The Detailed Guide When To Use A Drop Shot Rig For Bass

Drop-shotting is one of the best ways to capture bass. Because many anglers think it’s one of the finest rigs to use for bass. Furthermore, putting up and fishing a drop shot rig is quite simple, making it an ideal choice for newbies.

So, you’re undoubtedly wondering: when you should use a drop shot rig. A drop-shot setup can capture bass all year long and at any depth. It works best in the summer and winter when bass travels deeper into the water and becomes more sedentary. Finesse drop-shotting is the best strategy for catching bass that isn’t eating actively now. Now let’s go into the details about when you should and shouldn’t use a drop shot setup.

When Should A Drop Shot Rig Be Used For Bass?

The drop-shot setup rig is extremely successful all year and may be utilized in water depths ranging from 2 feet to 100 feet. Drop shooting was designed for vertical fishing in deep water. However, it has subsequently to casting methods in shallow water, which works in both situations.

Drop shooting is so successful and adaptable that if you had to pick just one bass fishing technique to utilize all the time, it would be drop shooting. However, there are situations when it works better than other bass setups or lures and others when different bass setups or baits work better. So, when is ideal for you to use a drop shot rig?

  • When bass go deeper into the water (in summer or winter)
  • When bass are sluggish (because of hot or cold temperatures)
  • When the bass are not actively feeding ( change of weather)
  • When bass are clinging to the bottom
  • In open water or with a bit of coverage of water

In Deep Water

You can catch bass on nearly any bait or setup when aggressively eating in shallow water. Bass will attack almost anything you throw at them when they travel into deeper water, though it will change. It repeats twice a year, once in the summer and again in the winter. In the summer, they migrate to cooler water in deeper zones, and in the winter, they go to similar locations, but this time to avoid the cold.

Bass hold in deep water and are commonly found towards the bottom, where they eat despite being less aggressive (including the winter). So you can capture them even if they’re deep, but you have to apply the appropriate techniques.

Drop shotting is ideal for deep water fishing for two reasons: first, it is a bottom fishing approach that allows you to deliver your bait exactly where you want it, and second, it is a superb finesse tactic that can catch bass even when they aren’t in the mood to feed aggressively. Drop shooting is ideal for capturing sluggish bass, especially in the winter. It gives them plenty of time to inspect the bait before committing. You can change the length between the hook and weight if you’re using a fish finder for deep-water fishing and see that the bass hangs a few feet above the bottom. You can offer the bait above the water’s bottom at the ideal height.

From The Shore

Because it works so well with light gear, drop shot fishing from shore is ideal for capturing bass with finesse approaches. The drop shot fishing from shore is often done with a small power spinning rod and a reel with 10-12 pound test fluorocarbon, significantly lighter than the 60-pound test braid used for throwing lures over thick cover. As a result, you may employ a modest retrieve speed, giving fussy bass enough time to commit to eating your bait.

Finesse fishing from shore with a drop shot rig can catch fish, not just when they’re being picky. You’ll capture a fish on your drop shot rig with every cast when they’re vigorously eating.

So, why isn’t every bass angler utilizing drop-shotting all the time if it’s so effective? The primary reason is that catching bass by throwing giant lures is more enjoyable. The second reason is that while drop-shotting tends to capture the most fish, they are often smaller than when using large lures that attract large bass. 

When Shouldn’t You Use A Drop Shot Rig?

Even though this is a reasonably ubiquitous fishing approach, there are two basic situations in which it fails:

  • When bass eat close to the surface
  • When there is a great deal of thick cover.

Drop shooting is a bottom fishing method. Because your bait is positioned below them, bass will not notice it if they are busy feeding near the surface. This is especially true when they’re hunting shad in shallow water, in which case you should use a lure that’s cast high in the water and mimics the colors of the baitfish they’re eating. It would be best to always put your bait above them in those situations, as this is where their attention will be drawn.

Drop shooting is often done with light tackle, making it unsuitable for fishing under thick cover. It is doubly helpful because it’s a bottom fishing approach, which means you’ll frequently get snagged on the cover with your weight or lure hook. Heavy grass beds and laydowns with many branches are the two most prevalent conditions when this occurs. Drop shooting may be tricky because your rig constantly gets snagged, or a huge fish will dive under the cover after being caught. You won’t be able to pull it with your light gear. A semi-weedless lure that may be fish high in the water column is preferable, especially spinnerbaits, which used for bass fishing 

Drop Shot Bass Fishing Tips

To begin started, you don’t need the most expensive rod. It’s worth noting that when we improve our abilities and confidence in this sort of fishing. Purchasing a better rod will be done with more expensive materials. It will provide us with higher sensitivity in detecting a softer bite. However, you don’t need the cheapest rod to begin. When casting, reels hold the fishing line. A spinning reel resembles a baitcasting reel but is smaller. You do not need to spend a bunch on your first reel.

You’ll want to invest in a higher-quality reel as your fishing skills improve. The hooks you use should depend on the fish you intend to capture. A circular hook, for example, might be used to catch trout. You’ll want to use an octopus hook if you’re after bass. When utilizing medium-sized live bait or worms, size one hooks are preferable to size two.

Anglers use the Palomar knot to tie the line to fishing hooks. It is sometimes referred to as a fisherman’s hitch or a fisherman’s loop. Because it won’t get trapped on the bottom, a skinny lead drop shot weight is perfect for fishing from shore or around rocks and gaps. Weights for fishing should be composed of materials that will not snag when cast into the water. They should also be teardrop or ball-shaped. From the coast, the optimal beginning weight is 1/8 – 1/4 ounce. When thrown from a boat or kayak, it weighs between 1/8 and 1/4 ounces.

Related post: Drop Shot Hooks – A Complete Guide

Conclusion

If you’re a beginner to drop-shot rigs in general, perhaps this post has helped you learn everything there is to know about them!

Read more: Top 10 Best Baitcasters For Bass