FISHING
BAIT Product Review
Review: QuickDrop Weights
The story behind QuickDrops with
Marc Marcantonio
1.
What reasoning did you have behind creating QuickDrops?
Simply stated...I began dropshotting long before most had heard
of the technique, and I was using bullet weights slid onto a straightened
paper clip that I soldered to a half barrel swivel. You attached
the swivel/wire onto your line with a knot, slid a bullet weight
onto the wire, and bent the end of the wire to keep the weight
from falling off. One day I heard about the new round dropshot
weight that had a pinch clip on it for fast attachment. Although
this style was far better than anything else out there, it didn't
work well in my part of the country because the shape was easy
to snag in most any size rock, and the round shape rolled on the
rock when fishing current like the Columbia River. Rolling makes
it hard to tell if you are on rock or sand or silt. If you are
fishing for smallmouths and you aren't over rock you are betting
on a long shot and wasting time. The good features were the clip
(though it was too stiff and cut your line on hard casts), and
being round it was compact and hydrodynamic, and it would cast
and sink exactly where you wanted it to.
Never satisfied with just what is available, I knew the perfect
shape would be a teardrop shape, but nobody made one. As a competitive
angler, I learned a long time ago that when you need something
and nobody else makes it, you had better make it yourself...so
that is exactly what I did. I designed and made QuickDrops, and
they worked better than I even imagined. When you fish tournaments
and win, it is hard to keep secrets, so it wasn't long before
friends started noticing my QuickDrops. I gave some to friends,
and before I realized it, I was in the tackle business, which
is something I never intended nor desired to do. Now QuickDrops
are sold in tackle stores all over the West Coast, and rapidly
spreading across the country.
2. How do they compare to other drop-shot weights that you have
used?
First let me say that a good angler can catch bass on a dropshot
rig using a spark plug for a weight. Countless times I have heard
anglers say they don't need a special weight, and for their simplified
style of dropshotting, they are right. But they are missing the
boat on a lot of bass that they would be catching if they paid
better attention to details.
I already discussed round weights, which would be my second choice
in shapes if I didn't have a teardrop shape to use. I especially
like its small size to weight ratio which is important in clear
water with spooky fish, which seems to be the conditions in which
most anglers use the dropshot technique. In current the compact
size isn't affected as much when it sinks as a shape with a less
hydrodynamic profile.
Many buy the cylindrical weights, which are my least favorite
shape of all. This shape has one strong point, its resistance
to snagging. Unfortunately all of its weaknesses outweigh (pun
intended) its strengths. The tall profile of these weights get
swept by current and look out of place next to a small worm, and
they don't sink straight or cast straight. Worse yet, they reveal
very little about bottom composition because they offer no feel
of the bottom, and they don't stay put when you want them to (like
for sight fishing).
3. How long of a process was it to fully develop the weights?
The development time was surprisingly short, but only because
of my previous experience fishing every style of sinker from panfish
to surf casting. To me the best shape was intuitive, and the success
many tournament anglers using QuickDrops has proven that we got
it right. The clips were a trial and error process, mainly to
develop the perfect size wire and perfect hardness. I learned
that keeping the swivel fully exposed outside the lead gave the
clip two hinge points that not only reduced twist, but more importantly
allow the weight to snake over and through obstructions, resulting
in far less snags. The shape of the teardrop was also refined
to keep the center of gravity at the bottom with a rounded profile
like a ball weight, but evenly tapered to the line tie so that
it is snag resistant. The other benefit of this shape is that
it is easy to grip the weight when making underhanded pitches,
and the weight flies straight to your target allowing accurate
pitches underneath low hanging docks. If you saw how Ron Hobbs
Jr. can pitch these far under a dock inches above the waterline,
you would understand how valuable this is in reaching fish that
never see another dropshot presentation.
4. Are there any more improvements that can be made to
these weights?
Yes, there will always be more improvements possible as we learn
new ways to fish dropshot rigs, but I think we have it figured
out far better than the competition...and since we are tournament
fishermen first and manufacturers second, we will remain on the
cutting edge of design and development. Although I already have
six sizes, we are already seeing a need for 3/4 oz and 1 oz sizes,
so they are also on the horizon. I tried to go the Tungsten route,
but frankly tungsten is expensive and tough to work with, and
another company came on line with a teardrop shape in Tungsten,
so I'm not concerned about cutting into their market. If I could
produce them for half the price of the competition, I would consider
it...but I can't so I won't.
Another important point I should mention is that I package QuickDrops
with 10 QuickDrops in every package, regardless of size weight.
The others put less weights in the package of the heavier sizes.
When you compare price, be sure to take the quantity into consideration.
I don't try to fool anglers into thinking the weights are inexpensive
by packaging them in small quantities at a low price. In the end
you are paying for the packaging, which you just throw away. When
you need weights, I figure 10 in a package keeps things simple,
and you can easily calculate what you are paying per weight.
I have a few more ideas as well for development if I decide to
take the time to put them into production.
ciao,
Marc
If
Your Shop doesn't have Quickdrops in stock have them contact Dan
Mathisen 209-612-5028
