Flip the usual order and put the weight at the very end of your line with the hook 12–24 inches above it. The bait sits still in the strike zone while you shake it in place. On the Great Lakes, Lake Simcoe, the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa River, the drop shot is the rig that catches smallmouth when nothing else does. It is equally good for walleye and jumbo perch.
What you need
- Drop-shot hook#1–#2 light wire, or 1/0 EWG for Texas-rigging in cover
- Drop-shot weight1/4–3/8 oz cylinder or teardrop with a line clip (tungsten is best)
- Soft plastic3–4" finesse worm, minnow or goby imitation
- Leader6–8 lb fluorocarbon, 8–12 ft
- Main line10–15 lb braid tied to the fluoro leader
How to tie the drop-shot rig
- Tie the hook to the leader with a Palomar knot, but leave a long tag end of 12–24 inches (the tag will hold the weight).
- Pass the tag end back down through the hook eye from the point side so the hook stands out perpendicular to the line, point up.
- Clip or tie the drop-shot weight to the end of the tag line. Clip weights let you adjust the distance without retying.
- Nose-hook the plastic (point out through the top of the nose) for open water, or Texas-rig it on an EWG for weeds and rock.
- Connect the fluoro leader to your braid with an FG or Alberto knot.
How to fish it
Drop it straight down or cast and let the weight settle. Keep the line just tight enough to feel the weight, then shake the rod tip without moving the weight. Bites are a tick or a slow heaviness — reel into the fish and lift; no hard hook set with light wire hooks.
Tips
- Shorter leader (6–10") when fish are tight to bottom; longer (18–24") when they suspend or in sparse grass.
- A spinning rod with a soft tip and 10 lb braid to 7 lb fluoro is the standard Great Lakes setup.
- Goby-coloured plastics are money on Lake Ontario, Erie and Simcoe smallmouth.
Common mistakes
- Over-working it. The bait should quiver, not hop.
- Not passing the tag back through the eye — the hook will point down and miss fish.
- Fishing it too heavy; use the lightest weight that holds bottom.
FAQ
How far above the weight should the drop-shot hook be?
Start at 12–18 inches. Shorten when fish are pinned to bottom; lengthen up to 24–30 inches when they suspend or when fishing over low weeds.
What is the best drop-shot weight size?
1/4 oz is the everyday choice; 3/16 oz for shallow calm water, 3/8–1/2 oz for deep water, wind and current.