Drop Shot for Walleye
Hook tied above a weight on the tag end, so a small soft plastic hovers at a set height off the bottom. Applied to walleye, that means 6–14 lb main line and a medium-light, extra-fast action rod as your baseline.
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · Editorial policy
Rod, reel, line and hooks
- Rod
- Medium-Light, extra-fast action, 6.5–7.5 ft
- Reel
- 2500–3000 spinning
- Main line
- 6–14 lb
- Hooks
- Size 4–1/0 jig hooks; size 2–6 live-bait hooks
- Method — Rod
- 6'8"–7' Medium-Light spinning, extra-fast tip
- Method — Line
- 10–15 lb braid with a 6–8 lb fluorocarbon leader
- Method — Hook
- Size 1–2 drop-shot hook, nose-hooked
- Method — Weight
- 1/8–3/8 oz cylinder or teardrop drop-shot weight
Where the species baseline and the method spec differ, the method spec is the more specific advice — the species row tells you the strength you need, the method row tells you the behaviour you need.
Check prices for this setupWhy this works on this fish
How the rig works
The weight anchors on the bottom while the bait stays suspended in the fish's eye line. Shaking the slack line animates the lure without moving it away, which keeps it in the strike zone far longer than a moving bait.
Walleye behaviour
Low-light predator with excellent night vision. Feeds on perch, shad and minnows.
Large lakes and rivers; relates to bottom structure, breaklines and wind-blown points.
When to fish it
Dawn, dusk and night; choppy 'walleye chop' conditions on windy points.
Walleye tips
- Extra-fast tips telegraph the light 'weight' bite typical of walleye.
- Work depth breaks rather than flat bottom.
- Fish shallower than you expect at night.
Other methods for walleye
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Common questions
What line do I need for drop shot for walleye?
Use 6–14 lb main line, adjusting for cover and water clarity.
What hook size for drop shot for walleye?
Size 4–1/0 jig hooks; size 2–6 live-bait hooks.
What rod and reel suit drop shot for walleye?
A medium-Light, extra-fast action rod around 6.5–7.5 ft with 2500–3000 spinning.
Is drop shot hard to learn?
Difficulty is 2/5 (easy). Set the leader length to the height fish are holding off bottom — 6–12 inches is a normal starting point.
When does drop shot work best for walleye?
Dawn, dusk and night; choppy 'walleye chop' conditions on windy points.