast out as far as I can. While putting resistant pressure
on the line with my forefinger and thumb, above the first eye
of the rod, I reel in with the tip of my rod in the water. I allow
the last eight feet to untwist while I'm still holding. Next weight
selection.
The
great debate in the drop shotting world, many prefer tungsten
and different models that cost upwords of a buck a piece. For
the best value Marc Marcantonio up on the Columbia River has got
the best one on the market for value and function. Marc explained
“One day I heard about the new round dropshot weight that
had a pinch clip on it for fast attachment. Although this style
was far better than anything else out there, it didn't work well
in my part of the country because the shape was easy to snag in
most any size rock, and the round shape rolled on the rock when
fishing current like the Columbia River. Rolling makes it hard
to tell if you are on rock or sand or silt. If you are fishing
for smallmouths and you aren't over rock you are betting on a
long shot and wasting time. The good features were the clip (though
it was too stiff and cut your line on hard casts), and being round
it was compact and hydrodynamic, and it would cast and sink exactly
where you wanted it to.
Never
satisfied with just what is available, I knew the perfect shape
would be a teardrop shape, but nobody made one. As a competitive
angler, I learned a long time ago that when you need something
and nobody else makes it, you had better make it yourself...so
that is exactly what I did. I designed and made QuickDrops, and
they worked better than I even imagined. When you fish tournaments
and win, it is hard to keep secrets, so it wasn't long before
friends started noticing my QuickDrops. I gave some to friends,
and before I realized it, I was in the tackle business, which
is something I never intended nor desired to do. Now QuickDrops
are sold in tackle stores all over the West Coast, and rapidly
spreading across the country.
Shape
does manner, Marc Explains , “I already discussed round
weights, which would be my second choice in shapes if I didn't
have a teardrop shape to use. I especially like its small size
to weight ratio which is important in clear water with spooky
fish, which seems to be the conditions in which most anglers use
the dropshot technique. In current the compact size isn't affected
as much when it sinks as a shape with a less hydrodynamic profile".
Marc
adds, “Many buy the cylindrical weights, which are my least
favorite shape of all. This shape has one strong point, its resistance
to snagging. Unfortunately all of its weaknesses outweigh (pun
intended) its strengths. The tall profile of these weights get
swept by current and look out of place next to a small worm, and
they don't sink straight or cast straight. Worse yet, they reveal
very little about bottom composition because they offer no feel
of the bottom and bottom, and they don't stay put when you want
them, especially in current.”
Hope
this Helps you git bit on those tough days. As how far that bait
should be off the bottom crawfish imitations 2 to 6 inches and
the minnows 8 to 18 inches. Enjoy!
Dan
Mathisen
FishDelta.com
- All Species, All Delta
The
Ultimate Resource For California Delta Fishing
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