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[MuskieBait]

Not the same as the drop shot rig. With the drop shot rig, the hook is tie onto the line without any small length of leader. This is good if you are using soft plastics when you are imparting motion into the lure. However, if you are using any sort of live or dead bait, it is better with this rig (called sabiki rig, high low rig, pompano rig, paternoster rig, chicken rig...depends on which region of the world you're talking, the strength of line you are using, and the purpose you are using it). The small length of leader allows some movement of your live bait swimming around the line. if you use dead bait, current will help to add a little bit of drifting motion to the bait. You can never get this with a drop shot rig.

On light lines (such as a sabiki rig...and those have over 5 hooks!), yes, they often tangle up. With heavier mono, it does not tangle as much.

This rig is useful for all sorts of fish and it is a good one to learn. Aside from perch fishing, you can also use this as your walleye/pickerel rig instead of buying one with those little wires. Just tie your rig with 3-way swivel if you want rotation of those arms about your main line. It is great rig to use fishing in the surf or off the pier. Although you may want about 2 feet from the sinker to the first hook leader, then another 2 feet to the second hook leader. This is also an common rig when you fish off any of the party boats / "deepsea" fishing boats fishing for snappers, grouper, rockfish, cod...etc.

A little tip to make your life easier...make sure your hook leader is always a little shorter so the two hook leaders don't tangle each other as often. The way I check is to bend the two hook leaders toward each other with the hook on. They should never be able to touch each other. Or simply...if you want 12" distance between your two hook leaders, each hook leader should not be more than 5" long. Most of the line, I like to keep my hook leader shorter anyways...maybe only 3-4" long at max.