By definition, stand out means: to maintain an upright position as specified.  That pretty much sums up the StandOUT hook.  While a number of hook companies produce hooks exclusively for drop shotting, none of them compare to the StandOUT hook, because of its unique design.  In fact, instead of it being called a drop shot rig when the StandOUT hook is tied on to the line, the rig is referred to a StandOUT Lever Action rig.  “It’s similar to the drop shot rig, but the hook acts like a lever to hold the bait up and adds action to the lure,” T.J. Stallings, marketing director for TTI-Blakemore Lures continued, “the StandOUT hook makes rigging and fishing a drop shot easier; the lever action means no big hook set, just sweep set it like a circle hook to catch the fish.  Smallmouth bass will hit the bait, turn and set the hook themselves.”To rig a StandOUT (www.ttiblakemore.com) Lever Action rig begin by tying a Palomar Knot on the top eye leaving at least 10-inches of line on the tag-end then run the tag-end through the lower eye of the hook and tie your drop shot weight accordingly to the length you want from the hook.  A general rule of thumb is 6- to 12-inches depending on where and if the fish are suspended off the bottom.  When fishing a drop shot technique most anglers will use specifically designed equipment just for drop shotting.  Hook size will normally range from size 6 hooks to 2/0.  For drop shot weights, the majority of anglers will use 3/16-ounce but it can range from 1/8-ounce to 1-ounce specially designed with a built in swivel to keep the line from twisting and shaped to resist getting snagged.  There are even rods with blanks made just for drop shotting.  In general, most anglers will drop shot with 4- to 6-pound test fishing line with a spinning rod and reel.

Where do you fish a drop shot rig?   The number one place is deep off shore structure.  Ledges, humps, bluff ends, standing pole timber, rock piles, or brush piles can be extremely productive areas; however, the drop shot rig can also be used shallow water or suspended off the bottom to catch fish.  Plus a drop shot rig can be used year round; all an angler has to do is present it where the fish are.  For example, during the spawn and the bass are up on their beds a drop shot rig can place a lure right in the sweet spot of the bed enticing a bass to strike it or in deep water around rock piles where bass live and feed during the hot summer months. 

There is no one way to correctly hook a lure to a drop shot hook.  By this I mean, one day the fish may want it wacky style, the next day nose hooked, or the next day Texas rigged.  It’s up to the angler to decide what the fish want that day.  The majority of anglers will rig theirs’ though the nose of the bait leaving the tail end to dangle and entice fish; even suspend or lethargic fish to strike.

The StandOUT Hook makes rigging a drop shot rig easier to tie correctly and faster for novice or professional anglers.  StandOUT Hooks come is a variety of sizes and colors depending of which species of fish you are targeting.  This is one hook that stands out from all other drop shot hooks.