Best Beginners Setup To Tie A Drop Shot Rig For Perch [2022]

Before we delve into the central issue of how to tie a drop shot rig for perch, you should have an idea of what drop shotting is all about. 

Drop shotting is considered a primary bass fishing method for beginners, though saltwater fishermen invented it. 

This fishing technique was practically brought into the world of bass fishing by none other but the professional bass fishermen residing on the West Coast, and in no time, it swiftly spread. 

A quick understanding of drop shotting involves suspending a bait; it could be artificial, like a plastic worm or even a dead bait. Then, you are to suspend it off the bottom at a specific level that will place the bait in front of the fish. 

The weight is usually dropped vertically to the bottom while the bait is shaken a little to capture the fish’s attention. 

Steps to tie a drop shot rig for perch thread

As a highly prominent and easy method for catching those predator species that the perch falls under, there are steps you are to follow with a drop shot rig. 

If you seek how to tie a drop shot rig for perch, the steps you should pay attention to are: 

1. Step One: Purchase a lightweight or medium rod

Some people will prefer to get rods between six to eight feet long. Nevertheless, you can buy generally light rods or purchase medium fishing rods. 

In all, it is best to go for one that is light as you will need to hold on to it all day, and no one wants it to strain their muscles. More so, a lighter one will help you in detecting bites. 

Interestingly, it will give the rod enough action or bend so that the bait moves realistically whenever it is moved. One more thing you can look out for comes with a casting weight of about 0-15 grams. 

These are delicate and soft. The heavier ones weigh twenty grams and will not allow you to feel or notice the bite through the rod tip. Some manufacturers practically make some for drop shot purposes. 

However, buying one to set up the drop shot rig is not vital.

2. Step Two: Threading 10 to 20lb braided line through the pole’s eyelets

In this next step, you will have to slide your braided main line on the spool of the pole, then turn your reels in a counter-clockwise motion. The reason for this motion is to unwind some of your lines. 

You are to carry the free end of the line or, better still, the tag end and run it through the pole’s eye. For those unaware, 10 to 20lb means 4.5-9.1kg of the main line. 

You must also ensure you pull it out of the eye at the pole’s tip. Pull it so there will be eight to twelve inches length of the excess line. This is twenty to thirty cm. 

Best believe that ten to 20lb of lines are powerful enough to tackle the tension from a five to fifteen lb fish thrashing at your line’s end. 

The reels you use here should come with a braid. 

3. Step Three: Tying a 15-18 inches of fluorocarbon leader to the braided line

At this point of your drop shot setup, you are to buy a six to eight-lb fluorocarbon line for the leader. Then, make use of a swivel knot, uni knot, or Palomar knot to attach the fluorocarbon leader to your braided line in a secure manner. 

The hook, bait, and weight will all go on the fluorocarbon leader. Remember that fluorocarbon is known to be lighter and way less visible to most of these fishes. And this is why it is used at the end of the line. 

Using a fishing knot will ensure the leader does not break loose from your braided line as it is tied tight. In learning how to tie a drop shot rig for perch, note that you do not need so much gear to set it up at this point. 

You will need 4-8lb Fluorocarbon to find the ideal strength of line that is best for you. This is solely based on the fish’s size and the number of snags in front of you. 

You will need size six drop shot hooks as they are perfect for the soft plastic lure worms. Bigger hooks are also recommended, like a size 4, if you want to go for bigger fish with bigger baits. 

Finally, you will need drop shot weights as it is what you will connect on the line to give you the weight to cast and pull the bait towards the depth. 

Understand that braid is vital because, if you do not have it on the reels you use, you will not get to feel the bite. And, you will be unable to impart action unto the worms or lure. 

Interestingly, the braid does not get to stretch each time you twitch your rod. 

4. Step Four: Tying the leader to the hook

Here, you will be expected to tie the leader to your hook. You will need size one to two hooks to set up the drop shot rig. Embark on threading your leader’s tag end into the eye at the top of the hook. 

It is done so that you will have roughly six to eight inches of line to continue working with. You are then to use the Palomar knot to secure the hook to your leader. 

Do not forget to cut 1 ½ to two feet of fluorocarbon. 

5. Step Five: Threading the tag end back via the hook’s other side

When you have tied the leader to your hook, you will compulsorily need to thread your tag end of the leader via the other side of the hook. Once done, the hook point should face upwards and the side. 

You should know that you are to leave a little bit of ten to twelve inches of slack at the end of the fishing line. It will enable you to attach the weight. 

6. Step Six: Attaching a weight to the fluorocarbon leader

Even if you want to catch a big perch, you must use one to three-pound weights for the drop shot rig. So, you will need to take your tag end of the leader and embark on threading it through the eye of the weight. 

You are to pull up on the two sides of the line to wedge the line into the eye, securing it. Then, you should snip the excess line from the weights with scissors. 

Ensure that you do not necessarily need to tie the knot to the weight to get it attached to the line. 

7. Step Seven: Attaching bait to the hook to complete the rig

You will need to attach a drop shot rig to the braid. In doing this, you have to tie some overhand loops, thus having to loop them together, or you can use the Albright knot to loop them. 

Some anglers attach artificial or live bait to the hook. However, the best for the drop shot rig is longer and worm-like baits such as minnows or worms. They are ideal as the tail tends to undulate while in water. 

When you hold on to the baits, pierce them through the nose. It will help give them a realistic movement in lakes to lure the perch. 

8. Step Eight: Attaching drop shot weight to the fluorocarbon’s end

You can place it any distance away from your hook. And will sit at the bottom while the hook stays above it. If the weed is much, you may have to move it further from your weights so that the hook remains above the weeds. 

You can place the weight beneath your hook for those interested in having to fish close to the bottom, most likely because you spotted the fish down on the deck. 

9. Step Nine: Ready to fish; cast the line in the water

When you get to step nine, you have the idea of how to tie a drop shot rig for perch. At this point, embark on casting your line in the water and allowing the weight to go way down to hit bottom. 

While down there, ensure the line is tight enough until you feel the weight. Here is where buying a lightweight rod tip is needed, as the drop shot rod trick is to jiggle the bait subtly instead of chucking it out and having it reeled back in once more. 

When you are at the lake or river with your boat, waiting ten to fifteen seconds for your weights to hit the floor is ideal. In addition, you will catch more fish if your line is cast in water areas with a high fish density. 

10. Step Ten

With all you have done in step nine, step ten will have you feeling a bite while the line is tight in the rod tip. You must set the hook firmly as perch comes with bony mouths. It will help if you strike swiftly since perch can swallow the bait quickly. 

So, immediately you hook into the perch and begin pulling; note that they can get ferocious, and you may need forceps. When you fish from on a kayak and tie a drop shot rig for perch you will also want to know how to fish on kayak.

Equipment for drop shot fishing 

Bear in mind that drop shot perch fishing will need to take place with specific equipment. So while you have an idea of how to tie a drop shot rig for perch, the necessary equipment for drop shotting are: 

Rod

You will need a small yet lightweight rod when drop shot fishing for perch. Most people will advise that you make use of a rod that comes with a very soft tip. And, it is because the perch likes shaking their heads while underneath the net. 

With a soft tip rod, you will not lose any fish you catch. 

Mainline

You will need a primary braided main line for perch fishing. It should be one that does not stretch, thus making it perfect to be used in catching fish. 

Understand that the no-stretch quality will enable the anglers to be capable of feeling all that goes on underneath the water. And this is what you need for this fishing technique. 

Your central line should be 0.10mm, which will be great for the drop shot setup. 

Reel

Like the rod, the reel will need to be lightweight since you will need to hold the rod and reel for a long time. 

Note that the reel spool size of roughly two thousand is more than enough for drop shotting. 

Leader

You will need a twelve-inch fluorocarbon leader when learning how to tie a drop shot rig for perch. 

Bear in mind that the leader is attached to the main line with the help of a fast change clip. Many anglers prefer using Korda quick-change clips on all their rigs. This is because it enables them to swap the rigs without cutting and re-tying the knots easily. 

You must note that having to break a strain of about six to eight ounces is more than enough for most of the perch you will likely catch. 

Hooks

You can buy committed drop shot fishing hooks that will enable the lure to sit appropriately in the water, prepared for the perch to take on the baits. 

Irrespective of the size of the perch you will encounter, the ideal size for the perch is size fourteen to sixteen. You can carry other different sizes to play with for those not getting any bite. 

Lure choices

When looking at smaller perch, the lure with you should be between 0.75 to two inches in length. And if you are expecting bigger perch in those commercial fisheries, your lure should be between two to four inches in length. 

You can buy plenty of lures as a lure comes in diverse shapes and colors and has specific ways they move inside water. In all, you can try out different lures to find the one that works best for you. 

Leads/Weights 

You can buy weights or leads in different sizes and shapes. However, the torpedo-like shapes are the best if you will be perch fishing in waters with snaggy and weedy bottoms.

The leads shaped like a pear will let you feel the lead down and even help detect bites easily because of their density. However, some people prefer to carry leads or weights of different shapes and sizes. 

It helps them in experimenting whenever they are set to fish. 

Net

Understand that a small landing net is needed when you want to fish for perch. In most fisheries, this is a rule. 

Places to fish

After learning how to tie a drop shot rig for perch, the places you should know about that you can do stuff like fishing in are: 

Canals

The Canals are ideal, filled with features like marinas and locks. Most of these predators enjoy sitting close to the bank itself and the actual edge of boats. It should be your target as you fish. 

Still waters

You can check local commercials since they allow for drop shotting during winter. The still waters like park lakes are ideal, and you can never tell what lurks in specimen carp pits. 

Ensure you search for drop-offs and some features like those overhanging trees. 

Rivers

Slow-moving rivers such as soar, weaver, and the Thames are suitable for drop shotting. However, you will need heavier weights to combat the flow. Some hot spots to get fished are slack areas, islands, and lock cuttings. 

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Conclusion

In this article, we have provided a comprehensive explanation of where you may go fishing for perch using a drop shot rig. Please read everything about this before attempting to use this strategy.