Drop Shot

Drop Shot lures are bottom contact lures known for keeping the soft plastics off the bottom generally from 1 to 3 feet and for their subtle, weightless, natural looking, suspended forage-like lure action.  Drop shots are generally, but not always, used for fishing slow and fishing deep.

Anatomy: Drop Shot lures are soft bait lures which feature a soft plastic, a single hook which is tied using a palomar knot, but leaving a long tag (end of the line) long (1 to 3 plus feet). Then the tag end is slid back through the eye of the hook and then drop shot weight is attached to the end of the tag. If near cover the soft plastic can be texas rigged – weedless.

Variants & Other Names: 

  • Power Shotting: A variance of the presentation strategy where the drop shot lure is presented to a spot, wait a few seconds for a bite, and if none, reeled in quickly and then presented to the next stop. This strategy is more common when fishing shallow and in grass.

Lure Action. Subtle, weightless, natural looking, suspended forage-like.

Search Bait: Not common, albeit power shotting as discussed above does cover water similar to pitching.

Pros’ Choice: Common. 

Figure 1: Drop Shot courtesy of Ali Express
Manufacturer's Details
When to Fish Drop Shot

Drop Shot lures are bottom contact lures typically selected when:   

  • Targeted Depth is:
    • Deep(Offshore): Common
      • Suspended: Common (depending on your definition of suspended) as some suggest trying when bass are reasonably close to cover/bottom ie 1 or 2 feet above cover/bottom allowing the soft plastic to be either even or 1 or 2 feet above the bass.  Some suggest the lure’s drop shot weight will interfere with the presentation.
    • Shallow: Less common, albeit some will powershot in taller grass (discussed above).
  • Fishing Speed is:
    • Slow: Common as the near stationary lure allows the bass to get a good look at the lure.
    • Fast: Not common except powershotting (discussed above).
  • Lure Visibility is:
    • High Lure Visibility: Common, as it is a natural looking and slow presentation.
    • Low Lure Visibility: Less common.
      • Engaging Lateral Line: None except minor vibrations caused with the rod tip.
      • Engaging Hearing: Some suggest the drop shot weight hitting the bottom creates noise that can catch the bass’ attention. Albeit most recommend the lightest weight possible, some do suggest a heavier weight will create more noise.
      • Engaging Sense of Smell and or Taste: Most soft plastics used have both odor and taste. 
  • Targeting Cover: Some suggest all lures are good near cover where drop shot lures are good when contacting:
    • Grass: Not common as the hook and weight get snagged in the grass but when grass is targeted it is typically powershotting with a weedless hook.
      • Weedless: Semi weedless as the hook and soft plastic can be texas-rigged but the drop shot weight still will get caught up on the grass. In other words, it is difficult to move the lure through grass.
    • Rock: Commonly used in all rock scenarios and well suited for rock as most drop shot weights are designed to release the line when snagged. 
    • Wood: Not common as the hooks get snagged on the wood, except with forward facing sonar to guide the lure around the wood. 
    • Dock: Not common.
    • Off Cover: Less common unless targeted bass with forward facing sonar.
  • Soft Bottom vs Hard Bottom: Common in soft bottom as the lure is above the bottom and hard bottom. The drag retrieve can be used in both bottom compositions.
Specific Drop Shot Lure Selection

Selecting the Drop Shot Lure Type, as a soft bait lure type,  there are the following key decisions:

  • Soft Plastics: Sometimes zero buoyancy sort plastics are used. Generally nose hooked to maximize action but can be texas rigged in heavier cover or wacky rigged.
    • Common:
      • Minnow: Sometimes referred to as bait fish or a drop shot plastic.
      • Worm: Some worm soft plastics are designed specifically for drop shot.
    • Less Common:
      • Leech: Not common.
      • Goby: Generally not common except sometimes used in lakes with gobies.
      • Jerkbait Soft Plastic: Not to be confused with a soft jerkbait lure, but using the same soft plastic, also called a Fluke. 
      • Swimbait Soft Plastic: Not common and not to be confused with a soft swimbait lure, but using the same soft plastic, similar to minnow soft plastics
    • Size:
      • Small: 2″ to 3″  Spring
      • Common: 3″ to 4″
      • Large: 4″ to 5″   Fall
  • Lure Color: As lure color selection is mostly tied to the lure visibility download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic.
Download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic
Rigging Decisions

As a soft bait lure type, the common rigging considerations includes:

  • Hook:
    • Type:
      • Drop Shot Hooks: Many manufactures market specific hooks for drop shot which are generally octopus hooks.  [Circle hooks sometimes used]
    • Options and Attributes:
      • Weed Guard. Some are available with a wire weed guard for a weedless presentation.
      • Tag Line Swivel: A swivel for the tag end designed to allow the soft bait more action.
    • Hook Size: Some say using the smallest hook provides the most lure action without impacting landing a bass. Some suggest larger hooks are better to land a bass.
      • Small: #6, #4, #3
      • Common: #2, #1
      • Large: 1/O, 2/O
  • Addon Weights: Dropshot lures have specific designed add-on weights with line clips where the tag end of the line can be clinched onto the weight (some do tie) with the goal for the line to pull free on a snag. Instead of drop shot weights, some suggest ball weights. As a soft bait lure, the fall rate can be estimated based on the add-on weight. Fall rate is not often a major factor as the lure height is controlled to stay in the strike zone but some say use the lightest weight possible (to maximize feel) which would in theory slow the fall rate.
  • Options and Attributes:
    • Shapes: Generally, the shape chosen is not to get snagged and to best feel the bottom.
      • Pencil: Also called slim, common for all bottom composition and cover especially rock.
      • Tear Drop: Some consider it better for grass, gravel, sand.
      • Round / Ball Shaped: Some consider better with gravel or sand and better feel.
      • Rattle: Some weights do have a rattle which creates sound when bouncing slightly on hard bottom or cover.
  • Weight: Some say, the rule of thumb is to select the lightest weight possible to feel the bottom while others say heavier weight is fine and will allow you to make more casts. Deeper water and/or windy conditions require more weight.
    • Light: 1/16oz, 1/8 oz, 3/16 oz
    • Common: 1/4 oz, 3/8 oz, 1/2 oz
    • Heavy: 3/4 oz, 1 oz.
  • Main Line: Common for braid.
    • Light: 6 lb test to 8 lb test
    • Common: 10 lb test to 15 lb test
    • Heavy: 20 lb test
  • Leader: Common for a fluorocarbon generally with slightly lower test.
    • Leader Length: Some suggest as long as keeping the knot out of the bail. Some will suggest upwards of 15 ft allowing for many reties. 
    • Tag End Length: The length of the tag end after the hook has been tied, in other words how much line between the drop shot weight (the bottom) and the soft plastic. A common length is about 18” and the average is between 12-24”. It’s all about how much distance you need between the bait and the bottom. Some factors may include how far the bass are off the bottom or how an angler is presenting the bait. If you’re vertical fishing and bass are less than a foot of the bottom than a 12”-18” leader some suggest is good. In the same scenario, if you’re casting or dragging the drop shot away from the boat an 18”-24” lead may be required to keep the bait off t 12″ of the bottom due to the angle. Electronics can also help decide the length of your leader. If you’re marking bass tight to the bottom, shorten your leader and if you see them suspending off the bottom, lengthen it.
  • Rod:
Download Rod Infographic
Drop SHot Presentations

Presentations for drop shot are commonly considered a vertical presentation and a tight line presentation with the following considerations:

Additional Considerations
  • Seasons: Common for all seasons. 
  • Sight Fishing: Less common except in very clear water.
    • Spawning: Less common, more so for targeting smallmouth which are known to eat while spawning.
  • Follow Up Bait: Less common, as typically used in deeper water.
  • Blades: Not common, but trailer blades can be added to a drop shot hook, potentially when fishing a little faster and looking for a flash on sunny days.
  • Targeting Wolf Packs: Less common as the lure can reside in the path of the traveling bass but typically used in deeper water.
  • Check Line in Hook Gap: Check your knot often because it’s quite common for it to turn into the gap of the eye and with a light line the next hook set could mean a broken line.
  • Vary the Suspension Height: Some suggest varying the tag length between the bait and the drop shot weight is the most overlooked part of the drop shot rig, but at times it can be the most important part, for example to move the lure further above the bass (or closer).  
  • Start with Heavier Weight: Some suggest those learning drop shot can be helped by using heavier weight which will allow you to learn how the lure feels on the bottom.
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