Drop Shotting Walleyes | A Modern Approach with Plastics

Drop shotting has been successfully adapted from the bass fishing world to other popular gamefish species such as walleyes and panfish. Wired2fish contributor and pro angler Mark Courts explains when and how to use the drop shot finesse technique for walleyes and his preferred tackle and rod setup to fish it with maximum effectiveness.
TACKLE USED
• WORM - Berkley Gulp! Freshwater Crawler, 4-inch, color - Opening Night: wired2.fish/GulpCrawler-FU
• HOOK - Berkley Fusion19 Offset Worm Hook, size 1: wired2.fish/BerkleyFusionWorm...
• WEIGHT - Titan Tungsten Pro-Series Cylinder Drop Shot Weight, 1/2-ounce: wired2.fish/TitanTungstenCyli...
• ROD - Abu Garcia Zenon Spinning Rod, 6'10" Med-Light: wired2.fish/ZenonSpinningRod
• REEL - Abu Garcia Zenon Spinning Reel: wired2.fish/ZenonSpinningReel...
• LINE (braided main line) - Berkley Fireline Ultra 8 Superline, Smoke 10-pound: wired2.fish/FirelineUltra8Sup...
• LINE (leader) - Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, 10-pound: wired2.fish/Trilene100Percent...
• SUNGLASSES - Costa Del Mar Blackfin Sunglasses: wired2.fish/CostaBackfin
Live bait has taken a back seat to artificial presentations over the last several years due to advancements in scent impregnated plastics, sonar, and boat control equipment. The drop shot pairs well with a wide range of plastics and is easy to pitch to productive areas with sonar and mapping. Perhaps most importantly, the drop shot maintains the bait in the strike zone of finicky walleye unwilling to chase baits.
Courts shares his primary methods of working the setup. As with any finesse technique, the right gear has a significant impact on success. He shares his go-to plastic, hook, and entire rod, reel, and line setup for coaxing bites from both active and tentative walleyes.
BOAT & EQUIPMENT
• FISH FINDERS (bow stack - Humminbird HELIX 12 MEGA SI+ G4N: wired2.fish/HELIX12-SI-G4N-RMP
• LIVE Sonar - Humminbird MEGA Live Transducer: wired2.fish/MEGA-LiveTransduc...
• TROLLING MOTOR - Minn Kota Ultrex Trolling Motor: wired2.fish/MinnKotaUltrex-RMP
• BOAT - Skeeter WX2200 Select Deep V: wired2.fish/SkeeterWX2200
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[@ChrisG9978]

The drop shot is definitely the most underrated rig out there. I've had several experienced walleye anglers tell me over the years that drop shots don't work well for walleye (during the Spring jigging season in the Great Lakes). Lo and behold I've caught dozens of walleye on drop shots, many over 7-8 lbs in size. My sons (12 &14) also do a lot of drop shot fishing for walleye and have had consistent success during our outings, especially when night fishing for walleye. So, for the experienced anglers that swear drop shots don't work for walleye...let 'em keep thinking that while we haul in our limits!

[@Wired2Fish]

It is definitely a fish catcher.

[@FishingThePNW]

The drop shot will essentially catch anything that swims with minor tweaks to the set up. So incredibly versatile!

[@Wired2Fish]

No doubt!!

[@chrischrist7982]

Great and informative video 💯👍

[@Wired2Fish]

Glad you liked it!

[@kejaymy2001]

Good stuff and I already have a good drop shot rod that I use for bass fishing...😁

[@PerryShriver]

good stuff.👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@alenyek1195]

Where did you get the fish ring???????

[@loboyd691]

Isnt that setup a split shot?

[@keiththompson1331]

Why does nobody drop shot above a jig? Doubling the rig

[@RockMeetFace]

Drop shot everything

[@DRazz86]

What knot do you use to tie the hook to the line?

[@Wired2Fish]

A Palomar knot is the go-to for drop shot rigging like this. Here's a video on the subject --> th-cam.com/video/uWw_f7CQQLg/w-d-xo.html

[@chrishillard4950]

size 1 or 1/0? link doesn't have a size 1.

[@lorent4998]

likely just misspoke!

[@travisbruno5964]

Are you threading the hook through the bait

[@travisbruno5964]

Nevermind its rigged weedless

[@kyongb786]

Most of people they do not have fishing boat and want to watch for bank fishing vedio but most of youtuber they have boat and are talking about boat fishing....

[@GoodVibesOnly1914]

...drop shots are deadly from shore. You can cast a mile with them and keep it right where you want it and get it down quick

[@Boon-ie1rq]

It's great until the pike shows up 😆.

[@lorent4998]

As with most presentations!

[@keiththompson6545]

That happen to me, he just got thrown in the boat, no biggie

[@chadjackson4786]

lol guy can only catch fish on his $3000 livescope