Drop Shot thought
Hey Folks,
Long time listener... first time joining...
sorry.... I've always wanted to say that
Last year I was fishing a tourney on Lake Vermillion in Northern MN.
We were using a lot of tubes, which we would of course get snagged due to the very rocky bottom across the entire lake.
So from time to time we would switch up to a drop shot. This was probably the best rig, but really didn't work very well because, again the rocky bottom would catch the weight and you'd loose it.
On my way home from that tourney, I had an idea. In that type of condition could a guy use a strand or 2 of lead core line?
I know you would reduce your bottom contact feel, but I think the lack of snagging would make up for it.
Have any of you tried it? Any suggestions for this type of situation?
I seriously went through close to $200 in tube jigs, tubes, Texas rigs, and Cylinder drop shot weights. (mostly lead, but I ran out and had to start tapping into the tungsten)
Thanks!
I fished Vermillion before and it's full of rock just like you described. I have never used lead core line, but that's an interesting idea. Some things I've learned about fishing in the rocks are that longer casts are the worst and handing up lures. I try to shorten my casting distance and this helps a lot. I also lighten up on the weight. This will keep you moving better through the cover. I have used the lindy weights below to help me in really rocky situations. They were designed for drifting in rocky areas for walleye, but I have used them on my drop shot and Carolina rig with things that are really rocky for bass.
https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/lindy-walking-sinker-20linuwlkngsnkr14ter/20linuwlkngsnkr14ter?sku=13555914&camp=CSE:DSG_92700048924971584_pla_pla-362413401277&segment=&gclid=CjwKCAiAjp6BBhAIEiwAkO9Wug815Sl2acmYkypv35ueVjNZMXiPAQE1wuZ16G479ygo6asqTgIXfBoCAEEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.amazon.com/Lindy-No-Snagg-Slip-Sinker-oz/dp/B003FYO2SY/ref=asc_df_B003FYO2SY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=314068911321&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8753905227709775059&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003814&hvtargid=pla-629804541309&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=62344781957&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=314068911321&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8753905227709775059&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003814&hvtargid=pla-629804541309
I tried that, but it didn't seem to help. I was running the 1/8oz Pencil weights, so I don't know how I could have gone much lighter! LOL
That's what made me think that with Lead Core I might be able to achieve that with a couple strands.
I could go straight down from the boat and not get snagged, but that really limited things and with the pressure, the bites my boaters and I got seemed to be quite a distance from the boat.
I just don't know how well Lead core would work with no real bottom feel. I'm sure like anything, a guy could get used to it. I'm just not sure how much a couple strands of lead core would weigh. Guess I may have to invest in a spool, find a clear lake and test it out.
Thanks for the thoughts on it!
It's a REALLY fun lake to fish, but man is it a tackle killer.
If you ever find your way out this way, let me know. I'll be happy to make the trip up there (4.5hours) to fish it again!
That’s a really good idea! Like you said, you’d lose sensitivity but I have to believe it’d snag up a lot less.
Im not sure how heavy lead core is in short lengths, so a couple additional ideas I have along those lines come from the fly fishing world. They sell “sink tip” leaders that people use to get flies down that are pretty heavy. You could cut one of those up to get some weight, or otherwise simply cut up a sinking fly line (though those can get very spendy). Another idea is the weighted putty type stuff fly anglers sometimes use that gets molded around the tippet to get a fly down. If that snagged, it’d just pull off and you wouldn’t lose your rig. Price may be a concern though. Depending on how well it stays put you might end up spending as much on that as sinkers and/or tube jigs.
