Most people believe that drop-shot rig is only for delicate fishing, but there is more than one way to skin a cat! (or Fish), as the case may be. The new Power Drop-Shot style pioneered by Kotaro Kiriyama is fast becoming the path to bigger and better bags on many of the tournament courts.
Drop-shot rigs consist of a hook tied over a sinker that is placed at the end of the line so that the lure hangs off the bottom. Conventional rig consists of a light action spinning rig and 4 to 8 pound line, and the tack is usually deployed vertically in deep water.
Kiriyama says, “Drop-Shotting is about presenting a soft plastic lure in a different way than Texas rig or Carolina rig.” When conditions allow, Kiriyama, (who posted 10 top 10s in his first 37 events on tour), says, “You can get more bites with lighter line and smaller lures, but when there’s heavier coverage, you requires a power version.
This is a technique that we have employed successfully throughout the past year and now we are going to share it with you here in the Northeast. This technique works great on all of the lakes, rivers, and reservoirs here in the Northeast. It’s a great way to put together a real quality stringer.
The drop shot setup with the weight under the lure makes it ideal for casting on heavy cover. The reason is that the plumb line goes through the deck better and falls directly to the bottom.
You can fish faster and cover more water! We fish it like other anglers fish a Texas rig, but like Kiriyama, we think it’s more effective! This is a great tactic for places like the Potomac River or lakes like Kerr or Gaston where the fish are under a lot of pressure and are used to seeing anglers flip Texas tackle and Carolina tackle. This gives the highly pressed fish a completely different look. The team also has other advantages. There is less wear on the line at the hook knot because the sinker does not hit against it and the hook does not drag bottom where the line and knot can be damaged. You can also detect bites much more easily, because the sensation goes through the line without going through a sinker that dampens the sensitivity. In the lower Delaware we have a bald cypress swamp on one of the lakes, and there are similar areas on the Nanticoke River as well. Most anglers flip these trees with Texas rigged worms in the 4-inch size or with a small gecko in the spring. We like the power drop shot gear better in these areas. Attracts bass lying near the bottom or suspended for cover on roots.
You can fish this tackle both horizontally and vertically. In the strong currents of the Sassafras River in the Upper Chesapeake Bay, we drag you from the calm waters into the faster moving current and catch largemouths near the edges hoping for an easy meal. You can also successfully use this platform in deep cover. This will work well on standing timber at Table Rock Lake when fishing on a fluorocarbon line at a 10-16 pound test. We used the 30 pound test when the fish were aggressive and went down to 10 pounds when the bite was harder. However, this is a clear to tinted water technique and works much better under these conditions. There are areas here in the Northeast that sometimes have extremely clear water, and it excels in those areas. We use this around deep spots too with great success. Waters like Spruce Run and Greenwood in New Jersey and New York are great areas to use the Power Drop shot. We use it anywhere you would normally use a Carolina or Texas rig.
When we flipped the Power Drop shooting rig, we used 6 and 6 1/2-inch Yamamoto Cut Tail worms. We have tried a variety of other baits with this rig, but straight tail and short tail worms have produced the best results. When you’re flipping it in a fairly light casing, you can go with a lighter 1/16 ounce plumb, and as the casing gets thicker we go up to 3/8 ounce. Since early 2003, we have been using only tungsten weights for all of our baits. We feel this is especially important with the Power Drop Shot as well, as tungsten is heavier than lead, allowing for a smaller profile, which penetrates the deck better and allows for better bottom feel.
We usually rig baits with a 2/0 to 3/0 Gamakatsu or X-Point hook, but will sometimes go as high as 5/0 with some of the larger worms. The general rule when using this equipment for flipping is simple; The distance between the hook and the weight is no more than 3-6 inches longer than the bait itself.
The equipment is easy to use, no fancy tricks are needed. Just drop the bait around the deck and let it sit. No further action is necessary due to the way the bait is suspended off the line. The natural current of the water imparts all the action you need. We also use this on bass as we don’t have a closed season here in Delaware during tournaments. The technique is like any other type of flip we do. We drop it near cover, let it sit for a few seconds if the bass is being picky, and then pick it up and throw it at the next target.
Try Power Drop Shotting this year in your home waters when everyone else is launching a Texas or Carolina rig, and you’re in for a big surprise!
