Drop Shotting for Perch

Anyone tried the method?

Bit of an explanation here:

http://www.harrissportsmail.com/News.aspx?NewsID=23

Tried it occasionally with varied results and I'm not that enamoured with it.

I dare say if you were fishing off a pontoon with perch under it or off a boat, it might work well but it certainly isn't something I'd do from the bank.

The good thing is you can buy packets of small grubs for next to nothing or tackle shops often have buckets of small grubs selling for 10-20p each.

i have bought myself a few very cheap grubs and small rubber shads to give it a go with - some of the canals i fish have a lot of bridges and stonework i can see some big stripeys hanging about around that i intend to try for

If you can see them, use a lobworm under a float and twitch it back slowly.

Andy Macfarlane wrote:If you can see them, use a lobworm under a float and twitch it back slowly.

I know what you are saying mate - i do that at times...but it would kind of defy the point of me wanting to try the drop shot method

True...lol...

I'm also interested in trying this method.

Is it really as easy as it looks?

Lefty wrote:I'm also interested in trying this method.

Is it really as easy as it looks?

yes mate it really is that easy - quite a bit of skill in imparting the right action into the worm/shad etc, but set-up wise its so simple...

Best used off platforms/steep banking/boats for obvious reasons

Lefty wrote:I'm also interested in trying this method.

Is it really as easy as it looks?

Yes, very easy and no specialised tackle required. The one thing I'd say improves the setup, is a little polyball on the hook, before you put the worm on. It just gives the worm a bit more of a natural action, rather than just rising and falling.

Also try to just jig the worm or worms (you can fish 3-4 about 18" apart) and not the weight.

Me thinks I'll be investing in some new lures then

I was thinking of giving this method a try for perch on my local canal. I was wondering about using heavy braid or braid/wire mix instead of mono as there are plenty of pike in this stretch and this may give me a chance of landing them? Any thoughts guys?

Regards
J

On waters with pike i'll be using a sinking braid (15lb) tied to a wire trace made of this stuff - its almost as clear as mono and you can knot it which is important for the all important palomar knot for the hook to stick out at the right angle:

http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=16703

On waters with no pike I intend to use 6lb flourocarbon straight through.

althought the name drop shot might be new the method is not.
i have been using the "drop shot method" for at least 10 years with just grubs on a rig like a paternoster, is great on fast moving rivers when fished 20ft or so behind the boat just put the rod in the holder and as you drift down river your lure follows the bottom even the slightest of rocking motion on the boat gives your grub action.
i would fish my setup about 1/2ft above the vegetation layer it can lead to snags but its worth it ive had many big pike using this method with spring dawgs as well as the odd big perch on grubs.
hope this helps
lee.