Hey guys, I am interested in expanding my repertoire a little for those tough days when my usual approaches aren't working.  So, I have decided to make an effort this year to do more jig fishing (something I have rarely done in the past) and also try dropshotting.  Been reading up on this quite a bit and have already acquired a new spincast rod/reel for this.  I would be interested to hear if any of you have done this much and if so, what advice you might offer me?

One of my first questions........I am fishing Gilmer a couple of days this week.  I am on a quest to catch my first double digit bass (caught a 9.2 last year).  I have had several tough days in the past at Gilmer.  Would you try a dropshot rig here knowing the big fish and the amount of timber they could wrap you around if you hooked one?  I am rigged with 10lb Fluorocarbon and not sure this new rig could turn a big fish immediately as some of my other rigs could.  What do you think?

Thanks, Marty

Hey Marty how you been? ive been thinking same as you on the trying different techniques,, i seem to always say this and then after a while i go back to my old ways.. i went with a guide i know on fork last year and we drop shotted all day,, we used drop shot with baitcasters with 12 lb line.. no problems at all.. reason for my post , was you said you were gonna be using 15lb line,, so im curious, if you going 15lb line why the spincast? we had no probs with 12lb on bait caster,(we were using guides stuff) so i would think 15 would work on bait caster, then you could horse your fish out,, i have always used 14- 15 lb test on all my bait casters all the time and hardly ever lose a fish , even at fork or timber lake,, good luck with the spincast,, ive tried em and cant do em..

Hey Phillip, I made a typo, I actually put 10lb Fluorocarbon on the spincast reel.  I went with that reel because most everything I read about the technique recommended it.  Plus, I have fished lots with one in my past and have no problem with them.

Thanks for the reply.

Marty

OH, OK,,  Hey i noticed your member date,, this your 15th yr with club,, congrats,, this my 10th year, doesnt seem that long does it?

Marty, on my 'regular' spinning tackle, I use 20# braid with either a 12# or 14# mono (I despise and won't use fluoro) leader at lakes like Gilmer, Timber, and Yates' Place. That's what I'll be using at Gilmer for wacky-rigs. At lakes with less timber or brush, I might go to a lighter leader, but usually won't.

I, too, am a total neophyte at dropshotting.....but I'll wait until after Gilmer to use that method. My "normal" dropshot rig is 8# mono on a very light spinning rig.

See you Tuesday morning!

Marty,

Drop shotting is a great technique, and can definitely get you some bites when other baits won't. At Hat and Star with all the timber and the recent rain, I would be all over the jig if I were you. Muddy water usually means that the fish are tight to cover, so with all the recent rain the timber should produce for you. This time of year the fish really target crawfish since they are so protein dense, and a jig does a great job of imitating a crawfish.

The key to a jig is to fish it slow. Throw to cover, let it drop to the bottom and sit for a while. Hop or drag it untill you feel cover again. Once I feel cover, I will let it sit again and then shake my rod tip to make the jig shake on the bottom of the lake and agains the cover without moving any distance. The jig shaking against cover and then standing still can really drive the big fish nuts.

Throw a jig with a craw trailer and hold on. A jig is a true big fish bait.

great post Seth, very informative.. and Tom ,, im right there with you on the florocarbon(not for me either)

Originally Posted by Scott Quigley

Marty,

Drop shotting is a great technique, and can definitely get you some bites when other baits won't. At Hat and Star with all the timber and the recent rain, I would be all over the jig if I were you. Muddy water usually means that the fish are tight to cover, so with all the recent rain the timber should produce for you. This time of year the fish really target crawfish since they are so protein dense, and a jig does a great job of imitating a crawfish.

The key to a jig is to fish it slow. Throw to cover, let it drop to the bottom and sit for a while. Hop or drag it untill you feel cover again. Once I feel cover, I will let it sit again and then shake my rod tip to make the jig shake on the bottom of the lake and agains the cover without moving any distance. The jig shaking against cover and then standing still can really drive the big fish nuts.

Throw a jig with a craw trailer and hold on. A jig is a true big fish bait.

Seth, I really tried the jig today, but got hung up in the timber continually.  I always got it loose by moving the boat over the top of it, but ended up shelving the jig.  Had much better success fishing the pitching rig (pegged bullet weight and weedless rigged craw) and texas rigged lizard and craw.  By success I mean, I didn't get hung up.  Didn't catch any fish though.  Haha.  Tomorrow is another day.