Drop Shot Fishing on Long Branch Lake
Long Branch Lake · Missouri · Midwest
Long Branch Lake sits just east of Macon, Missouri, impounded on the Little Chariton River by the Corps of Engineers in 1981. The reservoir runs roughly 12 miles at full pool, offering a blend of submerged timber in the upper arms, clay and gravel points mid-lake, and a deeper main channel that holds fish through the heat of summer and cold of winter. Water clarity tends toward stained to slightly tannic, particularly in the upper creek arms after rain, which keeps bass tight to visible cover rather than suspended open water.
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 Long Branch 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 Long Branch Lake
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth push into the timbered upper arms and shallow clay flats by mid-April when water temps hit 58–65°F; a 3/8 oz chartreuse/white spinnerbait worked slowly along flooded timber edges and submerged brush is one of the most consistent producers of the year. Spotted bass tend to stage slightly deeper on secondary points in 8–12 ft before making the same move.
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: Once surface temps crest 80°F, bass compress to the main channel edges and deeper timber in 18–28 ft; a football jig dragged on the outside timber lines or a drop shot finesse rig along channel swings produces when topwater bite dies off midday. Early morning topwater on shallow flats near the upper arms remains viable through June.
Drop Shot: Go deep — 20–40 feet on main lake structure. Shake in place with minimal movement. Shad colors dominate.
Lake: Shad schools move into the mid-lake coves and flat creek mouths through October, pulling aggressive bass up into 6–12 ft of water; a 3/4 oz white or chartreuse swimjig paralleled along the timber line, or a Heddon Super Spook Jr. over open pockets, covers water quickly during this chase-and-ambush period.
Drop Shot: Follow baitfish to secondary points and pockets. Faster retrieve works as fish get more aggressive.
Lake: Cold-water bass stack on main channel timber and hard-bottom points in 22–35 ft when water temps drop below 48°F; a blade bait like a 1/2 oz Swedish Pimple worked vertically over submerged standing timber is a legitimate option that most Missouri anglers overlook in favor of jigs. Slow-dragging a 3/8 oz football jig on clay-gravel points produces fish on warming afternoons.
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 Long Branch Lake
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