drop shot rig for walleye

[Catfish]

Have been reading about the bass guys using the drop shot method and it being the thing for bass. Has anyone ever used this technique on a walleye. Would like to hear everyones comments on the subject thanks. Fishy

[SeaCat]

I have heard that it works for many species, including walleye.

Be aware though that it is illegal in Michigan.

Due to the salmon snagging problems of the 1970's, hooks/lures tied to the line with a weight suspended below are illegal. Any lure with a suspended weight, must be off a dropper line.

Ryan

[Weyes1]

Now let me get this right. Any line with the weight below the hook or lure is illegal? What about bottom bouncers? Perch rigs? I think there are more variables than to say that.
I found this on the Mi. DNR Site 2001 regs. as lawful fishing methods.

Hook and line fishing: Fish so taken must be hooked in the mouth. Fish not hooked in the mouth must be returned to the water.
No more than two lines per person (including tip-ups) nor more than four hooks or baits may be used. Except: on Lake Michigan,
Lake Huron, Lake Superior and the St. Marys River, those persons in the act of trolling while targeting trout/salmon may use 3 rods/lines and attach no more than six hooks total on all lines.

*All hooks attached to an artificial bait or "night crawler harness" are counted as one hook. Hooks must be baited or attached to an artificial bait. You may use any number of hooks on one line for taking smelt in recognized smelt waters. Tip-ups and similar devices used for ice fishing must show the angler's name and address. All lines must be under immediate control. Hook size regulations
exist on certain streams click here for more information.

I got this off the unlawful methods page.

You May NOT - Have a weight rigidly attached to a multi-pointed hook; or suspended from a multi-point hook; or suspended below any hook unless the hook is on a dropper line (e.g. a leader) that is at least 3" long.

I think that the drop shot method would work but the hook would have to be on a 3" or longer leader. I can't see that this would affect the method of drop shotting and would probably work well.
It's worth a try.

Weyes1
Kevin Clark
weyes1@wamego.net

[SUPERTROLLER]

You are 100% correct about the 3" dropper. Bottom bouncers are legal because the leader trails below/behind the weight. Hopes this answers any questions.

[SeaCat]

Kevin, you do have it right. :-) It is that item on the unlawful fishing methods that makes true drop shotting illegal here in Michigan.

What I have heard is that if the lure is not directly on the main line when drop shotting, the techniques' effectiveness is significantly reduced. The action imparted from the rod tip is not imparted nearly as well when the lure is on a dropper.

On perch rigs, bottom bouncers... the weight is below the lure but a leader or spreader puts the actual hook 3" or more off the main line.

Having seen some of the "creativity" the salmon snaggers have come up with, this regulation really does have a good purpose. The problem it really tries to address is where a big weight would be put on the end of the line with a couple of trebble hooks directly tied to the main line up 3-4' above the weight. The line would then be cast into the river and as an upstream bound salmon would swim into it with their open mouth catching in the line above either hook. As the salmon continues upstream, the hook is pulled into its mouth and you have a hooked (I should say snagged) salmon. Wide gap hooks have also been outlawed on the rivers to help curb this technique. Some of these "anglers" have even put a strand of yarn on the hook trying to pass it off as a "fly". The fish is even hooked near the mouth! My guess is the "anglers" in the Maumee have devised similar tactics.

Ryan