The noble drop shot rig, or simply put, drop shot, is among the most universal contraptions when it comes to both saltwater and freshwater fishing. It works well in areas that have structures, is your best friend when fishing in current, and is the go-to for bottom fishing at any depth. 

Use it to target largemouth bass and catfish in freshwater. Or, black bass and any fish found on the ocean’s reefs. Among advanced anglers, it’s a preferred method for twitchy jerks, jigging, or adding a bit of finesse to movement. But novice anglers should not be deterred from using such a handy instrument, with this simple how-to guide to building some of the drop shot rigs out there.

Material Needed For A Freshwater Drop Shot Rig

  • Rod and reel combination
  • Monofilament line
  • J-hook or hook of preference
  • Soft plastic bait of choice
  • A teardrop sinker

How To Set Up A Freshwater Drop Shot Rig

drop shot and bass

Image credits: reese08_93 via Instructables

Step One: Sinker

With a spooled rod and reel, pull out a few feet of monofilament line. With the tag end, tie on the teardrop sinker with a sturdy knot of choice.

Step Two: Line Prep

Approximately 12 to 18 inches above the sinker (or preferred length). Pinch out a spot prepared for adding the hook.

Step Three: Palomar Knot and Hook

Pull the pinched line through the eyelet. Form a loop by first going under the line and then crossing over. Before tightening the line, take the pinched end and pull over the hook. Be careful not to poke yourself with the barbed end. Once complete, pull the end to have what appears as the hook knotted on the main line.

Step Four: Bait

Feed on any soft plastic bait or swimbait of your choice. While all soft plastic baits work well with drop shots. Lizards, crayfish, twister tails, and paddle tails will present the most movement while submerged.

The Double Drop Shot Rig

Why use one hook, when you can use two?

soft plastic and bass

Image credits: reese08_93 via Instructables

Materials Needed For A Double Drop Shot

  • Rod and reel combination
  • Monofilament line
  • J-hook or hook of preference
  • Soft plastic bait of choice
  • A teardrop sinker
  • Three-way swivels

How To Set Up A Double Drop Shot Rig

yellow disposable lighter on black plastic container

Image credits: Harrison Kugler via Unsplash

Step One: Three Swivel and Hook

From a spooled rod and reel, pull out some monofilament line. With a knot of choice, tie on the three-way swivel. On one of the empty eyelets of the three-way swivel, take a 12-inch piece of line and tie it on. At the tag end of the fishing line, tie on a fishing hook.

Step Two: Swivel to Swivel

On the empty eyelet of the three-way swivel, tie on a length of 12-inch line. On the free end of the fishing line, tie on another three-way swivel.

Step Three: Repeat

Repeat steps one and two. The end result should be two segments with a hook each and two segments with a three swivel on the main line.

Step Four: Sinker

From the end of the second three-way swivel, tie on a length of 12-inch fishing line. On the free end of the fishing line attach the teardrop sinker.

Swapping Out Gear For A Saltwater Rig

brown and black fish on wooden surface

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When switching up your area of fishing and heading into saltwater, the drop shot and the double drop shot remain the same, but with some different equipment. Besides reef fish and black bass, either variation of the drop is excellent for targeting grouper, flounder, and redfish. Instead of using a J-hook, you will likely want to switch over to a circle hook for saltwater fishing. As for bait, opt for cut bait, shads, or minnows over soft plastics or swimbait. 

Many anglers will tell you to switch up the line to fluorocarbon or braided. Just remember that the braided line doesn’t have as much give as fluorocarbon, but is exceptional for toothy biters. Fluorocarbon, on the other hand, has more stretch than braided and is less sensitive, which means higher fish counts.

In Closing 

Drop shots can be used pretty well under any circumstance that uses a spinning rod and reel combination. Noted are its freshwater and saltwater uses, but just because winter is around the corner, don’t hang up your rod too soon. A drop shot set up can net you surprising results for sauger, walleye, and yes, perch. It truly is one of the most universal rigs in the angling world, and there are no bounds to the fish you could possibly target. This is why, veterans swear by it, with some utilizing the device for decades. If you’re starting out, this is one killer rig you’ll want in your repertoire.