0zcarsx Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 Hello everybody, I'm new to this forum, and I apologize if I'm asking in the wrong section. I've researched on this subject and found no answers, so I come to you. I just started drop shotting with braid with a fluorocarbon lead,so my question is.. How long is the lead supposed to be from the swivel to the hook, is it preference? Thanks in advanced. Quote
Tyler j Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 This time of year your leaders are short maybe 4-7 inches as the water warmes you length you leader ( the space between the hook and weight) your fluro should be a little less than the rod a good rule of thumb is to reel your fluro to the first guid on your rod Quote
Super User Darren. Posted February 17, 2015 Super User Posted February 17, 2015 Welcome aboard! I don't tie a swivel for drop shotting. So i normally tie a leader about one to two arm stretches in length, and tie the hook about 24-28" up from the bottom. Quote
Super User Felix77 Posted February 17, 2015 Super User Posted February 17, 2015 My leader goes from the first eye at the tip to a little past the last. I tie the hook and then use a 7" leader from there to the weight. Quote
papajoe222 Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 I use a swivel to attach the leader to braid and try to keep the hook at least 12in. down from it. How much distance from the hook to the weight varies. Quote
0zcarsx Posted February 17, 2015 Author Posted February 17, 2015 Yes thank you for the replies. The length between the hook & the weight is a different story but thanks for your Input. I just need to get some ideas on what's an ideal length from swivel to hook. Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted February 17, 2015 Super User Posted February 17, 2015 If you are fishing the dropshot vertically you can run a leader the length of the rod as long as you are not reeling the swivel into your rod tip. If you are casting the rig you need to shorten the leader length to two or three feet. 1 Quote
0zcarsx Posted February 17, 2015 Author Posted February 17, 2015 I'm fishing from a float tube, and having the leader anything more than 1 foot makes it hard for me to accurately aim. I currently have it set up @ 1 foot from swivel to hook, do you think that will affect my fish bites? Quote
Super User kickerfish1 Posted February 17, 2015 Super User Posted February 17, 2015 If you are fishing the dropshot vertically you can run a leader the length of the rod as long as you are not reeling the swivel into your rod tip. If you are casting the rig you need to shorten the leader length to two or three feet. This! I prefer casting mine most of the time. I like a foot to 2 feet from hook to weight. Quote
Koofy Smacker Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 Lose the swivel, tie direct. I go with a 4-5ft leader and it will slowly get shorter as it snags and breaks 1 Quote
0zcarsx Posted February 17, 2015 Author Posted February 17, 2015 That's how I usually do it, but I have braid as my main line on the spool and the floruo as my lead. Quote
bass1980 Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 I use 20lb braid with a 8lb flouro leader and never use swivel. Just tie both lines direct. I like my leader to be a good 5' so incase I break off I can get away with not having to tie a leader again. 2 Quote
Fisher-O-men Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 If you do decide to use a Swivel, use just the barrel swivel with no snap. Use a very small one, size 14, and in black. You do not want the fish to be looking at the swivel instead of your bait. Quote
Super User WRB Posted February 17, 2015 Super User Posted February 17, 2015 The distance from the weight to the hook depends on the bass and how you present the drop shot rigged worm. Ideally you want the worm at the same level the bass are at. If you fish from a boat and drop straight down to the bass you see on your sonar. If the bass are 12" off the bottom, 12" inch leader to weight is good. If you are casting away from where you are located, the line is at a angle so the leader length needs to be about 50% longer; bass at 12", the leader length should be 18" for example. The key to the drop shot rig is very little added action by the angler, just slightly shaking the slack line works good. Tom Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted February 17, 2015 Super User Posted February 17, 2015 I use a tiny #12 Spro PowerSwivel on the end of my braid. Then I tie my fluoro leader to that. The length to the hook is primarily dependent on the water clarity and how finicky the bass are. But around 2 - 3 feet should be fine, even in clear water. As far as the length of leader, from the hook to the sinker goes, that is predicated solely on the water temperature, time of the year, and the mood of the fish. This is where you change up to get the best results. Right after ice out up here, we go with a very short length of line between hook & sinker - as short as the length of the worm you are using. As the season gets warmer and the fish more active, this length is increased. By mid summer I'm using about a 3' - 4' length of fluoro between the hook and the sinker. But then again.....it's up to the conditions you are facing and the mood of the fish. That's the fun part.....experimentation! Quote
drodriguez Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 I did not read everyone's messages. I'm from the west coast, where drop shotting got its start. I do not use a swivel. I tie my lines together with an improved Albright knot. I like it because its compact, casts through your guides very well, and when its tied properly, doesn't break off easily. You didn't ask about that, but there's some free advice. As far as your question about how long to tie the leader, I typically make that based on water clarity, time of year, how deep I'm fishing the drop shot, and if there's grass. If I'm fishing in inches, not feet, I tie it the length of the lure. If I'm fishing deeper water with grass (typically means muddy bottoms and water conditions in my experience) I tie the rig so the lure is just above the grass. If I'm fishing chocolate water, I don't use a drop shot. I opt for moving baits at that point. If I'm tired of drop shots and want something different, I power shot. Heavy line with a jig on bottom instead of a weight, and then I tie my drop shot 3-4 feet above that. Hope this helps. Quote
drodriguez Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 I did not read everyone's messages. I'm from the west coast, where drop shotting got its start. I do not use a swivel. I tie my lines together with an improved Albright knot. I like it because its compact, casts through your guides very well, and when its tied properly, doesn't break off easily. You didn't ask about that, but there's some free advice. As far as your question about how long to tie the leader, I typically make that based on water clarity, time of year, how deep I'm fishing the drop shot, and if there's grass. If I'm fishing in inches, not feet, I tie it the length of the lure. If I'm fishing deeper water with grass (typically means muddy bottoms and water conditions in my experience) I tie the rig so the lure is just above the grass. If I'm fishing chocolate water, I don't use a drop shot. I opt for moving baits at that point. If I'm tired of drop shots and want something different, I power shot. Heavy line with a jig on bottom instead of a weight, and then I tie my drop shot 3-4 feet above that. Hope this helps. Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted February 17, 2015 Super User Posted February 17, 2015 The advantages of using a small swivel is reducing main line twist. The swivel also allows you to just retie your leader without cutting & retying your main line every time you need a new leader. Quote
Super User WRB Posted February 17, 2015 Super User Posted February 17, 2015 The disadvantage of using a leader in lieu of the main line tied direct is additional knots to fail. Using braid with a leader requires a knot to splice the leader to the braid or 2 knots to tie on a swivel, plus a knot at the hook. 1 knot is 2X more reliable then 2 knots, 3X more reliable than 3 knots. Using FC line as most angler do today, the knot strength is (70-80%) less then line test. Braid and a swivel helps to manage line twisting when you reel in the rig, that is when most of the twisting occurs. Reel up slower and rig the worn so it does't spin and you don't need braid or a swivel, your choice. Good luck and slow down using a drop shot rig. There isn't a right or wrong way to bass fish, use what works for you! Tom Quote
5fishlimit Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 Yes thank you for the replies. The length between the hook & the weight is a different story but thanks for your Input. I just need to get some ideas on what's an ideal length from swivel to hook. You can negate the need of the swivel by using the VMC spinshot hooks. Quote
bassguytom Posted February 18, 2015 Posted February 18, 2015 Braid to You can negate the need of the swivel by using the VMC spinshot hooks. No swivel. Braid to fluoro 6 feet or so with a crazy Alberto knot it's easy to tie and you can find it on the web. A VMC Spinshot and a 15 inch fluoro leader that I slide the weight up or down to where the fish like it. This is very easy and effective. Hope this helps. Quote
0zcarsx Posted February 18, 2015 Author Posted February 18, 2015 I'm actually leaning towards the Alberto knot, that's something I'm going to look at tonight and learn it. Quote
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