When it comes to vertical drop shotting, how do you guys decide where? i know where there are plenty of brush piles, would you drop shot those? do you prefer open water on points?

i have the gear, just dont know where to start.

will there be bass on the piles that are loaded with crappies?

First of all, it does not have to be vertical. You could drop shot from the bank.
Second, it does not have to be deep either.
As far as where... wherever the fish are. If they are on the brush, by all means throw it in there. It may get hung up from time to time but that's just part of fishing.
If they are in the open, do it there too.

Crappy Piles. Sometimes theres one or two bass below them. If you have a graph, you should be able to tell the difference. Only one way to find out usually

Dropshot is a kickass technique. Try it and enjoy. Only one way to find out.

Depth change is where I like to use it...on the breaks but as mentioned it pretty useful all around. It excels if dropped on their heads in deep water! its like watching a video game on my Gen3's

Rig a 1/0 offset worm hook on your drop shot and Texas rig the bait. Makes it so you spend a lot more time fishing and a lot less time re-tying broken rigs or picking grass off your hook every time. A drop shot will work anywhere. Just adjust your gear accordingly.

I think you should just go find some 30'+ water and start. They hang around the thermal break and the old tree structure. Remember the Ox. content of that water, and put it all together.

Agree with Mike on the light wire 1/0 Texas rig when drop shotting brush piles.
cover/structure changes
where rocky bottom meets grass or clay
the deep edge of the dam rip rap
the deep edge of the boat ramp concrete (only fish it if the lake isn't busy)
Outside grass line/edge of lily pads
humps, ledges, drop offs, edges of creek channels
If you are on a relatively shallow lake middle of July/August (say around max 40ft deep), drop shotting the deepest water you can find can be productive.

Don't worry so much about a "vertical" presentation. This technique is about keeping the bait off the bottom. I like to keep a minimum of 12" above the weight, sometimes 16-18" depending on how far I plan on casting. The longer the cast, the higher you hold your rod tip. You can guesstimate how far off the bottom you are working the bait by how far it is from you, versus how high you hold the rod tip. I also use at least a 3/8oz weight, that way you can tighten your line up by raising your rod tip and let it sit off bottom and shake it. Definetly a deadly presentation in any depth of water.

Just to add , when things get tough I have flipped with it in heavy structure with very slow action .

I fish the drop shot everywhere, shallow and deep, around cover and in open water, anywhere bass are located.

I prefer to use a 6ft 9inch bait casting rod that is made for drop shotting with a Shimano Curado 50E and 8#CXX or 12# Invizx.
I use a #1 Owner rigging hook and txpose the finesse worm and usually have a 1/4 oz drop shot weight to complete the rig.

What brand and model rod is that?

I fished with a Fork guide who had us fish a drop shot up in Glade. It was probably 5-7ft deep at the most and full of grass. We were just dragging the DS through the grass kind of like a carolina rig and catching fish.