To an outsider, this is simply a snarl of hooks and plastic legs. It is a jumbled mess off bait and line. To an angler who catches bass, however, it’s a purposeful weapon.
It is a way to make a bass suck a hook into its mouth. This makes all the difference when catching finicky bass that won’t cooperate. It’s an idea so simple, but also deceptive.
It is short length of leader with a soft plastic suspended above weight. As the weight descend towards bottom, the bait dangles above it. Fish come up underneath and attack from below.
The bait are positioned naturaly, and this rig forces you to position your offering in a way that triggers a reflexive bite. This isn’t finesse fishing. It’s not even really about fishing as much as it’s about getting a reaction.
Mastering Spider Rigging for Better Bass Catches
Understanding the Drop Shot Rig
To use the rig properly, one should of understand its parts. The sinker is main element. Your job are to have something that will get you down there but also not too big so as to make casting difficult.
For this, egg sinkers is default option. These slide on the main line without any problem. When the hook is set, letting the weight slide allow it to absorb the impact.
Without the weight sliding, your hook are tied straight to the sinker. That means no shock absorption and the fish feel it right away. Spitting the bait out.
Choosing the Right Sinker
It is a little detail that save a lot of hookups. Then there’s the leader, which is that short piece of line from the hook to the sinker. How long should the leader be?
You’d be surprised. Too short and your bait stay too close to the bottom. Too long and the bait gets pulled away.
Typically, twelve to eighteen inches are the sweet spot. That gives the bait some room to swim freely. And keep it close enough for them to smell.
Leader Length and Hook Selection
It is a matter of scent versus visibility. Choose how to present bait and which hook to use. Use a wide gap hook.
With a wide gap hook, it gets out from underneath the bait. Hit too close to the plastic and it won’t stick in the fish. Use a wide gap hook to clear the plastic body of your lure.
Size is based off the plastic. Six inch creature bait require different hook than a four-inch tube. Bulk of the lure determine hook size.
Point of the hook need to be exposed just far enough to grab bone of the jaw but not poke through the plastic. It’s all about presentation. Once the rig reach your target structure, let it fall to the bottom.
Don’t reel it up right away. Now just tap lightly on the bottom with your rod tip. This kicks the bait off the bottom and makes it flitter back to the bottom.
Fishing Technique and Bait Action
The bass really likes this erratic action. It resemble a dying piece of prey. If they don’t bite, start dragging the weight slowly across the bottom.
The vibration move through the water and lets them know something is hiding nearby in the rocks or weeds. It is most effective to fish for pressured fish. The fish has been caught.
It has happened several times. They’re leery of typical offerings. Their skepticism gets short-circuited with the spider rig.
Bait stays off the bottom mess. The bait look innocent. The fish are not forced to eat.
It is an inviting feed. Learn to master this rig and you’ll catch the ones other folks won’t. A refusal becomes a hookup.
