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By most accounts, the drop shot acquired its begin out West within the clear water impoundments of California. These extremely pressured our bodies of water have loads of big bass, however after years of seeing each jig, jerkbait, crankbait, and swimbait on the market, they discovered to keep away from them. That’s the place the drop shot proved its value.
The drop shot has since turn into a staple in most bass boat decks any time of 12 months. It’s a way that any severe bass angler is aware of find out how to rig and when to throw. I’ve thrown the drop shot throughout the nation, from Texas to New York, and I’ve discovered that it really works in all places. Right here’s every thing you want to find out about fishing a drop shot.
The Drop Shot Rig
In essence, a drop shot is anchored by a small lead or tungsten weight on the finish of the road. About 8 to 12 inches above the burden is a small hook and a delicate plastic worm or minnow. The rig will be fished vertically, or solid out and slowly labored again to the boat just like a Texas rig.
Easy methods to Tie a Drop Shot Rig
Tying up a drop shot ought to take not more than 2 minutes, it’s fast and easy. Beneath is a step-by-step information.
Step 1: Should you’re fishing with a braid to fluorocarbon chief, you’ll want to connect the fluorocarbon to the braid. Use both an FG knot, or an Alberto knot.
Step 2: Thread your hook 8 to 12 inches above the underside of your fluorocarbon chief, then utilizing a Palomar knot, tie on the hook. A fast tip: thread the top of the chief again by way of the attention of the hook (high to backside) earlier than placing on the burden. This may preserve the hook straight up and down.
Step 3: Utilizing the road clip, or a easy clinch knot, connect your drop shot weight to the underside of the road.
Step 4: Nostril hook your delicate plastic lure.
What Makes the Drop Shot So Efficient?
Most bass stay alongside the underside all year long, that’s the place the duvet is. Whether or not it’s a boulder, a laydown, or a ledge, these ambush predators are capable of cover and assault unsuspecting bait fish as they swim by or are carried previous in present. The drop shot is the proper illustration of that feeding cycle. The small delicate plastic bait fish “swimming” alongside simply above the underside is such a pure presentation that bass have a tough time distinguishing your lure from the true factor.
The simplicity of the approach could be why it really works so effectively, together with the truth that earlier than it got here alongside, most anglers have been both fishing excessive within the water column, or sustaining backside contact with solely jigs and crankbaits. In different phrases, bass merely hadn’t seen a delicate plastic introduced this fashion.
For a deep dive video on the drop shot, try this nice video from my good friend TylersReelFishing.
When to Throw a Drop Shot
Choosing the right time to throw a drop shot isn’t all that sophisticated. Realistically, you may throw it any time of 12 months and doubtless get bass to chunk. However, should you’re searching for a banner day on a drop shot, it’s laborious to beat the spawn and early post-spawn.
Fishing for bass through the spawn isn’t as sensitive of a topic as fishing for trout on redds, but it surely’s an in depth second. Some anglers (like myself) love fishing the spawn and the problem of it, whereas others select to remain residence, stating they don’t wish to intervene with the spawning course of. I get that, however should you’re like me and also you get pleasure from fishing for bass throughout that point of 12 months, I like to recommend giving the drop shot a attempt.
When the bass lock down on their beds, they’re extremely territorial. They spend the overwhelming majority of their time chasing off panfish which can be making an attempt to attain a simple meal on their eggs. This makes them susceptible to a drop shot, as you may solid it near their mattress and easily shimmy that bait at eye degree with slight twitches of your rod tip. Smallmouth are particularly prone to the drop shot through the spawn, however largemouth will be duped as effectively, it simply may take a bit extra time and extra exact casting.
Should you desire to attend till the post-spawn to focus on bass, that’s cool too. The drop shot is a good possibility as fish start to flee the shallow spawning flats and head to the primary drop-off or level close by to get well and feed. Relying on the place you’re within the nation, this early-summer timeframe brings water temperatures within the excessive 60’s to low 70’s and the bait fish shall be staging in the course of the water column, following the thermocline to remain cool and evade predatory species.
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When these balls of bait fish swing by some extent or drop off within the post-spawn, the bass can’t assist however gorge themselves. Putting a drop shot in entrance of them is like dropping a cheeseburger in entrance of somebody who simply emerged from a seven-day hike within the backcountry. They only can’t resist it. Working it just like a Texas rig this time of 12 months appears to be the easiest way to cowl water and nonetheless get loads of bites. Make lengthy casts alongside the drop off and slowly drag or gently jig the rig again to you. Whenever you really feel a thump, set the hook.
The Gear You Have to Rig and Fish a Drop Shot
Choosing the Proper Drop Shot Rod and Reel
In my view, essentially the most important piece of drugs for fishing a drop shot is the rod you select. Most bass anglers know there are many approach particular rods you should purchase. The drop shot has gained a lot reputation that it’s no completely different. Manufacturers like G.Loomis have launched drop shot particular rods with every line they produce. Their new GCX spinning rod is a good possibility for somebody searching for a drop shot particular rod.
Should you’re searching for a less expensive rod that can be utilized for greater than only a drop shot, search for a rod that’s about 7’ lengthy, has a quick or extra-fast motion, and a medium-light or medium energy. You need a rod that has loads of bend since it is a finesse tactic that requires gentle line. One thing like this Abu Garcia Vendetta could be an awesome possibility.
Try our full assessment of the best drop shot rods.
Choosing the Proper Drop Shot Reel
Whereas the rod is essentially the most important piece of drugs, the reel you select is an in depth second. A high-quality drag goes to make a world of distinction in terms of preventing and touchdown large bass on gentle line. Choosing the precise doesn’t need to be too laborious, nonetheless, as we suggest the winner of our greatest total spinning reel, the Daiwa Ballistic MQ LT 2500D. The reel is light-weight, extremely easy, and the drag is ideal for preventing laborious pulling smallmouth from the depths with a drop shot.
Drop Shot Baits
As with most bass fishing methods, when choosing the “greatest” lures, it actually boils all the way down to choice. With that, my favourite drop shot lures usually imitate a minnow. I’ve had nice days on the water throwing a Gary Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm, and I’ve caught a few of my greatest drop shot bass throwing a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm.
Learn our assessment of the best drop shot baits.
The Finest Drop Shot Hooks
Choosing the right hook for a drop shot can also be left as much as choice, however most anglers select gentle wire circle-style hooks. My go-to is the Owner Sniper Finesse Hook, it’s sufficiently small to trick bass into biting the nostril hooked minnow, and robust sufficient to maintain large bass pegged throughout lengthy fights and drag screaming runs.
Drop Shot Weights
When choosing drop shot weights, there are three widespread choices to have on deck. Cylindrical weights, teardrop weights, and ball weights. All three have completely different purposes based mostly on the place you’re fishing a drop shot. You can even choose between lead weights and tungsten. Whereas tungsten is rather more costly, it additionally provides extra sensitivity, permitting you to inform what’s backside and what’s a chunk extra simply.
Cylindrical weights work greatest when fishing a drop shot round grass. The cylinder weight appears to slip by way of younger, emergent grass with out getting caught up like a teardrop or ball weight does.
Teardrop weights are a go-to when fishing a drop shot round large rock buildings, the teardrop form helps preserve the burden from sticking between rocks, the place cylindrical weights are likely to sink down in.
Ball shaped drop shot weights appear to work greatest when fishing round pea gravel or mud. In these areas, the burden will slide alongside the underside effectively and assist you preserve your bait in place whether or not you’re dragging or vertical dropping.
Line for Drop Shotting
The ultimate piece to the drop shot rigging puzzle is what line to place in your reel. Avid bass anglers typically fish spinning reels with a braid-to-fluorocarbon chief. For my braided line, I prefer to go together with 10-pound Daiwa J-Braid, however most braided strains will do the trick. As for the fluorocarbon chief, I are likely to lean on the 8-pound Sunline FC.
Remaining Ideas and Tips about Easy methods to Fish a Drop Shot
Regardless that the drop shot is a straightforward rig, mastering find out how to fish a drop shot requires loads of time on the water. Trial and error will assist you discover out what ways, and equipment work greatest for you.
The drop shot has a status of solely catching small fish, however as soon as you actually begin to perceive when and the place to throw it, you’ll begin tricking a few of the greatest bass within the lake. Because it’s a finesse approach, keep in mind to have persistence, work it gradual, and preserve the slack out of your line. Not each chunk will ship a jolt down your rod, however usually, when a bass bites a drop shot, you’ve acquired an awesome likelihood of getting a hook into the roof of their mouth.