Lure Action and Fishing the Drop

When anglers examine a new lure, they universally check the action as the lure moves through the water.  Lure makers spend countless hours developing the perfect wobble, spin, slide, flutter, etc.  They spend all this time so they can “hook” their money spending prey – the angler – and then catch fish.  What is typically ignored is the action that actually triggers fish to strike.  This could be the active motion of the lure, but from my view, the key action that triggers fish to strike is The Drop.  Here are tips on how to Fish the Drop to Catch Big Fish.

What Causes Fish to Strike?

Our article Triggers that make Fish Strike covers 3 focus areas that cause fish to hit a lure or bait.

• Action and Movement
• Smell and Scent
• Threats and Protection

The Drop

The Drop is a subset of “Action and Motion” and can be considered a Finesse Fishing Method.  The Drop is the action of the lure as it falls to the bottom.  It is the most successful triggering action to catch big fish.  Fish are opportunistic feeders.  They try to use minimal energy to catch their prey.  When a fish sees a lure/bait free falling as if it were injured or dying it triggers immediate strikes.

I first saw the concept of The Drop in the 1994 infomercials for the Banjo Minnows.  The pitchman discusses the dying crippled minnow retrieve and how to cast the bait and then “Let it die, Let it die”.  The video shows large fish aggressively striking the bait as it dropped to the bottom.  Banjo Minnows were certainly over hyped baits back in the day, but they did catch many fish.  Later the company changed the plastic formula to a stiffer version and ruined the great lure action.

Other tactics that take advantage of the phenomenally successful fish catching action of the Drop include:

• Wacky Worms – the worms are hit as they fall to the bottom
• Slow Pitch Jigs – recent saltwater technique from Japan (the jig flutters to the bottom)
• Drop Shots – short slow drops of a stationary bait
• Swim Baits – using minnow baits similar to Banjo Minnows and letting them drop

Catching Fish on the Drop

To be successful in catching fish using The Drop it is important to keep in mind a few key points.

Lighter line, hooks and weights are more effective as they supply a more natural falling action for the lure.  A swim bait on a 1/8 ounce jig or bare hook falls much more slowly and naturally then a bait on a ½ or ¾ ounce jig head. 

For freshwater fishing targeting bass, trout and the like it is best to keep your line between 6 and 10 pound test unless you are fishing in heavy weeds or cover.  For saltwater the line can be higher strength braid with a mono or fluoro leader.

It can be much harder to detect fish hitting on The Drop.  At times fish will hit a bait on the Drop and start swimming away quickly but often they will just tap and inhale the bait without moving much initially.  You need to watch the line closely as the bait falls and look for any movement, twitching or similar that would indicate a fish has taken the bait and then set the hook.

SUMMARY

Fishing The Drop can be a tactic to add to your tookit when fishing especially in heavily fished waters.  Fish are “pre-programmed” to hit dying, falling bait fish and The Drop simulates this action.  Give it a try …

Please send pictures of your fishing success.  You can contact me by email at [email protected].

Tight lines …  Captain P.