Advantages of Fishing a Drop Shot Rig

By John Leech


I'm going to break with the where and why this lesson and talk about the technique of drop shot rig. I am taking advantage of Kota Kiriyama's knowledge and his willingness to share to be able to pass this knowledge on to you. Kota is one of the top Pros in the WORLD with this technique. Skeeter, Yamaha, Lake Police Baits, Restattine Rods, Varivis Line, Nogales Hooks, Xmetal Weights, DNA Sunglasses, and Hooked on the Outdoors Magazine sponsor him.

Kota learned his love for fishing and the outdoors fishing with his father as a youth. At age 18 he moved to New York, 12 years ago, to go to Dominican College in New York State. He spoke no English upon arriving in the United States, yet earned a BA degree. He fishes the BASS top 150 and the Western Trail. In three years of fishing the Bass Trail he has qualified twice for the prestigious BASS Classic.

Advantages of fishing a Drop Shot Rig are many. Easier to cast than a Carolina Rig, cast further than a Texas Rig and also sinks faster. Bait is always suspended and easy to adjust depth for suspended fish. It wares line less and because of weight being on the bottom of rig you can feel bottom better.

Disadvantage is heavy line twist, and gets hung in heavy cover. Putting a swivel on the sinker helps slow twist.

What type bait is best? Smaller slim type baits are best in clear water. In clear water this is a GREAT finesses technique. This is a great system for fishing spinning rod, light line deep water.

When fishing any structure the Drop Shot Rig should be a consideration for a presentation option. This technique is extremely effective on fishing structure. When fishing muddy to clear water, one foot to 100 feet this is a technique that will catch fish. YES I said 100 feet, the deepest he says he has caught is 120 feet, remembers he lives and fishes in California, so deepwater is a normal event. Any structure free of heavy cover is an easy place to learn to fish the rig.

Why chose this rig over a Texas Rig? When fishing a Drop Shot Rig the bait is always suspended just off the bottom putting the bait at eye level or just inches above when the fish is on the bottom where he prefers to stay. This also gives an angler the ability to keep the bait in the strike zone longer.

How to rig Drop Shots. Tie a Palmer knot leaving 1 to 2 feet of line extra. Thread the loose end back through the eye of the hook so the hook stands point up. Tie on weight preferably with a swivel about 12 to 18 inches below the hook. Weight size range from 1/8 to 5/16. Line size should range from 6 to 8 pound on a spinning rod and reel. Tungsten weights give a better feel of the structure. The deeper you are fishing the longer the leader up to about 2 feet long. When fishing deep lighter line lets the bait fall faster giving a better feel of the bait and strikes. When fishing shallow water heavier line and a bait casting outfit can be used. Lighter weights may be better fish on lighter line sizes on any type outfit.

Presentations vary from casting to vertical jigging. Casting Drop Shot Rigs is similar to casting a Texas Rig except into heavy cover. Drop Shots tend to get hung easier then Texas Rigs. This rig can be used as a swimming rig, hopped, crawled, or dragged. You can even fish as a stationary rig on bedding fish.

God Bless, good fishing,
Capt. John Leech

9 Principles of War Applied to Flyfishing

by Harry P. Davis,
Author of Guerrilla Flyfishing


The nine Principles of War,
as defined in the Army Field Manual FM-3 Military Operations:

1. Concentrate combat power at the decisive place and time.Put your mind on fishing when you are on the water. Worry and fret about problems at home or the office have no place here if you are going to have a productive day of angling. You may as well just splash around in the water and smack your rod against the rocks if you lose your concentration. This hour and this place are the decisive destination and time. All your planning, equipping and scheduling have come to naught, if you fail to concentrate your angling power now.
2. Direct every military operation towards a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable objective. From the time you plan a trip to the time you pull out of the water, drive your thoughts toward the objective of hunting, deceiving and hooking the species you are after. Every species has habits, patterns and personalities...learn them.
3. Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative. Spot, imitate and cast with confidence.
4. Strike the enemy at a time, at a place, or in a manner for which he is unprepared. Sneak, hide and move slowly. Make all efforts to keep your presence unknown to your quarry. Your approach, casts and imitations should all be your best as to give the quarry a big surprise when he is hooked.
5. Allocate minimum essential combat power to secondary efforts. Turn off your cell phone.
6. Place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power. Change methods, patterns and approaches often if your quarry is not taking what you re offering.
7. For every objective, ensure unity of effort under one responsible commander. Always remember, you are the angler, not some book, manufacturer or world class pro. Go with your intelligence and your instincts . . .this is fishing, not a Mars landing.
8. Never permit the enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage. Remember to check you lines, flies and hooks. Replace your lines when needed, make sure your flies are clean and realistic looking and sharpen your hook often with your whet rock. Don t hook yourself or fall out of the boat! Remember, cork is a choking hazard when taking those pictures of your trophy catch with your rod in your teeth.
9. Prepare clear, uncomplicated plans and clear, concise orders to ensure thorough understanding. Make sure all your fishing buddies and family know when, where and what of the trip. It fouls up great bonding moments when a buddy shows up in a wet suit and spear gun and the guys unload their canoes rigged for white perch.