Author Topic: Dropshot starter kit (Read 18302 times)

Jakes · « **on:** May 30, 2011, 02:53:05 PM »

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

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2011, 02:56:01 PM »

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

Homie · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2011, 03:22:26 PM »

Jakes,

Great stuff. Whats the cast weight on the rod ?

Tommo · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2011, 03:50:27 PM »

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!

REEFMAN · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2011, 04:08:44 PM »

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!

BigG · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2011, 04:11:13 PM »

Would you guys say the ball type jig heads or nitro jig heads for general drop shot applications?

REEFMAN · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2011, 04:15:27 PM »

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?

REEFMAN · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2011, 04:20:07 PM »

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.

Homie · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2011, 04:20:32 PM »

in my HUMBLE view...

The Nitro jighead provides for a nice "darting" action for minnows as Reefs says. They just Ridiculously priced

Tommo · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2011, 06:18:13 PM »

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.

BigG · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2011, 10:28:22 AM »

Thanks for the feedback Tommo

Willie · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2011, 12:52:33 PM »

What is the difference between braid and nylon? I am using nylon on all my reels. What benefits will I get if using braid?

REEFMAN · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2011, 01:00:33 PM »

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.

Willie · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2011, 01:31:39 PM »

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?

Homie · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2011, 01:43:33 PM »

Quote from: Willie on May 31, 2011, 01:31:39 PM

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 !

Willie · « **Reply #15 on:** May 31, 2011, 01:48:52 PM »

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?

Homie · « **Reply #16 on:** May 31, 2011, 01:54:29 PM »

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 !

Willie · « **Reply #17 on:** May 31, 2011, 02:05:34 PM »

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.

Hooch · « **Reply #18 on:** June 07, 2011, 08:02:01 PM »

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?

REEFMAN · « **Reply #19 on:** June 08, 2011, 02:25:50 PM »

MIAS 4 ways has the best selection I've ever seen... opposite your restaurant!!