This is a comprehensive guide on how to use a drop shot rig. There are many ways in which this can be effective, but here are some of the methods that I have used to catch fish in certain situations.

Basic Principle:

The drop shot rig is a way to fish a sinking bait off of the bottom at a desired height above the bottom of the body of water you are fishing. It works especially when fish are easily scared or if fish are suspending off of the bottom, and do not have the energy to chase a faster moving bait. Finesse specialists such as Aaron Martens use this rig to catch many tournament bass. It is typically fished with spinning tackle and very light line.

Why it works:

The Drop shot rig is an ideal way to catch fish under very tough fishing conditions, because the bait can literally stand still and you can use something as small as a half-inch rod tip movement to just the moving water to make the bait "dance." This is a perfect way to almost "sneak up" in the fish, meaning that the fish will never see or hear the bait coming because it is moving so slowly, this way when the bait is literally in the fish's face, the fish will have to make a very fast decision whether or not to eat the bait, or run away. The good thing about fish is that they are instinctive, and instict dictates that 9 times out of 10 the fish will eat the food that is invading it's space.

How it works:

A drop shot rig is fished with the weight of the rig anywhere from a few inches, to 5 or 6 feet below the actual bait, making the bait suspend on a taught line off of the bottom of the body of water you are fishing. This way, if the fish are suspending at a certain depth you can keep your lure constantly in the strike zone. Also, when a small bait is on a rocky bottom it can slip in between rocks making it invisible to a fish. Although the fish might feel the vibrations of the lure through its lateral line, it is hard to locate the bait and for the angler, it is hard to set the hook when the bait is only in the fish's mouth halfway. Using a drop shot rig, the bait is easily visable and more importantly, easy to attack.

Getting started:

This is the best way (I have found) to create a drop shot rig. What you need to do is get some good drop shot weights, and let the conditions dictate what size weight to use. If it is windy, or you are going to be fishing deeper water with more of a tag on your rig, try using a heavier weight, maybe a 1/4 oz. Remember, this is a finesse technique so everything will be smaller. MUCH smaller. What makes a drop shot weight unique is that your line will not be tied to the sinker. It will be clamped in, therefore if the sinker gets caught in the rocks you can pull the rig free and not have to re-tie the whole thing, but simply slip another sinker onto the line. Usually, you will be using a smaller weight, around a 1/8th oz. When it comes to the hook, I would fish between a 1 and a 1/0 hook, depending on the bait you will be using.

Equipment Specifics:

First, you are going to need some spinning tackle. My favorite is a 6.5 to 7 foot rod, with 6lb or 8lb flourocarbon. I use P-Line Flourocarbon, with a Falcon Drop Shot Rod. The flourocarbon I use will cost about 17.99 for 300 yards, and the rod should run you about 100-120 dollars. For baits, you can pick from a wide selection really. I like to use smaller profile baits, nothing about four inches in length. Some of my favorites include the Robo Worm, the Gulp! 4 Inch Sinking Minnow, a Wacky Rigged 4 or 3 inch Senko, and last but not least, a 4 inch Power Worm from Berkely Powerbait.


Other Important Information:

First off, do not think that this is a drop shot bible. Although im sure nobody who reads this will, you should never be afraid to experiment. EVER. Never be afraid to try something new, especially if you are not catching enough fish! If the baits you are using are not working, try upsizing. These are just basic guidelines, do not be afraid to interpret them differently. Try upsizing, try downsizing, try throwing a different weight, try fishing a different technique. However there will be a day where a drop shot rig will catch fish, especially if the people around you are NOT catching fish. That my freinds, is a guarantee.
Another thing to remember is that every single fisherman on this earth is different from everyone else. It is almost like in our DNA or something, no two fishermen are exactly the same. SO what works for one person, may not work for somebody else. That is a fact. Of course, 90% is up to the fish. That is the part that includes things such as bait selection, color, depth, area, and so on. But the X-factor, that separates people from other people, is how you do certain things. Some people might be amazing at holding a bait perfectly still. I, am not. I shake like a leaf, especially when I know that there are large bass in the area. So while I might catch fish shaking the heck out of my bait, and the person next to me may catch them doing absolutely nothing to the bait, that is just that other 10% of fishing that really separates people. You have to learn what YOU are good at, and branch from that. Doing what other people are good at, will not be productive if it is not going to help you produce fish of your own.

Good luck, and tight lines!

Mike "Meat" McKay