| Most people believe that the drop-shot rig is only for | | | | the faster moving current, and catch largemouth |
| finesse fishing, but there is more than one way to skin | | | | holding near the edges waiting for an easy meal. You |
| a cat! (or Fish), as the case may be. The new Power | | | | can also use this rig successfully in deep cover. This |
| Drop-Shot style started by Kotaro Kiriyama, is fast | | | | will work well in the standing timber in Table Rock |
| becoming the way to bigger and better bags on many | | | | Lake when fished on a Fluorocarbon line in 10-16 pound |
| of the tournament trails.Drop-shot rigs consist of a | | | | test. We have used 30 pound test when the fish were |
| hook tied above a sinker that is placed at the end of | | | | aggressive, and gone down to 10 pound when the bite |
| the line so that the lure suspends off the bottom. | | | | is tougher. This is a clear to stained water technique |
| Conventional tackle consists of light action spinning | | | | though, and works much better in these conditions. |
| gear and 4-8 pound line, and the tactic is usually | | | | There are areas here in the Northeast that have |
| deployed vertically in deep water.Kiriyama says | | | | extremely clear water at times, and it excels in those |
| "Drop-Shotting is about presenting a soft plastic lure in | | | | areas. We use this around deep points also with great |
| a manner that is different from Texas rigging or | | | | success. Waters such as Spruce Run and |
| Carolina rigging." When conditions allow, Kiriyama, (who | | | | Greenwood in New Jersey and New York are great |
| logged 10 Top 10 finishes in his first 37 events on tour), | | | | areas to use the Power Drop shot. We use it |
| says "You may get more bites with lighter line and | | | | anywhere you would normally use a Carolina or |
| smaller baits, but when there is heavier cover, a power | | | | Texas rig.When we flip the Power Drop shot rig we |
| version is required.This is a technique we have | | | | use 6 and 6 1/2 inch Yamamoto Cut Tail worms. We |
| employed with success all last year, and now we are | | | | have tried a variety of other baits with this rig, but the |
| going to share it with you here in the Northeast. This | | | | straight tail and Cut-Tail worms have produced the |
| technique works great in all the lakes, rivers, and | | | | best results. When you are flipping it in fairly light cover, |
| impoundment's here in the Northeast. It is a great way | | | | you can go with a lighter sinker of 1/16 of an ounce, |
| to put together a real quality stringer.The drop shot's | | | | and as the cover gets thicker, we go as high as 3/8 of |
| configuration with the weight beneath the lure, makes it | | | | an ounce. Since the start of 2003, we have been using |
| ideal for pitching into heavy cover. The reason, is that | | | | nothing but the Tungsten weights for all our baits. We |
| the sinker goes through cover better and falls right to | | | | believe this is especially important with the Power Drop |
| the bottom.You can fish faster and cover more water! | | | | Shot also, as the Tungsten is heavier than lead, |
| We fish it just like other anglers fish a Texas rig, but | | | | allowing for a smaller profile, which penetrates the |
| like Kiriyama, we believe it is more effective! This is a | | | | cover better, and allows for a better feel of the |
| great tactic for places like the Potomac River or | | | | bottom.We generally rig the baits with a 2/0 to a 3/0 |
| Lakes such as Kerr or Gaston, where the fish are | | | | Gamakatsu or X-Point hook, but we will go as high as |
| highly pressured and are used to seeing anglers flip | | | | a 5/0 on some of the bigger worms at times. The |
| Texas rigs and Carolina rigs. This gives the highly | | | | general rule when using this rig for flipping is simple; The |
| pressured fish a completely different look. The rig has | | | | distance between the hook and the weight, is no more |
| some other advantages also. There is less line wear | | | | than 3-6 inches longer than the bait itself.The rig is |
| at the hook knot because the sinker isn't beating | | | | simple to use, no fancy tricks are needed. Just drop |
| against it, and the hook isn't dragging the bottom where | | | | the bait around cover and let it sit. No other action is |
| the line and knot can be damaged. You can also | | | | necessary because of the way the bait suspends off |
| detect the bites a lot easier, because the sensation | | | | the line. The natural current of the water imparts all the |
| goes through the line without passing through a sinker | | | | action you need. We use this on bedding bass also, |
| that deadens the sensitivity. In lower Delaware we | | | | since we have no closed season here in Delaware |
| have a Bald Cypress swamp in one of the lakes, and | | | | during the tournaments. The technique is just like any |
| there are also similar areas in the Nanticoke River. | | | | other type of flipping we do. We drop it in near the |
| Most anglers flip these trees with Texas rigged worms | | | | cover, let it sit a few seconds if the bass are being |
| in the 4 inch size or with a small lizard in the spring. We | | | | finicky, and then lift it up and pitch it to the next |
| like the power drop shot rig in these areas the best. It | | | | target.Try Power Drop Shotting this year in your local |
| attracts bass that are lying near the bottom or are | | | | waters when everyone else is throwing a Texas or |
| suspended in cover down at the roots.You can fish | | | | Carolina rig, and you will get a big surprise! is a |
| this rig either horizontally or vertically. In the heavy | | | | professional guide, tournament anglers, writer, vido |
| currents in the Sassafras River on the Upper | | | | producer, radio show owner and host, and tackle |
| Chesapeake Bay, we drag it from the calm water into | | | | dealer. |