Am I Missing Out On Not Drop-Shotting? 2024
hoosierbass07 reply :
I keep reading and seeing videos on Youtube and TV programs about how great the drop-shot rig is. Drop-shot this, drop-shot that.
When I'm kayak fishing for bass I take two to three rods with me. Two with soft plastics (split-shot and Texas Rig) and third rod with a hard bait, probably a spinner bait.
Is the drop-shot worth trying out? Is the drop-shot more effective than a split-shot rig?
Do you have to know there are fish under you to make the drop-shot effective? I can use my Texas rig and Spit-shot rig to search and fine and catch bass. Hit and miss. Can that be done with
a drop-shot rig? When you cast a drop-shot rig, don't you have to work it very slow and jiggle it slowly?
Can the drop-shot be used in non-clear water?
The idea of tying on a weight at the end of the line with a hook up the line and just dangling it sounds sort of boring to me. I get a lot of enjoyment working worms on the Texas rig and split-shot rig. The drop-shot rig seems sort of boring to me but now I'm wondering if, when the bite is tough, it might be effective.
Thanks!
Munkin reply :
If you are fishing really clear water I would say yes? Drop shot is just another way to present a bait so don't get to hung up on it. Sometimes the fish are in a neutral or negative mood and the DS works well for this but do not worry. Basic premise of drop shotting is the bait is suspended above the weight? Try out the DS and see if it works for you? You really do not need any special tackle just use what you currently have.
Allen
A-Jay reply :
The Drop Shot is one of the most effective methods I know to catch bass, especially Smallmouth bass.
Not necessarily always the biggest bass in a system but sometimes the fatties go Koo-Koo for Coco Puffs over the right bait in the right place at the right time.
The method lends itself to almost any depth, clarity & fishing situation.
Read more about it and then try it yourself.
You'll be glad you did.
A-Jay
Darren. reply :
I'll say yes and no. It really depends.
I've recently picked it back up, and I've
had some success in local areas, but I've
yet to employ it on my regular fishing spots.
The deepest water I tend to fish is *maybe*
20 feet. Normally I concentrate on shoreline
structure, or grass lines off the shore.
Fished a drop at a local pond and did catch
a nice 1.5 pounder. I bought some roboworms
and drop shot weights over the holiday to use
at my normal lakes. So I'm looking forward to
trying them out there.
If the past is any indication, and this is only for
me, it may not be as awesome as a simple
wacky worm setup.
But I'm determined to try it out. Good luck!
RSM789 reply :
I'm like you, I would prefer to Texas rig a plastic. However, when the water is cold & you need to slowly wave a plastic bait right in front of a lethargic basses nose in deep water, a drop shot is the best way to do it. For me, in winter on days when the bass will not chase anything and won't move far to pick up the most slow moving bait, it is an effective way to get some stink on your hands.
It isn't as bad as sitting there with live bait, but it is precariously close.
Catch and Grease reply :
I've been fishing the drop shot more and more and honestly it has been producing great for me, no huge bass but lots of numbers of 2-3lb solid quality bass, And I don't fish deep water, the lake I fish averages 6-8 feet and I'm always casting the DS.
RSM789 reply :
deep being a relative term
rippin-lips reply :
For me it like any other presentation has a time and place. I don't use it a lot but when the fishing seems tough I can usually rig one up and catch some fish. It also doesn't have to be fished as slow as you're saying. I know when watching Aaron Martens fish it. Sometimes he imparts a lot of the action by wiggling his rod. Sometimes he'll cast it and retrieve it by bouncing it back to the boat. Then there are times where you'll see him just hold his rod still maybe twitch his wrist very lightly. This weeks mlf tournament was dominated by the ds rig.
TorqueConverter reply :
Not something I'd be fishing out of a yack in a small body of water unless I had an anchor, a way of locating deep structure, it was mid summer, I was targeting smallmouth and there was no wind.
Angry John reply :
I fish it out of my yak when there is no wind. That is when its at its best for me. No anchor most times and I have no sonar. Lots of ways to skin that cat.On 1/12/2015 at 12:32 PM, TorqueConverter said:Not something I'd be fishing out of a yack in a small body of water unless I had an anchor, a way of locating deep structure, it was mid summer, I was targeting smallmouth and there was no wind.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Of all the bass I catch every year, I doubt I catch more then 2 dozen of them on a drop shot. I can do it, I have some spots where it's a slam dunk technique to catch a fish or two nearly 100% of the time, just not a go to technique for me.
kcdinkerz reply :
On shore I love it on a yak I hate it unless the wind is calm. Even being anchored the position of your rod is changing due to the sway. Kind of hard for me since I like to work a ds really slow
reelnmn reply :
Drop shot is my go to. If I need to determine if fish are in the area this is what I'm throwing. Over the last two years my top 15 smallies have ALL came off the drop shot. I would say it is a must to learn.
HoosierHawgs reply :
I was about to say this! Yeah, Aaron Martens does at times cast and retrieve a drop shot rig pretty quickly, and pretty effectively as well. There is a few videos of him doing this on bassmaster.com... I've watched them and they've been pretty helpful.On 1/12/2015 at 11:34 AM, rippin-lips said:For me it like any other presentation has a time and place. I don't use it a lot but when the fishing seems tough I can usually rig one up and catch some fish. It also doesn't have to be fished as slow as you're saying. I know when watching Aaron Martens fish it. Sometimes he imparts a lot of the action by wiggling his rod. Sometimes he'll cast it and retrieve it by bouncing it back to the boat. Then there are times where you'll see him just hold his rod still maybe twitch his wrist very lightly. This weeks mlf tournament was dominated by the ds rig.
riverbasser13 reply :
It's worth a try, it's a great way to present a tiny 1.5 to 2 inch bait to fish that are feeding on fry or tiny minnows. If nothing else it's just one more technique to try out.
wnybassman reply :
Doesn't anyone drag a dropshot? I would think this would be a perfect presentation out of a kayak.
Crestliner2008 reply :
Drop shotting is just another finesse presentation that is extremely effective in particular places and times. It is NOT a "power fishing" type of presentation. It was developed and enhansed on the west coast (from Japan) to catch deep, clear water largemouths in tough tournament conditions. When the presentation spread across the country, even kids fishing with their dads could really enjoy some exciting fishing out on the water.
I disagree with the notion that it's a "small" bass presentation. I've caught a lot of giants using the drop shot. You just have to know where to put it. If you can locate a good structure with baitfish on it, in relatively deep, clear water, there is probably no better way to put fish in the boat. I've been drop shotting since 2001 and cannot tell you how many quality bass (mostly smallmouths, but some good largemouths as well) I've caught & released over the years, using this presentation.
In any case, it is certainly worth your effort to give a whirl. That's what fishing is all about, right? 
Felix77 reply :
Drop vs. Split shot ... IMO they serve different purposes based on conditions. In and around grass I prefer the split shot. Edges, open water, smaller baits .... The DS.
For the record I prefer the mojo over the split shot. Snags less in weeds IMO.
Felix77 reply :
On 1/12/2015 at 7:58 PM, wnybassman said:Doesn't anyone drag a dropshot? I would think this would be a perfect presentation out of a kayak.
Absolutely. Love doing this. The key is controlling your drift and a weight heavy enough to maintain bottom contact.
gardnerjigman reply :
On 1/12/2015 at 2:21 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Of all the bass I catch every year, I doubt I catch more then 2 dozen of them on a drop shot. I can do it, I have some spots where it's a slam dunk technique to catch a fish or two nearly 100% of the time, just not a go to technique for me.
I agree to the extent that it counts for ZERO fish I catch. lol. I never throw the thing and don't seem to be missing out any... yet that is.
Sam reply :
Yes.
Learn the drop shot.
WIGuide reply :
The short answer to op's question is YES! I only started drop shotting a few years ago, but it's become one of my go to techniques. It seems to put fish in the boat even on the toughest days. Take some time and mess with it, you may love it or you may hate it. Only one way to find out.
BassSlayer71 reply :
Personally, I love the DS rig. I picked it up last year and was almost deadly. Had a few friends who knew nothing about bass fishing catch fish on this rig. It's not a big fish catcher typically but I have caught them in the 3lb range.
It's big upside is keeping it in one place and jigging it. And esp if you are fishing deep.
Fisher-O-men reply :
Don't limit your DS rig to small baits. I sometimes use a 6-7" worm on a 3/0 fine wire EWG hook. Drag it? yes! Drift it? Absolutely!
Definitely do NOT try the Neko rig, it does NOT catch fish! Especially with a 4" Yum Dinger! 
fisherrw reply :
definitely worth a try!!
EmersonFish reply :
Just think of the "drop shot rig" as simply attaching your hook/bait to your line above your weight. Forget about the words "finesse" and "deep" and all of the words frequently associated with the more trendy "technique" for a moment, and just consider it for what it is. It's a way of presenting baits that has been used in some similar form by saltwater fisherman, crappie fisherman, and all types of other fisherman forever. There is absolutely no reason to rule out the rig itself. I use it a lot, and I use it in a lot of different ways. Most frequently, I will make relatively short cast to sloping banks and work it down. This kills for me, using what is more of a Shaky Head rod, as I am crawling over obstructions frequently.
As far as using the most commonly discussed drop shot "technique," which is vertical, slower, etc., out of a kayak; that might present a bit of a challenge, but I can assure you that if you locate the fish, and the DS is working, it is anything but boring.
stepchild reply :
For about 3 years now, the DS has been a lifesaver for me. I fish deep, clear lakes with LM and SM in them and I would say that, while it does have its time and place, it has the makings of a confidence technique if you happen to use it correctly.
What I mean by that is that most peg dropshotting as a vertical, finesse technique that's as exciting as watching paint dry. While it is a way to use this presentation when you spot fish on your electronics, there are many more applications.
I have used the DS sightfishing for cruising bass on sand/rock flats. The reason: there's barely any splash and you can make it sit there all day long. If fishing for bass during the spawn were legal here, I would definitely consider this technique...use your creativeness. You can also use a grub or paddletail to drift with, where you can actually cover water fairly quickly. With a plastic bait that has an action tail, you can even rip it up and down to get a bass' attention, as the tail flutters on the way up and down.
For your situation in a kayak (I have also done this on a stand-up paddleboard), I would look for points or break lines that run parallel to the wind, and use the wind to your advantage to slowly drift along the piece of structure. Let the fish tell you what works. Sometimes you need to shake the tail of your bait, other times (which I find works more often then not), just letting it sit there is enough to drive bass crazy.
In my personal experience, it's a technique I would recommend to anyone who wants to learn another way to get some fish in the boat, regardless of the depth you intend to use it in.
smalljaw67 reply :
I'm going to say that out of a Yak you aren't really missing much. I very seldom use it, I prefer the shaky head and if you don't have sonar on your yak go with a shaky head. I say that because I find the drop shot is better fishing when you are on fish, meaning you have located them on the fish finder near cover or structure, that is when a drop shot is at its best. I'm guessing you are searching and to me the shaky head is better for combing the water because that is what is making the bait work, you drag it or hop it along and then stop it, shake it a bit and let it sit and then drag it some more and repeat what you've been doing with it, the drop shot you make a cast and then you keep a semi slack line, you want to lift the line without moving the weight very much so it kind of sits in one spot while the lure dances above the bottom. Don't worry about missing any thing, I do drop shot some but maybe 5 times a season where I use a shaky head all summer.
Fishes in trees reply :
I always have a drop shot rig tied up - two of them in fact, one kind of a bubba rig and the other more finesse oriented. To further clarify, I generally have many rigs tied up and ready to go - generally around 20 give or take. That being said, a couple of times each year for the past several years the drop shot has turned a very average day into a decent day, picking up fish that I probably couldn't catch with any other approach. Most of the time the drop shot rig that I pick up first is the bubba rig, a 7 1/2' pitching stick with 20 lb abrazx fluorocarbon. I can drop that bait just outside the shadow pocket of a stump and leave it there - a foot to foot and a half off the bottom and just wiggle it a little bit. I will use the finesse option ( 7' M Mojo rod, 1000 size Shimano reel, 10 lb braid connected to a fluorocarbon leader) on deeper, less cover oriented situations, like a deep weed line or that place in the lake basin where rocks turn to clay.
If I were only limited to a few options due to space or whatever, I don't know if drop shot would be an option I'd start with or not, just depending on where I was fishing I guess.
jlew reply :
Does anyone use it on shallow grassy lakes like in Florida?
mjseverson24 reply :
The Dropshot is probably one of the best fish catching systems available today(artificial). every time I go out I have at least 4 rods rigged for DS. I have 2 on spinning(ML, and M power) and 2 on casting(M and MH power). If the fish are positioned near the bottom think of it as a faster way to present a weightless plastic to deep water fish. I have drop lengths from 8" to 4' depending on the lake and conditions. This is a total confidence bait for me on clear lakes, if I cannot catch a decent limit on the DS its going to be a tough day for everybody. Is it my favorite technique??? absolutely not, but when the bite is tough and you are looking to put some fish in the boat the DS is about the best way to coax a lock jawed bass into eating... Disclaimer---> if you don't know where the fish are located the DS may not be yours best option, a reaction bait will work better to cover the water until you find the fish...
Mitch
ChrisWi reply :
If you aren't dropshotting you're missing opportunities!
A-Jay reply :
On 1/14/2015 at 3:05 AM, mjseverson24 said:The Dropshot is probably one of the best fish catching systems available today(artificial). every time I go out I have at least 4 rods rigged for DS. I have 2 on spinning(ML, and M power) and 2 on casting(M and MH power). If the fish are positioned near the bottom think of it as a faster way to present a weightless plastic to deep water fish. I have drop lengths from 8" to 4' depending on the lake and conditions. This is a total confidence bait for me on clear lakes, if I cannot catch a decent limit on the DS its going to be a tough day for everybody. Is it my favorite technique??? absolutely not, but when the bite is tough and you are looking to put some fish in the boat the DS is about the best way to coax a lock jawed bass into eating... Disclaimer---> if you don't know where the fish are located the DS may not be yours best option, a reaction bait will work better to cover the water until you find the fish...
Mitch
Nicely put Mitch -
and I'll add that on those really tough Lock Jaw days, I do have some success slipping a drop shot on high percentage spots when I initially pull up on it - just to let me know if there is even any reason to be there in the first place. Then, if this test flight is met with positive results of any kind, I can either switch it up or even just stick with what worked.
A-Jay
SDbassin reply :
a drop shot, for me, is one of my go-to rigs. Being in southern California, many times its the most productive and I've caught my two biggest fish on a drop shot with a roboworm
primetime reply :
Here in Florida I only dropshot when shallow if I know fish are in a negative mood and I am confident they are in a piece of cover I can target with a small finesse bait and I usually barely work the rod and just wait for something to pick it up...
I also use it when I have a muddy bottom which is often since a shaky rig or even a texas rig is frustrating but alot of time fish are suspended this time of year and if a place gets high pressure or I am going behind a few boats on a shoreline, I will power shot instead of flip a jig or punch bait into cover. I find the dropshot to be very effective when you are near fish, and it is a bit boring, however, you can work it faster if you use the hooks with good swivels like the vmc or gamakatsu drop shot hooks to elimiate line twist. If you get line twist you are probably shaking too much, I don't shake much, the right baits move on their own....Baits with ribbed bodies, boot tails, ribbon tails, or floaters will move on their own, just make sure you can feel bottom at all times.
I love the Mister Twister 5" poc it worms I grabbed on clearance at dicks, they are soft, ton of action, translucent, and also the damiki baits are good, Gulp floating minnows, small GYB Ika's, trick worms and senkos wacky rigged, or for power shotting, I like using the keitechs, trigger x minnow baits, gitzit flash tubes.
I do like the split shot, mojo rig the best, Another quick set up is to leave a 18" tag end on your regular soft bait of any knid and crimp a large split shot on the end of the line or simply use a true floating worm with a split shot and you kind of have a drop shot...If you like moving a bait then drop shot probably not the best, c-rigs with light weights and lifts will catch fish suspended and keep bait up in the column, I catch fish on modified c-rigs with heavy weights for loud splashes when fish are active but have lock jaw, and it often works in 2-3', same as drop shot with 1 ounce, but overall I use mainly 3/8 drop shot weights and vmc swivel drop shot hooks and nose hooked baits have best action in my opinion, I will try crazy stuff, sometimes a lizard suspended in the water works but nothing is better
for catching spawning fish if you don't sight fish than the drop shot. Find the flat they are on, and simply cast and move it maybe 3' every minute, few taps of rod, and a bait with crazy action like the damikia air craws or small minnow baits I forget what they are called...
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