Possibly one of the most effective bass fishing techniques is the drop shot. Learning the best way to fish a drop shot is important when taking a finesse fishing approach. Below, we have laid out a quick, easy-to-read guide to help improve your drop shot fishing skills.
1. Drop Shot Rig
Give the fish a natural and neat presentation.
- There is a variety of fishing knots that anglers use when tying a drop shot. The Palomar knot is a very popular option, but it may not keep the hook as straight out to the side as you would like. Here is a video for a quick and easy drop shot knot.
- Start with a leader length between 12 and 18 inches and adjust from there based on where you notice fish are holding. A drop shot Leader length is the distance between the hook and sinker.
- Select the weight based on depth and current. Use a cylinder weight for areas with weeds to prevent hangups and snags. Use a circular drop shot weight for heavy currents and bottoms without vegetation.
2. Shake and Deadstick Presentation
The best way to fish a drop shot is to keep the weight on the bottom while the bait above moves.
- Cast and give it time for everything to sink. Make sure you have some slack in your line.
- Keeping your rod tip still, make the line dance to allow the bait to move naturally.
- After a few seconds of making the bait dance, stop and make the bait still. This is known as deadsticking. A lot of your bites will come at this time.
3. Ideal Drop Shot Baits
There are many drop shot baits on the market, but many of them are loaded down with salt, which causes them to have a floppy presentation. Here are some drop shot baits that provide a natural and straight out to the side presentation.
- The Dagger: It’s a fierce 4” bait that is known for its natural appearance with a slim and ribbed body. The tail has a unique shape that gives just the right amount of movement, while staying natural.
- The Dart: This drop shot bait comes in at 4” with a shape of a small baitfish. Many anglers claim they can work it slow and fast to mimic the surrounding forage.
- Drop Kick: 4.1” in length, a flat bottom for buoyancy, and a tail that is great for rapidly whipping it to get the attention of those aggressive fish.
- Spear Tail Worm: This is a longer-than-usual drop shot bait, but still holds a slender body shape. The overall length is 5.1 inches, and it looks very natural while nose-hooked on a drop shot. This bait is an excellent size for bigger fish.
4. Additional Fishing Scenarios & Adjustments
Sharpen your skills with the best way to fish a drop shot with these additional drop shot fishing tips.
- Adjust your leader based on the fish’s mood and location. Use a shorter leader, about 6 to 10 inches, if bass are held tight to the bottom or cold fronts have made them lethargic. Use a longer leader, 18 to 24 inches, if fish are suspended or if weeds have grown taller off the bottom.
- Make long casts to cover water. This is a finesse technique, and each cast can take as long as a dozen when power fishing.
- The hookset is where many anglers fail to fish a drop shot effectively. When you feel pressure or a bite, do not yank like you usually would when setting the hook. Instead, ease into it by quickly reeling and sweeping the rod tip upward. This allows the hook to properly puncture the fish’s mouth without pulling it out.
- Set the drag accordingly since you’re using light line. Each fish weighs and fights differently, so be mindful that a quality drag system on a spinning reel is key, but so is your ability to know when to loosen and tighten. Play the fish to wear them out rather than trying to muscle them in, and keep the rod tip up during the process.
