The Drop shot is a rig setup for year found bass fishing and for good reason, it picks up those finicky fish who won’t bite anything else, the one’s glued to the bottom. There’s power in small action. Thats why it’s crucial to know what drop shot baits to use and when. With that said, I’ve been throwing a few baits lately that I think are worth a shout out, especially for offshore fishing around rockpiles and ledges. They’re great for imitating shad and small other bait fish when bass are holding deep, and good for fishing up shallow, too.
Net Baits Flat Sided Shad
The flat sided shad has an infused scent, ribbed body, and Nub Head, that all work together in tandem as the bait ungulates in place, providing a small-profile delight. The bait’s forked tail adds action as you work it in the water and the ribbed body produces vibration through the water. Additionally, the Nub Head provides an added layer for inserting your hook. This holds the bait on longer and also helps provide more lifelike action. it’s a go-to lure when a paddle tail swimbait or crankbait are too big and too intrusive. Trust me, you’ll see how awesome this bait looks once you try it. It’s especially effective offshore on humps and rock piles when bass are targeting small bait fish.
X-Zone Pro Series Finesse Slammer
Another great small bait fish imitator is the Pro Series Finesse Slammer. This is one of the smaller finesse presentations I’ve been throwing. You can quiver the bait, and it perfectly imitates a small shad or shiner. With the right hook, the bait sits perfectly horizontal in the water and imitates a small shad quivering bait fish. Thats why it’s a go-to for small mouth bass anglers and largemouth that are keyed in on small baitfish. Here on the California Delta, a lot of our smaller bass have gone from fry guarding to fry slaying. But matching the hatch is difficult as each fish is targeting a tiny target. The slammer is almost a spot on match to the fry they chase.
Robo Worm Straight Tail
The Robo Worm has been a staple in the drop shot world for some time. And the 6″ worm in Marguerita Mutilator color is what I start with when I want to test the water for bites. There’s something about that color that just works on most fisheries, I’m not sure how to describe it. I like starting out with the 6″and scaling it back to the 4″ if the bite is short. If the bass are targeting smaller bait fish, then ill size down for sure. For the 6″ version, I use a size 2 Gamakatsu light wire RebBarb hook. For anything smaller, I like throwing it nose hooked with a light wire mosquito hook. You can get away with throwing a drop shotted worm almost year-round, even when bass are targeting bait fish.
Final Thoughts
I would recommend these baits if you’re trying to imitate small bait fish; when bass are focused on tiny shiners and gobies and small shad, and most moving baits won’t cut it. The action is perfect for bass that are stuck to the bottom and around structure. Use them when after you’ve caught a bass who spat up a small shiner or when you’ve graphed bait balls. Each soft plastic has its own unique action and will help throw those tough-to-catch buckets in the boat this summer.
All 3 are classics! Great article. Surprisingly I have the best luck with the Finesse Slammer in Illinois. I’m up in WI this week fishing and working on some projects, and the Keitech Custom Leech is actually working REALLY well. Might be a good option for you if you find yourself in a hyper-finesse situation? Tight lines Brother Jason!