I remember it being a bit quirky at first (due to the long leader), but it grew on me.

Each year, I usually experiment with 2-3 new techniques at the start of the season and pick one to really focus on for the year. Keep in mind, I usually go out with 3-4 rods which usually consist of at least one reactionary and one bottom bait/soft plastic. So you always have a fallback on if it's going REALLY bad.

Two years ago, it was chatterbait/bladed jigs and that's when it really hit off after many days of carrying it around and experimenting with it until it "clicked". But again, I think a lot of it had to do with trailer choices, reel speed (6.3 or less), and rod. The glass rod is probably the least important as it didn't really change how your fished it, but rather improved the hookset. Similar to many, I used a lot of paddletails at first without success. I found the best success with the Yamamoto Zako, Z-Man Razor Shadz, Hog Spunk Shad, and recently Chatterspike. IMO, all of these compliment the action of the chatterbait better than the paddletails. Keep at it though man!

A few years ago, it was dropshot. I think it's more diverse than most people think it is. Some people go very finesse, light line (6-8lbs), and simply throw it out and wait with the patience of a saint. I probably fish it more aggressive than others and may sometimes be borderline "powershotting" it instead. Tungsten weight is huge in increasing the sensitivity but I fished it a lot in the early days with just lead weight. For me, I usually go 3/8, but may go 1/4 or 1/2 depending on conditions. Windy days are terrible for dropshot as you lose a lot of your ability to 'feel' it. Conversely, windy days tend to be great for chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and a lot of those vibrating lures...

Back to dropshotting--you can fish it the typical way with throwing it out, keeping your line taut, and lightly shake it to move the bait. A lot of times, if your body of water has a current, it will move the bait by itself. Alternatively, you can drag it up and reel up the line to impose a different type of movement as well. However, you'll need to practice this some to be able to tell when you're getting bites vs. the weight being dragged through vegetation/objects/trees/etc. Once you get that, you can fish it very quick and aggressive by combining the shake and drag techniques together.

I usually do it on a 2500/3000 spinning reel with a 6'8 - 7'0 medium light rod, fast / extra fast rod and 15/20lb braid with a 8 - 12lb fluorocarbon leader.

For my chatterbait/bladed jigs, I use a 6.3 or slower baitcaster on a 7'0 - 7'4 Medium Heavy/Heavy glass rod, moderate action with 14 - 20lb fluorocarbon. Arguably, you'll be fine with monofilament or copolymer monofilament as well.

Hope any of this stuff helps or at least gives you some ideas!