The Science Behind the Rig It’s important to not only understand the basics of the drop-shot, but also why it’s so effective. Basically, a drop-shot is any fishing rig tied with the hook on the line above the sinker. That’s where the name comes in — the “shot,” or sinker, is “dropped” below the hook. Of course, rigs like that, in some form or another, have been around forever. Chicken-rigs. Cheater and catfish rigs. Deep-water contraptions for the open ocean. Yes, all are technically drop-shots. And that’s where our lesson comes in. The drop-shot rig, in any form, takes on a totally unique look, compared to other ways of fishing. Because the weight is below the bait, this becomes a slack-line technique once the rig is settled on the bottom.