Is A Dropshot Worth It? 2025
jacob2000 reply :
I have never fished a dropshot rig, as I lean toward the simpler Texas rig or wacky. I know people have success with them but is there a time when I should dropshot over texas or wacky?
gulfcaptain reply :
There is a time for all of them so learning to do it only increases the number of fish you can catch. To me dropshot fishing is easier then fishing a t-rig worm as it also keeps the bait above the bottom and in the strike zone. I would take the time to learn it and fish it. You might be suprise yourself on how many fish you haven't been catching. Also should learn to fish a shakey head as well.
jacob2000 reply :
What situations would you use a dropshot?
gulfcaptain reply :
only times I won't fish a dropshot is if it's too grassy or heavy shallow cover. Fishes better on soft bottom then a t-rig at times, you can rig your worm wacky if you want as well, vertical fishing it excels over a t-rig. I normally fish a drophot casted out an slowly drag and shake it as I bring it back in. Can use it as a seach bait if needed. Fished it in Louisiana behind a friends house who told me there were a few bass in there.....well there were more then a few to be caught on a dropshot as opposed to a t-rig which he was fishing and not catching. It works, look at A Martens success....he hates fishing dropshot, but he does it because it works really good.
Smallie Hunter reply :
You can also fish on the outside edge of grass.
Fisher-O-men reply :
In So Cal the drop shot outproduces every other technique. Deep clear lakes.
jacob2000 reply :
Would it produce in muddy or stained water?
Ozark_Basser reply :
It does, but in stained water, bass tend to relate closer to the bottom and/or cover than they do in clearer water. A short leader would probably serve you better, but in my opinion, there are better options.On 4/5/2015 at 2:15 PM, jacob2000 said:Would it produce in muddy or stained water?
smalljaw67 reply :
I don't drop shot at all in water that is dirty, in fact fishing a drop shot for me is similar to jerkbaits, the water has to to be clear or just a little color, maybe a little less visibility than a jerkbait but at least 2' minimum. It will work in dirty water but there are better options, bass are going to be shallower so I'll be either pitching a jig or soft plastic T-rigged.
papajoe222 reply :
Many only think of a drop shot rig as a finess tactic, but I prefer it anytime I want to present a bait up off the bottom. One way I rig it that helps me determine if they want a bait on the bottom, or above it is to use a jig as the weight. I like a hair jig and I'll vary the weight to suit the conditions. I'll normally switch out to something I can use a baitcaster for after I've figuredout which they prefer.
Fishes in trees reply :
The short answer is yes, learning to fish a drop shot is worth it. The only time I don't consider a drop shot is in very stained/muddy water (secchi disc reading of 2 or less) The waters I fish in week to week are very seldom that stained. I generally carry 2 rigs - a spinning rig for a more finesse application and a pitching stick with 20 lb Abrazx fluorocarbon for more gnarly cover areas. I use the bubba drop shot probably 4 times as much as I use the finesse rig. If I fished lakes with lighter cover, I'd go with the finesse rig more often.
WRB reply :
Wacky is a hook placement not a rig. You can wacky hook using a drop shot rig for example and often is a good choice when bass want a slower motion on the fall, also helps line twist.
You cast and drag a drop shot rig or fish it vertical on the bottom or off the bottom, very versatile rig for a wide variety of soft plastics day or night.
Tom
jacob2000 reply :
When I say wacky rigging I am meaning weightless with a wacky hook placement. Do y'all use spinning reels? And what about fishing cover?
Master Bait'r reply :
Honestly, it takes like three things to "make" a drop shot rig, and most of them you already have. You're doing yourself a disservice by NOT using the technique to be blunt! I never stop learning new ways to employ my baits. All it has to do is work once when it counts to be worth it anyways!
jacob2000 reply :
Favorite conditions to throw a dropshot?
Smokinal reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 8:24 AM, jacob2000 said:Favorite conditions to throw a dropshot?
When my go-to techniques aren't working.
Master Bait'r reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 8:24 AM, jacob2000 said:Favorite conditions to throw a dropshot?
When I'm perched over a shelf or drop off, also large visible cover like submerged stumps or even holes in heavy cover or vegetation.
It's a low-impact bait so it's all about sneaking it in there and catching the fish unaware. Anytime you feel like you know where they are but can't get them to act on a regular presentation, DS is about as sneaky and quiet as you can get. When they're not taking a crank or are acting like heavily pressured fish there's a good chance they'll still be like OMG WHERE DID THIS BENTO MINNOW COME FROM?!?? **CHOMP!!!**
WRB reply :
Anytime bass are close to the bottom or suspended a few feet off the bottom a drop shot rig works.
I consider a drop shot rig for finesse applications using 6 lb FC and spinning reel combo's. Usually use a 3/16 oz weight about 6" to 8" below the hook. Hooks; Owner size 1 mosquito hook for nose hooked soft plastics, Owner #5133 size 1/0 down shot hook for weedless soft plastics, weedless wacky size 1 for worms, size 1/0 for 4" and 5" Senko type wacky hooked.
There are several options, this is how I fish drop shot soft plastics. Cast and let it sink watching the line. When the line goes slack, lift the rod tip until you feel the weight, lower the rod tip about 2" and slowly shake the slack line for period of time, then sled the weight about 1' and repeat. Boring and slow until you get a strike. When you feel a strike, lift the rod tip up firmly and reel.
Tom
BasshunterJGH reply :
I have the most luck dropshotting wacky. I love the jackall flick shakes, Yamamoto pro and thin senkos, and of course roboworms. Only problem with these bais is they last 1 fish. ;( Well worth it though.On 4/6/2015 at 7:13 AM, WRB said:Wacky is a hook placement not a rig. You can wacky hook using a drop shot rig for example and often is a good choice when bass want a slower motion on the fall, also helps line twist.
You cast and drag a drop shot rig or fish it vertical on the bottom or off the bottom, very versatile rig for a wide variety of soft plastics day or night.
Tom
Ozark_Basser reply :
Clear, calm water. It's more of a last resort or clean up bait for me though.
jacob2000 reply :
Has anyone ever drops hotted from a bank or brackish water?
Ozark_Basser reply :
Yes from the bank. No for brackish water.
MainelyBASS reply :
The Drop Shot in a boat with a decent sonar on the front is nearly cheating. I have won more money in tournaments watching fish eat my bait on screen than I have using any other technique.
Gotfishyfingers? reply :
The deeper the water, the more I use a drop-shot. 20ft plus up to like 45ft.
BassinNCstyle reply :
I use it at the ponds I fish at, works great. Works in clear or stained water. Deep or shallow. I have caught fish a couple feet from the bank next to a fallen tree in shallow water with the DS.
SDbassin reply :
I love drop-shotting, especially on 6 or 7lb line sniper. I also really like pitching a drop shot on heavier gear with 14 or 16lb line with a creature bait. I can keep the bait in the strike zone a lot longer, and it has produced really well for me. For me drop shotting isn't just a light line finesse technique, I can also use it in a more power finesse type of way
Choporoz reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 11:12 AM, jacob2000 said:Has anyone ever drops hotted from a bank or brackish water?
I tried drop shotting brackish water from bank and pier yesterday. Results: 2 lost weights; 2 lost baits and weights; one broken rod tip; 2 cut fingers on line pulling at the snags; no fish. Fishing is usually more fun.
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