Dropper Loop questions

[vincentek9]

Originally Posted by October

when I do it, I tie two loops on the mainline, each about 5 inches long, thread the loop through the eye of the hook, and then send the hook through the middle of the loop, pull, tighten. This, IMO, is the best presentation.

that is what i use as well. the less knots and line connections you have, the better. no snap swivels, or cutting line, and the hooks arent tied on there (they are just looped through). i mainly use dropper loops for sculpin and rockfish though. never tried on bigger fish. to send a mac down.. i try to flyline and make the mac swim down.

[Dave k]

I use a spider hitch knot instead of the actual dropper loop. Same concept, stronger knot. I run a pretty big loop, maybe 6' of line so it's about 3' when doubled. I feel that this gives the bait more freedom and a more natural presentation. I run a palomar to the hook as well, this way if one side of the loop wears through (wsb have teeth) it will still hold. Length from loop to sinker depends on conditions, bait and target species.

This is for wsb and yellows. Smaller loops and different knots are fine for rockfish, etc.

I realize many use a different setup than me, but I've caught enough nice fish on it to be sold.

[Cbad Mike]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I really appreciate you guys answering my questions. I'm gonna try to get out tomorrow and put all of the info to use.

Once again... Thanks.
Mike

[seriola_killer]

Drake told me the spider hitch version, and it tests wayyyyy better than the standard dropper loop, and it is i.m.o. a better setup for these big yellowtail and wsb.

Form a loop that's roughly 5-6 feet long (10-12' of line). Tie the spider hitch. Trim off the tag end.


Cut the loop at the end so as to have 5-6' on both newly formed single lines.

Tie another loop in the one that will be attached to the sinker. Put loop through the torpedo sinker and around it (now you can change up sinkers without having to cut and re-tie).

Tie your hook to the other tag end that was formed. Pin on a squid, or a fin bait.

Put clicker on and fish in free spool.

Crack open a beer (or five).

Originally Posted by seriola_killer

Drake told me the spider hitch version, and it tests wayyyyy better than the standard dropper loop, and it is i.m.o. a better setup for these big yellowtail and wsb.

[seriola_killer]

Originally Posted by Drake

That's funny as hell. But seriously I bench tested both of them and the standard dropper loop sucks compared to the spider hitch version.

[FreezeYak]

Originally Posted by Cbad Mike

Thanks everyone for your replies, I really appreciate you guys answering my questions. I'm gonna try to get out tomorrow and put all of the info to use.

Once again... Thanks.
Mike

Mike, please give a recap on your day out. We'll all be interested in your thoughts.

Thanks

[lowprofile]

why doesn't anyone use a carolina rig? or a 3 way with a snap on one for the weight, so its like a fixed c-rig?

i've always done well with the C-rig while using live bait.

is it just one of those "this guy caught his fish on a dropper so that must be the ticket" kinda thing?

[seriola_killer]

Originally Posted by lowprofile

why doesn't anyone use a carolina rig? or a 3 way with a snap on one for the weight, so its like a fixed c-rig?

i've always done well with the C-rig while using live bait.

is it just one of those "this guy caught his fish on a dropper so that must be the ticket" kinda thing?

People do use carolina rigs, like when deep slow-trolling for Threshers. The reason people don't use 3-way swivels is because conventional wisdom would be that instead of only one weak point (knot), now you have three possible weak points.

Hey, maybe someone can invent the knotless 3-way swivel?


I have zero problem with extra knots, because mine flat out don't fail. It's just way more convenient for me to tie the cedros dropper loop vs. having to tie on a 3-way.

[bus kid]

why not just use the Knotless hooks?