Dropshot dead
- Thread starter jaenswart
- Start date
couta-koppie
Senior Member
There is a lot of nice size kingies around. Just can't find the time to target them.
Van The Fisher Man
New member
Hi Jaenswart,
Yes,reported catches are down, Sales of drop shot gear are down aswell. I think that people have seen the value of bait and metel or hard body lures again.
Reg
Van
Yes,reported catches are down, Sales of drop shot gear are down aswell. I think that people have seen the value of bait and metel or hard body lures again.
Reg
Van
couta-koppie
Senior Member
Man, I almost had a pic of a monster king I hooked just now of short pier. I only spend 45min at the pier of which I fought the king for most of the time. It took me into the rocks after about 10min into the fight. I managed to get it out but the braided line was damaged. I loosened the drag a lot more to try and keep it from busting the line. Managed to hold it for about another 15min. unfortunately it broke the braided line while on yet another big run.
The fish is here guys, just wet your lines whenever you get the chance.
I got some stuff to sort the rest of today and whole of tomorrow. After that I might get another bash at them. Will keep you posted.
The fish is here guys, just wet your lines whenever you get the chance.
I got some stuff to sort the rest of today and whole of tomorrow. After that I might get another bash at them. Will keep you posted.
Captian Jack
New member
The hype around drop shotting is over.
Clever marketing and branding created a sort of frenzy and scramble that saw many anglers part with their hard earned money into an ever increasing pool of all kinds of gimmicks "guaranteed" to make you catch more fish.
The only winner was the manufacturers who delivered the most hype and created the biggest expectations. Foremost amongst these manufacturers and retailers was the one that claimed its product was bio-degradeable with statements like "Put more Chook on your Hook!" Of course it suited them for you to put more "Chook on your Hook", more often, the more the merrier as it brought about higher profits.
After a few years now, except in the "aquariums" of the warmer more northernly tropical waters, South African fisherman have grrown tired of endlessly tossing pieces of plastic into the waters with little reward other than little Strepies, Karanteen, and small Blacktail to show for their efforts and very costly outlay. Catching decent fish is a rareity.
South African fishermen might be gullible but stupid they are not. It soon became clear that they are being ripped off by some unscrupulous manufacturers and that claims of better catches was a fairy tale. Better catches can be had on any method of fishing as long as you have the fishing time and dedication to achieve it.
With the advent of local soft lure producers turning out as good or even better lures, South African fishers soon discovered that they can catch as many if not better on home grown locally produced lures using much better priced alternative primary tackle in the process. The fallacy of bio-degradable lures also soon popped when it transpired that it was equally difficult for fish to digest and degrade any of the plastic lures, most of all, for a fish to digest a lead jighead no matter who had manufactured it.
Lure fishing has and will always be around, but it is clear that South African fisher persons have had enough of being duped and robbed of their hard earned money. It has over time also been proven that there can never be a replacement for fishing with fresh natural bait and traditional proven metal spoons, plugs, poppers, and lures.
Just a thought on the matter!
Clever marketing and branding created a sort of frenzy and scramble that saw many anglers part with their hard earned money into an ever increasing pool of all kinds of gimmicks "guaranteed" to make you catch more fish.
The only winner was the manufacturers who delivered the most hype and created the biggest expectations. Foremost amongst these manufacturers and retailers was the one that claimed its product was bio-degradeable with statements like "Put more Chook on your Hook!" Of course it suited them for you to put more "Chook on your Hook", more often, the more the merrier as it brought about higher profits.
After a few years now, except in the "aquariums" of the warmer more northernly tropical waters, South African fisherman have grrown tired of endlessly tossing pieces of plastic into the waters with little reward other than little Strepies, Karanteen, and small Blacktail to show for their efforts and very costly outlay. Catching decent fish is a rareity.
South African fishermen might be gullible but stupid they are not. It soon became clear that they are being ripped off by some unscrupulous manufacturers and that claims of better catches was a fairy tale. Better catches can be had on any method of fishing as long as you have the fishing time and dedication to achieve it.
With the advent of local soft lure producers turning out as good or even better lures, South African fishers soon discovered that they can catch as many if not better on home grown locally produced lures using much better priced alternative primary tackle in the process. The fallacy of bio-degradable lures also soon popped when it transpired that it was equally difficult for fish to digest and degrade any of the plastic lures, most of all, for a fish to digest a lead jighead no matter who had manufactured it.
Lure fishing has and will always be around, but it is clear that South African fisher persons have had enough of being duped and robbed of their hard earned money. It has over time also been proven that there can never be a replacement for fishing with fresh natural bait and traditional proven metal spoons, plugs, poppers, and lures.
Just a thought on the matter!
I disagree that it's over.
Just remember that dropshot is basically just a newfangled term for soft plastics. People have been fishing plastics for years before they were made popular by shows like ESA.
Although the hype around soft plastics has died down somewhat it still gives the average newcomer to light tackle spinning a perfect entry point. Not all newbies can cast heavier rods and multiplier reels when fishing with bait and when it comes to impatient youngsters it keeps them casting and retrieving to supress the boredom.
Wherever i go i still see plenty of guys and girls, old and young throwing plastics. Also remember that plastics are considerably cheaper than buying raps, spoons, etc and this appeals to the masses. I agree that there has been planty marketing hype and i avoid expensive imported products like the plague but i think "dropshot" is still very much alive.
2c
Just remember that dropshot is basically just a newfangled term for soft plastics. People have been fishing plastics for years before they were made popular by shows like ESA.
Although the hype around soft plastics has died down somewhat it still gives the average newcomer to light tackle spinning a perfect entry point. Not all newbies can cast heavier rods and multiplier reels when fishing with bait and when it comes to impatient youngsters it keeps them casting and retrieving to supress the boredom.
Wherever i go i still see plenty of guys and girls, old and young throwing plastics. Also remember that plastics are considerably cheaper than buying raps, spoons, etc and this appeals to the masses. I agree that there has been planty marketing hype and i avoid expensive imported products like the plague but i think "dropshot" is still very much alive.
2c
A good friend of mine owns and runs a tackle store and we often have a little giggle to ourselves. If somewhere it says "Drop Shot" in the product code or description it was a sure seller a short time back. Admittedly there are some brilliantly designed and produced rods and for that I'm grateful as they serve a purpose when it comes to some of my Bass fishing with plastics.
The one locally produced angling program aired (which in my opinion is all about woohooing and laughing like idiots) spends a load of cash, at exotic locations where fish are in abundance. That is like fishing in an aquarium. The average fisherperson has access to the beach or rocks and not at an atoll/wreck/reef 20 km offshore.
We all watch our pennies and the thought of spending R 100 for a few biodegradable plastics is exorbitant. The average Joe would in my opinion spend his / her cash on some reusable lures, spoons or even good quality fresh bait.
My opinion is it will still draw cash but will not enjoy anywhere near the success it at first showed signs of.
The one locally produced angling program aired (which in my opinion is all about woohooing and laughing like idiots) spends a load of cash, at exotic locations where fish are in abundance. That is like fishing in an aquarium. The average fisherperson has access to the beach or rocks and not at an atoll/wreck/reef 20 km offshore.
We all watch our pennies and the thought of spending R 100 for a few biodegradable plastics is exorbitant. The average Joe would in my opinion spend his / her cash on some reusable lures, spoons or even good quality fresh bait.
My opinion is it will still draw cash but will not enjoy anywhere near the success it at first showed signs of.
WalkersKiller
Senior Member
I would not like to say its dead, but it has definitely become less popular... It is nowhere like what it used to be and I dont know how its going to recover!
benniejordaan
Sealiner
Drop shot is not dead and trust me jigging won't die either. The thing is you can only catch so many guppies till you get bored but to target bigger fish you need to fish exotic destinations. Durban for example is just so fished out that it is difficult to get a decent fish on bait let alone a piece of plastic.
It isn't easy catching fish on plastic but I put it down to an art form. Everyone will try it but only a hand full will stick to it.
Just my 2c
It isn't easy catching fish on plastic but I put it down to an art form. Everyone will try it but only a hand full will stick to it.
Just my 2c
couta-koppie
Senior Member
Van The Fisher Man
New member
Hi Guys,
I know that the fishing has been a bit difficult this season, but if all Drop Shot can produce is guilamintjies and squid, since we last covered this topic. I think it's safe to say that Drop Shot is dead. Sad but true.
RIP
Van
I know that the fishing has been a bit difficult this season, but if all Drop Shot can produce is guilamintjies and squid, since we last covered this topic. I think it's safe to say that Drop Shot is dead. Sad but true.
RIP
Van
Captian Jack
New member
Van, sorry I cant agree with you.
Dropshotting cant be dead or busy dying, judging by the activity on the dropshotting thread over this now almost past summer (dropshotting high season), clearly at least Couta Koppie is still practising the art.
But it is remarkable the number of reports and pics posted of dropshot successes this past summer. Dont think there were any.
Dropshotting is a hobby at best, or something to keep the kids busy with, like jukskei.
So who wants to catch Strepies and Karanteen when you can throw and slide and catch real fish. After endless hours of fruitless time (and money) wasting think I have had my fair share of flipping and being shagged.
Dropshotting cant be dead or busy dying, judging by the activity on the dropshotting thread over this now almost past summer (dropshotting high season), clearly at least Couta Koppie is still practising the art.
But it is remarkable the number of reports and pics posted of dropshot successes this past summer. Dont think there were any.
Dropshotting is a hobby at best, or something to keep the kids busy with, like jukskei.
So who wants to catch Strepies and Karanteen when you can throw and slide and catch real fish. After endless hours of fruitless time (and money) wasting think I have had my fair share of flipping and being shagged.
Van The Fisher Man wrote:
Could also be a economic thing, dropshot gear is by no way cheap!!