Drop Shot Fishing on Cheney Reservoir
Cheney Reservoir · Kansas · Midwest
Cheney Reservoir sits on the North Fork of the Ninnescah River in Reno County, a wide, shallow prairie impoundment averaging roughly 14 feet deep with a maximum depth near 40 feet in the old river channel. Water clarity runs turbid to slightly stained through most of the year, driven by wind chop on exposed flats and agricultural runoff from the surrounding watershed. Largemouth bass, white bass, and walleye share the fishery, but largemouth hold the primary attention of dedicated bass anglers working the riprap dam face, flooded timber pockets, and shallow cove structure.
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 Cheney Reservoir
| 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 Cheney Reservoir
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth stage along the riprap dam face and main-lake points in 6–12 ft of water as temps climb through the mid-50s, then push into protected coves and shallow timber flats once the water hits 60°F. White bass runs up the Ninnescah River arm draw significant crowds in April.
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: Largemouth retreat to the deeper creek channel edges and any shade-producing dock or timber structure; the thermocline in this shallow reservoir compresses usable depth quickly, and fish concentrate in the 12–18 ft zone along channel swings during peak heat.
Drop Shot: Go deep — 20–40 feet on main lake structure. Shake in place with minimal movement. Shad colors dominate.
Lake: Shad migrations pull bass onto main-lake flats and secondary points through September and October — reaction baits like lipless crankbaits and swimbait-rigged paddle tails produce well when fish are actively schooling near the surface.
Drop Shot: Follow baitfish to secondary points and pockets. Faster retrieve works as fish get more aggressive.
Lake: Largemouth become lethargic and stack near the deepest available structure, primarily the old river channel in 25–35 ft; slow-rolled swimbaits and finesse drop shots on the channel ledge edges are the most consistent cold-water approach.
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 Cheney Reservoir
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