Bass Fishing – Drop Shotting – Drop Shot Rig

With the millions of lures and baits out there to choose from, the best bass bait is the one the fish can see. One of the most versatile baits for catching bass is actually not even a bait at all, it is the way you rig your bait.

This is drop shotting or drop shot rig. This was originally designed to get the bait down to deeper depths and keep it in front of the fish for a long time, but it is also very effective in the shallows also. This makes it a great choice for the lakes in Arizona where the depth can very widely in a very short distance.

The drop shot rig is commercially available, but most people serious about bass fishing set up their rigs themselves, especially since it is so easy.

The first thing to determine is how far off the bottom do you want your bait to be situated; this will determine the position of your hook. For this example we will use a distance of 24 inches.

Tie your hook on the line and leave a tail about 30 inches long. Be sure your hook will naturally want to face opening up when there is tension on the line. Slide a bell sinker up the extra line behind the hook and tie it off at the length you want. The size of the weight will be determined by your fishing conditions but you will rarely need anything over 1/8 oz in most Arizona lakes.

Feed your bait on the hook and you are ready to go. Most people like to use plastic worms or crayfish rather than live bait when drop shotting, because it is more durable.

To use the drop shot the concept is to get the rig to the spot where the fish are on the first shot. For deep water you may have to calculate for current, but do the best you can to get it right on target. Once you have got the spot you think is right, just lightly tighten the line and wait for a fish. With really deep water your line may be straight down so to move it, just troll forward a bit and give enough tension so you feel the bell sinker move across the bottom.

Fishing in shallow water is similar except normally your boat will not be positioned directly over the target. This gives you a better angle between you and where you want your drop shot to land. This makes it much easier to adjust the location of your bait.

One characteristic about drop shotting, especially in deep water applications is the way the fish bite. The big fish milling around at the kind of depths only a drop shot can reach are just cruising around and eating what they find. They are not aggressively attacking anything that crosses their path. Usually they will bite your bait with a solid continuous pull that will feel more like a snag at first. If your boat is not getting blown around and dragging the drop shot, then it probably is not a snag.

In the shallower water the fish tend to be a bit more aggressive and you will normally have much less line out. When a big bass hits it will be a little more obvious. Successful drop shotting is greatly rewarding, you should catch more, and larger, bass.

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