For a few years around 1999 we got onto a drop shot style rig and did well in tournaments on Simcoe and other big water smallie lakes. We used a 1/2oz tube(no hook most the time) as the weight then a powerbait grub a foot above it. We could go into high pressured areas and still pick fish off. We got onto this technique fishnig the Niagara bar one year for lakers.
At that time we used a 6'6 M spin, 8lb Pline or trilene, 1/0 bait hook, grub and 1/2oz 90 degree tube.
There is no doubt others have been fishing it for years before that, we just made it work for us and the smallies.
It's sure been refined since then. Rods, Lines, hooks, bait and weights are all made just for this technique.
A very prodcutive and fun way to fish once you get dailed into it.