We’re smack dab in the middle of summer, it’s hot as all hell right now, water temperatures around the country are approaching yearly peaks, and bites can be pretty tough to come by. Especially good ones. Even up here in Wisconsin we’re seeing 80s and 90s temps all week, which means water temps will creep up into the 80s in most lakes around the state… maybe even 90 in some shallow ponds.
Long story short… it can be hard to catch good bass in these conditions. But one rig I can always count on is the drop shot rig. Fishing a drop shot rig for bass is one of the most effective finesse techniques out there. You can fish it shallow around docks, deep on structure, and everywhere in between, but during the summer when fish are out in deeper water, it becomes my go-to technique for both largemouth and smallmouth.
Here’s my full breakdown of how to do it right:
The Rig Setup
Of course, the first step to fishing any technique is to find the right gear to fish it effectively. It’s a finesse technique so we’re talking spinning rod, braid to fluorocarbon leader, finesse hook and soft plastic. As far as the rod goes, you want something super sensitive to detect those subtle bites. If there was ever a place to spend money on a rod, a drop shot rod is one of them. Save money on your reaction bait rods, spend on your sensitive technique rods.
Spinning Rod
I like 6’10” medium light, but you can go up to a much longer rod if you like. My personal favorite is a Fenwick World Class 6′ 10″ Medium Light Extra Fast (you can fit your pencil weight into the handle perfectly), but I’ll link a few options below at different price points:
Reel
You’re going to want a spinning reel in the 2500 to 3000 size range with a smooth drag, and a bit of speed. If you’re fishing deep drop shots and want to pick up line quickly, the Abu Garcia Revo Rocket is the way to go… it’s lightning fast making you super efficient out on the water.
Abu Garcia Revo Rocket at Tackle Warehouse – $229.95
Terminal Tackle
Generally, a size 1 or 2 drop shot hook works best. If you have water without any grass or cover, you can nose-hook your bait or even wacky-rig it if you want more action. If you have some grass to get caught on, use a finesse Neko hook and Texas rig your worm. You won’t be fighting it all day. As far as weight goes, use a standard drop shot weight (cylinder or teardrop shaped) — 1/8 to 1/4 oz for shallow water, up to 1/2 oz for deep water or current.
Xzone Tungsten Drop Shot Weight – $9.99 – $14.99
VMC Finesse Neko Hook (1 or 2) – $6.49
Line
Line is super easy… braid to leader and I generally go 8 pound for both, although you can generally go thicker on the leader line if you’re fishing around shallower cover. A drop shot is one of the techniques where how you tie your line is very important. In order to get your hook sitting correctly, you’re going to want to tie it on with a Palomar knot, and then leave about 12-24 inches of tag end depending on how far off the bottom the fish are sitting.
And the most critical part: Feed your tag end through the front of the hook (the side where the hook bend is) and out the back of the eye. When you pull it tight, the hook should sit flat (perpendicular with your line) and the hook point should be above the shank. If the hook point is down, you did it backwards. Then, attach your weight to the end of the tag.
Main Line: 8 lb braid (sensitive, no stretch, casts far)
Sufix Revolve Neon Lime – $23.99
Leader: 6–10 lb fluorocarbon (nearly invisible in clear water and abrasion resistant)
Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon – $30.99 – $185.49
Baits
The bait is another critical component of fishing a drop shot, and there are generally two schools of thought… worms or minnows. Of course, you have some creature bait type lures, even dice baits and smaller urchins are becoming more and more popular right now, but I really have a hard time beating your standard finesse worm. They just seem to get the most consistent bites for me.
Roboworm Straight Tail Worm – $3.97 – $4.99
Colors: Aaron’s Magic, Margarita Mutilator, Morning Dawn
Berkley Lab Series Flat Worm – $14.99
Colors: Violet Morning Dawn, Tactical, Ember Jelly Fusion
Great Lakes Finesse Drop Worm – $6.99
Colors: Morning Dawn, Green Pumpkin Purple, Matte Black
How to Fish It
Cast out and let the weight sink straight to the bottom. The bait should float or wiggle naturally above it. Instead of aggressive jerks, lightly shake your rod tip or hold it still — the bait’s natural movement does most of the work. You want to keep the line tight enough so the bait sits just off the bottom. Some bass eat on the fall or when the bait hovers, but it’s pretty easy to detect bites with this rig… you’re gonna feel it.
Slowly drag the rig across the bottom, occasionally hopping it up off the bottom and letting it fall back down. Then pause. Bass love to bite when the bait is motionless.
Drop shotting excels in clear lakes where bass can get a good look at the bait, and it’s perfect for fishing offshore structure, ledges, and drop-offs. You can even fish it along weed lines and near shallow cover when bass won’t hit traditional power techniques.
*This post contains links through the Tackle Warehouse Affiliate Program. While all products are independently selected by our expert Riff Outdoors team, if you use these links to make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
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