Is A Dropshot Worth It?

[jacob2000]

I have never fished a dropshot rig, as I lean toward the simpler Texas rig or wacky. I know people have success with them but is there a time when I should dropshot over texas or wacky?

[gulfcaptain]

There is a time for all of them so learning to do it only increases the number of fish you can catch. To me dropshot fishing is easier then fishing a t-rig worm as it also keeps the bait above the bottom and in the strike zone.  I would take the time to learn it and fish it.  You might be suprise yourself on how many fish you haven't been catching. Also should learn to fish a shakey head as well.

[jacob2000]

What situations would you use a dropshot?

[gulfcaptain]

only times I won't fish a dropshot is if it's too grassy or heavy shallow cover.  Fishes better on soft bottom then a t-rig at times, you can rig your worm wacky if you want as well, vertical fishing it excels over a t-rig.  I normally fish a drophot casted out an slowly drag and shake it as I bring it back in.  Can use it as a seach bait if needed.  Fished it in Louisiana behind a friends house who told me there were a few bass in there.....well there were more then a few to be caught on a dropshot as opposed to a t-rig which he was fishing and not catching.  It works, look at A Martens success....he hates fishing dropshot, but he does it because it works really good.

[Smallie Hunter]

You can also fish on the outside edge of grass.

[Fisher-O-men]

In So Cal the drop shot outproduces every other technique.  Deep clear lakes.

[jacob2000]

Would it produce in muddy or stained water?

[Ozark_Basser]

Would it produce in muddy or stained water?

It does, but in stained water, bass tend to relate closer to the bottom and/or cover than they do in clearer water. A short leader would probably serve you better, but in my opinion, there are better options.

[smalljaw67]

I don't drop shot at all in water that is dirty, in fact fishing a drop shot for me is similar to jerkbaits, the water has to to be clear or just a little color, maybe a little less visibility than a jerkbait but at least 2' minimum.  It will work in dirty water but there are better options, bass are going to be shallower so I'll be either pitching a jig or soft plastic T-rigged.

[papajoe222]

Many only think of a drop shot rig as a finess tactic, but I prefer it anytime I want to present a bait up off the bottom. One way I rig it that helps me determine if they want a bait on the bottom, or above it is to use a jig as the weight. I like a hair jig and I'll vary the weight to suit the conditions. I'll normally switch out to something I can use a baitcaster for after I've figuredout which they prefer.

[Fishes in trees]

The short answer is yes, learning to fish a drop shot is worth it.  The only time I don't consider a drop shot is in very stained/muddy water (secchi disc reading of 2 or less)   The waters I fish in week to week are very seldom that stained.    I generally carry 2 rigs - a spinning rig for a more finesse application and a pitching stick with 20 lb Abrazx fluorocarbon for more gnarly cover areas.   I use the bubba drop shot probably 4 times as much as I use the finesse rig.  If I fished lakes with lighter cover, I'd go with the finesse rig more often.

[WRB]

Wacky is a hook placement not a rig. You can wacky hook using a drop shot rig for example and often is a good choice when bass want a slower motion on the fall, also helps line twist.

You cast and drag a drop shot rig or fish it vertical on the bottom or off the bottom, very versatile rig for a wide variety of soft plastics day or night.

Tom

[jacob2000]

When I say wacky rigging I am meaning weightless with a wacky hook placement. Do y'all use spinning reels? And what about fishing cover?

[Master Bait'r]

Honestly, it takes like three things to "make" a drop shot rig, and most of them you already have.  You're doing yourself a disservice by NOT using the technique to be blunt!  I never stop learning new ways to employ my baits.  All it has to do is work once when it counts to be worth it anyways!   

[jacob2000]

Favorite conditions to throw a dropshot?

[Smokinal]

Favorite conditions to throw a dropshot?

When my go-to techniques aren't working.

[Master Bait'r]

Favorite conditions to throw a dropshot?

When I'm perched over a shelf or drop off, also large visible cover like submerged stumps or even holes in heavy cover or vegetation.

It's a low-impact bait so it's all about sneaking it in there and catching the fish unaware. Anytime you feel like you know where they are but can't get them to act on a regular presentation, DS is about as sneaky and quiet as you can get. When they're not taking a crank or are acting like heavily pressured fish there's a good chance they'll still be like OMG WHERE DID THIS BENTO MINNOW COME FROM?!?? **CHOMP!!!**

[WRB]

Anytime bass are close to the bottom or suspended a few feet off the bottom a drop shot rig works.

I consider a drop shot rig for finesse applications using 6 lb FC and spinning reel combo's. Usually use a 3/16 oz weight about 6" to 8" below the hook. Hooks; Owner size 1 mosquito hook for nose hooked soft plastics, Owner #5133 size 1/0 down shot hook for weedless soft plastics, weedless wacky size 1 for worms, size 1/0 for 4" and 5" Senko type wacky hooked.

There are several options, this is how I fish drop shot soft plastics. Cast and let it sink watching the line. When the line goes slack, lift the rod tip until you feel the weight, lower the rod tip about 2" and slowly shake the slack line for period of time, then sled the weight about 1' and repeat. Boring and slow until you get a strike. When you feel a strike, lift the rod tip up firmly and reel.

Tom

[BasshunterJGH]

Wacky is a hook placement not a rig. You can wacky hook using a drop shot rig for example and often is a good choice when bass want a slower motion on the fall, also helps line twist.

You cast and drag a drop shot rig or fish it vertical on the bottom or off the bottom, very versatile rig for a wide variety of soft plastics day or night.

Tom

I have the most luck dropshotting wacky. I love the jackall flick shakes, Yamamoto pro and thin senkos, and of course roboworms. Only problem with these bais is they last 1 fish. ;( Well worth it though.

[Ozark_Basser]

Clear, calm water. It's more of a last resort or clean up bait for me though.

[jacob2000]

Has anyone ever drops hotted from a bank or brackish water?

[Ozark_Basser]

Yes from the bank. No for brackish water.

[MainelyBASS]

The Drop Shot in a boat with a decent sonar on the front is nearly cheating. I have won more money in tournaments watching fish eat my bait on screen than I have using any other technique.

[Gotfishyfingers?]

The deeper the water, the more I use a drop-shot. 20ft plus up to like 45ft.

[BassinNCstyle]

I use it at the ponds I fish at, works great. Works in clear or stained water. Deep or shallow. I have caught fish a couple feet from the bank next to a fallen tree in shallow water with the DS.