The trout lure fishing technique you need to try!

When it comes trout lure fishing you’ve probably tried all the classic lures like the Abu toby, Mepps, Rapala Original Minnows and even Tasmanian devils!

You cast them out, count them down and retrieve. An easy and effective lure fishing technique!

But what if we told you there was another lure fishing technique that could help you present a lure at a specific depth. Allowing your lure to stay in the strike zone a lot longer! That would be great, right?

Well, you can! In this article, we will be exploring a lure fishing technique called dropshotting and how it can help you catch more trout this year.

So what is dropshotting?

Dropshotting also known as drop shot or dropshot fishing is a finesse lure fishing technique that is commonly used by American bass anglers. However, over the last few years, UK perch anglers have had great success landing specimen sized Perch using this deadly technique. However, dropshotting has also accounted for some big Rainbow and Brown trout through accidental capture.

This got us thinking! why has no trout angler adopted this deadly technique!

The great thing about this method is its versatility! You can fish either a soft plastic lure or even a live bait-like a worm!

Dropshotting gives you the ability to present a soft bait/lure in the target zone for a longer period of time allowing you to increase your chances of a bite from the most lethargic of fish. Think of it like fly fishing, with the correct fly line and team of flies, you can have the ability to hang your flies at a certain depth for a period of time, well, dropshotting allows you to do that with a soft plastic lure.

How do I set up a drop shot rig?

The cost-effective drop shot rig is very simple to set up. Below, we walk you through how to set the rig up and recommend you the best components required for targeting trout with this deadly method.

The rig itself consists of a length of fluorocarbon, a dropshot/octopus style hook and a pencil lead (a uniquely designed dropshot weight that reduces the chance of snagging during use)

1. Take 2 arms length of 8lb fluorocarbon or 2ft in length.

2. Then take a dropshot/octopus hook and tie it in halfway down the fluorocarbon using a Palomar knot or similar.

3. After the hook is tied in, it should sit out at a 90-degree angle from the fluorocarbon. Ensure the hook point is facing up the way. Then take the top end of the fluorocarbon and tie it to your braided mainline. We are using a double uni knot but you can use a knot of your choice.

4. Take a pencil drop shot weight and thread the end of the fluorocarbon through the pinch swivel and slowly and gently pinch the fluorocarbon into the narrow point of the pinch swivel to lock the line into place. This unique swivel allows you to alter the lure depth easily and quickly.

5. Now take a soft plastic lure of your choice and nose hook (as seen in the picture below)

What lures can you use on a drop shot rig?

Mice Tails

A firm favourite amongst trout bait anglers. The floating mice tail is actually a really good dropshot lure. By hooking the mice tail through the head. It allows you to impart the action in the tail section of the bait. The contrasting body and tail colours provide better visibility in the water column.

The floating properties of a mice tail also allow it to be neutrally buoyant if used in conjunction with a really fine wire drop shot hook.

The beauty of the mice tail is it allows curious trout to investigate the bait without spooking them. Trout will nibble of bite at the tail before confidently inhaling the bait. This is thanks to its very soft and supple material which gives it a life-like feel/texture.

Another great benefit of the Berkley Mice Tail is its impregnated with Berkley Powerbait scent. Meaning once the trout bite it’s not letting go!

Soft Plastic Lures

Soft plastic lures are used extensively in lure fishing for a wide variety of species now. Their soft bodies provide a realistic feel and with the use of 3D pattern print designs, these lures look extremely lifelike.

Hooked through the nose of the lure.

There are a variety of lures available on the market from shad styles to grub or worm imitations. These can be deadly when trying to weed out the better-sized trout. Below we show you the various rigging options to get the best out of your soft plastic lures.

Worms

The old worm has accounted for so many trout over the years. It’s a classic trout bait fishing bait. But, have you ever tried lure fishing with one? Yes, you read that right!

Drop shotting allows you to get the best of both worlds, a real-life trout bait and a trout lure. Dropshotting allows you to present a worm at a predetermined depth, while we have to impart the action into a soft plastic lure or mice tail. You can have a more relaxed approach to dropshotting with worms.

Worms generally kick hard once hooked, so the main idea behind using them as a dropshot bait is to allow you to cover water more effectively without having to think about how much action to impart in the bait.

We have noticed that the majority of the time, worms get hit on the drop. This is when the worm naturally falls gracefully to the loch bed. Unlike a mice tail or soft plastic lure which would lie static on the bottom. The worm has the ‘wriggle’ appeal when lying static on the bottom.

The other benefit of using a worm is the natural juices that a natural live bait has over an artificial lure. Again, this allows trout to take the bait positively.

To find out more about drop shotting, check out our ultimate guide to drop-shotting here.