Deep Water Dropshot
By Drew Clark
Looking to freshwater bass fishing is a fantastic way to find powerful and effective techniques for the saltwater experience. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, texas rigging – these are standard freshwater tools that have migrated to Inshore fishing with proven results. Add to those the dropshot, and more than just the dropshot but a deadstick dropshot technique that works so well on the kayak that it might just outfish your primary or ‘active’ fishing style.
First, look at traditional dropshot methods. Typically the rigging comprises of light line (4-10# test), a #1 or #2 size hook and a ¼ oz to 3/8 oz lead weight and a bait ranging from 2” grubs to Senkos. This, attached to a medium action spinning outfit will get you onto the lake and into a bass’s mouth (hopefully). For saltwater we’re doing the same thing but upsizing considerably. My preferred setup is an Okuma Expixor 30 paired with a Daiwa Coastal spinning rod, 7'6" MH 8-20. With this setup I'm dropshotting depths from 15' to 240'.
Why a spinning rod?
The Spinning reel isn't as important here as the rod. There are three
things that I considered when choosing equipment for this style of fishing
and I tried several of my baitcasters and conventional rods in an attempt
to find the perfect match.
- When "at rest" in the rod holder a spinning rig is setup correctly, that is to say, the guides are and rod are balanced in the appropriate direction (down) which means the spline is working with you. On a baitcaster the weight distribution is opposing, the weight of the reel is on top of the spline of the rod - letting gravity do it's thing puts the rod upside down.
- The lighter and softer nature of a spinning rod allows for better action in the bait during your drift. This works great as a dead-stick bait! Letting the rod do the work means you can focus on other things while this works.
- Spectra works really well on a spinning reel and won't give you the backlash issues of a baitcaster.
Spectra?
Dyneema or Spectra is a synthetic fiber based on Ultra Hhigh Molecular
Weight PolyEthylene, 15 times stronger than steel and three times stronger
than Kevlar. It is usually used in bulletproof vests, bow strings and
sails on high-performance yachts but is extremely effective as fishing
line. Personally, I use the spectra produced by Stren (Stealth 30#). As
fishing line it has the properties of high abrasion resistance and almost
0% stretch, two more things that make this technique work so well. I've
had the same Spectra spooled on my reel for 9 months now and don't plan
on changing it for at least another 9 months, probably longer. Contrast
this with the way we plow through mono at about a spool every 6 - 8 weeks
and you see one of the perks already.
It's Terminal
We've got a rod, a reel and bullett-proof line, now it's time to lay out
the temptation. For my own ease of use I tie a small barrel swivel on
the end of my spectra, small enough that I can wind it through the tip
guide if need be, and then use a uni-knot to attach a leader of monofilament.
I generally use a 3' leader of 10# flourocarbon but have used regular
mono in weights from 8# up to 15# successfully. The dropshot hook it tied
onto this leader leaving enough line for between 8" and 18"
of clearance below to the weight. For still water fishing (little or no
current) I use a 2 oz torpedo sinker, when fishing heavy tidal flows,
strong current or water deeper than 100' I switch up to anywhere between
3 oz and 6 oz torpedoes. Torpedo sinkers won't spin as much as other big
lead and that'll reduce line twist.
Dead-Stick the Dead Stick
Through all the experimentation the bait that came out the other end surprised
me. Traditional (albeit larger) dropshot baits from local pour gurus and
companies like Assalt were our starting point, and they were all successful,
but as time went on baits got bigger and one shape took over as a dominant
force - the Sluggo style stickbait. Unable to find colors and sizes that
were suitable Steve Preslar and I conferred and began producing our own
from molds bought online. it's a 6" slug/stick with almost no distinguishing
features save for a slight taper from the center to the tail. It is a
bait without glamour, flash or sex appeal, it's a pencil looking piece
of plastic that crushes the competition. Colors from greens to black to
red, clear, copper, rootbeer, chartreuse...anything worked. The great
thing about pouring your own bait is that the options are endless and
we're still creating new hot color patterns. Steve is the master at this
and has found our favorites through his experimentation.
Git Er Done
Everything is lined up, kayak is in the water, leaders, bait and weights
are tied on, now what? Generally you don't do much. Set up your normal
drift, drop this to the bottom, place the rod in the rod holder and go
about your business of fishing. When running this technique I work two
swimbait rods at a time and dead-stick the dropshot. This requires a certain
amount of intelligent deck design and the ability to clear your lines
quickly, so develop a system in advance if possible as it will save you
some heartache. What I've learned by fishing this in San Diego Bay is
this: Sandbass love this presentation....they seem to love it more than
the swimbaits by almost 4:1 some days. Rarely does this system get outfished
by the active lines that I'm continually working manually. This summer
I found two 4-5# sand bass doing this and three legal halibut. Those are
fish I would probably have missed fishing other techniques. These are
free fish! It doesn't stop there, either. This works for rockfish on deep
ledges, switching away from a deadstick to a manual presentation can fill
your freezer with some of the best meat in the ocean in no time. Spectra
lets you feel every tick and bump even at 200+'. Bottom hugging calico
bass climb on board without hesitation and mackerel...well mackerel will
hit anything, won't they. When your kayak drifts with the wind or the
current the amount of weight holding the bottom becomes important, too
little weight will allow the bait to float off the bottom, too much will
cause the load on the rod to spring back and whip the bait too quickly
or just cause too much drag on the bottom. Use the right amount to keep
your self on the bottom but allow drifting. What I've found with the setup
I use is a good balance, the rod will load up some before it can lift
the lead from the floor, when it does the rod tip will straighten out
again. This causes the bait to "jump" from spot to spot and
thump the floor every time it moves. I think the lead-thump is the reason
for so many halibut on this rig, they hate kids knocking on their doors
and running off.
Spectra shows it's worth again when a fish takes the bait - with no stretch in the line the hookset comes quickly from the backbone of the rod. An important note about spectra is that with out that stretch your drags will be different - adjust them accordingly and experiment to find your comfort zone there.
Get your rig ready and go try this out - you'll find fish and it can add serious numbers to your daily count!
--
Drew