The dropshot is one of the most versatile and efficient type of finesse fishing. Due to the variety of animation styles and the large selection of baits you can fish like this in almost every situation. Especially perch and salmonids like this interesting way of presentation.
But to be successful, there are some demands on your equipment. To give the right action to the lure, the rod is most important. But even here the opinions differ, whether to use a rather soft or a rather fast rod. In my opinion, it does not make sense to fish a rod that is too soft. Especially in winter time, when long distances and big depths are fished, it is extremely important to choose a fast, rather hard rod, as it provides a much better bait control than a typical drop shot rod, which tends to be soft to dizzy. Because over a large distance between rod and lure, it is hardly impossible to keep the line perfectly tight. If you use a soft rod, the contact and feeling to the bait will be almost impossible. Predestined for this fishing style is e.g. the Stucki „The Master 672ML“. Paired with a 2000 size reel (Stucki Deluxe or Mozzi) and a 0.06 mm braided line you are well equipped.
Beautiful perch that gave a nice fight on the „The Master“ rod.
Now lets talk about the rig. Here already, many mistakes can be made that can make the difference between success and failure on some days.
The total length of the rig usually is 160 cm, but can vary depending on the length of the rod. The leader material is kept as thin as possible. A thickness of 0.23 mm is generally sufficient. I prefer the HI-Catch Fluorocarbon NEO from Momoi. To choose the hooks, very clear facts have to be followed: as light as possible, fine in wire and yet very robust. I use either the Stucki Fine Grub Bronze in size # 6 or the Hayabusa DSR 132, also in size # 6. To attach the hook, you need small beads, which should correspond to a diameter of 2-3 mm. The color of the beads does not matter at all in my experience.
Now it is time to assemble the rig. Since the drop shot with pearls is relatively time consuming, you should take about 10 minutes to complete.
First, take a bead, thread it on the line and pull it 20 cm on the leader (that is 160 cm long). Then fix it with a simple knot.
Now insert the hook at the longer side of leader, and push it to the bead.
The hook is followed by the next bead, which is to be knotted close to the hook, so that there is a gap of 1 cm between the two beads.
Thanks to the beads and the space between them, the hook can rotate freely, which allows a much smoother animation of the lure.
Next, the lead is tied to the shorter end, or hooked into an attached snap if preferred.
The process with the beads and the hook is repeated at the other end of the leader, but this time at a distance of 30 cm to the end of the leader. Finally, a snap is knotted to the end and the rig is finished.
Before it can be fished, of course the hooks must still be equipped with the right soft-baits. When fishing in lakes, no-action is required. Here I recommend the Stucki Fanatics Slit Tail. If the dropshot is fished in streaming water, the lure should have a bit more action. There, I like to take a Stucki Fanatics Commander, as its tail is wobbling in the current seductively. A creaturebait can also be used in still and in streaming water.
In many occasions, I have learned that bigger lures do not mean bigger fish. Again and again, really thick perches and salmonids inhaled my 3 inch baits, like this nice perch and this rainbow trout. Both fish could not resist the Slit Tail AYU in 3 inch size.
As already mentioned, dropshot is one of the most versatile finesse rigs. When it comes to presentation, imagination knows no limit. Nevertheless, I would like to show here some of my best-known styles. My favorite is: cast, let it drop to the ground and then animate the lure with 4 to 6 short but powerful strokes. It is important that you don’t raise the lure too high from the ground and that the distance between the jumps is not bigger than 40 cm. Having a break between these sequences is very important, as this is when you will have 90% of the bites. In the warmer seasons, 3 seconds of rest period is enough. In winter, on the other hand, it has been shown that the soft-bait will be attacked even after a break of 7 seconds. I like to fish like this if the perches sneak around on the ground, but are still active.
This 35 cm perch inhaled the lure after a brake of more than 7 seconds. As can be seen in the picture on the right, he was determined to scarf the slit tail. Also recognizable is the rig with the two beads.
Another variation is jigging with the dropshot rig. The presentation has to be performed exactly like classic jigging with a soft-lure rigged on a jig-head. Cast, let it sink to the bottom and retrieve by jigging the lure.
Of course you can jig this rig also through the open water. This is especially interesting when it comes to salmonid fishing in winter, or when the perches are feeding in open water.
This winter-perch attacked my lure in open water; he had no doubt about the delicious looking Slit Tail, and inhaled it totally.
Dropshot fishing can also be performed directly under the surface. This is very successful when you see a feeding frenzy on the surface. Simply cast and immediately start retrieving slow and steady without letting the rig sink, and shake with your rod tip. This is similar to the tremarella method.
The drop shot rig is also very promising for fishing in rivers. Here, I equip my rig with a Stucki Fanatics Commander or a Stucki Fanatics Intense Shad and jig it over the river bed. Thanks to the tail, these soft-baits will continue to wobble during the rest periods. As the hook can rotate freely with this type of rig, the lure is even more agile.
Robin Schmid
Stucki Fishing-Team