Drop Shot Fishing on Navajo Lake
Navajo Lake · New Mexico / Colorado · West
Navajo Lake is a scenic high-elevation reservoir created by the Navajo Dam on the San Juan River, covering approximately 15,000 acres across the New Mexico-Colorado border. The lake features numerous coves, rocky points, submerged timber, and deep channels that create ideal habitat for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Its cooler mountain water and abundant forage make it a consistently productive fishery attracting anglers seeking quality bass fishing.
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 Navajo 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 Navajo Lake
Lake: Spring fishing heats up as water temperatures rise into the 50s-60s, triggering pre-spawn and spawning activity along shallow coves and protected creek arms. Look for bass moving to gravel points and rocky banks where they stage before moving to shallower spawning areas.
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 months see bass retreating to deeper structure and shaded areas as water temperatures climb, with early morning and evening topwater action around rocky points and submerged timber being most productive. Deep-water patterns targeting 30-50 feet along main channel ledges and dropoffs yield quality fish.
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 energize bass as they move into feeding mode, with excellent bite on crankbaits and swimbaits around rocky structure and creek channel ledges. The transition period from summer to winter patterns provides some of the year's most consistent and aggressive fishing.
Drop Shot: Follow baitfish to secondary points and pockets. Faster retrieve works as fish get more aggressive.
Lake: Winter fishing can be challenging but productive, with bass holding in deeper water around the main dam and deep creek channels where water temperatures remain more stable. Slow presentations like jigging and drop-shotting in 40-60 feet of water produce quality fish during cold months.
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 Navajo Lake
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