Seaguar Hookpoints – Dropshot Rigs with Shaw Grigsby

Over the years, a dropshot Rig has become not only the go to bait when the bite is tough, but professional anglers have proven that it can be a winning rig. One of those anglers who is an aficionado of the dropshot rig is Seaguar pro Shaw Grigsby. Grigsby has said that he has the dropshot setup at the ready in most events that he fishes, and plans on using it throughout the country in many different conditions. In this edition of Seaguar Hookpoints, we will detail how Grigsby rigs his dropshot.

As you will see from this photo, here are the components of Grigsby’s dropshot setup. He selects a 6’10” to 7’ medium action spinning rod and reel from Quantum and spools it with 20-pound-test Seaguar Smackdown braided line with a 6-pound-test leader of Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon. He chooses a TK150 Eagle Claw TroKar Dropshot hook, a Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Dropshot weight and his favorite worm for the rig is a Strike King KVD Dream Shot.

Let’s start by discussing tying the Seaguar Tatsu Leader onto the Seaguar Smackdown braided line. For lighter lines, Grigsby prefers the FG Knot because it is strong and very small. He begins by pointing his rod tip away from him and holding the end of his Seaguar Smackdown in his teeth so that the line in taut.

He then drapes the Seaguar Tatsu over the Seaguar Smackdown braid and begins weaving the Tatsu around the Smackdown below and above his hands. Once he weaves the Tatsu making 20 different wraps, he ties two half hitch knots above the joined lines.

Once he has completed those steps, he trims the tag ends of the Seaguar Tatsu and Smackdown braids tight to the knot.

See how small the FG Knot is at the joint? It will pass through a guide very easily because it is only slightly larger than the diameter of the 6-pound-test Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon. (See the video below for a demonstration of tying the FG Knot).

After finishing the FG Knot, he makes three to four turns of the reel handle to make sure he has 8 to 10 feet of Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon leader on his reel. This allows him to re-tie his hook several times during the day without having to re-do the leader.

Now it is time to tie the hook onto the Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon. Grigsby’s favorite knot for tying hooks and lures to his Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon line is a Double Pitzen Knot because it is tested as one of the strongest knots available today. Begin by doubling the line and passing it through the eye of the hook.

See how the hook is resting in the doubled portion of the Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon?

Make a circle over your left index finger while holding the looped end of the Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon in your right hand. You may need to add a Little weight to get the hook to swing right to tie the Double Pitzen Knot, as Grigsby has with his line cutters.

With the looped end of the Seaguar Tatsu Fluorcarbon, make three wraps around the circle you created with your left index finger.

Now, push the looped end of the Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon through the second loop at the top of the knot created by the three wraps you made. Snug the knot loosely by pulling the hook and the three tag ends, but do not cinch the knot completely at this point.

Wet the knot with saliva, now cinch and trim the tag end and the loop in the Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon. You should have three whiskers remaining after the knot is cinched. (Grigsby has produced a video demonstrating how to tie the Double Pitzen Knot, and describes why it is the best knot for Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon in this video below).

Now, place the tag end of the Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon leader through the eye of the hook making sure that the point of the hook itself is pointed up the line towards the rod tip.

The point of the hook should ride up on your Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon leader, just like this.

Now, grasp the end of the leader, and tie a simple overhand knot at the end of your Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon. This will help keep your dropshot weight affixed to the line more securely.

Slide the end of your Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon through the pinch keeper and pull the line into the pinch with the overhand knot at the bottom of the keeper.

Your weight should hang like this at the end of the line, with your hook at the top. Setting the leader length will depend on how the fish are positioned near the bottom. If they are close, you will only need a few inches, but you could have a leader length as much as a few feet at times.

Now, nose hook the Dream Shot worm with the flat side down.

Here is what a completed Dropshot rig will look when performed like Shaw Grigsby makes his. The benefit of using the Seaguar Smackdown braid with the Tatsu Fluorocarbon leader is that you won’t have to worry about line twist as much, and you get a much more direct feel of your lure, the bottom and bites when fish strike.