Drop Shot Fishing on Broken Bow Lake
Broken Bow Lake · Oklahoma · South Central
Broken Bow Lake is a beautiful 14,000-acre impoundment created by a dam on the Little River, featuring clear water and rocky structure ideal for bass fishing. The lake's numerous creek arms, coves, and rocky banks provide excellent habitat for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. With depths reaching over 100 feet and abundant timber and brush, Broken Bow is considered one of Oklahoma's premier bass fishing destinations.
The drop shot suspends a soft plastic bait above the bottom on a fixed line, keeping it in the strike zone longer than any other rig. Originally a West Coast technique, it now dominates clear-water and finesse situations nationwide. Works vertically over structure or on a long cast.
Drop Shot Setup for Broken Bow Lake
| Rod | 7' medium-light to medium spinning rod, fast action |
| Reel | 2500–3000 size spinning reel, 6.2:1 or higher |
| Line | 6–8 lb fluorocarbon main line or 10 lb braid + 8 lb fluoro leader |
| Weight | 1/8–3/8 oz tungsten drop shot weight (heavier in current or deep water) |
| Hook | #1 or #2 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap, 6–18 inches above weight |
Seasonal Tactics on Broken Bow Lake
Lake: Spring pre-spawn and spawn periods bring aggressive bass to shallow flats and creek arms where water temperatures warm first. Crankbaits, jigs, and topwater lures produce well as bass move toward spawning areas in 3-8 feet of water.
Drop Shot: Target staging fish on points and drop-offs in 8–20 feet. Nose-hook a 6" Roboworm or Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm.
Lake: Summer bass retreat to deeper structures including rocky points, drop-offs, and brush piles in 15-25 feet of water to escape heat and bright sun. Vertical jigging, deep-diving crankbaits, and live bait presentations work best in the lake's deeper zones.
Drop Shot: Go deep — 20–40 feet on main lake structure. Shake in place with minimal movement. Shad colors dominate.
Lake: Fall cooling water temperatures trigger aggressive feeding as bass move from deep structure into shallower feeding zones along rocky banks and creek channels. Crankbaits, swimbaits, and topwater lures excel as bass chase baitfish in 6-12 feet of water.
Drop Shot: Follow baitfish to secondary points and pockets. Faster retrieve works as fish get more aggressive.
Lake: Winter bass slow significantly but concentrate around deep structure, creek channels, and rocky ledges in 20-40 feet of water. Vertical jigging with small jigs and subtle presentations are most effective for cold-water bass.
Drop Shot: Slowest presentation of the year. Dead-stick a 4" finesse worm at the bottom. Let it sit 10–15 seconds between shakes.
Best Conditions
Clear to stained water, pressured fish, cold fronts, post-spawn suspended bass, deep structure in summer
Use a Palomar knot and leave the tag end pointing up to keep the hook riding correctly. Most anglers tie it wrong.
More Techniques for Broken Bow Lake
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