How to Tie a Drop Shot Rig for Perch: The Basics

Originally a saltwater fishing technique, drop shotting is now widely popular for bass fishing. And since it worked so well on the highly pressurized lakes in the West, it quickly gained more fame.

Nowadays, it’s a highly-coveted and widely used technique for perch fishing.

It’s not surprising how drop shotting won the hearts of many anglers all over the world.

It’s a rather simple but active and dynamic technique that doesn’t require a lot of gear.

Some anglers may already have the tools needed in the trunk of their cars right now. It also works on various types of freshwater, so you can even do it on a short notice.

What’s even better is that it can work on perch marvelously. Since perch are always desirable for their abundance, taste, and easy availability, they make such amazing catch, especially if you won’t be spending a lot of time and effort going after them. By using a drop shot rig for this, you might get great rewards for your exciting mini-fishing expeditions.

If you’re a beginner or just inexperienced in terms of perch fishing using a drop shot rig, let this quick guide help you learn the ropes of this technique.

What You Need for Drop Shotting

Before we learn the technical parts of drop shotting, allow us to give you a quick rundown of the necessary tools you need to for drop shotting:

How to Tie a Drop Shot Rig for Perch

One of the most important parts in drop shotting is in tying its knot to ensure an effective and secure line. This will guarantee that you will be able to haul in your catch.

An important thing to note is that tying a drop shot rig for perch fishing isn’t complicated. It only seems this way because of the different techniques people use. Generally, there are two effective ways that you can try:

The Twisty Knot

1. Cut the length of your line according to how high or low you want the bait from the bottom of the water.
2. Take the tag end of the line then insert it into the hook eye from the top. Pull the line in until you have a rather plenty amount of line.
3. Make a loop on the tag end.
4. Pinch the overlapping area of the looped line.
5. Grab the hook then insert it through the loop. Pull it back downwards.
6. Repeat step #4 a couple of times, depending on the thickness of your line. Usually, however, 3 to 5 times will already suffice.
7. Once done, pull on the tag end slightly to tighten the knot. Make sure to hold the hook in place and keep it pointing away from the line.
8. Pull on the main line to completely tighten the line.
9. Repeat steps 6 and 7 a couple of times until the knot is secure and tight.
10. Moisten up the line a little bit to better secure it then tug at both ends again to lock the knot in place.
11. Once done, you should get a perfectly horizontal hook that is attached to your line.
12. Attach the dropshot weight on the tag end and the bait to the hook.

The Classic Drop Shot Knot

1. Cut a length of line according to your preferences.
2. Fold the line in half or ⅔ of the length of the line then insert it into the hook eye in a clockwise direction with the pointy end of the hook pointing to your left.
3. Tie a Palomar knot along the tag end but do not tighten the knot right away.
4. Grab the looped end of the line then insert the hook through it.
5. Moisten the line on the looped areas for better security.
6. Pull the main line carefully to tighten the knot. Do the same thing to the tag end.
7. Carefully tighten the knot.
8. Once tightened, grab one of the main line ends then insert it through the hook eye. Pull it all the way though to keep the hook horizontal.
9. Attach the dropshot weights and attach the main line and add the bait on the hook.

Conclusion

Now that you have tied your drop shot rig, you’re ready for perch fishing. Remember the key techniques for this activity: head to the right spot and do delicate flicks of the rod once casted. With the right knowledge and a good amount of skill, you’re bound to get yourself a tasty perch or two with this technique.