The Drop Shot

Why is it that all the fisherman on the pro tour using this method to win pro tournaments? Quite frankly it’s because this method of fishing is very successful. This tactic was kept a secret for a long time by pro fisherman because it is so successful and produces fantastic results. The good news for us who are not tournament fisherman is the secret is out. It’s pretty hard to keep a secret when the cameras are rolling and they are watching your every move. The secret I’m talking about is called the drop shot.

What makes this technique so deadly is it lets you place your soft plastic or live bait at a pinpoint depth in the water column and keep it there without any effort. How is this you ask? This is made possible because you swap the hook and sinker from there traditional positions. With drop shotting, the weight is attached to the end of the line and the hook is placed 8 inches to 2 feet up the line. The weight acts as an anchor to carry your lure into position and keeps it there with as much, or as little action you desire while ideally keeping a semi-slack line.

Some of the keys to success using this method is selecting the right equipment and tackle for this finesse style fishing. Your rod should be no longer than 7 feet; I use a 6 foot 6 inch rod for this technique. A rod with a tip that bends under very low pressure is perfect. This will help you to shake the bait, I call it “shake and bake” on a semi-slack line which will enable you to feel the slightest nibble and increase your hook up success. This also eliminates the need for dive charts and casting/trolling charts. You will know exactly how deep you are fishing and at what depth the fish are feeding that day. This style of fishing totally eliminates the guess work.

You will also need to use specific line for this fishing application. Fluorocarbon is used exclusively with this tactic. Do not substitute monofilament or braided line. I use 6 pound test when drop shotting as it creates the most life like movements of my bait. Fluorocarbon has the lowest stretch and will let you feel even the slightest of pressure bites. It is also absolutely invisible under water and it sinks very quickly. Use this line and you see immediate results in your catch rate. Stay tuned as there will be more articles to come on the drop shot.

Variables of Weather

Does weather play a factor when fishing for Trout? It certainly can and sometimes does play a big factor when fishing for Trout. In my many years of trout fishing I have studied weather and fished in all types of weather to see what weather does for, or against fishing for trout. When is the best time to fish, when it’s sunny and warm; when it’s cooler and cloudy or is it in the middle of winter after a snow fall?

When I began fishing I would ask my grandfather these questions and he usually knew the answer. The thing is you have to go out a field test the answer to this question for yourself. One guy will tell you one thing, the next guy will tell you the first guy does not know what he is talking about, and the third guy will tell you that both of these guys are full of you know what.

I am going to give you what works best for me on the Bow River system. Here lies another question; if it works well on the Bow River will it work on the Snake River, how about the Skeena River and so on. This is why you must become intimate with you own river and get to know it well. Carry a log book and write down some notes, was it cloudy, what was the barometric pressure that day, what was the water temperature that day. All these factors will help you become a more productive fisherman. If you’re not a serious fisherman like I am then just go out there and have some fun. I personally need to know all these things as I am a part time fishing guide. I need to have the upper hand and provide my client some large trout.

I would encourage you to start taking some quick notes, you don’t need to write a novel just quickly write what the water temperature was, what the temperate on the day was, what the temperature was when you were catching your fish; 20 degrees, 15 degrees. Then on your spare time you compile the data and you will start to see patterns develop. Than you can hone you skills and pass on this info, or you can keep it to yourself. Then your buddies will ask, “How come you caught 10 trout and I only caught 1”.