Drop Shot Fishing on St. Lawrence River
St. Lawrence River · New York · Northeast
The St. Lawrence River is a vast, fast-moving waterway with depths ranging from shallow weed beds to deep channels, creating diverse habitat for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. The river's complex current patterns, numerous islands, and rocky structure make it a challenging yet rewarding destination for experienced anglers. Known for consistent smallmouth populations and growing largemouth opportunities, the river attracts bass fishermen seeking trophy-sized catches in a scenic setting.
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 St. Lawrence River
| 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 St. Lawrence River
Lake: Spring brings active bass movement as water temperatures warm, with pre-spawn and spawn patterns concentrated around shallow flats, rocky points, and current breaks. Jigs, crankbaits, and soft plastics near spawning areas produce excellent results during this transitional period.
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 channels, current breaks, and rocky structure where cooler water provides relief from warming temperatures. Focus on finding transition zones between shallow and deep water, using drop-shot rigs and deep-diving crankbaits in the river's main channel.
Drop Shot: Go deep — 20–40 feet on main lake structure. Shake in place with minimal movement. Shad colors dominate.
Lake: Fall brings aggressive feeding as bass move through shallow structure and current seams preparing for winter, offering excellent topwater and shallow-diving crankbait opportunities. The decreasing water temperatures and increased current flow concentrate bass in predictable feeding zones around islands and rocky shorelines.
Drop Shot: Follow baitfish to secondary points and pockets. Faster retrieve works as fish get more aggressive.
Lake: Winter fishing remains viable in the St. Lawrence River due to moderate water temperatures, with bass holding in deeper channels and around current breaks. Slow-moving presentations like jigging and live bait near deep structure provide the most consistent winter success.
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 St. Lawrence River
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