Drop shotting, does it catch big bass or numbers? 2025
Dwbassin reply :
I always talk/hear people saying drop shotting should be done in the winter. Last year was when I really got obsessed with drop shotting and I always went to it for confidence. It caught me sooooo many fish when nothing else (even Ned rigs) did. However, I never caught a fish over 4 pounds drop shotting. I usually use smaller profile baits less than 3 inches. Should be said I never bed fished with a drop shot either and usually don’t dare throw it towards any cover at all. Just wondering if anyone has any idea what could be going on with that
Spankey reply :
I don’t live or fish a bass Mecca out here in Penna., but I drop-shot fish quite a bit. I’m catching smaller fish for the most part. I’ve been fortunate to catch some nice ones but where I’m catching small ones on days a lot of guys are not catching anything.
My nicer fish always come to me in the fall. Soft plastics, cranking or spinnerbaits.
BassinCNY reply :
I did catch my largest fish of the year two years ago in the summer on a drop shotted junebug trick worm. Unfortunately it was a tiger muskie instead of a bass.
Glaucus reply :
Both
Dwbassin reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 5:11 AM, Spankey said:I don’t live or fish a bass Mecca out here in Penna., but I drop-shot fish quite a bit. I’m catching smaller fish for the most part. I’ve been fortunate to catch some nice ones but where I’m catching small ones on days a lot of guys are not catching anything.
My nicer fish always come to me in the fall. Soft plastics, cranking or spinnerbaits.
You’re referring to PA right? I fished raystown last year and my girl tied a drop shot on and lost her pb cause she was using junk line. It’s good and no question my favorite but a lot of dinks, now cranking I’m just diving into. Lipless being my new favorite switching out hooks on warpigs and red eyes now lol
On 3/8/2019 at 5:32 AM, BassinCNY said:I did catch my largest fish of the year two years ago in the summer on a drop shotted junebug trick worm. Unfortunately it was a tiger muskie instead of a bass.
Man I would have killed for that “accident” , were you fishing a medium light rod?
Fishin' Fool reply :
I realized after my post you said drop shot not Ned rig. I do catch alot of numbers on a drop shot.
JK Jake reply :
I was fishing some bridge pilings in the summer with a friend of mine and he had a 41/2 inch roboworm tied on. This was a fairly pressured spot and the water was dirty, you could only see 1-2 feet. He caught a 5 pounder. You just never really know what can happen with a drop shot. I've even read about Bassmaster and MLF pros who have won tournaments from fishing drop shots. Generally drop shots are good for numbers but they can be amazing for those bigger bass too.
Mjmj reply :
I use a drop shot rig about 30% of the time. Usually a 4 or 6 inch bait. I've caught muskie 32" and over on 10 lb test. I have also caught slot of bass 3 lbs and over on a drop shot. It's not a rig that only catches small bass. Don't be afraid to throw it near cover. If I feel it getting hung up on cover, just be gentle. Lift the rod slowly till you feel the bait hit the cover and SLOWLY jiggle the rod till the bait comes free. When putting the bait on, I start about an inch back and run the hook through the middle of the bait, till I can barely see the hook penetrate the front.
Dwbassin reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 6:48 AM, Fishin' Fool said:I realize after my post you said drop shot not Ned rig
Well it kind of applies but I think you have a better shot with a Ned and they make offset Ned’s now which just makes me love it more. I got a 5 pounder of a bed with a nedrig last year so maybe I just got lucky idk I think it’s just right placement.
On 3/8/2019 at 7:23 AM, JKFishing said:I was fishing some bridge pilings in the summer with a friend of mine and he had a 41/2 inch roboworm tied on. This was a fairly pressured spot and the water was dirty, you could only see 1-2 feet. He caught a 5 pounder. You just never really know what can happen with a drop shot. I've even read about Bassmaster and MLF pros who have won tournaments from fishing drop shots. Generally drop shots are good for numbers but they can be amazing for those bigger bass too.
I fished a lake in md that is insanely pressured, strictly roboworms from 4 1/2 to 6 and would consistently catch in front of 3-10 boats or bankers catching nothing. Or hazedong shads(new favorite) . Your right now you say it Gary Klein was filming I think or doing research this year and caught a 13 on a drop shot glad you brought that up. But was it small or large profile (if it matters)
On 3/8/2019 at 7:25 AM, Mjmj said:I use a drop shot rig about 30% of the time. Usually a 4 or 6 inch bait. I've caught muskie 32" and over on 10 lb test. I have also caught slot of bass 3 lbs and over on a drop shot. It's not a rig that only catches small bass. Don't be afraid to throw it near cover. If I feel it getting hung up on cover, just be gentle. Lift the rod slowly till you feel the bait hit the cover and SLOWLY jiggle the rod till the bait comes free. When putting the bait on, I start about an inch back and run the hook through the middle of the bait, till I can barely see the hook penetrate the front.
This is why I LOVE this place. I always just run the hook straight through the nose half inch or so in and it’s exposed and I never even though about it. Over the winter I tend to read countless articles , seen some people even use offset worm hooks for drop shotting. And good point also on barely lifting to pull it out I learned not to yank cause I saw the weight just whip around a limb 4 or 5x
J._Bricker reply :
In my experience, a dropshot will catch numbers as well as big fish. I believe this this one was over 8lbs on a Roboworm...
My dropshot rig was a 7’3” MH baitcasting rod, with the reel spooled with 20lb braid, a 3/0 worm hook, and a 3/8oz weight... of course a spinning rod works too. Good fishing all and thanks @Dwbassin for bringing this topic up.
Dwbassin reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 7:35 AM, J._Bricker said:In my experience, a dropshot will catch numbers as well as big fish. I believe this this one was over 8lbs on a Roboworm...
True, that would sell me instantly if I was new to it. Seeing a lot of roboworms being responsible haha
BassinCNY reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 6:03 AM, Dwbassin said:You’re referring to PA right? I fished raystown last year and my girl tied a drop shot on and lost her pb cause she was using junk line. It’s good and no question my favorite but a lot of dinks, now cranking I’m just diving into. Lipless being my new favorite switching out hooks on warpigs and red eyes now lol
Man I would have killed for that “accident” , were you fishing a medium light rod?
I don't remember the rod, medium heavy I think. I had it rigged weedless on a worm hook and was pitching in to cover targeting largemouth. I pitched it in to some weeds where a small break wall met a dock in about 3 feet of water. As tiger muskies go it wasn't that big, 34".
Bluebasser86 reply :
Neither ????
J._Bricker reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 7:55 AM, Bluebasser86 said:Neither ????
An optimist! ????
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 8:21 AM, J._Bricker said:An optimist! ????
I'd be interested to see someone who is really good at dropshot fishing to fish some of our lakes to see if it's just the lakes around here or if everyone around here just sucks at dropshot fishing.
Swbass15 reply :
For me it’s a numbers bait with smallmouth. I can catch them just about any day here.
Largemouth for me are less common on it but when I do pick them up they are better fish.
It will catch both but if your not fishing around better fish you won’t catch them. Maybe @A-Jay will chime in about it.
Jrob78 reply :
Edwin Evers won the last BPT event on Conroe and closed it out with an 8 pounder caught on a drop shot, the only drop shot fish he caught all week.
Watch any tournament on the Great Lakes or St. Lawrence river and check out the giant smallies they catch on drop shots.
Way north bass guy reply :
For me, a drop shot has only been in play for the last few years. I can say that it has been a great numbers and big fish tactic. Here in central Ontario, we have about any kind of water you could think of for bass, from super deep, gin clear Canadian Shield lakes, to shallow, fairly dirty stump and weed filled lakes. I’ve used a drop shot with several different kinds of baits in many different waters, and it’s worked well to catch easily over 60 smallmouth in one day with my 9 year old, as well as some absolute pigs. It’s also become one of my go to tactics for pulling big largemouths out from under docks on some of the lakes I fish. Not too many days now where there isn't at least one rod on the deck with a drop shot attached.
A-Jay reply :
Drop shot for me is pretty much an all season deal.
I do it shallow, I do it deep and everything in bewteen.
And while I would not list it as my 'best' big fish technique, each season it does account for several very respectable bass. (almost always smallies for me)
Something I started doing a few sesons ago that helped inprove the quality of fish I caught on the drop shot was instead of using the traditional 4-6 in robo worms, and Dream Shot style baits (mostly long & slender worms) was to use SK Rage Craws, SK Caffiene Shad & Small swimbaits.
Clearly 'traditional' drop shot worms are Killer baits - but for me they do seem to attract a slightly smaller version of what I'm grinding to find.
Started with the craw, and it was quite a surprise at how well it worked. Since then have added the shad & the small swimbaits. All these baits allow me to 'cover' water with a rig that I usually reserve for spot where I have a decent idea have fish. Being able to keep this bait moving is a great way to cover deep water flats - and the smallies in ths area - choke these things routinely. I will use both a nse hook deal and also a slightly larger straight shank thin wire hook (out the top), when ther cover is light.
So there's that.
Here's the hooks and more info
Chris Zaldain covers the drop shot swimbit nicely here too -
A-Jay
Munkin reply :
Numbers bait for me but I sometimes catch a 3-4lb fish.
When you say highly pressured lake in Merryland do you mean Black Hills Lake Seneca? If so that is the capitol of DS dink fishing for bass in the summer. My record is 92 with only 4 being over 12" but it does catch them.
Allen
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
The drop shot is a tool in my box of techniques. I'll complain about it, but it's saved my tail enough times that I would be a fool to give it up. It works, and catches numbers (and size ***read on for explanation). I usually pick it up when I just need to get bit. I guess what I'm saying is I've never been on a good jig bite and set it down to pick up a drop shot. ***As a result, I catch fewer large fish on that particular technique.
It's almost become like a weightless senko for me... Never leave home without it, but I don't advertise that was the only thing I could catch them on that day ????
fishwizzard reply :
I fished a DS in Maryland for most of last spring and summer and caught a good range of bass in most every body of water I tried it in. I do fish the DS the "wrong" way, I use it more as a t-rig substitute to deal with all the muck-bottomed ponds I fish. 6" Robo, t-rigged, maybe an 8-10" dropper, 3/16oz weight. I retrieve with with the reel at a slow crawl, only stopping to shake/deadstick it when the weight starts to snag on something or I feel it go up and over something.
WRB reply :
I break out a drop rig for finesse presentation to catch bass, not big bass. Can you catch a big bass using a drop shot rig, of course you can.
Several years I was fishing with a friend and we decided to look for spawn beds while a tournament was going on. All the coves had boats in them and stopped to survey the situation in about 10' of water trying to decide where to go and looked down and a big bass was next to a bush. I told Ron a big bass was down next to a bush to give him a chance at it and he told me to try it, he was re rigging. I picked up my drop shot rod because the bass was straight down in front of me and didn't look that big. Dropped my finesse spinning tackle with 7 lb FC and wacky hooked Roboworm in front of the bass and it ate it. The bass weighed 13.2 lbs and lots of tournament guys watch as we fought this bass for several minutes. My only regret was Ron didn't try for this bass, it would been his PB.
Finesse drop shot rig isn't a big bass presentation but it will catch them.
Tom
NorthernBasser reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 7:55 AM, Bluebasser86 said:Neither ????
I'm 44 years old. I've been fishing since I can remember. And I have never...not even once...fished a drop shot. How insane is THAT??!
Now, I am more of a 'power' guy as opposed to 'finesse'. Tho I will throw the ned rig, shaky head etc from time to time. But I've never tried the drop shot. I have no idea why either because all I've ever heard and seen is how well it works.
This is something I'm gonna work on this spring.
A-Jay reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 12:28 PM, NorthernBasser said:I'm 44 years old. I've been fishing since I can remember. And I have never...not even once...fished a drop shot. How insane is THAT??!
Now, I am more of a 'power' guy as opposed to 'finesse'. Tho I will throw the ned rig, shaky head etc from time to time. But I've never tried the drop shot. I have no idea why either because all I've ever heard and seen is how well it works.
This is something I'm gonna work on this spring.
1
Kind of insane I guess, but maybe not really.
On those flatter, calm water days - especially early summer or early fall when the fish can perhaps be in a little bit more of a transitional funk than usual - the drop shot can save the day.
Good Luck
A-Jay
NorthernBasser reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 12:39 PM, A-Jay said:Kind of insane I guess, but maybe not really.
On those flatter, calm water days - especially early summer or early fall when the fish can perhaps be in a little bit more of a transitional funk than usual - the drop shot and save the day.
Good Luck
A-Jay
I'm gonna hop the pond and you can show me the ways. Get me on some 7 lb smallies and make me a believer! 
A-Jay reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 12:44 PM, NorthernBasser said:I'm gonna hop the pond and you can show me the ways. Get me on some 7 lb smallies and make me a believer!
OK - we're both gonna have to wait a bit.
Still locked & frozen solid over this way.
A-Jay
Dwbassin reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 8:42 AM, Jrob78 said:Edwin Evers won the last BPT event on Conroe and closed it out with an 8 pounder caught on a drop shot, the only drop shot fish he caught all week.
Watch any tournament on the Great Lakes or St. Lawrence river and check out the giant smallies they catch on drop shots.
Yea I remember he even said on a drop shot of all things. He’s one of the top dogs right now
On 3/8/2019 at 11:11 AM, A-Jay said:Drop shot for me is pretty much an all season deal.
I do it shallow, I do it deep and everything in bewteen.
And while I would not list it as my 'best' big fish technique, each season it does account for several very respectable bass. (almost always smallies for me)
Something I started doing a few sesons ago that helped inprove the quality of fish I caught on the drop shot was instead of using the traditional 4-6 in robo worms, and Dream Shot style baits (mostly long & slender worms) was to use SK Rage Craws, SK Caffiene Shad & Small swimbaits.
Clearly 'traditional' drop shot worms are Killer baits - but for me they do seem to attract a slightly smaller version of what I'm grinding to find.
Started with the craw, and it was quite a surprise at how well it worked. Since then have added the shad & the small swimbaits. All these baits allow me to 'cover' water with a rig that I usually reserve for spot where I have a decent idea have fish. Being able to keep this bait moving is a great way to cover deep water flats - and the smallies in ths area - choke these things routinely. I will use both a nse hook deal and also a slightly larger straight shank thin wire hook (out the top), when ther cover is light.
So there's that.
Here's the hooks and more info
Chris Zaldain covers the drop shot swimbit nicely here too -
A-Jay
Thanks for the hook info that’s really what I need. I have those Aaron Grammys too. Just started drop shotting swimbait shut none of any size above 3.5”
Dwbassin reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 10:12 AM, Way north bass guy said:For me, a drop shot has only been in play for the last few years. I can say that it has been a great numbers and big fish tactic. Here in central Ontario, we have about any kind of water you could think of for bass, from super deep, gin clear Canadian Shield lakes, to shallow, fairly dirty stump and weed filled lakes. I’ve used a drop shot with several different kinds of baits in many different waters, and it’s worked well to catch easily over 60 smallmouth in one day with my 9 year old, as well as some absolute pigs. It’s also become one of my go to tactics for pulling big largemouths out from under docks on some of the lakes I fish. Not too many days now where there isn't at least one rod on the deck with a drop shot attached.
I can vogue for the dock theory, I was blessed with a trip the lake Anna this December on the warm side and drop shotting docks caught my biggest(about 3) and majority by far. Always wanted to venture up your way
Spankey reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 6:03 AM, Dwbassin said:You’re referring to PA right? I fished raystown last year and my girl tied a drop shot on and lost her pb cause she was using junk line. It’s good and no question my favorite but a lot of dinks, now cranking I’m just diving into. Lipless being my new favorite switching out hooks on warpigs and red eyes now lol
Man I would have killed for that “accident” , were you fishing a medium light rod?
Yes I'm primarily fishing PA outside of a short roadtrips down your way. I love fishing here I'm just implying that I don't fish the Bass Fishing Capitals of the United States. I have a plan in the works to fish Alabama and Tennessee maybe I won't go home.
Bankbeater reply :
Actually I do better letting a t-rigged plastic drop straight down and then bringing it up off the bottom a foot or two.
Dwbassin reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 8:59 PM, Spankey said:Yes I'm primarily fishing PA outside of a short roadtrips down your way. I love fishing here I'm just implying that I don't fish the Bass Fishing Capitals of the United States. I have a plan in the works to fish Alabama and Tennessee maybe I won't go home.
There is some gooooood fishing in PA but if you go south go to Florida. A couple of my buddies and I went and slept in a van cooking deer meat in Home Depot parking lots. Fishing Everglades and anywhere we saw water. By far the best trip of my life and the best fishing but when we went most of the peacocks died due to 50 degree temps the entire time we were there
FCPhil reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 5:00 AM, Dwbassin said:I always talk/hear people saying drop shotting should be done in the winter. Last year was when I really got obsessed with drop shotting and I always went to it for confidence. It caught me sooooo many fish when nothing else (even Ned rigs) did. However, I never caught a fish over 4 pounds drop shotting. I usually use smaller profile baits less than 3 inches. Should be said I never bed fished with a drop shot either and usually don’t dare throw it towards any cover at all. Just wondering if anyone has any idea what could be going on with that
It can catch bigger fish but it is less likely to catch big fish than bigger presentations.
NorthernBasser reply :
On 3/8/2019 at 12:50 PM, A-Jay said:OK - we're both gonna have to wait a bit.
Still locked & frozen solid over this way.
A-Jay
Oh I know. Here too. Sometimes I wonder why I don't move south. Maybe to TN.
Columbia Craw reply :
I caught two LM over seven pounds on a drop shot at Clear Lake a few years ago. If you put it near a bigger fish, they will eat it. I broke off a really good fish last fall on a drop shot. My buddy told me it was a catfish and then threw right in behind me and caught a 6-4 LM which is still his PB. Go figure.
jtharris3 reply :
Ask Edwin...
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