Drop Shot Fishing on Leesville Lake
Leesville Lake · Ohio · Midwest
Leesville Lake sits in the rolling hills of eastern Ohio's Carroll County, impounded by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District on McGuire Creek. At roughly 1,000 acres, it punches well above its size class — exceptional water clarity for a Midwest reservoir, timber-studded coves, and a distinct main-channel ledge system give it a structure mix more reminiscent of an Ozarks impoundment than a typical Ohio flood-control lake. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass are present, with spotted bass rounding out the mix in the deeper channel reaches.
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 Leesville 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 Leesville Lake
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth push into the upper cove flats and fallen timber in 4–8 ft as water climbs through the mid-50s; a 3/8 oz Texas-rigged Zoom Brush Hog or a square-bill crankbait worked tight to submerged wood produces before the main spawn wave arrives.
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: Smallmouth and spotted bass suspend over main-channel timber in 18–28 ft once surface temps crack 80°F; a drop shot or finesse football jig worked on deeper points and submerged creek-channel transitions keeps contact with the best fish while largemouth retreat under shaded cove cover.
Drop Shot: Go deep — 20–40 feet on main lake structure. Shake in place with minimal movement. Shad colors dominate.
Lake: Shad and bluegill push baitfish shallow in October, pulling largemouth back into the 6–12 ft timber zone — a Strike King KVD 1.5 squarebill or a 3/8 oz War Eagle spinnerbait around standing wood produces aggressive reaction strikes through mid-November.
Drop Shot: Follow baitfish to secondary points and pockets. Faster retrieve works as fish get more aggressive.
Lake: Water temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s push bass deep and tight to main-lake timber in 25–35 ft; a Ned rig or a slowly dragged 1/2 oz football jig on the channel-adjacent point tips is the most consistent contact method, with long pauses mandatory.
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 Leesville Lake
Ready to fish Leesville Lake?
Ask Hank about current conditions, water temp, and exactly what to throw today.
Ask Hank →