In clear water situations, it’s tough to beat a drop shot rig. What was once a well-kept secret among bass anglers, the drop shot has revolutionized bass fishing, proving time and time again to be effective at generating strikes.
A drop shot rig is where you position your weight below your bait and jig it in such a way that it stays just off the bottom. The fishing industry has seen a rise in the production of tackle designed for drop shotting, including rods, reels and baits. What makes the drop-shot rig so efficient on the water, though?
Subtlety is Key
Most bass—especially those who make their home in heavily-pressured waters—are constantly exposed to an army of bottom-dragging jigs, Carolina rigs and Texas rigs. The same presentations on a daily basis may fool a bass or two now and then, but it’s likely they’ve grown wise. Changing things up by dropping a little worm or minnow into the strike zone and delicately dancing it right in front of a fish may be just the slight change needed to draw a strike. Instead of kicking up sediment and making a ton of noise like other lures, the drop-shot provides maximum subtlety, which pressured bass can’t resist.
A Different Presentation
Most of the commonly used bass rigs have one thing in common: their weight is attached to the business end. Whether it’s a jig, Texas rig, wacky rig, or a shaky head, the hook is never more than a few inches from the weight. Because weights sink, however, the bait will sink right along with it, keeping the whole rig on the bottom. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen baitfish crawl or hop along the bottom like a Texas rig. By moving the weight to the end, a drop-shot rig offers a different presentation than other rigs. Keeping the bait off the bottom makes it more visible, which will attract more bass.
You’re in Control
The drop-shot is unique because, with it, you can move your bait without moving the weight. If you shake a Texas rig or a jig, it’s going to rock forward and potentially move out of the strike zone. With a drop-shot, though, the weight anchors it to the bottom, allowing you to make the bait dance without moving it. This is what makes the drop-shot especially deadly on bedding bass. Imagine this: you can pitch a finesse worm onto a bass bed, and once the weight is in the center of the bed, you can shake and wiggle the worm until the bass can’t resist anymore.
Photo credit: Dreamstime
