As the title states - I'm not fishing a drop shot vertically for bass . I am wanting to cast out and fishing the drop shot horizontally shallow in less than 10 ft. of water slowly dragging , hopping and twitching the drop shot back . On my short list for a dedicated horizontal drop shot set up is #10 lb. braid main line + #6 lb. FC leader to either a VMC # 1 Spin Shot Hook or a Gamakatsu #1 spin shot / drop shot hook . Plan B is the same , except straight InvizX #6 lb. FC main line . I like the idea of the VMC Spin Shot hook  - however for horizontal casting a drop shot some say the old stand by  Gamakatsu spin shot / drop shot hook (that doesn't rotate) offers a better presentation while the VMC rotating spin shot hook has a better presentation for a vertical dropshot presentation .  *For horizontal drop shotting   - what is your preferred drop shot line and hook set up ?

20 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

As the title states - I'm not fishing a drop shot vertically for bass . I am wanting to cast out and fishing the drop shot horizontally shallow in less than 10 ft. of water slowly dragging , hopping and twitching the drop shot back . On my short list for a dedicated horizontal drop shot set up is #10 lb. braid main line + #6 lb. FC leader to either a VMC # 1 Spin Shot Hook or a Gamakatsu #1 spin shot / drop shot hook . Plan B is the same , except straight InvizX #6 lb. FC main line . I like the idea of the VMC Spin Shot hook  - however for horizontal casting a drop shot some say the old stand by  Gamakatsu spin shot / drop shot hook (that doesn't rotate) offers a better presentation while the VMC rotating spin shot hook has a better presentation for a vertical dropshot presentation .  *For horizontal drop shotting   - what is your preferred drop shot line and hook set up ?

The BOLD type is how I fish a drop shot at Least 90 % of the time. 

And that happens for me in much deeper water.

So 15-35 ft or deeper. 

Sitting over the fish has never really garnered the results I can get by staying off the structure, cover and or the fish.

I'm a 10lb braid & 8lb leader guy and the hook itself is totally personal preference.

Two caveats' though, It must fit the bait, meaning still offer plenty of 'bite'.

Additionally and most importantly' The BAIT MUST BE RIGGED STRAIGHT, with NO Spin.

Even on the fall.

The drop shot weight selection as well as the way it's tied to the line can and will also spin if not done dead on straight to the leader line.

I usually use tear drop or cylindrical deals that have a swivel tie & not that 'clip it to your line" thing.

Does sit straight for me and twists up. No Good.

Finally, I have my best results doing almost nothing with the bait - so I'm fishing it like it's live bait. Really only moving it to relocate it.  So no bouncing, wiggling, shaking or wild hopping.  If I need a 'reaction strike offering' I'm not throwing a drop shot.

A-Jay

10# 832 Hi-Vis to 6# InvizX

#2 or 1/0 VMC Spinshot Neko for most - hook size dependent on plastic size (TRD Craws, TRD Hogs, TRD Worms, etc on the #2 - Zoom Finesse, GYCB Senko, etc on the 1/0)

2/0 Spinshot Wide Gap for 'fatter' plastics (Rage Craw, Brush Hog, Fat Albert Twin-Tail)

 

I'm also a mostly horizontal kind of guy - toss it a ways out, slowly work it back. Cylinder weights for the most part, teardrop if the bottom warrants it.

51 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

As the title states - I'm not fishing a drop shot vertically for bass . I am wanting to cast out and fishing the drop shot horizontally shallow in less than 10 ft. of water slowly dragging , hopping and twitching the drop shot back . On my short list for a dedicated horizontal drop shot set up is #10 lb. braid main line + #6 lb. FC leader to either a VMC # 1 Spin Shot Hook or a Gamakatsu #1 spin shot / drop shot hook . Plan B is the same , except straight InvizX #6 lb. FC main line . I like the idea of the VMC Spin Shot hook  - however for horizontal casting a drop shot some say the old stand by  Gamakatsu spin shot / drop shot hook (that doesn't rotate) offers a better presentation while the VMC rotating spin shot hook has a better presentation for a vertical dropshot presentation .  *For horizontal drop shotting   - what is your preferred drop shot line and hook set up ?

This is how I fish dropshots mostly, I go extra long on the tag end to account for the angle, I use coply/mono/floro whatever I have laying around, in 6-8lb depending on bait size clarity etc etc, I don't like braid, but if you are a fan of braid you can use a leader.

I've used both Gamakatsu and BPS drop shot rigs with 1/0 hooks with great success. 6 lb mono with 4 lb mono segment tied to a 1/16 oz pencil sinker (so you can usually recover the rig if the sinker snags).  The finesse Z-man TRD worms work better than small senkos due to the higher buoyancy, which is in keeping with the intent of keeping the bait above the bottom.  UL spinning and BFS casting rigs.  Killer results.

If I am fishing horizontally casting and retrieving the worm rarely use a drop shot rig unless the angle is 45 degrees to vertical.  I use the slip shot rig with 1/8 oz cylinder weight and Carolina Keeper for a weight stop. Main line is 5 lb Maxima Ultra Green Copolymer. Hook is Owner #5133 size 1, 1/0 or 2/0 depending on worm diameter. Worm is skin hooked weedless rigged.

Drop shot rig is usually size 1 Gamakasu drop shot hook or Owner Mosquito hook. Worm is rigged nose hooked or wacky style. If weeds are an issue go to the #5133 and weedless rig the worm. I like Owner drop shot weights w/flat bottom.

Been doing this for decades successfully, no braid use 7 lb Sniper FC for drop shot. 

Over looked option is the nail weight wacky rigged worm. If you like to put action into your worm consider it.

Tom

i use 15 pound braid to an 8 pound leader ,, sometimes 6. gamakatsu drop shot hook.1/4 or 3/8 weight. i rarely fish vertical, our fish get fished hard and unless they are 30 feet deep or so they dont like it.my biggest advise though , as ajay and some others said use a longer leader. because of the line angle you need a longer leader to keep the bait off bottom. second use a bouyant bait like zman or others,xzone slammer is pretty bouyant too. thet will help keep the bait up.

Hand pours or Roboworms, Don Iovino and Uptoms Customs are floaters for Drop or Slip shot rings. Yes you can cast a drop shot rig and catch bass but the Slip shot rig far more effective when casting.

You can lead a horse to water but can’t make it drink...

Tom

All good replies - no weeds much where I fish . Plain dirt / clay bottoms to those that include rip rap and chunk rock . 

8 hours ago, WRB said:

Hand pours or Roboworms, Don Iovino and Uptoms Customs are floaters for Drop or Slip shot rings. Yes you can cast a drop shot rig and catch bass but the Slip shot rig far more effective when casting.

You can lead a horse to water but can’t make it drink...

Tom

like tom said the slip shot rig is mighty effective for that. especially in shallow water. again a good buoyant or semi buoyant bait. 

19 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

As the title states - I'm not fishing a drop shot vertically for bass . I am wanting to cast out and fishing the drop shot horizontally shallow in less than 10 ft. of water slowly dragging , hopping and twitching the drop shot back 

This is how I fish a DS rig. I fish a lot of smaller ponds with muck bottoms and a DS lets me present a plastic right off the bottom with less fuss then a T or C rig.  I use 7lb Sniper for line and for hooks I use either Gamakatsu G-Finesse DS hooks or Gamakatsu Finesse Heavy Cover/Owner Cover Shot hooks.  The former for nose hooking and the latter two for t-rigging.  
 

I fish both with a slow steady retrieve, keeping the weight on the bottom.  I only stop and work the bait when the weight bumps into something.  

I used to fish dropshot from bank a lot, and it worked really well in small community pond. Now I fish 400 acres lake, and dropshot become less effective compare to others unless I know for sure fish hanging/roaming around the area like weed or baitfish. 
My usual setup, casting 6-8lb Copolymer, #2 ewg hook or #1 rebarb roboworm hook for weedless/snagged less. I use braid with leader sometimes around thick weed but that is my last resource.