Climbing the latter

2585 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by mlsims, Feb 18, 2011

oldschool

Discussion Starter · Feb 16, 2007

The drop shot is considered a western presentation, here is how western bass fisherman present this technique in trees, called "climb the latter".
Rigging the drop shot weedless with the Owner down shot off set 1/0 hook about 12" above the weight. Let the drop shot weight fall though the tree branches until it hits bottom. After hitting bottom, jiggle the line against the weight for 30 seconds or so, holding the rod parallel to the water surface. Then slowly reel up until you feel the weight hit a limb, then stop and repeat the 30 seconds of jiggling. Bites are a compression or rubber band feel, just reel against the pressure and if the rod loads up sweep it upright and keep reeling.
I use 10 lb fluorocarbon for this because the line is abrasion resistant and has good sensitivity to feel whats is going on down there.
Tom

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Jared

· #2 · Feb 16, 2007

Great tip Tom. Thank you for posting it. It's greatly appreciated.

Now all I gotta do is find a lake near me deep enough to try it out in hehe In my area, deep water is 10 foot. Anything over 15 feet is like the Mariana Trench to me lol At times, I sure do miss those deep clear lakes of the north east that I grew up fishing.

Whats the biggest fish you ever pulled out of the timber on 10lb floro? Id be so scared of them wrapping me up.

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fish4funinfl

· #3 · Feb 16, 2007

With this technique, would you use some sort of weight that would cut itself and drop off ( or be pulled off easily ) to keep you from wrapping up ?

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oldschool

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 16, 2007

LakeCityYankee said:
Great tip Tom. Thank you for posting it. It's greatly appreciated.

Now all I gotta do is find a lake near me deep enough to try it out in hehe In my area, deep water is 10 foot. Anything over 15 feet is like the Mariana Trench to me lol At times, I sure do miss those deep clear lakes of the north east that I grew up fishing.

Whats the biggest fish you ever pulled out of the timber on 10lb floro? Id be so scared of them wrapping me up.

If you reel set and lift quickly without jerking, the bass tends to swim up out of the tree or cover on it's own before realizing what is going on. After that initial advantage you just need to keep them coming up and hope it doesn't turn and run back down into trouble. About 9 lbs. Keep in mind I only use 10 to 12 lb for jig fishing most of the time, sometimes 14 lb fluorocarbon. Our lakes like Casitas and Castaic are clear water with rocks, brush and trees.
Tom

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oldschool

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 16, 2007

Fish4FunInFl said:
With this technique, would you use some sort of weight that would cut itself and drop off ( or be pulled off easily ) to keep you from wrapping up ?

I use the Top Brass round weight, 1/4 oz, that clips to the line. You can tie a simple over hand knot to the end of the line if you want more retention to keep the weight from coming too easily. You hang up a few, but can shake them out most of the time and sometime get bit doing that.
Tom

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· #6 · Feb 16, 2007

Braid works well for this too. I have caught fish in real clear water using braid. Braid hides quite well in wood and I have no issues throwing braid in and around trees whatsoever. Think about it. Letting your line fall straight down the trunk of the tree means when the bass sees your worm he will not see your line as it will blend into the trunk of the tree.

Just thought I would throw that in there.

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hi steel basser

· #7 · Feb 17, 2007

I have used this presentation with shaky head worms, too. I thing the worm banging its head against the limbs looks alot like a small fish feeding on any algae growing there. Dunno for sure, but I know it triggers strikes.

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TampaCountryBoy

· #8 · Feb 17, 2007

LakeCityYankee said:
Now all I gotta do is find a lake near me deep enough to try it out in hehe In my area, deep water is 10 foot. Anything over 15 feet is like the Mariana Trench to me

Hey Jared, it has been a while since I have been back home to fish, but if I remember right as you come south out of Lake City on HWY52s to Bonneau Beach and run out of Bonneeau's landing about two miles, kinda parallel to the canal channel, there are stump fields in 30 to 35 foot water.

I bet this technique would work given the right conditions. I use to fish around this drop in the 12 to 15 foot range with crankbaits, little George and CR and did fairly well. This spot was good for me normally in late winter and early summer. The bite shut down mid summer and I would bet they went in that deep hole. Back then I never gave it a thought. If you get a chance try it and let me know.

I also believe there is some deep water over by Duck Pond and Tiny Lunds hole. They also were stumpy and had some good hydrilla. I mainly fished the lower lake and these were my two best deep water areas. There was 20 to 25 outside of S&S campground but very little cover to hold the fish but was a good deepwater spawn and staging area for the sandy flats outside of S&S

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imonembad

· #9 · Feb 17, 2007

We fish a technique on Truman Resivoir where you cause the jig to peck at the tree like a minnow or shad does when it feeds on the algae. I have found that the best way to get them up is to crank like hell once you get them started up. If you give any you're wrapped up and break off.

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