had a tough tournament saturday and caught most of my fish on a shakey head pitching to bridge pilings. i rigged up a drop shot with a #2 octopus hook on a ml spinning rod with 6lb test. hooked a few fish but they pulled off. any ideas on what i could do differently

I Use these hooks. I'm far from an expert on fishing drop shot, but I have caught fish doing it.

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/VMC_Spinshot_Dropshot_Hooks/descpage-VMCSS.html

I've never drop shotted before in my life and honestly don't know much about it. Honest question...what purpose does it serve that a Carolina rig doesn't?

The theory, is that you are seeing the fish you're trying to catch on your electronics. You drop shot right down to them and keep it in their face. It's basically vertical jigging. I like using a spoon though.

The hook depends on where/how your fishing. Small drop shot (octopus) hooks are typically hooked through the tip of the worm and left exposed, ideal for vertical fishing. If your casting then a small 1/0 worm hook rigged texposed works just fine and keeps you from getting hung up.

Drop shot isn't anything like a C-rig. Drop shot is made by tying on a worm and attaching a weight on the tag end of your line. They can be cast or dropped vertical.

Bloodtrail's right about casting or working vertically. Highly effective, especially with the latter for suspended bass and/or around things like the bridge pilings.

Sounds like you're already on the right track, Beadle.

Rigging tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgUXfVPhKII

I've only done a little dropshotting. Plan to do more. I wonder if the octopus hook wasn't the problem.

i didnt like the hook angle on the octopus but i also put the hi-ya on them when i set the hook instead of just reeling amd raising the rod. we were sitting in 50 foot of water and i was jacking them when i set the hook on the shakeyhead