Whether you are fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or another active bass fish out in the water, having the right drop shot baits can make a huge difference.
Finding the right drop shot bait can sometimes take a bit of trial and error and may also be very intimidating for new anglers when they see just how many drop shot baits are available on the market.
A few drop shot baits are great for beginners; some drop shot bait work well for anglers of all skill levels, and a few drop shot baits will even set you apart from the competition in tournaments. It all comes down to what type of location and season you might be fishing in.
This article will take a look at ten of the best drop shot baits for bass fishing and how they can help you take your bass fishing skill to a new level.
The 10 Best Drop Shot Baits for Bass Overview
Very few anglers have not heard of the Senko drop shot baits. These worms are an excellent choice for beginners as well as professional anglers alike when you really want to catch fish.
The movement is extremely realistic, and each nose-hooked worm will have a full range of motion in the water, whether you are doing a slow roll or jerking them through the water fast.
If you’re wanting a simple yet versatile drop shot bait worm that is available in the most popular colors, look no further than the Yamamoto Senko bait worms, shads, minnows, and more.
- Extremely realistic and very active movement in the water
- Available in a huge range of colors, including green pumpkin
- An excellent option for a Drop Shot rig as well as Texas rigged
When it comes to very realistic shad movements, this crosstail drop shot bait can deliver an excellent side-to-side motion that will make nearby fish go wild.
In addition to having great movement, the cross-shaped design on the tail helps this drop shot bait vibrate the water and make fish take notice.
You can not only find this amazing drop shot bait in all of your favorite colors, but it comes in a huge range of custom patterns as well including green pump, kvd magic, and purple pumpkin.
- Unique design and shape give a great side-to-side motion
- Comes in a huge range of colors and patterns, including purple pumpkin
- Works amazingly well on a finesse-type drop shot hook
If you love using conventional worms to catch fish but want something that offers a bit more movement when nose hooked, the HalfShell is a great option to consider.
Its unique design makes the bait jerk and dart around underwater. These quick movements can easily grab the attention of fish that may be holding in cover and around structures.
It also has a much slower sink rate than similar-sized baits, giving you more of a chance to keep your nose-hooked bait in the strike zone for your target fish.
- Offers a darting-type motion in the water that helps bass take notice
- Great worm bait option for anglers that love using jerkbaits
- Perfect option for nose-hooking on a finesse hook and setup
For bass fishing anglers that love a drop shot bait that offers versatility in all types of fishing conditions, such as clear to cloudy water and windy or dead calm weather conditions, this finesse worm can fit the bill.
It’s been designed in such a way that it will perform well underwater to grab the attention of fish, no matter what type of conditions you are fishing in. It’s also equally viable for use with a drop shot rig as well as a Texas rig or Carolina rig.
Being a finesse worm, it’s on the smaller side as worms go, but if you nose-hook this worm on a drop shot or wacky rig, you’ll be pulling in fish in no time!
- Design is versatile enough for use in all seasons and weather conditions
- Available in dozens of unique colors and patterns
- Performs amazingly well on most riggings
If you’re less fond of worms but love a good creature bait for largemouth bass, this craw bait might be exactly what you are looking for.
It’s built a bit more slender than most other craw baits, which gives it the potential for excellent movement in the water, making it potentially one of the best drop shot baits around.
In the four-inch size, you can definitely use it with a drop shot rig to get the attention of big bass that are staying in cover, weed beds, or spawning locations.
- One of the best-known craw baits for tournament use
- Slender design delivers awesome movement in the water
- Perfect for drop shot fishing when you are targeting big bass in the depths
Not only does this bait offer a great shape and amazing movement in the water, it is also infused with a fish-attracting smell so even suspicious fish won’t spit it out.
Toss this bait in the water on your drop shot rig or other rig and watch the bass strike without hesitation. It will quickly become one of your favorite drop shot baits!
It’s a very soft bait that does extremely well with most types of drop shot weight lengths and leaders giving you full control over how you choose to fish with it.
- Flat-bottom shape with unique tail gives this bait a very enticing movement
- Extremely versatile for all-around drop shotting in both shallow and deep water
- Infused with a natural coffee scent to make fish grab and hold it while you set the hook
If you love a simple straight tail worm bait for your drop shot and don’t really look for soft plastics with a bunch of bells and whistles, this straight tail worm is the one for you.
Simple in design but elegant in the results it can deliver, you will see some great movement from this drop shot lure as soon as you toss it in the water.
Smallmouth bass really respond to this great drop shot bait, especially if you are using the four inch or six inch in some of the more popular colors such as morning dawn.
- Excellent shape and movement when smallmouth bass fishing
- Simple look that offers incredible results for new and experienced anglers
- One of the best straight tail worms for use with drop shot rigs or a Texas rig
If you’re tired of working with tiny baits on your drop shot and want something more robust and noticeable, give the Magnum Trick worm a try.
As one of Zoom’s largest worms, this soft plastic swimbait will deliver a huge profile in the water that will excite those monster sized bass from the depths.
This worm is perfect for drop shot fishing and offers some great movement in even the lowest amount of water current giving you an edge when it comes to catching bass.
- Extremely robust size to offer a huge profile in the water
- Great for landing those monster sized bass fish
- Infused with salt so more bass will strike and hold tightly
As far as creature baits go, realistic craw baits are extremely popular for deepwater and shallow water bass fishing, especially when they have two flopping claws to grab the attention of fish.
The realistic shape and movement from this soft plastic bait will attract fish and make even timid fish take notice. The two moving claws that flap together make a very enticing sound and vibration too.
Many anglers find this craw comes in a range of sizes and colors to suit their needs, though the 5 inch green pumpkin purple is extremely popular and very effective when compared to other bait options.
- Lifelike crawfish movement and shape to excite hungry fish
- Versatile enough for use on a wide range of rigging and hooks
- Most effective colors are brown ghost and watermelon red
If you hate being limited by the seasons or weather conditions, try tossing this realistic minnow into the water along the grass lines and natural forage areas.
Regardless of when you might be out on the water, the shape and movement of this bait can work well for pre-spawn, summer, and midwinter fishing.
Choose a few different colors, and you have a realistic fish bait that can work as a minnow, shad, or any number of other small baitfish to get your target fish to strike.
- Outstanding bait option when targeting smallmouth bass
- Comes in a huge range of common and rare colors and patterns
- Realistic movement works well in a variety of weather conditions
Bass Fishing with a Drop Shot
Colors
As with any bait, choosing the right color can have a major difference in how well or poorly it performs in the water. The time of day, amount of vegetation or weeds, and season can require different colors to get the fish excited.
If you’re fishing in open water outside of the spawning season, going with natural colors is your best option. This can include several tans and browns, silvers, and even reds on craw baits.
For fishing in muddy water or when the sky is a bit darker, you can get good results by switching between brightly colored baits as well as dark purple baits.
When drop-shotting, you’ll most likely be sticking to open water at the edge of vegetation and weed beds. In this case, natural colors are your best option.
Bait Profile
Different species of fish will be interested in different types of baits. For example, largemouth bass isn’t afraid to grab large worms and other bulky bait items. Smallmouth bass will be more interested in smaller creature baits such as crawfish (get one here) and frogs.
While selecting the right color is important, ensuring you are working with the right bait profile is important too. If you throw an oversized crawfish in the water, you could potentially scare away smallmouth bass that is not comfortable around these large crustaceans.
Drop Shot Leader
When fishing with a drop shot, having the right leader line is important. In most cases, the length will depend on the season and where fish may be holding. For example, your leader length in the summer will be much longer as fish will be staying closer to the bottom of the lake.
- Spring Leader Length – 1 to 4 feet
- Summer Leader Length – 4 to 15 feet
- Fall and Winter Leader Length – 5 to 25 feet
Drop Shot Rig Instructions
Final Thoughts on the Best Drop Shot Baits for Bass
Finding the right bait for your drop shot rig can seem daunting. With so many choices, it can be difficult to decide which bait will work best for you.
If all else fails, give a few different bait styles a try. You can experiment with different sizes, and different colors and try out some new bait profiles.
Also, be sure to keep notes on your successes. What works great one season may not be as effective in the following season. One of the biggest benefits to baits is that each one comes in a range of sizes and colors, so you can easily grab an assortment to get started with.
