San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Here is a simple formula that works:
H=distance from rod tip (as being held) to the lake bottom
L=amount of line out in feet (from rod tip to sinker). L>H.
B=distance from bait to the drop shot sinker
B''=distance from the bait to the lake bottom
All numbers in the same units (feet in the examples below)

Then B'=B*H/L i.e. the bait distance from the bottom scales by the H/L ratio

Check: if the distance from the rod tip to the bottom is 15', there is 15' of line out (exactly touching the bottom), then B'=B as expected.

Example: rod tip is 3' above the surface in 10' of water (H=3+7=10), you made a 50' cast (rod tip to sinker) and the bait is 2' from the sinker. The bait is 2*10/50=.4'=4.8" from the bottom now.

A bottom bouncer gets around this problem and keeps the bait off the bottom regardless of the amount of line out. But that is more suited to trolling than finesse fishing. https://www.amazon.com/Bullet-Weights-B ... =8-11&th=1

And so does a stationary Carolina rig with a floating bait.

Finally, my AP Calculus class comes in handy when I sit there and do unnecessary math when fishing a drop shot! Mr McClure would be proud.

I notice the individual didn't take into consideration the various sink rates that different lines have. Or wind. Current. I've never met a line that goes straight down to the water from my rod tip and doesn't bow one bit.

My scientific formula is:

R + C = E

I Rig up, Cast out and Enjoy the day. If I need to cut down on my tag end, I do so. If I need to increase my tag end, I do so.

This is a perfect example of how wonderful fishing is. You can make it as complicated as you want. You can make it as simple as you want.

Braid and monofilament have densities very close to water (.97 and 1.1 respectively compared to 1.0) so if the slack is reeled in, the bow will be negligible. In San Diego lakes, there is negligible current. No calculus is needed for the formula, just 3rd grade arithmetic. The formula assumes the user is nearly stationary (typical for drop shot fishing).

Perhaps the apparent bow you observe in line is due to refraction.
https://mammothmemory.net/physics/refra ... -fish.html

classic example of over-thinking!

Fisheromen wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 11:29 am classic example of over-thinking!

Arithmetic is overthinking for some people.

Fisheromen wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 11:29 am classic example of over-thinking!

100%.

Borderline ridiculous