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General Angling Topics => Dropshot fishing => Topic started by: Jakes on May 30, 2011, 02:53:05 PM
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Hi all,
With our Vidal trip coming up in October one of the facets that I want to try that I haven't before is dropshot. What would you guys recommend as a good starter kit?
I have found a starter kit at one if the local tackle shops for R800 that includes the following:
1.) 8ft Shimano Vengeance rod
2.) Shimano Sienna 3000 reel
3.) Reel filled with 300 yards of 20lb Suffix performance braid.
What do u think of this as a starter combo?
Jakes
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Jakes thats perfect buddy, IMO I would try get a 7 foot rod but the 8 foot should work lekker! That "start up kit" is better than my dropshot kit :lolo:
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Jakes,
Great stuff. Whats the cast weight on the rod ?
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That is a great price for a pretty decent outfit, I would say go for it! Get yourself some 30lb leader, a selection of 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ounce jig heads and a selection of plastics 3",4" and 5" jerk shad/minnow type and you should be set for Vidal!
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Setup looks great for that price!
Just to add to this...
When you're buying Jig heads, look for ones with the smallest possible hooks. Most of the commercially available Jig heads have hooks that are way too big.
Owner make some beaut 1/4oz jigs with #6 and #8 hooks (Beans Head). Ratfink also. These are only available at MIAS 4Ways, hardly any other store stocks them, not even Woodmead. Small hooks catch all fish, big hooks catch few...
Also compulsory is 2 packts of Gulp Camo worm... it catches all types, even Shad!
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Would you guys say the ball type jig heads or nitro jig heads for general drop shot applications?
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Reckon Nitro Jigheads work better for minnows and lures that need to swim faster, quicker retrieve?... balls for bumping along the floor... But I'd be interested to hear what Tommo thinks?
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Jakes... was just looking at your braid... if possible, go even smaller braid. 6-12lb? But if it all comes together as a package, it's fine. Guys often make the mistake of going too large on the braid - 30lb is def too big, but you'd get away with 20lb.
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in my HUMBLE view...
The Nitro jighead provides for a nice "darting" action for minnows as Reefs says. They just Ridiculously priced
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The nitro jig heads are pretty pricey, the reason for this is the hooks are Owner hooks, which are expensive. I am a big believer in going for quality hooks, the cheaper the jighead, the cheaper the hook. When fishing with braid there is massive strain on your hook, due to the lack of stretch, this is where good quality hooks pay off. Try and check the hook quality in the store before buying. Hooks that bend easily are not worth using, as you put in too much work spinning to lose a fish during the fight due to an inferior hook. The other important thing to look out for when purchasing jig heads is the keeper system. Some just have a little collar, or a small barb to hold the plastic on, others have too big a barb for certain plastics, or the ribbed collar can be too thick for certain softbaits. Some of these are very frustrating, and you end up losing plastics which gets expensive. Once a plastic has come off it needs to be trimmed to get it back on and may not swim as well as before.
I like to carry a selection of each jig weight, with different size hooks for each weight, as well as different shape jig heads. Jig heads with a flat bottom are ideal for bouncing off the sea bed, as they tend not to fall over so easily and snag up. The Nitro Jighead shape is nice and compact, and an excellent all round shape, with little resistance in the water. It can be used for slow bouncing, as well as quick midwater jigging. The sled shaped nose also helps to keep it from snagging up easily on bottom structure.
Ball shaped jig heads are okay all round, but do have more water resistance for quick jigging, and fall over immediately on touching the bottom. They are generally cheaper than the more intricate jig head shapes.
There are some well priced jig heads out there, that are still good quality, it is worth checking them out carefully in the store.
In some applications you will want a large hook on your jig head, particularly offshore fishing. At other times a smaller hook is good. Particularly when scratching around for species with something like camo worm or small shrimp imitations. It pays to get a selection of diddrent shapes and sizes for different applications.
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Thanks for the feedback Tommo :win:
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What is the difference between braid and nylon? I am using nylon on all my reels. What benefits will I get if using braid?
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Braid is on average 1/3 of the diameter of the same breaking strain as nylon. It enables you to get much more line on a spool than ordinary mono. It also has no stretch, so the feel of it is "direct". You can feel every bump, knock and movement on the end of your line. Being much thinner, you can cast it much further. One downside to braid is that it has poor abrasion resistance compared to mono, so leaders are still very important.
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Thanks reefz! Next question, I tie a 3 way swivel on at the end of my line then from one end is the sinker and the other the hook. Will I tie the braid to the swivel and then follow the same procedure?
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Thanks reefz! Next question, I tie a 3 way swivel on at the end of my line then from one end is the sinker and the other the hook. Will I tie the braid to the swivel and then follow the same procedure?
Hey Willie,
This is for dropshot fishing.
I use braid tied to a leader of 1.5m or so with a 7turn Uni to double fig 8. The leader is short so that it sits outside the eyes to eliminate snagging.
To this i tie a small power swivel and attach a split ring.
Now to change lures/jigheads etc, its much easier, and you dont have to retie a leader after 5 lure changes. Also, the swivel helps with Line twist.
For bait fishing
Braid to a small 3way swivel, and hook-snoot on one end with sinker on the other. I usually fish this in small gullies etc, for baitfish, so not too worried about abrasion, as its often a 10m cast.
Another trace to use is the christmas tree trace !
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Thanks Homie now will I do the same with R&S as what you explained with the bait fishing or must I tie something between the braid and the swivel?
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What length rod for RnS Willie, and most important, what size eyes?
Ideally, you want to have a leader, but the spinning rods eyes are tiny !
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Homie I will measure the eyes tonight but it is a 14ft Black Eagle 3 piece rod and I use a Quantum surge SU70F spining reel.
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Ok chaps, here I my thought. After many 1/8oz jigs and finesse minows ect, I have only cought one halfbeak in Moz!!! So I'm canning this idea, moving up to 2oz/ 3oz jigheads, 6 to 8 inch plastics to go after the bigger fish. Question now is, were to get the jigheads?
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MIAS 4 ways has the best selection I've ever seen... opposite your restaurant!! duh
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Here is the new Beans Jighead from Owner. Shaped like a bean, it stops the bait from ever falling over when it touches the floor. Keeps it looking realistic.
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Ok chaps, here I my thought. After many 1/8oz jigs and finesse minows ect, I have only cought one halfbeak in Moz!!! So I'm canning this idea, moving up to 2oz/ 3oz jigheads, 6 to 8 inch plastics to go after the bigger fish. Question now is, were to get the jigheads?
Send me your postal addy, I'll send you some 3 Oz jig heads.
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Here is the new Beans Jighead from Owner. Shaped like a bean, it stops the bait from ever falling over when it touches the floor. Keeps it looking realistic.
Eish Reefz!!! You need to pull many teeth to get enough beans to buy those beans!!!!The 1/16 oz cost R60 for 5....R12 each...eina!!!! But I agree they are the best - especaily in the gullies for blacktails
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Gees Bennie..i think you can get Hooked on that fish dish.. :lolo:
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Send me your postal addy, I'll send you some 3 Oz jig heads.
Bennie,
I'd like to buy some of those jigheads from you. Let me know how much, you may still have my postal address from when I bought the Oceanos 4500 from you last year.
Jakes
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That rod is bullet proof man , i caught massive snoek recently here in Cape Town with a excellor 3000 and a 8 ft vengence from the boat
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OK, to finalise this discussion we starter in June:
I got the rod and reel and loaded it with 15lb Suffix performance braid and now I still need to get the jigheads and plastics. So the question is, where is the best place with the best prices to go and stock up around Pta/Jhb and what do I need to get? For jigheads I was thinking of getting 1 packet each of 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1oz Nitro jigheads. Do I need to look at any other make or will these be fine?
For plastics, do I need to buy the more expensive Berkley products? What about the local McCarthy products and what variety should I get? I was thinking of getting the following:
1.) 1 x or 2 x packet/s Berkeley Camo worm
2.) 1 x packet squid (not sure about the size)
3.) Please recommend 2 or 3 others that are essential.
Jakes
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Jakes what I know about dropshot is dangerous but what I would do is get the bucket of camo worm then chuck all your other berkley lures in there. Macarthy is an excellent product especially the gold fish colour. I'd get 3 or 4 packets of macarthy lures and a couple of berkley gulp products. Just try for a balance between bright and dark colours
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Jakes McCarthy have a superb range of plastics... You cant go wrong the worm immitations, camo, sand, etc... The Gulp Maggots nare deadly, MIAs woodmead has them... I have never had any success with the minnows and squids, look at gtetting the shrimp (They look like sand prawn immitations) and Im sure they are deadly a better option than nthe squid I think :-)
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Jakes,
Dont waste moola on the crab and squids.
Rather get more worm and minnows.
Mcarthy,
Goldfish, Chartreuse, and pearl.. in 3; 4 and 5 inch !
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LOL... What WK said !
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What is the average price of berkley gulp packets because the other day I got a packet of chartreuse pepper neon 5 or 4 inch minnows for like R60 I remember them being more expensive?
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What is the average price of berkley gulp packets because the other day I got a packet of chartreuse pepper neon 5 or 4 inch minnows for like R60 I remember them being more expensive?
Yesterday was at Mias, prices varied between 75 and 150 bucks so you got a good deal bru!
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What is the average price of berkley gulp packets because the other day I got a packet of chartreuse pepper neon 5 or 4 inch minnows for like R60 I remember them being more expensive?
Where did u get it at that price? I want two packets as well ... :pray:
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Oh, and another question, how long does those buckets last with the juicies in? Meaning if the fish don't chow them, how long will it last being stored in a cool dark place like in the garage?
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Oh, and another question, how long does those buckets last with the juicies in? Meaning if the fish don't chow them, how long will it last being stored in a cool dark place like in the garage?
I know my 1 packet of camo worm lasted a year and a half with flavour so those buckets should last a good few years!!!!!
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Jakes I got them at Mias Benoni. If you like I can pick up some packets of you like just tell me which colours and Ill give them to you at the social.
Those packets once open tend not to seal very well leaving a very smelly tackle bag and dried out worms.
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Hi Jakes, dont waste much money on all these fads. Cammo worm (for bottom/reef grazers) and (med) Jerk Shads if you see the sprats are cooking.
Will be bringing a variety you welcome to try/use all till you decide if its for you and you see what works.
Save as much money as possible for beer!!!!
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Hi Jakes, dont waste much money on all these fads. Cammo worm (for bottom/reef grazers) and (med) Jerk Shads if you see the sprats are cooking.
Will be bringing a variety you welcome to try/use all till you decide if its for you and you see what works.
Save as much money as possible for beer - Gareth drinks a lot !!!!
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:lolo: :lolo: :frid
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Hi Jakes, dont waste much money on all these fads. Cammo worm (for bottom/reef grazers) and (med) Jerk Shads if you see the sprats are cooking.
Will be bringing a variety you welcome to try/use all till you decide if its for you and you see what works.
Save as much money as possible for beer!!!!
:hehe: :hehe: :hehe: ... I like the way you think Clive ... w;k
I'll just get 1 or 3 packets with some jigheads then ... :tkx: , :udman:
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So off I went to Mias in Fourways earlier today to stock-up on some drop shot lures and jigheads and GOEIE swr swr swr swr was I in for a surprise. Here's what I wanted to buy but the costs just seemed waaayyyyyy to expensive, were they trying to rip me off or is this really what the stuff costs:
1/4 oz Nitro Jigheads x 1 = R97.50
1/2 oz Nitro Jigheads x 1 = R97.50
3/4 oz Nitro Jigheads x 1 = R97.50
1 oz Nitro Jigheads x 1 = R115.00
Tub of 2" Berkeley Camo worm x 1 = R370.00
Packet of 4" Berkeley Camo worm x 1 = R140.00
Packet of 5" Berkeley Blood worm x 1 = R140.00
Packet of 2" or 3" Berkeley shrimp x 1 = R140.00
A whopping total of almost R1200 for an entry level ... :shk ... that is almost double what I paid for my new rod, reel and braid ... :shk
Are these prices realistic? Any recommendation on where else to go and look?
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Jakes that does seem a bit of a rip! The buckets in Benoni were about R250. As for the jigheads have a look at the mustad range they are much cheaper
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Jakes, het jou 'n aanbod gemaak.
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Jakes, het jou 'n aanbod gemaak.
Hi Clive,
Ek weet en ek waardeer dit, ek wou net nie met lee hande daar aankom nie. Het gedog ek kon 1 of 2 goedjies bygekoop het maar het nie besef hoe blerrie duur dit is nie. Ek dink ek sal maar dat jy en Deon my die ropes wys en dan ek so stukkie vir stukkie goed bykoop.
Jaco