Method

Dropshot: how to get started

On a dropshot rig, the lure hangs above the weight. You let it quiver on the spot for a long time, ideal for perch and zander.

Plan a day of Spinning

Good for

What you need

Light spinning or dropshot rod, about 2 m, casting weight 1 to 11 g
Fixed-spool reel, size 1000 to 2500
Thin braided main line
Leader of fluorocarbon or monofilament, about 0.20 mm
Dropshot hooks, for worm baits size 3 to 1/0
Dropshot weights, long slim shapes snag less often
Lures: slim soft plastic worms, small shads with a pin tail or V-tail, lobworm
Landing net, disgorger, tape measure, priest and knife

Step by step

Before you go, sort out your German fishing licence (Fischereischein), your fishing permit and the rules for the water, for example whether lures are allowed right now.
Join the braid to a length of fluorocarbon as a leader.
Tie the hook into the leader with a Palomar knot so that it stands out at a right angle.
Attach the dropshot weight to the end. The distance to the hook is between 10 and 200 cm, depending on how deep the fish are holding.
Hook the soft lure through the nose just once so it can flutter freely.
Lower or cast the rig until the weight is on the bottom. Keep in contact with the weight and make the lure quiver with small twitches.
If you feel a bite, strike with a short movement. Any fish for the table, stun and kill straight away in a humane way.

Common mistakes

Losing contact with the weight: then you no longer control the lure and you miss bites.
Moving the lure too wildly: the more subtle the presentation, the more it usually catches.
Fishing long lobworms whole: cut in half, they give fewer missed bites.
Fishing fluorocarbon where there are pike: there you need a pike-proof trace.

Tips

You can fish spots like drop-offs, jetties and bridge pillars at one point for minutes at a time.
If the weight gets snagged, you often lose just the weight and not the lure.
If a spot brings nothing after about half an hour, move on.

Quick questions

How far from the hook should the weight be on a dropshot rig?

That depends on how high above the bottom the fish are holding. Distances between 10 and 200 cm are usual. If the perch are close to the bottom, keep the distance short, for fish in mid-water make it longer.

Which knot is right for the dropshot hook?

The Palomar knot. It makes the hook stand out from the line at a right angle, so the lure flutters cleanly. The long end then carries on down to the weight.

Which lures are good for dropshotting?

Slim soft plastic worms and small shads with a pin tail or V-tail are the classics. A lobworm also works well. In clear water, natural colours are usually the better choice.

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Check the rules

In Germany, closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each state and can be stricter for single waters. All German rules by state, with the legal source. Outside Germany, the local rules apply: licence and agency by country.

Sources (5)

Last checked 2026-10-18. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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