Tying Up

Creating a drop-shot rig is easy. A small finesse worm is usually used for finicky bass, but always choose long, slender plastics that are free of legs and pinchers that can twist your line. Drop-shotting favorites are traditionally modest, straight plastic worms and minnows; the softer, the better. Some companies are now using “super plastics,” which are incredibly buoyant and allow the lure to float up, rather than settle, on a drop-shot rig, and can help trigger more bites. Z-Man Fishing Products’ ElaZtech lures are a good example. You need to match those small baits with an equally small hook. In snag-free areas, simply nose-hooking the worm is most effective, so a light 1/0 hook is a good starting point. Most die-hard drop-shotters rely on the Gamakatsu split-shot / drop-shot hook. You can Texas-rig your plastics when fishing around brush or heavy cover but, again, stay with a fairly light hook. The VMC WM worm hook is a good one. In any case, always tie your hook with a Palomar knot. Not only does this make for a strong union, but the Palomar knot allows the hook to stand straight out on the line, which is essential to rigging a drop-shot. Also, when tying, use an extra bit of line so that you have a big tag end, which you’d normally clip off. But don't.