Drop Shot Rigs for Bass

Several years ago, when I first heard about the fishing technique called “drop shot rigs for bass,” I couldn’t help but laugh. It reminded me of my first fishing trip to Lake George with my uncle when I was just ten years old. We fished the rocky ledges around Tongue Mountain using center-hooked night crawlers or minnows suspended a foot or two above a half-ounce lead sinker. This simple rig was highly effective, especially when we fished for bullheads off the shore at the South Bay launch. So, when I heard bass fishing professionals promoting “drop shotting” as a breakthrough technique, I found the idea amusing.

The differences in this “new” method were minimal, yet modernized. Instead of live bait, artificial lures were used. Lighter lines were favored for clearer waters, and tungsten sinkers replaced the lead ones. Despite these updates, the essence of drop shot fishing remained the same.

What is Drop Shot Fishing?

Drop shot fishing has gained significant popularity among professional bass anglers, particularly in clear waters like Lake George and Schroon Lake. It is also a highly effective method in muddier and weedier areas, such as Lake Champlain. The technique involves placing the weight at the bottom of the rig, with the bait suspended above it, making it ideal for getting a lure to hover enticingly in front of fish.

My First Experience with the Drop Shot Rig

I first truly appreciated the potential of a drop shot rig while fishing with my friend Dan Stadler in the Crown Point area of Lake Champlain. That day gave me a real understanding of why tournaments like the Bassmasters and FLW Outdoors return to upper Lake Champlain year after year.

At 6 a.m., I boarded Dan’s boat, where he handed me a 7-foot medium-action graphite rod, fitted with a fast-retrieve baitcasting reel (6.1:1), spooled with 10-pound monofilament line. The rig featured a one-eighth-ounce bell sinker, with a size 3 Bleeding Bait hook positioned 12-14 inches above the sinker, with the hook point angled upward to mimic the gills of a wounded baitfish. Our lures for the day were Bass Pro Shops’ four-inch Drop Shot Worm and their four-inch Finesse Drop Shot Goby.

First Stop: The Old Crown Point Bridge

Our initial stop was the pilings of the old Crown Point Bridge. I had often overlooked these pilings in the past, but after that day, I never pass them up. The key to drop shotting successfully is to allow the weight to settle on the bottom, then tighten your line and gently twitch or shake the bait using only the rod tip.

Setting the Hook

Most bites occur while twitching the bait. You’ll either feel a light tick or see the rod tip grow heavy as a fish starts to take the bait. The trick is to quickly reel in any slack and SET THE HOOK. As Dan put it, “He who waits will lose his fish.” He only had to remind me once. From those pilings alone, we caught and released over 20 smallmouth bass.

For the next hour, we focused on the rocky cliff-like shorelines above Bulwaga Bay, targeting areas where the depth dropped to 15 feet or more. One especially productive area was off the Chimney Point peninsula on the Vermont side, where we landed over 30 smallmouth bass in water 15 to 20 feet deep.

A Fishing Day to Remember

By the end of our 12-hour fishing adventure, we had caught — and I know this might sound like a fish tale — at least 80 bass. Most were smallmouths ranging between 14 to 16 inches, with about a dozen three-pounders, and two that tipped the scales at over five pounds. It was the kind of day you dream about as an angler.

Why Drop Shot Rigs Work

The drop shot rig’s success lies in its ability to present the bait naturally in front of the fish, especially in deep or rocky environments where bass like to hang out. By suspending the bait just above the weight, the rig can hover enticingly, allowing the angler to control its subtle movements. Whether you’re fishing in clear or murky water, the drop shot rig proves versatile, offering a highly effective means of catching not only bass but also other species.

That day on Lake Champlain taught me that while fishing techniques may evolve, the basics often remain the same. It’s just the tools and tactics that change. Whether you’re drop shotting in the pristine waters of Lake George or casting into the weedy bays of Champlain, the excitement of feeling that first tug on the line and setting the hook remains timeless.

Angler holding a huge smallmouth caught by using a drop shot rig for bass.
Using a drop shot rig for bass can also work well in deeper water, as this lunker from Lake George proves.

Drop Shotting at Lake George: A Winning Technique

Since that memorable trip to Lake Champlain, the drop shot rig has become my go-to technique for targeting smallmouth bass. A few weeks later, I discovered that the smallmouths in Lake George were just as eager to bite on drop shot rigs, especially when paired with soft plastic Goby lures. While practicing for a Capital District Bassmaster club event at Lake George, I found success near the Point of Tongue Mountain, catching several impressive smallmouths.

The Tournament Day

On the day of the tournament, I launched from Mossy Point at the north end of the lake and made the long run through the Narrows down to Tongue Mountain. I had confidence in this area after my practice session, so I decided to spend the first five hours fishing that spot exclusively. It turned out to be the right decision, as I ended up winning the tournament with a total weight of over 17 pounds from five smallmouth bass—all caught using the drop shot rig.

A Strategy That Pays Off

My non-boater partner for the day initially tried other techniques but switched to drop shotting after seeing me land my third fish. By the end of the day, he finished fifth overall, catching nearly 15 pounds of fish using the same setup. As we waited in line at the weigh-in, I leaned over and asked him to keep my winning strategy under wraps—for now.

Why Drop Shotting Works at Lake George

The success of the drop shot rig at Lake George boils down to its versatility and ability to present the bait naturally at different depths. Smallmouth bass at Lake George often hang around rocky ledges, steep drop-offs, and underwater structures, similar to those I fished near Tongue Mountain. With the drop shot rig, I was able to keep my bait hovering just above the rocks, mimicking the natural movement of prey, and enticing even the wariest smallmouths into biting.

Lake George’s crystal-clear waters also make it a perfect place for finesse fishing techniques like drop shotting. Using lighter line and small, subtle lures, you can present a more realistic and less intimidating offering to bass, increasing your chances of success. The combination of clear water and the abundance of rocky structures makes Lake George an ideal setting for this technique.

Keeping the Secret

After that tournament, I realized the true potential of drop-shotting in both competition and recreational fishing. It’s a method that works just as well in Lake George as it does in the more well-known bass fishing waters of Lake Champlain. And while I’ve since shared my drop shot tips with a few close friends, I still smile when I think back to that day and the secret I asked my non-boater to keep as we stood in line at the weigh-in.

Ultimately, the key to success on Lake George—or any other body of water—comes down to patience, persistence, and having confidence in your technique. And for me, drop shotting has proven to be a winning strategy time and time again.

Noonan - Drop Shot 3, Ed lgmb Lk George
Drop shot fishing can be effective for largemouth bass in the weedy areas of Lake George

Drop Shot Rigs for Bass in Dense Cover

As a dedicated wacky (sinking) worm bass angler since the early ’90s, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the nuances of bass fishing. My go-to bait has typically been the six-inch Bass Pro Shops Stix-O Worms, which I rig through the center with a 2/0 or 3/0 wide-gap hook. This reliable method has served me well, consistently yielding results and enabling me to catch numerous bass across various seasons.

However, over the years, I’ve learned that while wacky rigging is effective, it can sometimes fall short in certain challenging conditions. In deep water or heavy topwater vegetation, snagging becomes a common frustration, leading to missed opportunities and lost lures. To address these challenges, I turned to a more versatile technique: drop shot rigging. This innovative approach allows me to fish effectively in dense cover, providing a significant advantage where traditional methods may struggle. By presenting my bait at the desired depth while minimizing snag risks, drop shot rigging has become an invaluable tool in my bass fishing arsenal.

How to Drop Shot Fish

My introduction to effective drop shot fishing came from a good friend and successful bass tournament angler, the late Frank Jeske. He demonstrated how to fish with an exposed, sharp-pointed Kahle 3/0 or 4/0 hook, using a heavier weight below the hook.

My First Lesson

My first lesson took place on Lake Champlain, in an area thick with lily pads and milfoil across from the Ticonderoga boat launch. Frank handed me a 7½-foot heavy-action rod paired with a high-speed casting reel spooled with 50-pound test FireLine. At the end of my line, I had a one-ounce XPS tungsten Flippin Worm Weight, with a 3/0 wide gap hook and a 5⅜-inch Stik-O Worm rigged wacky style—pierced through the middle with the barb exposed—about 12 inches above the weight.

Keeping the boat close to the weed edges, Frank pitched the drop shot five feet into the air, allowing it to “punch” through the thick vegetation before letting it drop freely to the bottom. After taking up the slack, he let it sit for about five seconds, then gave it a few jiggles with the rod tip before casting to another spot. This method is effective in Lake Champlain and other waters with heavy topwater vegetation.

Schroon Lake

Schroon Lake is another favorite of mine in the North Country, where the lighter-weight drop shot method can yield fantastic results. In the clear waters of Schroon, I prefer using 8-10 pound test monofilament. The smallmouths here are particularly attracted to the four-inch BPS Drop Shot Worm in watermelon seed and candy colors.

I recommend launching from the village at the north end of the lake and heading directly to Word of Life Island. Start fishing in 10 feet of water around the island, where smallmouth bass can be found at depths ranging from 10 to 25 feet.

After working the island, head south along the eastern shoreline, targeting rocky structures and danger buoys. I often fish this structure all the way to the southern end of the lake. When you reach the area known as the Narrows, be sure to thoroughly fish both the east and west sides using a drop shot rig.

Just south of the Narrows, you’ll find a ring of buoys marking a sizable area of shallow rocks. While you can certainly try spinner or topwater baits over the rocks, don’t overlook the deeper water around the edges. I once won a tournament in this area with five smallmouths totaling just over 15 pounds, all caught using drop shot rigs and bouncing the Stik-O Worm down ledges between 5 and 25 feet deep.

This past July, I found that the smallmouths favored the 4¼-inch red shad and white chartreuse Stik-O Worm, using either a 1/8 or 1/4 ounce weight.

Drop Shot Rigs – Worth A Try

Adapt your drop shot rigs based on the specific Adirondack waters you’ll be targeting, and give the drop shot technique a try. You might be pleasantly surprised by the results! With its effectiveness in dense cover and versatility across various fishing conditions, drop shot rigging could just become your new favorite method for catching bass.

Original Article By Ed Noonan

About The Author

Ed Noonan was a full time NYS licensed guide and full time outdoor writer with twice weekly columns in the Schenectady Gazette as well as writing freelance for a variety of outdoor magazines. He was a member of NYS Outdoor Writers’ Association and the NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame and recipient of the NYSOWA and Bass Pro Shops’ Pass It On Award. Ed passed away in 2023.

This article has been revised by Daniel O’Neill, an experienced angler and writer, to ensure its continued relevance and accuracy. As a result, it may no longer reflect the original author’s views or intentions.

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