How to Rig the Dropshot Rig
The dropshot rig is a versatile finesse presentation that should be part of any angler's arsenal. Once thought of as only a deep water presentation, the dropshot has been adapted to now be fished deep, shallow, and anywhere in between.
The dropshot rig consists of a line tied to a hook, with a tag end leader that extends down to a dropshot weight below the hook. In this presentation, the hook and bait are above the weight, making it different than most presentations that have the weight before the hook.
The equipment needed to fish the dropshot rig start with your rod and reel. While heavier dropshots can be fished on baitcasting equipment (sometimes called powershotting), the dropshot is typically fished on a medium or medium light action spinning rod. Low visiblity line should be used - monofilament, fluorocarbon, or copolymer (flourocarbon coated monofilament). Lastly, you will need a dropshot hook, dropshot weight, and finesse soft plastic bait. Harmony's Razor Series Dropshot Hooks pair perfectly with Harmony's Tungsten Dropshot Weights, and all you'll need to do is pair them with your favorite soft plastic bait such as Z-Man's TrickShotZ, BioSpawn PlasmaTails, or any other small minnow/worm/creature bait, or even a Wacky Rigged senko. Minnow and worm baits are often nose hooked, as it creates the most natural action for these bait profiles.
The dropshot rig consists of a line tied to a hook, with a tag end leader that extends down to a dropshot weight below the hook. In this presentation, the hook and bait are above the weight, making it different than most presentations that have the weight before the hook.
The equipment needed to fish the dropshot rig start with your rod and reel. While heavier dropshots can be fished on baitcasting equipment (sometimes called powershotting), the dropshot is typically fished on a medium or medium light action spinning rod. Low visiblity line should be used - monofilament, fluorocarbon, or copolymer (flourocarbon coated monofilament). Lastly, you will need a dropshot hook, dropshot weight, and finesse soft plastic bait. Harmony's Razor Series Dropshot Hooks pair perfectly with Harmony's Tungsten Dropshot Weights, and all you'll need to do is pair them with your favorite soft plastic bait such as Z-Man's TrickShotZ, BioSpawn PlasmaTails, or any other small minnow/worm/creature bait, or even a Wacky Rigged senko. Minnow and worm baits are often nose hooked, as it creates the most natural action for these bait profiles.
Rig the dropshot by tying a palomar knot to your dropshot hook, leaving a long tag line on the free end of the knot (between 4 inches and 2+ feet, depending on your desired presentation). Trim the tag end to the desired length of your weight leader and simply clip on your dropshot weight to the line.
In shallow water, a shorter leader is often used. You can also use a short leader in deeper water if you want your bait presented closer to the bottom. Longer leaders will keep your bait further off the bottom, and are especially helpful when fishing deeper grass, as you can create a 3' leader to keep your bait 1 foot above 2' tall grass.
In shallow water, a shorter leader is often used. You can also use a short leader in deeper water if you want your bait presented closer to the bottom. Longer leaders will keep your bait further off the bottom, and are especially helpful when fishing deeper grass, as you can create a 3' leader to keep your bait 1 foot above 2' tall grass.
How and Where to Fish the Dropshot Rig
There are several ways to effectively fish the dropshot. The vast difference in fishing situations for each of these techniques is a testament to the versatility of the dropshot rig.
Vertical fishing for suspended bass or bass on structure. This is what most folks think of when they hear the word dropshot. Hovering your boat over suspended bass or bass sitting on a deep hump, looking for their characteristic arches on your sonar screen, possibly with a cloud of baitfish displaying several feet above the bass. You drop your line straight down and can watch the weight descend on your sonar screen (adjust sensitivity settings until you can see the weight on your screen) until it reaches the depth of the bass on your graph. You can then deadstick the bait, twitch it, or slowly lift up and drop until one of these presentations triggers these fish to bite. This can be done without sonar if you know where a hump is in the water, as these areas often hold fish. Drop your line until the weight hits the hump, then twitch it on the bottom. You can also try raising the bait several feet to see if bass are suspending over the hump rather than resting on top of it.
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Shallow Cover. While on the complete opposite end of the spectrum of bass fishing than fishing vertically for suspending fish, the dropshot is also incredibly effective for fishing shallow cover. Whether that cover is wood pilings, docks, grass, rocks, wood, or anything else, the dropshot allows you to cast or pitch your bait into this cover and fish it in place without dragging it back to the boat/bank. Cast your dropshot up against a dock piling, allowing it to fall to the bottom. Now twitch your line or deadstick (do nothing, just let it sit there) your bait against that piling for several seconds or as long as you can stand it. Repeat for each side of that piling, then move on to the next piling. The dropshot is extremely efficient for this type of fishing, because you can keep your bait in your targeted spot as long as you'd like, as long as you don't lift your weight off the bottom. Doing the same with a jig or texas rigged bait would not be possible, and to cover the targeted cover equally would require several casts. Again, this can be done in any type of cover, be it docks, rocks, laydowns, pockets in thick grass, etc.
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Dragging the dropshot. The dropshot can also be fished similar to a Carolina Rig. This can be deadly when covering points or ledges, as the dropshot enables an efficient way to cover these structures with a finesse bait held at a set height off the bottom to present it to scattered, feeding bass. Tie on a weight suitable for the depth of water you are covering. As light as 1/8oz is good for water under 8', and 1/4oz or larger can be used down to deeper depths of 20-50'. Cast your dropshot to the top of a ledge or across a point, allowing it to sink to the bottom. Slowly crawl the weight over the point or down the ledge, allowing your bait to twitch and swim along, mimicking the contour of the structure you are fishing as the weight drags along below it.
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Razor Series DropShot (Dropshot/Wacky/Finesse) Hooks (10 Pack)
$6.89
- Harmony's Razor Series DropShot Hooks are perfect for dropshotting in any situation, year-round, deep or shallow, for largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, and other gamefish.
- Also great for Wacky Rigging and other finesse applications!
- Chemically sharpened Razor Series hook points penetrate effortlessly, even on light line with finesse hooksets.
Tungsten Skinny Dropshot Weights
$9.29 - $16.29
- Harmony Fishing Company's Tungsten Skinny DropShot weights are perfect for dropshotting in any situation, year-round, deep or shallow, for largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, and other gamefish.
- Harmony's environmentally friendly tungsten is nearly twice as dense as lead, meaning your tungsten weight is half the size of the same weight lead sinker. The greater density equals greater sensitivity, allowing you to feel the bottom like never before. The built in line-swivel helps reduce line twist.
- Each weight is engraved with the signature Harmony “H” and the weight size for easy identification. Harmony’s chip-proof black oxide coating doesn’t chip or peel like inferior painted weights, so you’ll maintain a stealthy matte black finish on your weights, even when fishing hard/rocky bottom.
Tungsten Round/Ball Dropshot Weights (6 Pack)
$9.29 - $12.79
- Harmony Fishing Company's Tungsten Round/Ball DropShot weights are perfect for dropshotting in any situation, year-round, deep or shallow, for largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, and other gamefish.
- Harmony's environmentally friendly tungsten is nearly twice as dense as lead, meaning your tungsten weight is half the size of the same weight lead sinker. The greater density equals greater sensitivity, allowing you to feel the bottom like never before. The built in line-swivel helps reduce line twist.
Quickshot Dropshot Wires (20 Pack)
$4.79
- Quickly convert any worm weight, flipping weight, or other weight with a line hole into a dropshot weight in seconds.
- Stack two weights or a weight and a bead and your new dropshot weight will give off an attracting click sound every time you twitch or lift the weight on your retrieve.
Dropshot Kit
$14.99
- Everything you need to learn and master fishing the dropshot for largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, and other freshwater predator fish.
- Includes 6 pack of Z-Man Trick ShotZ soft plastic baits (3.5”, The Deal) + 10 pack Harmony Razor Series Dropshot Hooks (1/0) + 6 pack Harmony Tungsten Skinny Dropshot Weights (1/8oz) + Harmony's “How To Dropshot for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass” Guide
- The dropshot is an incredibly effective and efficient finesse presentation for bass fishing. It can catch both high quantities and high quality fish, especially when other lures aren't triggering bites.
- The “How To Dropshot” Guide includes information on how to rig the dropshot, how to work the bait, as well as where to most effectively fish the dropshot during different seasons.