The drop shot rig was developed in Japan and transformed finesse bass fishing in North America. Its key advantage: the bait is suspended above the bottom at a fixed height, and the weight sits below — meaning the weight anchors the rig while the bait can be worked in place without moving horizontally.
Components
| Component | Purpose | Size/Type |
|---|---|---|
| Finesse hook | Main hook, tied mid-line | Size 1 or 1/0, straight shank |
| Drop shot weight | Anchors rig to bottom | 3/8oz standard; cylinder or teardrop |
| Fluorocarbon main line | Low visibility, sensitivity | 6–10lb |
| Finesse soft plastic | Suspended bait | 3–5 inch worm, minnow, or Senko |
How to Tie a Drop Shot Rig
Step 1: Tie the Hook Mid-Line (Modified Palomar)
- Double your main line and pass the loop through the hook eye
- Tie a loose overhand knot above the hook (as you would for a Palomar)
- Pass the loop back through the hook eye from the bottom (front of eye to back)
- Wet the knot and cinch it — pulling both the main line going back to the rod and the tag end
- The hook should be perpendicular to the line with the point facing upward
Leave 6–18 inches of tag end below the hook. This becomes the line to the weight.
For a detailed knot tutorial, see the Palomar Knot guide — the drop shot modification is the same knot with the extra loop-back step.
Step 2: Attach the Weight
Drop shot weights use a pinch clip (wire clasp). Push the tag end into the clip and cinch the wire jaws down. No knot needed — this lets you adjust the depth quickly.
If using a weight with no clip, tie a simple overhand knot around the weight’s ring.
Step 3: Rig the Bait
Nose hook (most common): Push the hook point through the nose of the soft plastic 1/4 inch, bring it through the side, and leave the hook point exposed. The bait hangs straight (or slightly tilted downward) from the hook. This creates maximum action on the twitch.
Texas style weedless: For fishing in grass or near structure, rig the bait weedlessly through the body as you would a Texas rig. This reduces action slightly but prevents snags.
Fishing the Drop Shot
Vertical Fishing (Best Presentation)
The drop shot shines when fished vertically — directly below the rod tip in 12–40+ feet of water.
- Lower the rig to the bottom
- Reel up slightly to let the weight rest on bottom with the bait suspended above
- Shake the rod tip lightly — this vibrates the bait in place without moving the weight
- Let the bait sit motionless for 5–30 seconds (bites often come on the pause)
- Occasionally lift the weight off the bottom, then lower it back down
Casting (Secondary Presentation)
For shallower water or when fish are spread:
- Cast to structure
- Let the rig fall to bottom — watch the line for bites on the fall
- Drag the weight along the bottom slowly with the rod tip
- Shake the rod tip to work the bait in each position
Best Conditions for Drop Shot
- Clear, pressured water where finesse presentations outperform power fishing
- Post-front bass that have gone neutral and won’t commit to aggressive lures
- Suspended fish visible on sonar at a specific depth (set the hook height to match)
- Rock piles, points, and ledges where bass hold tightly to structure
- Summer and winter extreme temperature periods when fish move deep