If you're looking for a complex description, this is not your deal. But don’t let the modesty fool you; the technique known as “moping” is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the firecracker in a closed fist — a straight-up fish-catcher that merits a spot in your finesse arsenal.
Simply put, moping is the art of holding a small jig and subtle baitfish body over a fish’s head until it caves and eats it. What a drop shot is to the bottom, the moping rig is to the water column.
“It’s the ultimate minnow imitator,” said moping master and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jeff Gustafson of Keewatin, Ontario. “It’s our No. 1 way to catch smallmouth in the North in the summertime, but in the South it shines in cold water.
“It’s finesse; your bait’s not moving a whole lot. You’re trying to park the bait on top of the fish and make them look up for it. That’s the whole program.” There’s actually a little more to it, but we’ll measure our steps and lay it out orderly.
Gustafson, who won the 2021 Elite and the 2023 Academy Bassmaster Classic both on the Tennessee River solely with the moping technique, credits the late Ron Lindner for coining the term. “It was just a funny word and a good description of the way you fish it.”
In Southern waters, the term Damiki rig — from the namesake Damiki Armor Shad — describes the same presentation. But for simplicity, we’ll stick with the original term. David Mullins said the Southern version was pioneered in his east Tennessee home waters and remained a closely guarded secret until the technique dominated the 2017 Elite Series.
As Gustafson explained, moping for summertime smallies generally means targeting structure — humps, points, flats with rock clusters, etc. In Southern lakes, it’s an open-water deal, but baitfish define the common thread.
