I’m the odd angler out, I love fishing the drop shot and catch a lot of fish with it. I grew up walleye fishing with a jig and a minnow and that is similar technique and feel wise. Congratulations on your success in your first MLF tournament of the year.
Congrats on your great start to your tournament season! I hope you have continued success the rest of the year! You are definitely my favorite UA-camr and you have the best tips and advise, not to mention your great stories and videos like this one. I like how Chris pointed out you social media today because you really are one of the best out there.
I use a vmc spin shot and this mitigates line twist for drop shotting. It also allows you to easily change tag length without having to retire complete rig.
that was my go to for years and they were great. I rarely had a fish spit the hook out or shake one off. I started using straight shank hooks like the Owner Cover Shot or the Roboworm Rebar for texas rigging and kind of just stuck with it but that also means line twist. VMC makes the straight shank spin shot Neko hook but I have yet to try them because I don't see how you can texas rig them. I will probably buy some to test out though.
Matt, I use strictly pinch-on split shot for my weights. I can move it up or down my tag end as needed and don't worry about the damage that pinching may do to the line because it's below the hook.
Using removable 1/4 oz. split shot weights works good. Put a small swivel above the hook to prevent line twist. Pre rig them and wrap then around a piece of pool noodle.
I absolutely love drop shotting. I experience some of these issues but nothing near what you describe. I never go on the water without at least two drop shots rigged up. Love it! ❤
Great video. I agree with you about the weights. Can’t stand tying it all up and losing a weight on the first cast. Tried tungsten for a couple packs but switched to lead fishing from the bank.
Great job on your fishing success so far this year. I really liked this video about the drop shot head aches. I really like the rubber band idea you mentioned. Im going to try that this summer. Thanks for the tip. Good luck this fishing season.
First off great job on your first tournament finish!! Everything you said is so true…..I thought it was just me with all the issues you mentioned. And it is an extremely productive technique when other things aren’t working. Thanks for the video as always Matt. Hope the rest of your season goes as successful as your first!!
I love the drop shot and catch at least half my fish on it (kayak). To alleviate your issues try using a micro swivel between braid and dropshot leader, use a neko rig hook with a keeper and tread on the bait (works for the flatworm), use 10 or 12 lb fluoro, and tie on the weight.
I thought I was alone in my frustrations with the drop shot! So many tangled messes and so much lost tungsten! I tried swivels to mitigate twist but I'd always crank them into my tip guide and I hate doing that more than I hate line twist, lol! But lots of killer fish on it and SO versatile. Thank you for another cool video, good sir.
Matt first of all congrats on your finish at Okeechobee. You finished ahead of Wheeler! Anyway I use the Cal Coast Fishing Cali clip hook keeper to secure my drop shot weight so check it out.
Hey Matt Great video!!! Great finish at Okeechobee!!Chris called the right shot on you!!! Rapid Fishing Solutions has a nice item for drop shot line it's called a Drop Shot Keeper. Snacks on rod & holds the droop shot in place. I think it run around $6.50 for pack of three. Got get'em at Clarks Hill!!!!!! Stay Safe & God Bles!!
People use a rig for piers in the saltwater that are kinda like a drop shot. It's usually made of wire with 2 droppers and the hooks are attached with snap swivels. The weight goes on the bottom. But people who are more into catching a lot of fish make theirs with mono and no snaps. If you rig it like that you can do pretty good from a pier or straight down from a boat. Some people call it a chicken rig. I've never tried a drop shot for freshwater but my version of the chicken rig did good at the pier on the 4th. They sell 3 way swivels for the saltwater that might have you with line twist on your rigs.
I must be the odd one out, I don't seem to loose many weights, Accu-Cull makes a good weight/hook keeper that you can add anywhere on the rod called The All in One.
Could not agree more. I keep several leaders rigged with hook and weight in separate bags marked with length from weight to hook. The other technique that drives me crazy is a Neko rig. I caught a boat load of LMB last season on it. I contemplated buying stock in nail weights because of the number of them I burned through. Either the bait would come flying off or the weights would work their way out.
If you don't use a leader longer than your rod, you might try a snap and ring from the fly fishers book. There is a tiny snap ( no swivel) that you could tie to your braid and then tie a tiny ring that fly fishers use on their leaders unto your rig then you could very easily change leaders while fishing in seconds.
Great video and great finish in your first tournament of the year. What were your most successful baits during the tournament last week here in Florida?
I put the rigs in a zip bag. only one rig in each bag. . I use 1 meter of FC 0.25 mm and conect the teardrop weight with a small swiwel in with an clinch knot and in the upper end a small swiwel. The hook is conectet with a dropshot knot , not the palomar.
I agree with you Matt. Drop shot sinker always tied up in the net. In a hurry to get back in there to catch another get flustered end up cutting off now retire. Always go through alot of bait catching smallies. But it works well when needed. What do you do
100% agree. I like the Power Shot more because you don't have to re-tie as often, but yeah I really don't tie them on. I fish a Neko or shakeyhead instead
You crack me up! I thought I was the only one getting frustrated. I don't fish a drop shot and don't fish an A-rig, mostly for these reasons. I'd rather throw or drop something else on them. I do put up with the jerkbaits though.
I neve tie my hook when I'm using a drop shot I allways put the hook in the middle of two bobber stops. Did you understand? I put a bobber stop, then the hook, then another bobber stop. I do that to figure out the leader lenth I need to use and It helps avoiding to tie another knot. Greetings from Brazil! Nice video!
I have been fishing for many decades but never used a drop shot until last year. Boy have I been missing the boat. Caught a ton of bass on it last year and have even got a 5 lber already this year. Now I almost always have a drop shot rigged when I go fishing. But I have to agree that it is a pain to secure the bait to the rod when stowing it because the dang weight flops around and tangles into my other rods. And, I agree that they are a pain to rig because of having to tie two knots and you use up a fair amount of line each time (to account for both the hook and the weight). You can go through your expensive fluorocarbon line quicker that way.
A few things I do since I drop shot a bunch out here in AZ. 1) I do a simple overhand knot for the weight... 2) I dont put on baits or weights until I'm on the water.... so after on the water I just deal with the weight issues wrapping around on itself...not a big deal I feel. 3) sometimes after catching a fish it gets all tangled...., I just re-tye or untangle.
🍺I feel your pain🤬.I use a Gamakatsu G-Finesse drop shot hook. It has a swivel above the hook and a swivel below on the weight holder. It helps with the line twist. I don’t feel the swivels cost me many bites compared to a more stealthy drop shot presentation.🤷♂️
Another lure that I believe is a “boat only” lure. In my opinion it takes far too long to rig up and it’s just not worth the aggravation. It’s probably 3rd in line behind A-rigs and Jerk baits as being a “boat only” baits.
Great job! On your last tournament. Do you have any experience fishing for smallmouth near warm springs? I have a small local lake that has hot water spewing into the area where the reservoir turns into river. The whole lake is a rock pile and the primary forage are crawdads. Where the hot water enters the lake it’s pretty much sandy bottom.
hey Matt! you probably are aware of this, but for keeping my drop shot secured to my rod, Cal Coast has an awesome drop shot weight keeper that works tremendous. I got it on tackle warehouse. It is a little expensive and at $10, but I’ve been using it for about four years.thx!
I guess I’m the odd man out, I just don’t see all the issues. I don’t get a lot of line twist 🤷♂️, using spinning combos with braid to flouro leader. I typically have two setup ready but rarely go through both. It’s kinda been my go to rig for the last two years. Absolutely killed it last year.
Hey Matt , I watched another PRO , slide on a bobber stop then slide the line through the hook eye with hook facing up , slide on another bobber stop under that hook , then use a split shot on the bottom for a weight , don’t know if it works only seen it on a video
Amen, preach it brother Matt! I concur, if you can't tell- hate dealing with drop shots. And since it's something I've never been very good at anyway- I rarely fish them. Something I started to understand pretty quickly was that the lighter a rig is, the harder time I have with it- I need to feel that weight, some kind of resistance when I'm working a bait- or I can't tell what I'm doing, what is happening underwater, anything. I know a lot of it is my rod- you need the proper rod, and it needs to be higher end and sensitive, but a big part of it is also me being a big clumsy oaf. You need to really work with it until you develop a subtle feel for what you're doing, I think. Jerk baits are the same way- because they're so light and finnicky, and there are so many that all do different things, color is more important than usual and there are 10000 different colors, it's a headache. It's cool to see a pro feels the same way.
I don't have issues with line twist or wrapping up but I use casting gear vertically dropping mostly like jigging. I remove the weight when I'm done and tangles don't happen hardly at all when not being used. The pinch on weights are so good just keepa few in your pocket.. Palomar knot takes like 30 sec or less to tie. I don't think I've ever had many baits come off when nose hooked but I'm dropping vertically and not really casting. The top of the mouth almost every time. Baits 3-4" .
One of the few presentations that will fall straight down, around certain types of structure it is a powerful tool. That being said I dislike a spinning rod in general, hardly ever use one. I'm usually looking for grass or the dirtiest water I can find to catch them on a baitcaster.
Put a small overhand knot at the bottom of you tag end to stop loosing weights. With flouro a knot becomes a weakness but will still be strong enough to come thru most snags. A bad snag and the knot will break but not loose much tag end. In Az a DS is a staple and this is what most do.. try it
I want to say the split shot when squeezed on the line it had a loop at the bottom , small loop , and this made it easier if you need to adjust on the fly , instead of re rigging a shorter or longer leader which ever one needed that day or that spot ur fishing
Since you introduced me to those t-swivels I've been using those to tie my drop shots. Eliminates line twist, allows me to switch hooks without completely re-rigging, and depending on the lengths of the line to my weight and my hook it can be worked more like a carolina rig, tokyo rig, drop swam, or fished traditionally. Also the Cal Coast bait sacks are a great drop shot keeper replacement, just tuck everything into it.
I use the Cal Coast bait bags- I'm going to start doing this- thanks. I've been using their keepers but, it leaves the hook dangling eventually- I try to hook it into something to hold it but, it never works.
I like this series it makes me so glad I don't fish tournaments. All of that hub bub would stress me out. I will stick to fishing for enjoyment. Like to study my surroundings and just enjoy the day. Lol. Keep up the great vids look forward every day for them.
Sorry Matt, I love fishing a drop shot. It's just a confidence thing for me. The flat worm is also one of my favorite baits along with the X zone finessed slammer
The DS is definitely a last resort bait for me. I have caught fish on em’ but I much prefer throwing the Ned around. Plus a Ned skips great under docks. Don’t hear about many pros skippin drop shots😂
Come on Matt, you know you are a closet drop shot lover! Those are some weak excuses for not loving it. No hook keeper, haha! I fished it for the first time starting in March of 2022 and, I never put it down all year. Caught probably 200+ bass on the drop shot. But, I get it. You threw that out there to get people to comment back. Good thinking! The biggest pain but not really a problem is the leader having to be retied or, changing presentations meaning having to remove the entire rig just change.
I’m so glad you spoke of this. The drop shop makes me feel like a klutz. Like you said there’s always a problem in many ways. I always feel like I shouldn’t have to work this hard. Then I think how the pros don’t have a problem. Well I guess I’m not the only one including the pros.
I feel your pain about using the Dropshot, agree with all the above but man do they work!!! I think I speak for most of your fans in saying how proud we all are of your performance on the big “O”, great job buddy and way to start your season off right!!!
Drop shot has been my top producer. All of the things you say are true. I would add that I have to weed through a lot of small fish to get to the bigger ones. Drop shots are small fish hammers.
Add the Carolina Rig to a rig that SUCKS. If I am confronted with dragging a bait through weeds all day at a snails pace, I'll either use a TRD Ned rig or find something else to do. Oh, throwing a lipless crankbait from the bank SUCKS too! LOL
Congratulations on a great finish at the Big O!! Great job! I must be in the minority. I love fishing a dropshot. Especially with LiveScope or in heavy current. But you’re absolutely right about losing weights on fighting fish, rocks, shell beds, mermaids, sea creatures etc.
@@MattStefanFishing Absolutely! If I had a dollar for every time they ended up all over the front deck after a rough ride thru Cape Vincent to the Ducks, I’d probably be able to buy a new high-end rod LOL
Catching a catfish on a drop shot sucks. The leader will get wrapped around the catfish, covering the line in slime. Sometimes causing your line and leader to get all tangled up where you have to cut and retie
I'd rather stop at an on the water bar for a nice malty amber than Ned rig OR dropshot. That said when I Break out the dropshot or Ned rig it's been a super difficult day and I'm usually on my way for a beer anyway. They catch fish no doubt and I do use both with reasonable amount of success. Beer is better than both hands down 😆
Well --- When I do run a dropshot, what I use most often is the free rigged dropshot. "FREE SHOT" Line twist are a non issue for me. Anymore I just tie on a bell sinker of the desired weight. Most rocks will give up lead with enough pressure as it's soft. And free shot'n let's me to easily change my depth as needed.
I used to have a very unhealthy relationship with the drop shot and Carolina rig. i cant even remember the last time i used either one in earnest, back in November i think i tied a Carolina rig. The way the weight knocks on my poles drives me mad, when my hook is slotted in the keeper. 🤣
Luckily where I fish here in Florida finesse fishing isn’t really a thing . I don’t fish drop shots, Ned rigs and shaky heads. Fishing light line is unfortunately just a recipe for break offs and another fist story and luckily it’s generally not needed. I have one spinning outfit that is always rigged with a wacky worm which comes in handy as a big swim bait or top water follow up but that is my only concession to finesse fishing 😂
I agree dropshotting sucks (although I disagree about jerkbaits sucking:). I use an unorthodox dropshot setup that I saw several years ago on UA-cam (don't remember the guy's name). I don't use a knot on my hook, I use bobber stops. I slide one bobber stop above the hook, slide the hook on and then put two more bobber stops below the hook. On the bottom I tie a loop knot that goes through the eye of the sinker (I use regular CASTING sinker rather than an overpriced dropshot sinker) which allows me to change sinkers and they don't sling off. The beauty of this set up is; when you hook a fish the hooked fish slides down to the sinker so the sinker is not twisting your line into an FG knot forcing you to have to cut the line and retie the whole damn thing. You can also change your dropper distance without retying, just slide the hook and stops where you want them. I've caught fish up to six pounds on this set up and it definitely helps make dropshotting "suck less"!
I’m the odd angler out, I love fishing the drop shot and catch a lot of fish with it. I grew up walleye fishing with a jig and a minnow and that is similar technique and feel wise. Congratulations on your success in your first MLF tournament of the year.
I like rigging a swim bait on a drop shot
thank you!
Very true you are so right’
Congrats on your great start to your tournament season! I hope you have continued success the rest of the year! You are definitely my favorite UA-camr and you have the best tips and advise, not to mention your great stories and videos like this one. I like how Chris pointed out you social media today because you really are one of the best out there.
awesome thank you!
I use a vmc spin shot and this mitigates line twist for drop shotting. It also allows you to easily change tag length without having to retire complete rig.
that was my go to for years and they were great. I rarely had a fish spit the hook out or shake one off. I started using straight shank hooks like the Owner Cover Shot or the Roboworm Rebar for texas rigging and kind of just stuck with it but that also means line twist. VMC makes the straight shank spin shot Neko hook but I have yet to try them because I don't see how you can texas rig them. I will probably buy some to test out though.
thanks for sharing!
@@WildBillHabiki Shhhhh! The Rebar is a secret! 😁
Agreed , spinshots make life easier .
Matt, I use strictly pinch-on split shot for my weights. I can move it up or down my tag end as needed and don't worry about the damage that pinching may do to the line because it's below the hook.
How many do you typically use at one time- just one- a couple? Sounds like a good idea- I may give that a go. I can't see any drawbacks to it tbh.
Depends on the size shot I have and how much weight I need. The removable ones are reusable.
@@stoneysdead689 Depends on shot size and depth needed. Use the removable ones to move them easier as needed.
thanks for sharing!
Using removable 1/4 oz. split shot weights works good. Put a small swivel above the hook to prevent line twist. Pre rig them and wrap then around a piece of pool noodle.
thanks for sharing
I absolutely love drop shotting. I experience some of these issues but nothing near what you describe. I never go on the water without at least two drop shots rigged up. Love it! ❤
Thanks for sharing!
Congrats on a great finish at Okeechobee!! Hope you do a recap for us.
coming soon!
Great job at Okeechobee! 18th place! Way to start the year out! 51-15 for a 3 day total...you gotta be pumped after that. BPT lookout!
1 down!...5 to go!
Great video. I agree with you about the weights. Can’t stand tying it all up and losing a weight on the first cast. Tried tungsten for a couple packs but switched to lead fishing from the bank.
Good stuff!
Congats on the top 20 at Lake Okeechobee.
Thanks!
Great job on your fishing success so far this year. I really liked this video about the drop shot head aches. I really like the rubber band idea you mentioned. Im going to try that this summer. Thanks for the tip. Good luck this fishing season.
you bet!
I agree they’re a pain, I’m going to try using a screw lock in the end of the bait to see if it helps slow down losing the bait as much
go for it!
First off great job on your first tournament finish!! Everything you said is so true…..I thought it was just me with all the issues you mentioned. And it is an extremely productive technique when other things aren’t working. Thanks for the video as always Matt. Hope the rest of your season goes as successful as your first!!
thanks for the support!
Great content!!! Please keep it coming.
Love hearing the cons to great rigs, lures and setups.
Thanks
awesome!
Ditto for me on the VMC spin shot, alleviates some of these issues. I'm one of those who uses a rubber band to attach the weight to butt of the rod.
thanks for sharing!
I love the drop shot and catch at least half my fish on it (kayak). To alleviate your issues try using a micro swivel between braid and dropshot leader, use a neko rig hook with a keeper and tread on the bait (works for the flatworm), use 10 or 12 lb fluoro, and tie on the weight.
thanks for watching!
Finally picked up some Bridgford Jerky yesterday. Wow! That stuff is good. Will be in the boat from now on!
Super tasty!
Have to add got some important info from video.Helpful as always .Appreciate WAY to go down in FL.
I appreciate that!
I thought I was alone in my frustrations with the drop shot! So many tangled messes and so much lost tungsten! I tried swivels to mitigate twist but I'd always crank them into my tip guide and I hate doing that more than I hate line twist, lol! But lots of killer fish on it and SO versatile. Thank you for another cool video, good sir.
thanks for watching!
Matt first of all congrats on your finish at Okeechobee. You finished ahead of Wheeler! Anyway I use the Cal Coast Fishing Cali clip hook keeper to secure my drop shot weight so check it out.
yep ive got a similar one i use!
Hey Matt Great video!!! Great finish at Okeechobee!!Chris called the right shot on you!!! Rapid Fishing Solutions has a nice item for drop shot line it's called a Drop Shot Keeper. Snacks on rod & holds the droop shot in place. I think it run around $6.50 for pack of three. Got get'em at Clarks Hill!!!!!! Stay Safe & God Bles!!
Chris was spot on with my prediction...i wish i was right about his
People use a rig for piers in the saltwater that are kinda like a drop shot. It's usually made of wire with 2 droppers and the hooks are attached with snap swivels. The weight goes on the bottom. But people who are more into catching a lot of fish make theirs with mono and no snaps. If you rig it like that you can do pretty good from a pier or straight down from a boat. Some people call it a chicken rig. I've never tried a drop shot for freshwater but my version of the chicken rig did good at the pier on the 4th. They sell 3 way swivels for the saltwater that might have you with line twist on your rigs.
interesting!
First off, Great job on the big O. I tie a closed offshore loop for my hook, my problem is the dam smallmouth biting the weight. Thanks Matt
thanks!
I must be the odd one out, I don't seem to loose many weights, Accu-Cull makes a good weight/hook keeper that you can add anywhere on the rod called The All in One.
ill check it out!
Could not agree more. I keep several leaders rigged with hook and weight in separate bags marked with length from weight to hook. The other technique that drives me crazy is a Neko rig. I caught a boat load of LMB last season on it. I contemplated buying stock in nail weights because of the number of them I burned through. Either the bait would come flying off or the weights would work their way out.
thanks for watching!
If you don't use a leader longer than your rod, you might try a snap and ring from the fly fishers book. There is a tiny snap ( no swivel) that you could tie to your braid and then tie a tiny ring that fly fishers use on their leaders unto your rig then you could very easily change leaders while fishing in seconds.
thanks for the tip!
Great video and great finish in your first tournament of the year. What were your most successful baits during the tournament last week here in Florida?
full recap coming in a couple of days! stay tuned!
My go to when the fishing gets tough during the summer here in Texas
awesome!
I put the rigs in a zip bag. only one rig in each bag. . I use 1 meter of FC 0.25 mm and conect the teardrop weight with a small swiwel in with an clinch knot and in the upper end a small swiwel. The hook is conectet with a dropshot knot , not the palomar.
thanks for sharing!
Matt thanks for all the tips.
you bet!
This was a great video loving the sucks videos so many times I have driven myself nuts retieing a drop shot but love them too
haha!
I agree with you Matt. Drop shot sinker always tied up in the net. In a hurry to get back in there to catch another get flustered end up cutting off now retire. Always go through alot of bait catching smallies. But it works well when needed. What do you do
thanks!
Congratulations on a good start of tournament season and thanks for the lbs you gave me on my fantasy fishing this week
thanks!
100% agree. I like the Power Shot more because you don't have to re-tie as often, but yeah I really don't tie them on. I fish a Neko or shakeyhead instead
power shot is great!
You crack me up! I thought I was the only one getting frustrated. I don't fish a drop shot and don't fish an A-rig, mostly for these reasons. I'd rather throw or drop something else on them. I do put up with the jerkbaits though.
haha! thanks for watching!
I neve tie my hook when I'm using a drop shot I allways put the hook in the middle of two bobber stops. Did you understand? I put a bobber stop, then the hook, then another bobber stop. I do that to figure out the leader lenth I need to use and It helps avoiding to tie another knot. Greetings from Brazil! Nice video!
thanks!
I have been fishing for many decades but never used a drop shot until last year. Boy have I been missing the boat. Caught a ton of bass on it last year and have even got a 5 lber already this year. Now I almost always have a drop shot rigged when I go fishing. But I have to agree that it is a pain to secure the bait to the rod when stowing it because the dang weight flops around and tangles into my other rods. And, I agree that they are a pain to rig because of having to tie two knots and you use up a fair amount of line each time (to account for both the hook and the weight). You can go through your expensive fluorocarbon line quicker that way.
they catch fish!
I used to use the Velcro strap’s on drop shot weights. Worked good.
good idea!
What about the “reverse” drop shot you introduced a few years ago?
It catches them!
Thanks for sharing Matt!
You bet!
Great job at Okeechobee! Glad you caught em.
thanks!
A few things I do since I drop shot a bunch out here in AZ. 1) I do a simple overhand knot for the weight... 2) I dont put on baits or weights until I'm on the water.... so after on the water I just deal with the weight issues wrapping around on itself...not a big deal I feel. 3) sometimes after catching a fish it gets all tangled...., I just re-tye or untangle.
thanks for sharing!
🍺I feel your pain🤬.I use a Gamakatsu G-Finesse drop shot hook. It has a swivel above the hook and a swivel below on the weight holder. It helps with the line twist. I don’t feel the swivels cost me many bites compared to a more stealthy drop shot presentation.🤷♂️
thanks for sharing!
Another lure that I believe is a “boat only” lure. In my opinion it takes far too long to rig up and it’s just not worth the aggravation. It’s probably 3rd in line behind A-rigs and Jerk baits as being a “boat only” baits.
hard to argue with that!
Great job! On your last tournament. Do you have any experience fishing for smallmouth near warm springs? I have a small local lake that has hot water spewing into the area where the reservoir turns into river. The whole lake is a rock pile and the primary forage are crawdads. Where the hot water enters the lake it’s pretty much sandy bottom.
i dont but i bet its good. i catch loads of smallmouth on a hot water discharge in our local river
I’ve actually been using your reverse drop shot with floating elaztech lures to much success. I would choose DS over Ned Rig… I hate fishing it.
assume glad to hear!
Make a series of the inconveniences/sucks of lures and rigs
i kinda have at this point haha. i did jerkbaits and alabama rigs as well
hey Matt! you probably are aware of this, but for keeping my drop shot secured to my rod, Cal Coast has an awesome drop shot weight keeper that works tremendous. I got it on tackle warehouse. It is a little expensive and at $10, but I’ve been using it for about four years.thx!
Ill check it out!
Agree 100% I don't like using a drop shot but will if I need to thanks for your information and tips and good fishing 🎣
thanks!
what knot do you use for connecting to the braid?
uni to uni
I guess I’m the odd man out, I just don’t see all the issues. I don’t get a lot of line twist 🤷♂️, using spinning combos with braid to flouro leader. I typically have two setup ready but rarely go through both. It’s kinda been my go to rig for the last two years. Absolutely killed it last year.
stick with what works for you!
I put a quick change clip (usually used for changing baits ) on my hook keeper to hold my drop shot weight.
sounds good!
👏 way to start the season strong Matt!
thank you!
Hey Matt , I watched another PRO , slide on a bobber stop then slide the line through the hook eye with hook facing up , slide on another bobber stop under that hook , then use a split shot on the bottom for a weight , don’t know if it works only seen it on a video
it can work but doesnt allow great hookups IMO
@@MattStefanFishing thanks for the info bro
Do you ever use a finesse Tokyo rig instead of a drop shot?
rarely
Good finish at the big O
thanks!
Amen, preach it brother Matt! I concur, if you can't tell- hate dealing with drop shots. And since it's something I've never been very good at anyway- I rarely fish them. Something I started to understand pretty quickly was that the lighter a rig is, the harder time I have with it- I need to feel that weight, some kind of resistance when I'm working a bait- or I can't tell what I'm doing, what is happening underwater, anything. I know a lot of it is my rod- you need the proper rod, and it needs to be higher end and sensitive, but a big part of it is also me being a big clumsy oaf. You need to really work with it until you develop a subtle feel for what you're doing, I think. Jerk baits are the same way- because they're so light and finnicky, and there are so many that all do different things, color is more important than usual and there are 10000 different colors, it's a headache. It's cool to see a pro feels the same way.
haha thanks for sharing!
I use the Trokar drop shot hook with the built in swivel, size 2 or 4. That stops most line twist for me.
sounds good!
I don't have issues with line twist or wrapping up but I use casting gear vertically dropping mostly like jigging. I remove the weight when I'm done and tangles don't happen hardly at all when not being used. The pinch on weights are so good just keepa few in your pocket.. Palomar knot takes like 30 sec or less to tie. I don't think I've ever had many baits come off when nose hooked but I'm dropping vertically and not really casting. The top of the mouth almost every time. Baits 3-4" .
Power shot is great too. Caught a ~40 lb flathead on 12 lb while bass fishing out of the kayak and went for a ride.
thanks for sharing!
One of the few presentations that will fall straight down, around certain types of structure it is a powerful tool. That being said I dislike a spinning rod in general, hardly ever use one. I'm usually looking for grass or the dirtiest water I can find to catch them on a baitcaster.
it is a great fish catcher!
Put a small overhand knot at the bottom of you tag end to stop loosing weights. With flouro a knot becomes a weakness but will still be strong enough to come thru most snags. A bad snag and the knot will break but not loose much tag end. In Az a DS is a staple and this is what most do.. try it
thanks for watching
Congratulations on the first tournament of the year.
thanks!
Great start to your year...congrats
thanks!
I slide on a bullet weight , bobber stop then tie a simple overhand knot at the end .
thanks for sharing!
Congrats on your Florida trip!
thanks!
How do you cast a drop shot with a 10 foot leader?
knot goes right through the rod guides like butter
I want to say the split shot when squeezed on the line it had a loop at the bottom , small loop , and this made it easier if you need to adjust on the fly , instead of re rigging a shorter or longer leader which ever one needed that day or that spot ur fishing
thanks for sharing!
Since you introduced me to those t-swivels I've been using those to tie my drop shots. Eliminates line twist, allows me to switch hooks without completely re-rigging, and depending on the lengths of the line to my weight and my hook it can be worked more like a carolina rig, tokyo rig, drop swam, or fished traditionally. Also the Cal Coast bait sacks are a great drop shot keeper replacement, just tuck everything into it.
I use the Cal Coast bait bags- I'm going to start doing this- thanks. I've been using their keepers but, it leaves the hook dangling eventually- I try to hook it into something to hold it but, it never works.
awesome! glad to hear!
Matt try the Bondy Bait Worms they are tough.
will do!
True facts. Drop shot is always a last resort for me.
stick with what you have confidence in
Your thoughts on the aquaview?
I’ve been posing this question all year. Why are plenty of pros running the AquaView but are not talking about it???
because it allows ou to see what kind of fish you are graphing and the size of fish without even needing to catch any
@@MattStefanFishing what’s your thoughts on it and is it allowed in Pro fishing.
I like this series it makes me so glad I don't fish tournaments. All of that hub bub would stress me out. I will stick to fishing for enjoyment. Like to study my surroundings and just enjoy the day. Lol. Keep up the great vids look forward every day for them.
Glad you enjoy it!
Matt I’m curious what type of MHX blank you would suggest for a BFS rod
Id try the NSj 841
Sorry Matt, I love fishing a drop shot. It's just a confidence thing for me. The flat worm is also one of my favorite baits along with the X zone finessed slammer
its a great bait! just a pain in the arse to have in the boat haha
Like Wes said, that's why I use a spin shot style hook.
awesome!
Agreed on your points. I know the drop shot is effective but I find it easier to use a jig and it's way more fun.
stick with what you have confidence in !
The DS is definitely a last resort bait for me. I have caught fish on em’ but I much prefer throwing the Ned around. Plus a Ned skips great under docks. Don’t hear about many pros skippin drop shots😂
sounds good!
Come on Matt, you know you are a closet drop shot lover! Those are some weak excuses for not loving it. No hook keeper, haha! I fished it for the first time starting in March of 2022 and, I never put it down all year. Caught probably 200+ bass on the drop shot. But, I get it. You threw that out there to get people to comment back. Good thinking! The biggest pain but not really a problem is the leader having to be retied or, changing presentations meaning having to remove the entire rig just change.
they do workj great!
I’m so glad you spoke of this. The drop shop makes me feel like a klutz. Like you said there’s always a problem in many ways. I always feel like I shouldn’t have to work this hard. Then I think how the pros don’t have a problem. Well I guess I’m not the only one including the pros.
haha! we all feel the same way!
Congrats on a very solid tournament down in Okeechobee. Come say hi in Pasco County, lol.
thanks!
Check out VMC spin shot hooks
thanks!
I feel your pain about using the Dropshot, agree with all the above but man do they work!!! I think I speak for most of your fans in saying how proud we all are of your performance on the big “O”, great job buddy and way to start your season off right!!!
thanks!
I attach my weight to a snap swivel. Easy to change and they don’t come flying off.
sounds good
And yes you were consistent in the tournament nice job good start to the year. Needed just 1 big bite
thanks!
Drop shot has been my top producer. All of the things you say are true. I would add that I have to weed through a lot of small fish to get to the bigger ones. Drop shots are small fish hammers.
thanks for sharing!
Amen. I fish for fun so I quit drop shooting a while back. Don't think I've suffered at all.
awesome!
Add the Carolina Rig to a rig that SUCKS. If I am confronted with dragging a bait through weeds all day at a snails pace, I'll either use a TRD Ned rig or find something else to do. Oh, throwing a lipless crankbait from the bank SUCKS too! LOL
haha yep!
Congratulations on a great finish at the Big O!! Great job! I must be in the minority. I love fishing a dropshot. Especially with LiveScope or in heavy current. But you’re absolutely right about losing weights on fighting fish, rocks, shell beds, mermaids, sea creatures etc.
its a great bait just annoys me
@@MattStefanFishing Absolutely! If I had a dollar for every time they ended up all over the front deck after a rough ride thru Cape Vincent to the Ducks, I’d probably be able to buy a new high-end rod LOL
@@spintowinstradic6067
Almost at 40,000! Way to go, Matt
come on 40K!
Catching a catfish on a drop shot sucks. The leader will get wrapped around the catfish, covering the line in slime. Sometimes causing your line and leader to get all tangled up where you have to cut and retie
yes it does!
Congrats on a great finish at the Big O.
thanks!
Totally agree.
thanks!
The old fairy stick! Try to avoid it like the plague😂 In it always ends up in my hand when it’s tuff😢
haha
The Ned rig is one for me. I’ve never caught a fish on a Ned rig, and hung up and broke off lots of them. I like a drop shot.
thanks for sharing!
I'd rather stop at an on the water bar for a nice malty amber than Ned rig OR dropshot. That said when I Break out the dropshot or Ned rig it's been a super difficult day and I'm usually on my way for a beer anyway. They catch fish no doubt and I do use both with reasonable amount of success. Beer is better than both hands down 😆
haha! sounds good to me!
Well --- When I do run a dropshot, what I use most often is the free rigged dropshot. "FREE SHOT" Line twist are a non issue for me. Anymore I just tie on a bell sinker of the desired weight. Most rocks will give up lead with enough pressure as it's soft. And free shot'n let's me to easily change my depth as needed.
sounds good!
I used to have a very unhealthy relationship with the drop shot and Carolina rig. i cant even remember the last time i used either one in earnest, back in November i think i tied a Carolina rig. The way the weight knocks on my poles drives me mad, when my hook is slotted in the keeper. 🤣
haha
Luckily where I fish here in Florida finesse fishing isn’t really a thing . I don’t fish drop shots, Ned rigs and shaky heads. Fishing light line is unfortunately just a recipe for break offs and another fist story and luckily it’s generally not needed. I have one spinning outfit that is always rigged with a wacky worm which comes in handy as a big swim bait or top water follow up but that is my only concession to finesse fishing 😂
thanks for watching!
I agree dropshotting sucks (although I disagree about jerkbaits sucking:). I use an unorthodox dropshot setup that I saw several years ago on UA-cam (don't remember the guy's name). I don't use a knot on my hook, I use bobber stops. I slide one bobber stop above the hook, slide the hook on and then put two more bobber stops below the hook. On the bottom I tie a loop knot that goes through the eye of the sinker (I use regular CASTING sinker rather than an overpriced dropshot sinker) which allows me to change sinkers and they don't sling off. The beauty of this set up is; when you hook a fish the hooked fish slides down to the sinker so the sinker is not twisting your line into an FG knot forcing you to have to cut the line and retie the whole damn thing. You can also change your dropper distance without retying, just slide the hook and stops where you want them. I've caught fish up to six pounds on this set up and it definitely helps make dropshotting "suck less"!
thanks for watching!
Cali Clips work great for holding the weight of the drop shot as long as you have a split grip butt to your spinning rod.
yes they do!