®
Spring 2020
T
he drop-shot works everywhere, and it has
become a standard technique for bass anglers.
The finesse technique excels in tough fishing conditions, clear water situations, and times when nothing
else seems to work. As the rig has evolved, anglers have
found new ways to utilize it, and one such spin on the rig is
called power-shotting.
Not to be confused with the heavy gear and big line
way to do it, aka “bubba-shotting,” the method discussed
here is a way that bass fishing personality Mark Zona
has started using
when fishing deep
water. He has found
that it is an excellent
way to elicit a reaction
from wary bass.
It involves the
same rod, reel, line,
and, baits as traditional
drop-shot fishing, but
instead utilizes a heavy
drop-shot weight. This
allows the lure to fall
quicker, trigger reaction
strikes, and lets the
angler cover water
more quickly.
HOW IT WORKS
The power-shotting rig is the standard drop-shot we all know and love, but it features a heavier weight weighing a half-ounce at a minimum.
“Everyone throws a drop-shot rig; but, using a bigger weight allows you to make a notoriously slow presentation faster. You can cover more water and in a hurry,” said Zona.
By fishing with a heavier weight, Zona has learned
that this technique allows him to fish deep water
and still move quickly in search of
active fish.
“Power-shotting
allows you to be much
more efficient and
you get more drops
through the day,” he
said. “Most of the
bites will come on the
initial fall, and if you
can get more drops,
you greatly increase
your chances at
catching more fish.
Since many bites
occur on the initial
fall, Zona will often
let the bait drop to
the bottom, hop it a
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