Of those that fish with a drop shot occasionally, do you rig your drop shot combo during your fishing day in the boat as you decide you want it, or rig it at home before the launch and keep that rod/reel strictly drop shot?

I have a dedicated dropshot setup because I fish it so much. It’s one of my oldest combos and I would replace it immediately if something were to happen to it. I do not do braid to leader so there’s no pre rigging. Straight 8lb mono to a #1 EWG hook and a QuickDrop 1/4oz harp dropshot weight. If I ever break off, which is very rare and almost never unless a toothy critter gets ahold of it, I just retie and go. I just loaded my bulk bag for our annual trip to St Clair and I’d wager I have 25lbs of Yamamoto plastics dedicated to dropshotting.

Dedicated rod that's always setup, but I also have a little clamshell box of dropshot tackle so other rods can serve double duty if necessary.

Currently I only have one "all-around" medium fast spinning combo, everything else is baitcaster. So if I want to dropshot I do kind of have to commit to it for a while, but usually if I'm going that route it's because fishing other techniques like shakey heads, wacky worms, or light t-rigs have already failed. The annoying part is the leader. If I'm fishing a t-rigged senko I'm probably doing it around cover and will use a 10-12lb leader. Dropshot I want more like a 6-8lb so I usually swap the leader which means scrapping good line. More of a mental pain than anything knowing once it's rigged I can't go back and forth to something else as easily. But realistically I can rig it up in a few minutes so it's not a huge deal.

If you're in the same boat, I'd also recomend the VMC "spinshot" hooks. Makes swapping out a dropshot rig quite easy without destroying the palomar knot connecting both the weight and hook. Also nice if you're fishing around toothy beasts and are getting your line shredded between fish.

I’m in the occasionally boat. If I’m going to use it that trip it’s pre rigged. I don’t like fiddling around with the rig on the water.

Both, but usually beforehand.

Beforehand and planned, unless I’m just really desperate. Not terribly tough to set up if you always keep a finesse rig on hand - it’s just a hook and a weight - unless you’re a straight braid guy.

I rarely dropshot. Can't stand it, really. BUT I do keep a dedicated dropshot rod in the boat at all times. I have a very hard time not "reaction" fishing but every once in a while, you see something too good not to drop on.

My drop shot rod is also my ned rig rod so I like to have it tied ahead of time if I think I’m going to use it.

dedicated drop shot but I tie generally decently long leaders already so I could tie one up on the lake.

Storage wise, I secure the hook in the rod hook keeper and just twist the leader line around the rod/reel handle area to minimize snags.

I have a dedicated DS rod. I do not like tying them up so I never take it off unless it breaks or retie.

I put the hook in the hook holder then wrap the line around the bottom of the rod and hold it in place with a hair band.

8 minutes ago, Siebert Outdoors said:

I put the hook in the hook holder then wrap the line around the bottom of the rod and hold it in place with a hair band.

I like a dropshot rod with an open keeper below the grip. Weight clips into the keeper and line is pulled tight.

It depends on where I am fishing. If I intend to fish a lake where I know the drop shot will be an advantage I may rig ahead of time. If I am at a lake where I see the benefit of a drop shot I rig I rig on the lake. I keep a small Plano box handy with drop shot weights, hooks and swivels.

I don’t drop shot very often so don’t have one rigged. If I decide to drop shot, it doesn’t take very long to set up. I usually carry 3-4 rods that can be used for multiple techniques. No need to carry extra outfits in case I need them. They just get in my way. YMMV

I have a dedicated drop shot combo. I always set it up before I head to the lake and I always have three or four pre-made rigs ready to go in case I break one off.

I share drop shot and light plastics duty with the same rod. Being a smallmouth first guy I usually start deep 10' - 20' and have the drop shot rigged from home. As I look shallower and want grubs, tubes and 4" caffeine shads, I cut off the drop shot at the hook and rig a light jig head which usually is not displaced until next trip.

Thanks for all's confessions...

I have 2 or 3 dedicated drop shot rods. Finding a good rod for dropshotting is very difficult. They are always rigged - 2 for smallmouth, 3/8 and 1/2 oz and one for largemouth - 1/2oz.

Takes about one minute to rig up.

Allen

Depends on the body of water. Some require one combo and others will require two.

Throw drop-shot often and have a dedicated rod pre-rigged.

90% of snags take the weight so easy to get back up and running.

I fish a dropshot quite often, and it’s pre-tied because I don’t want to mess with tying it up out on the water. Sometimes it’ll be straight braid, otherwise it’s 15lb flouro to braid via an Alberto knot. I have broken out a spinning rod to dropshot periodically but I’d prefer not to since the Delta is a shallow water, target rich environment.

The real question is: why are you fishing with a drop shot?

2 minutes ago, gim said:

The real question is: why are you fishing with a drop shot?

Because depending on the fishery @Gimruis, it catches fish 😎

I always have one in the rod locker. I don't really "drop" on them as much as cast to them anymore.

Back in those days with 2D you could see the weight and the bait as well as the fish rise up to get it, now that we are looking out front some are in an uprising. But I digress.

Every time i see a dropshot subject come out, i can't help but think of gim, and how much he despises it. 🤣 I, on the otherhand - LOVE it. Use it at some point during every time out. Sure, i get bitten off by a pike a couple times a year. Spinning 7' ml, 15# berkley x9 crystal to a spro swivel, then 6# mono leader about 5' long, usually a #1 ewg and 1/8 oz. pencil-(skinny) wt. I fish it in 2' - 25' fow. Petty dad-gum versatile in my experience.