When the world’s greatest drop shot angler tells you he likes super short leaders, there’s a lesson worth noting. Aaron Martens draws a clear parallel that explains how proximity to the bottom yields a strategic impact on his drop shot presentation.

“A short leader gives it a quicker bounce,” he said. “It’s like dribbling a basketball; if you dribble it standing up, the ball moves slowly, but if you get closer to the ground, it tightens up. It’s the same with a drop shot; you get a quicker ,smaller action in the worm.”