| There are lots of
rigs for fishing with bait on or near the bottom, but the dropper loop
and reverse dropper loop are among the simplest and most versatile.
Both are made by forming a loop “branching” off from the line just
above the end. A dropper loop rig consists of a weight at the end of the line and a hook attached to the loop. In a reverse dropper rig, the weight is attached to the loop and the hook is tied to the end of the line. The dropper rig is a better choice for rockfish in deep water, since the bait is between you and the sinker, making bites easier to detect. Also, you can regulate how far above the bottom your bait stays by varying the distance between the sinker and the loop. The reverse dropper rig is better for fishing in shallower water (say 15 to 75 feet) for bass and halibut. Detecting strikes isn’t usually a problem, and the reverse dropper allows the bait to swim more naturally. With either type of rig, use a “torpedo” sinker just heavy enough to stay on the bottom given the water depth, drifting speed, etc. |