Dropshot rig

Dropshot Rig

Anytime the Bass prefer a slow presentation and are relating to or near the bottom this is a good rig to try. If the fish are not very aggressive I set up with a light rig, by light I mean 6 to 8 lb line with a #6 to #4 hook. Fluorocarbon is a must. The weight is 1/4 to 3/8 oz. A word of caution here with this light rig and small hook you can not set the hook like you were fishing a heavy jig. Use what is called a sweeping hook set that is take the slack out then just pull the rod sideways. The bass will set the hook for you.

If the bass are more aggressive I switch to heaver equipment like 10 to 15 lb Fluorocarbon line and a little larger hook and a weight of 3/8 to 1/2 oz.

How It’s Done: To start off I tie on the hook facing up, like in the picture. Leave the tag end about 6 to 18” long. At the tag end of the line tie on your weight so the hook rides at the desired depth. The manufactures make a special weight with a special look on the top and call it a dropshot weight but why pay when a regular worm weight works just as well.

Soft Plastics For Dropshot Rigging: For the light rig I prefer a short straight worm. For the heaver rig take your pick.

The picture shows a double clinch knot but I actually prefer a Palomar knot. Mostly because it is easier to tie.

Texas rig

This is the basic weedless rig that put soft plastic worms on the map. A Texas rig can be weighted for bottom fishing or unweighted for an excruciatingly slow fall or topwater fishing.

How It’s Done: Insert the point of the hook into the soft plastic no more than ½ inch before bringing the point back out. Slide the plastic lure up the hook (moisten the hook for best results) until the head of the lure covers the hook eye, then imbed the point back into the lure so it hangs straight. The hook point can be brought all the way through the lure and the tip barely imbedded back into the lure (called “skin-hooked”) or left to ride on top of the bait (called “Tex-posed). The result is a weedless lure that can be fished anywhere. When weighted, the Texas-rigged soft plastic can be worked at any depth and through most cover. Target cover, docks, rock-piles, weeds – anywhere fish live. Unweighted Texas rigs are used for slow sinking soft plastics like floating worms and top-waters.

Soft Plastics For Texas Rigging: All soft plastics can be Texas rigged with the correct size hook.