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Drop Shot Setup for Bass
Most finesse techniques will call for a light spinning rod and a drop shot setup is no different.
Matching your rod, reel, line, weight and hooks is crucial to getting the best out of this bottom focused rig.
When drop shotting you need a lot of feedback so that you can set the hook quickly.
Bass will strike on the way down more often than not and you need to be able to sense this bite easily so you can set the hook quickly.
Drop Shot Setup
1. Rod
As with most finesse bass techniques your choice of rod should be a good spinning rod as casting rods are better suited to heavier lures and rigs.
The best drop shot rods will have a medium/light to medium power rating and have a fast or extra fast action.
They will generally be rated for line in the 6 to 12 lbs range and a lure rate of 1/8 to 3/4 oz.
The fast action gives a lot more tip sensitivity which is crucial to getting as much feedback as possible through the blank.
You also get much quicker strikes and can set a single hooker with a much more snappy action.
2. Reel
Seeing as you will be running a spinning setup then a spinning reel is a must.
Sizes range anywhere from a 2000 up to a 3500 depending on how heavy you go with your main line.
A size 2500 is a nice compromise as larger size 3500’s can upset the natural balance of your rod so you need to take this into account.
If you go to the trouble of buying a high end dedicated rod then the last thing you want to do is to unbalance it by attaching a reel that is too big and heavy.
A reel with a good high gearing so you can help set the hook quickly although not a must is definitely something that is nice to have.
3. Line
A lot of anglers preferred drop shot setup will be to run braid as their main line and then to use a fluorocarbon leader.
Braid is just too visible when working finesse style rigs so a clear leader is really important.
As your main line you can run 20 lb braid as this will still be thin enough to be able to make accurate casts.
Lighter braid slices through the water quite easily which is what you want when you are effectively jigging off the bottom.
But fluoro is the better choice as the best line for drop shot rigs particularly in clear or open water.
4. Leader
Fluorocarbon is the go to for leader choice and you’ll generally find that most anglers are using 8 lbs breaking strain.
Mono is a poor choice as a leader as it has to much stretch in it and this stretch will reduce the sensitivity of your rod tip, which may result in missed strikes.
5. Hook
There are two style if hooks commonly used regular wide gap hooks with a bait keeper or specialty swivel hooks.
A bait keeper is a must on your hooks as using such erratic up and down motions and lots of casting can cause a soft plastic to slip off of your hook easily.
Swivel hooks virtually eliminate line twist which can be a real problem when fishing a drop shot.
The hook is free to swing around the line without twisting it.
6. Weight
The shape of your weight can have a big impact on how often you get snagged or hung up on the bottom or underwater objects.
A traditional round style weight will be the easiest to snag on most objects.
Tear drop or straight cylinder style weights are the best option as their slim profile will lessen the chance of getting snagged up.