Start with the hook.
By Luigi De Rose
Smallmouth
can be suckers for a drop shot. Learn to do this technique correctly will vault
your skills to near Jedi level. Half the battle is having the tackle matched to
the fish and fishing conditions. Here’s IBASSIN.com’s Drop Shot Guide Part 2: The Hook.
Part Two
in this series will focus on the hook. Two styles, the traditional octopus and
an off-set worm hook, are the most common. Here’s a run down on several of the
most effective hooks on the market.
Gamakatsu’s
Aaron Martens TGW Drop Shot Hook
This
Japanese hook company has been a leader for decades. Capturing 70% of the
Japanese hook market; they have a creative design team that strives to make
superior products. Teaming up with Aaron Martens, a BASS Elite star and the 2015
BASS Angler of the Year has produced a wonderful hook. Slightly elongated, this
one is ideal for nose hooking. I personally feel the extra length helps hook
finicky smallmouth a bit deeper in the mouth. Rarely do I hook them on the
crease of the lip. Only slight pressure is required for the hook to penetrate,
making it ideal for ultra deep angling. Ranging from tiny #2 to 2/0 in
size, there is one that will match your needs. A bit pricey, they are well worth
the extra dough.
Gamakatsu’s
Wicked Wacky Hook
Based
off a kahle hook design it sports a hand tied, two prong fiber weed guard. The
magic of this hook is a tube that is sewn to the underside of the hook. While
knotting this hook, Gamakatsu intended the dropper line to run through this
channel to ensure the hook rides straight. Intended for cover, it hooks
anything that bites it. It’s deep gap in ideal for wacky rigging or thick-bodied
baits. Available from 1/0 to 5/0 it can be your solution to wide goby
imitators or swim baits.
VMC
Spinshot
Winner
of Best in Show in Terminal Tackle at the 2011 ICAST Show, it set the trend in
zero line twist technology. Many copycats now exist but credit has to go to the
original. Based on the VMC 7119 drop shot hook, a light wire allows the hook to
rotate freely from the line. The brainchild of Toronto inventor, Bernard
Yong-Set, the hook spins on this wire shaft reducing line twist considerably.
Another benefit of this set up is that the line and dropper line can be tired
directly to the hook. This speeds up rigging and allows for easy
adjustments to dropper length without the aggravation of retying the entire
rig. They’re available from #8 to 2/0 sizes.
