Drop Shot Rig
Drop shot rig fishing is about as simple as it gets. This has been used for a long time with live bait. It has found another home among bass fisherman using soft plastic baits. As with all good techniques, the basics must be understood. Usually bass anglers pull out the drop shot rig when the fishing has really gotten tough. Heavy fishing pressure, a cold front has moved in, a bright sunny day in ultra clear water. These are tough on the best anglers. This is why finesse fishing has found it's way back into the pro bass tournament circle. Power fishing has it's place, but a lot of pros finishing on the bottom of the win column will tell you “it don't always look like the TV show!” The fish don't care about your sponsors or how bad you need this fish. If you stay on the water on a tough day, you must slow down and discipline your mind. Deliberate casting and confidence in your location are the most important factors, not covering as much water as possible. You must be sure of yourself and believe in your techniques. Sounds very zen-like doesn't it? That's because drop shot rig fishing really found popularity with the Japanese anglers who practice it like a religion. Drop shot rigging is not just for slow days though. A lot of anglers these days use it when the fishing conditions are favorable to locate the largest fish in the school. It is known that the largest bass will tend to stay away from most of the fish and feed less often. The biggest bass usually are the hardest to catch. They didn't get that big by being stupid! Deeper and slower presentations are often what is needed to catch trophy largemouth and smallmouth. The bait you use will be right in the face of the bass for a longer period of time so lighter line is utilized. This finesses rig normally is fished with 6 pound test in fluorocarbon or equivalent vanishing line in clear water. You can go heavier in stained water, but you loose the sensitivity necessary to feel very light bites. A light line will let a small finesse or floating worm move with the motions in the water like a leaf in the breeze. At the end of the line, tie on a standard drop shot sinker or weedless Lindy rig sinker.  An 1/8 to 1/4 ounce in shallow water up to a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce in deep water or if wind and waves are pulling your rig off bottom. If you know the height of the weeds or cover on the bottom, slightly above these is the distance to your hook. You want your bait visible to as many bass as possible. Using a
Palomar knot,
attach your hook up from the sinker at least 18 inches. A standard worm hook or circle hook is all that is needed. Keep it small to match the small bait. A 1/0 hook is maximum on a 4 inch worm or creature. If using live bait, a small #6 snelled hook would be fine on a lip hooked minnow. The smaller the better.
For a rod, a medium to light rod with great sensitivity in the tip is best. The bass will most likely take your drop shot rig very lightly and heavy gear just won't do. The take feels no greater than perch when ice fishing sometimes. With boat movement it can be almost imperceptible. An ultra light rod is not out of the question. Yes, you will have to play the fish carefully with this light gear. Keep the line changed frequently to avoid break offs and curling. There are two basic drop shot rig techniques. The still fishing method is for pin point accuracy when you KNOW exactly where the bass should be. This is done by casting and keeping the line fairly tight with the sinker. You wiggle the tip of your rod, not unlike jigging when ice fishing, to make your bait flutter like a flag. The second is a pause and retrieve method. After the cast use the stationary wiggling, then let the bait fall to the bottom and remain stationary. You just said “you hoo” to the bass, now wait to see who answers. If you have no takers, move the rig closer by taking up the slack and drag, or gently lift and bounce the bait once. The bait needs to stay put for up to a minute on the pause. Envision a bass with his nose right to your bait watching it wiggle. He takes in the scent and still he is unsure. “ I'm not really hungry,” he thinks. You wiggle again and drop the bait. Still he watches and no bite. He starts to swim slowly away and the bait comes back to life. “Well, maybe just one, it is small,” he thinks. Then, tick, he gently takes the bait. You felt it on your light gear and wait, then set the hook. Mr. Finicky bass is now in the boat. That is drop shot rig fishing. Patience grasshopper! Click for more drop shot rig and bass fishing tips.
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