Drop Shotting for Trophy Panfish

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Local Pond

As summer wears on and the shoreline activity moves deeper we have been using the drop-shot method for catching big post-spawn bluegills and hybrid sunfish with live night crawlers and mealworms . We use a 1/4 oz sinker at the bottom and tie a #4 Aberdeen wire hook about 30 inches above it and 'stroll' the rig through deeper weed areas for these deeper giants. My son and I highlighted this tactic at a Bass Pro seminar back in March, and now is the time to utilize it.

Our fish pictured here ran from 1 1/4 pounds to 1 pound 14 ounces and measured from 10 3/4 to 12 1/2 inches. My son Matt and I got them at a central Maryland pond and released these trophies to get bigger. It was the first time I have ever caught three sunfish in a single outing that exceeded the 12 inch mark.