Drop Shot

Category: Techniques

The drop shot is a finesse fishing rig where the hook is tied above the weight using a Palomar knot, creating a presentation where the bait suspends at a fixed distance above the bottom. This allows the angler to keep the bait in the strike zone — at the exact depth where fish are holding — for extended periods while imparting subtle action through rod tip movement. The weight rests on the bottom and acts as an anchor, while the bait above it moves freely and naturally. Drop shot weights typically range from 1/8 to 3/8 ounce, with lighter weights for shallower water and heavier weights for deeper presentations or current. Hook sizes range from #1 to 1/0, with nose-hooked or wacky-hooked finesse worms, minnow-style baits, and small creature baits being the most common offerings. The drop shot excels in clear water, over hard bottom, on points and humps, and around suspended fish — situations where other techniques struggle to keep a bait in the strike zone. Originally developed for smallmouth bass in deep clear lakes, the drop shot has become one of the most versatile techniques in modern bass fishing, effective from 5 to 60 feet deep across all bass species.