The drop shot is an exceptional technique that I use all year round. It is a setup that can get the fish to bite when other techniques can’t get the job done. I highly suggest this technique to anyone just getting into bass fishing because it is easy to use and gets bites. It may be a little confusing to rig up at first, but after a few tries, it is easy to get the hang of it.
How to rig it:
To rig up a drop shot, you tie on your hook and weight so that the weight is below the hook on your line. This is opposite to most other techniques. I start by tying my hook using a palomar knot, making sure to leave a long tag end. I then hook my weight on the tag end. The distance from the hook to the weight can vary, but I typically keep it around 8-12 inches. I like to use two different style hooks, depending on the situation. If my main focus is smallmouth, and I am fishing really clear water with no kind of wooded cover, then I like to use a number 1 drop shot hook and nose hook the bait. This allows me to use smaller sized baits and have better hookup ratios. Some of my favorite baits to use on this specific rig are listed below:
The other way I like to fish a drop shot is by using a 1/0 EWG hook so I can hook the bait weedless and use larger baits. I honestly use this setup the most because around home I am mostly fishing for largemouth near brush piles and lay-downs. Being able to hook the bait weedless really helps me to fish around structure and cover more without worry about getting hung up all the time. Some baits I like to use are listed below:
- Rods
- Line
- Hooks
- Weights
