I am surprised drop shotting is such a old way to catch fish in weed beds.

70 years ago I was rowing a wood rowboat with a B B split shot at the end of the main line.  1  to 6' up was a floating lure with only the tail hook on it  The mosquitos loved my sweaty body in August.  Rowing that 200 pound wood boat I rented from the park. Trolling that rig thru heavy weed edges. But it did produce big LMB.  I could put my fist into their mouths. 10 acre county park was truly the good old days.  Looked it up. It is Warinanco Lake. 

Kids would catch a 24 " carp on a massive opened safety pin. Watched a father reach down &  do a lip & belly lift for the son. 

Our garden had plenty of Sunfish in very early spring.  " Here is the shovel. Bury them spaced out. "

Life was so different back then.