The Drop Shot has been one of my favorite finesse bass fishing techniques and is one that every angler should be using to target a variety of species. It can be an effective presentation year-round and is an excellent way to catch fish on even those tough days.
One thing that I’ve learned over the years fishing a drop shot rig is how important selecting the right weight can be. Choosing the right type and size of weight that best matches your fishing conditions can make a big difference and will ultimately help you catch more fish.
If you are new to fishing a drop shot or struggling with this technique, you might be wondering what is the best drop shot weight to use?
The best overall weight to use on a drop shot rig is a tungsten tear drop style weight in either a 3/16, 1/4, or 3/8 size depending on how deep you are fishing. Tungsten is much denser and more sensitive than lead weight adding more sensitivity in a smaller profile. A tear drop shot weight is the most versatile weight and tends to get hung up less in rocks and around grass.
In this article you’ll understand what are the best weights, sizes and styles of drop shot weights to use and we’ll break down everything you need to know about selecting and using the right drop shot weights that matches your fishing style.
Let’s get started.
Best Drop Shot Weights
When you walk down the aisle at your local tackle shop you’ll notice that there are what seems to be an endless amount of different weight options. With so many choices it can be hard to know exactly which ones you should use and when to use them.
The best overall drop shot weight to use in my opinion is a ¼ Woo Tungsten Tear Drop drop shot weight. This shape and weight will allow you to around a variety of structures and at different depths effectively. This is by far my favorite drop shot weight and is the one I use the most.
With that being said, there are three main drop shot weight categories: cylinder, round/ball, and tear drop with each having a time and place when they are the most effective.
Types of Drop Shot Weights
Cylinder
Cylinder-shaped drop shot weights are a very versatile shape that is effective around grass and some types of rocks. Its slender design allows it to run through grass and other vegetation without getting hung up.
The best cylinder drop shot weight that I use is the WOO! Tungsten Drop Shot Weight.
Round
Another popular drop shot weight design is what is called a round or ball shaped weight. This style of weight is best when fishing around docks, and rocks as their thicker body helps prevent it from getting stuck in small crevices. Round or ball-shaped weights don’t perform well around grass as their round body tends to get hung up in vegetation.
The best round or ball shaped drop shot weight that I use is the VMC Tungsten Drop Shot Ball Weights 1/4 oz.
Tear Drop
A tear drop style of weight is a hybrid between a round and cylinder weight. They were designed to be the best of both worlds combining the strengths of both the round and cylinder style. They can work great around rocks and tend to not get snagged as often and they also do fairly well in grass and other vegetation.
The best tear drop style weight that I use is the ¼ Woo Tungsten Tear Drop drop shot weight.
| Design | Best For |
|---|---|
| Cylinder | Best around grass |
| Round | Rocks |
| Tear Drop | All around drop shot weight |
What Size of Drop Shot Weight
A key component to any drop shot rig is making sure you select the right size of drop shot weight that best matches your depth and fishing conditions. So, what is the best size of drop shot weight to use?
Most anglers fishing a drop shot rig will use a weight of either 3/16, 1/4, or 3/8 size depending on how deep they are fishing. With that being said for most drop shot situations either a 3/16 or a 1/4 oz is going to be the best weight size. If you are just starting and not sure which one to use I would recommend using a 1/4 oz weight.
Drop Shot Weight Guide
The drop shot is most effective when your weight is at the bottom and your bait is suspended. You want to select a drop shot weight that keeps you at the bottom, allows you to feel around but isn’t too heavy.
Here is a drop shot weight guide that can help you determine what size weight to use and when to use them.
| Weight Size | When to Use |
|---|---|
| 3/16 | Shallow or slick calm conditions |
| 1/4 | All around drop shot weight |
| 3/8 | Deep water or windy conditions |
| 1/2 | Deeper water or heavy current |
Drop Shot Resources
- Best Drop Shot Hooks: A Complete Guide
- Best Drop Shot Baits for Bass Fishing
- Best Drop Shot Baits for Smallmouth Bass
- Fishing a Drop Shot Rig for Trout
- How to Fish and Rig the Bubba Shot for Bass
Best Drop Shot Weight Material
There are two main metals that are used to manufacture drop shot weights. There are lead weights and tungsten weights. Lead weights are more affordable but are heavier and less sensitive. Tungsten on the other hand is denser, smaller, more sensitive and much more expensive.
Here is a look at the two different types of weights and what the pros and cons are of each.
| Type | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Lead | Cheaper, best for everyday anglers or when you use a lot of weights |
| Tungsten | Best material, dense, smaller profile but higher cost. Best for professionals and those with higher budgets |
Lead
The advantage of lead drop shot weights over tungsten is that they are more affordable. One average you can save around 30% if you buy lead drop shot weights over tungsten. This can really add up if you are using and losing a lot of weights.
Most professional bass fishermen will use tungsten weights but lead weights can be a great option for most everyday anglers. This is especially true if you fish in lakes or spots where you tend to lose a lot of weights.
Tungsten
Tungsten weights make excellent drop shot weights. Tungsten is much denser than lead. This allows your drop shot weight to have a smaller profile and it will be much more sensitive. As you drag your drop shot rig around you’ll be able to feel almost everything and detect those subtle bites.
The downside to tungsten weights is the price. Tungsten drop shot weights are much more expensive than lead weights. If you’re fishing a tournament and or your budget allows, tungsten is the way to go.
Clip on vs Tie on Drop Shot Weights
Clip-On
A clip-on or quick release style of drop shot weight is designed so that you just put your line through pull it up and it clips on to the weight. This is a super convenient and fast way to secure your line to this style of drop shot weight. You also won’t lose as many hooks and baits this way.
The only downside of this design is you tend to lose more weights because they aren’t as secure as if you tie it to your line with a knot.
Tie-On
The tie-on style of drop shot weight has more of a loop on it that allows you to tie a knot better securing the weight to your setup. The idea with this design is that hopefully when you get snagged by a rock you can apply a lot more force and get it unstuck without losing your weight.
How to Attach a Drop Shot Weight
Attaching a drop shot weight to the bottom of your drop shot rig is pretty straightforward. If you are using a clip-on or quick release style of weight simply slide your line through and up until the line clips on at the top.
If you are using a tie-on style of drop shot weight simply slide your line through the eyelid of the weight and tie a palomar knot or something similar to secure the weight to your line.
Here is a video that demonstrates how to tie on a drop shot weight to your line.