Drop-shotting

[Bigeye]

Read and article on this. The Japenese developed it for Bass fishing. You tie a hook right in your main line with a Polomar knot, add a weight or jig below it . You pitch it out and wiggle it on a slack line. Think it would work for walleye?

[Bob Jensen]

Although developed primarily for bass, dropshotting is effective on walleyes. I have taken numerous walleyes while dropshotting on West Lake Okoboji in NW Iowa. Fish the rig straight up and down as much as possible, wiggle it like you would a jigging spoon through the ice.

Dropshotting is a great technique for a wide variety of species especially in clear water when fishing is tough.

Give it a try.

Bob Jensen

[Steve(CO)]

There is a whole thread on drop-shotting a couple of weeks back. You might want to search for that.

[steve(IL)]

I moved to the Midwest about 12 years ago and saw fisherman doing what is now called drop shotting back then - doubtful a Japanese invention. Back on the East coast as a kid(1960's), this same set up was called a "Porgy rig" - used to catch Porgies & blowfish. It is very popular for white bass around here - they actually tie in two hooks - one above the other. Twister tails or bait - they both produce. They even use it in current situations-
casting out and reeling back - or setting the rod in a holder.

[REW]

Folks have been using this on the river for years. It is a variation of the wolf river rig.
Many foks take a weight and tie on the end of the line, then they go up a foot or so and tie on either a plain hook, a jig head, or possibly a 6 inch leader with a floating jig at the end.

Then the other variation, is to substutite the bottom weight with a heavy jig -- in those areas where two hooks are legal.
Bait up the bottom jig with a minnow or twister tail or both, and do the same with the upper hook or hook and leader.

You can often catch a double - one on the bottom jig and one on the top hook at the same time.

Another nice thing about this system, is that if you are finding that you are catching every fish on the bottom jig - you obviously have a bunch of bottom hugging fish. If, on the other hand, you catch all of the fish on the top hook your fish are running a bit higher. Then you might lift your line a bit - to keep the bottom hook a foot off the bottom and see if you can catch even more fish.

Many folks use this sytem for dead rods or set lines, simply take a heavy weight and tie on the end of the line. Take a 6-12 inch leader and tie up the line 10-15 inches.
Lob the weight out, if fishing from shore, or let drag behind the boat if drifting. The weight will keep the bait close to the bottom, but the leader, will let the bait have a bit of action. Most folks fish this rig with a tight line. i.e. the line is tight between the tip of the rod and the weight. Thus any bites will be seen as movement of the rod tip and the rod can be picked up and the fish can be reeled in.
Very effective indeed - when the bite is lite - and the fishing is tough.

Take care

REW

[BILL]

MY WIFE AND I HAVE DONE THIS FOR YEARS. WE CALLED IT DEADSTICKING. DIDN'T KNOW IT HAD A FANCY NAME, BUT IT WORKS ON EVERYTHING FROM WALLEYES TO TROUT, CRAPPIES , EVEN HAVE CAUGHT CARP DOING IT. CHECK YOUR STATE REGS. SOME STATES YOU CAN USE UP TO 3 HOOKS. IF YOUR IN CRAPPIES YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!!!!

GOOD FISHING