This is some great stuff.  I can't wait to try it.  I been watching a lot of videos and heard a pro say it isn't a search bait for him. He only uses it when he knows bass are there, like when he has graphed them deep or side imaged them under a dock.

Another  couple commen mistake I see that I forgot to mention:

 

Hook set technique.........I have fished with alot of guys who swing for the fences and crack the whip like they are fishing a jig when they are fishing with a spinning rod, light line, and a nose hooked bait. Simply reeling into them and giving a firm, but controlled upward sweep of the rod is more than forcefull enough when fishing with nosehooked baits, no need to come out of your shoes on them.

 

Poorly matched tackle to the task at hand.........I am not overly big on technique specific stuff, but you can't blantly disreguard matching the tools to the job either. I have seen many many people using stiff and powerfull MH spinning rods, and then have trouble breaking fish off on light line, or bending light wire hooks out.  And I have seen it go the other way too, guys thinking that dropshoting is a  wimpy rod only technique and get in trouble fishing it in and around heavy cover. I had one guy fishng with me and he was getting a fair ammount of bites pitching his drop shot under docks, but he was losing more than he got in the boat on 6lb line, yet he insisted on doing it. I finaly said to him " What equipment would you use if you were pitching a jig under there?" .........he said "My jig rod with 17lb fluro, I want to be able to get them out."  I didn't have to say anymore, he tied a dropshot on his jig rod, got just as many bites as before, and then started putting fish in the boat.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I have just started using a DS this winter in deep water.

 

It has been working well for me and I am gaining confidence.

 

I gained alot of "feel" by switching from straight light floro to braid with a light flouro leader. I feel the bottom and bites much better.

 

Also moving the bait less has improved my bites

Do you tie your fuoro and braid together or connect them with a swivel? I am wondering if a swivel will affect the bow in the line that you want for for shaking the bait.

I use an Alberto knot:

 

http://www.stripersonline.com/a/albertos-knot

 

Thanks JF for the vid! Will try this knot for sure.