Simple and versatile, a drop shot is easy to fish and will hook walleye relating to the bottom of lakes, rivers and reservoirs. The rig is a reliable finesse presentation for fussy ‘eyes, but it does more. A big bait on a drop shot appeals to aggressive fish.
How do you drop a shot walleye with ice?
What hook should I use for a drop shot?
The size 2 is the most commonly used hook for the drop shot technique.
What’s the best way to catch walleye ice fishing?
- Map Out 3-4 Key Locations for Mobility.
- Drill 10-15 Holes Per Location.
- Ice Fishing for Walleye at Night.
- Silver Spoons & Lures in Clear Water.
- Use Bright Colors in Stained Water.
- Two Pole Approach in Shanties.
- On Finicky Bites Default to Live Bait.
How do you set up a drop shot rig for walleye?
What is drop shot rig?
A drop shot rig consists of line tied to a hook with a trailing leader that comes to an end with a weight so that the weight is at the bottom and the hook and bait are above it.
What size hook is best for walleye?
Walleye are not the biggest fish. However, they are also not the smallest. This is the reason why medium-size fishing hooks (sizes 2 and 3) are the perfect hooks for them.
What is the best drop shot weight?
“Use the lightest weight you possibly can, and still be able feel your drop shot,” says Lee. “But as a rule of thumb, if you’re fishing less than 15-feet deep, try starting with a 1/4 –ounce weight, and if you’re fishing those deep zones like 25 or 30 feet, it’s probably best to use a 3/8-ounce in most situations.”
How do you do the drop shot technique?
Can you use any hook for drop shot?
Hooks. Hooks are not a place to skimp on cost; it is important to use a quality hook. I prefer Gamakatsu, but there are plenty of other manufacturers that make quality hooks. I tend to go a little smaller in hook size than some drop-shotters, preferring a size 1 or 2 octopus-style or split-shot/drop-shot hook.
Can you use circle hooks for drop shot?
Anglers have been using circle hooks in some soft plastic applications and have been doing so for some time. Those applications include drop shot fishing, wacky rigging, and when fishing weighless floating worms.
How long should my drop shot leader be?
“The leader is an important part of the drop-shot and that length can change depending on different variables,” Martens detailed. “If the water is really dirty, then I go with the shortest leaders I use, around 1 to 2 inches. In clear water where the visibility is around 20 to 30 feet, I go with 2- or 3-foot leaders.
What depth should I ice fish for walleye?
The depth at which to ice fish for walleye depends on the time of day, and whether it’s early, late, or mid winter. At midwinter they are often found in 30-40 ft. deep water around noon, while towards evening they move into more shallow water of about 10-25 feet to feed on schooling bait fish during the night .
What colors do walleye see best?
Walleyes do have color vision that peaks in the orange-red-green portions of the spectrum. They see colors on both sides of each peak, but sensitivity declines. So they see wavelengths shorter than green and longer than orange-red, but not well. Overall, they see orange and red well, followed green and yellow.
What depth are walleye at in winter?
Throughout a winter’s day, the fish will range in depth from 20 to 50 feet. Walleyes in the tailraces tend to hug the bottom, so you should select lures that reach the river’s floor in a hurry.
Can you drop shot with live bait?
It’s a multispecies rig that works in various water types. This rig can be fished in very shallow water down to very great depths. The drop-shot rig, in its truest form, is a finesse rig that requires an angler to give action to the bait. Various baits may be used on the drop-shot from live baits to artificial lures.
How do you fish a drop shot rig from shore?
When should you throw a drop shot?
Can you use monofilament for drop shot?
While heavier dropshots can be fished on baitcasting equipment (sometimes called powershotting), the dropshot is typically fished on a medium or medium light action spinning rod. Low visiblity line should be used – monofilament, fluorocarbon, or copolymer (flourocarbon coated monofilament).
What pound test line should I use for walleye?
The best fishing line for walleye is 8-12 pound test fluorocarbon. The fluorocarbon is effectively invisible underwater and does not stretch, making it easy to feel bites. The sensitivity also makes it an incredibly adaptable line and able to use in most scenarios.
What color lures do walleye like?
The data suggested walleye preferred predominately white lures in clear water conditions, yellow or gold lures in sedimentary turbid conditions and black lures in algae bloom conditions.
What bait is best for walleye?
Live bait can be highly successful for walleye, which usually involves still fishing, drifting, or trolling the bait. A bottom-bouncing rig or slip sinker is effective for drawing the walleye’s attention in clear water. The best choices of live bait include leeches, minnows, and nightcrawlers.
How do you rig a drop shot weight?
Can I use octopus hooks for drop shot?
The ZoneLoc Octopus Drop Shot Hook is perfect for any type of finesse application, including drop shot, split shot, or wacky rigs.
What is an octopus hook?
Octopus hooks are short-shank hooks that feature a round shank and bend, but it’s not as dramatic as circle hooks. Octopus hooks are often used for bait fishing when minimal hook weight and size is essential for a natural presentation.