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