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New Product News
Gary Yamamoto Releases New Drop Shot Spinning Rod
By Russ Bassdozer

February 4, 2002

A new high quality bass fishing rod has been released by Gary Yamamoto. The rod is designed for the exciting new style of deeper water drop shot fishing, plus other medium spinning applications.

Gary Yamamoto is an international bass fishing tournament star, lure inventor and rod designer.

Drop shot fishing is an effective way to get freshwater bass to bite soft plastics under tough conditions. "I will always try pitching and flipping soft plastics on baitcasting gear in shallow cover," says  Yamamoto. But on days when the shallow bite does not materialize, Yamamoto will use this new special purpose drop shot spinning rod to prospect for fish on deeper bottom structure.

Just like pitching, flipping and every other fishing tactic however, the drop shot does not work its magic every day either.

On days when the drop shot bite is slow, Yamamoto will use this rod with small hard jerkbaits. Working small LuckyCraft Pointer Minnows, Gary has landed some fine bass, including a dandy 5.5 lb. Lake Erie smallmouth, which the rod handled superbly.

Speaking of the North country, this rod works perfect with 1/8 to 3/8 tube jigs. Out West, the rod is great for the split shot style of fishing. Whereas drop shot targets fish hunkered down near bottom structure, split shot targets fish suspended higher above the same structure. So split shot and drop shot styles complement each other, and this rod does both. Yamamoto has enjoyed world class split shotting with this rod, including a recent tournament on Lake Caspe, Spain.

Yamamoto has experienced fantastic results with this rod using lightweight Carolina rigs, and it is a natural to pitch and skip small Ikas and Senkos under docks in clear water.

Yamamoto believes, "This is one of the best rods I have ever designed for bass anglers."

So there is no need to limit this rod to just drop shot fishing.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Gary designed this rod using a custom-made 6' 6" one-piece 100% graphite rod blank, seven high quality Fuji Silicon Carbide Concept guides, plus matching tiptops. Thread wraps are epoxy coated and have gold trim. The rod is rated for 4-8 lb. test line and lure weights from 1/8 to 3/8 oz.

Speaking of casting, Yamamoto says line size can affect distance. Gary prescribes 8 lb. test or less on this rod to get top distance. Most often, Gary uses his Sugoi brand of fluorocarbon line on a spinning reel with a good drag.

"I've landed some pretty big bass on this rod with a good drag," says Gary. You can too. The rod is surprisingly powerful. The important area between the reel seat and first guide has been strategically tuned to provide the rod power for unsurpassed fightability.

The middle area of the blank is tuned with today's modern fish hook designs in mind. With many of today's premium hooks, including Yamamoto's Sugoi and Split Shot hooks, a quick jerk or snap set is not required with this rod. Yamamoto applies a sweep set, which activates the hooksetting flexure configured within the middle area of the blank. In addition, more guides than normally placed in the rod's middle area aid in an increase of hooking power.

The rod tip area is designed primarily for unsurpassed sensitive feel. The tip area is micro-tuned to help an angler sense accurate lure motion, interpret bottom feedback, and detect even the most subtle presence of a fish.

For comfort feel and sure grip, Yamamoto chose micro-cell rubber Hypalon for the handle. Not to be confused with EVA typically seen on less expensive rods, Hypalon is most commonly used on high quality saltwater rods for its durability and wet grip strength, which is superior to cork.

The graphite reel hood is integrated with the Hypalon foregrip, which screws down to secure the reel tightly.

The graphite reel seat is bonded closely to the rod blank, which transmits sensitivity from the 100% graphite blank to the graphite reel seat to your rod hand.

Modern integrated graphite handle designs like this and the sensitivity of line transmission in today's modern fishing lines like Sugoi fluorocarbon surpass the old need to have a finger on the line or on an exposed section of the rod blank, says Yamamoto.

Throughout 2002, Gary Yamamoto plans to release additional new bass fishing rod designs of his, some of which have been used for competitive advantage for several years under the most demanding professional tournament conditions in the world.

Related Article
Dropshot Class Now in Session on Toledo Bend
By Jim Alphin

November 5, 2002

Gary Yamamoto's Toledo Bend Pro Shop Announces New Dropshot Class for Customers

Our Toledo Bend Pro Shop has made it a full year now. I am really excited about the way things are going. Starting a new store can be a challenge at times and the off season sure can be slow. But on the other hand, when we have the fishermen and fisherladies come by, those are the good folks who make it all worth while. We enjoy seeing y'all!

This is a tough job, but some one has to do it!

You just never know who will stop in to visit with us. It seems that we have become a stop-in place for everyone who fishes Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. Just last week, pro Tommy Martin (who by the way is our next door neighbor) came by and spent two hours talking fishing with Ben Matsubu and basically anyone who would listen to Tommy. It was a good way to spend a rainy afternoon. The fun part is watching the reaction of the customers when these pros take the extra time to help them solve their fishing problems.

Our Toledo Bend Pro Shop is on Highway 21 at the Pendleton Bridge just outside Hemphill, Texas (phone 409-625-0495). It is going to be a big success and it is all because of our customers and the touring pros who stop by to visit with us.

Are you ready? Dropshot season is upon us

Here on Toledo Bend, Ben Matsubu and I catch some dropshot fish most of the year, but now is when the bigger bass will be moving deep after the first cold spell. Are you ready? Ben Matsubu has been working on some different light line techniques that are working well for him. In fact he caught his largest 6 lb. line fish on Sam Rayburn just a month ago. The fish was over 8 lbs and in the grass. It took a pretty good touch just to get her out of the grass. It was quite a performance to see.

A complete set of encyclopedias could be written about light line and dropshot fishing. Indeed, Ben Matsubu could probably write them. There are as many techniques for light line and dropshot fishing as there are fisherman trying to do it.

There are a few things that I have learned about dropshot and light line fishing this year with Ben and some of the other touring pros that may be of some help to others and I would like to share them. First and foremost is the equipment you are using. It seems to me that if you are going to spend the money to hire a guide and take the time to try dropshotting or light line fishing, you need to be ready when you get there. Take a few minutes to look over my suggestions and see if they won't help make your day on the lake a little better.

ROD: The rod is very important, what I am using is a 6 1/2 ft Yamamoto dropshot rod that has medium action with a sensitive tip on it. I have found that I can get a good feel for what is on the bottom and enough backbone to help you get the hook set and get the fish under control and moving your way.

REEL: The reel is something you want to keep simple but of good quality. Anti-reverse, a good drag system, and a deep spool are things to look for.

LINE: Line is a problem for all of us, so what I am going to do is just tell you what I use and you make up your mind. I use 6-8 lb. fluorocarbon. I know that the cost is there, but it is sure worth it. The feel and low stretch more than makes up for the cost if nothing else. Then you add the low visibility of fluorocarbon, and I think you will come out ahead on this.

SINKERS: As for the sinkers, there are many styles to choose from in today's market. Just about any sinker you see you can use for dropshotting. I prefer the style where there is no knot required to tie. The sinkers that come with the special swivel where all you do is slip the line through the eyelet and clinch it is the choice of many anglers today. Without a knot these dropshot sinkers allow you to move the weight up or down your line as you move up and down in water levels. Tungsten is my choice, they are expensive, about a dollar each, but the feel of the bottom is better and it does work through stuff on the bottom better. Therefore I feel tungsten is well worth the price for me. There is a new lead dropshot sinker we carry at our Yamamoto Pro Shops. It is called the QuickDrop sinker with the same style of clinch-on swivel but the cost is more affordable, try ten for $4.99.

HOOKS: The types of hook will depend on where, when and what you are fishing but the one thing I do believe is of most important here is how you tie the knot. I am not talking about the type of knot you tie, as much as being careful when you tie it. Light line needs special attention. There is very little room for the knot to work through the hook eye. If the line rubs together hard and dry in a way it is not supposed to when you tighten the knot, it will weaken the line. When you dress it down tight, keep the knot wet and neat as possible. Take a little extra time and neatness with your tying, and you will ensure a strong knot.

FEEL: When you get on the water, fishing the dropshot is fun. It will catch fish when a lot of other tactics won't work. Just remember it is important to keep the sinker on the bottom or you will not feel the bite. It can be tricky figuring how to tell that the light sinkers are on the bottom, but with patience and practice, the "feel" will come around. Here's another tip to remember - if it feels different, set the hook. The dropshot bite comes in many forms, from a slam to just line getting tight, so if it feels different, it is probably a fish.

Dropshotting is a tool to be used, a new tool to most of us.

Just like anything in your boat, in the right place with a little knowledge, it can work wonders for you. There is a heavy line technique we use called "thumping" the bottom here in East Texas, and it is nothing more than dropshotting, except heavier. If nothing else, I hope I have given someone the help and encouragement to start using light line and dropshot. The primary color of baits used here in East Texas are watermelon or green pumpkin, but don't hesitate to experiment. I find that browns and purples work well here on dropshot too.

So keep an open mind and always have your hook wet.

This is an open invitation to anyone coming through East Texas to stop by and visit with us. Ben, Donna and I would love to set down to talk fishing with you. Catch us at the right time, and we may be able to put you in the back of the boat and show you around the lake. Not much I would like doing more!

Keep a Good Eye on a Tight Line!

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