Drop shot line and twist prevention

[Fish4bigfish]

I fish the drop shot deep (20 to 60 feet) the water visibility is 8 to 15 feet. The area has few weeds and is pretty much structure fishing. I have been fishing straight fluoro in 6 lb. My problem is line twist. I've been thinking of going braid to fluoro leader. What are your thoughts?

[BiteFiend]

Braid to fluoro is ok on the dropshot, but I prefer straight fluoro for the advantage of slack-line sensitivity since you essentially fish the ds on slack line. When fishing a straight fluoro ds rig, I have came to appreciate the VMC spinshot hooks. The hook has a swivel that goes to the main line and another swivel that goes to the weight. Before, if I rigged everything perfectly straight and reeled in slow, I would get minimal line twist. However, with the VMC hooks, its zero line twist.

 

This video really helps too!

 

[papajoe222]

Try adding a swivel a foot or so above the hook. If you do go with braid, you can still use fluoro below it. 

[Glenn]

I've been dropshotting for years without line twist issues, and I don't use braid.  It's all about how you rig it, and then how you're using your equipment. 

First, how you rig it:

Then how you use your equipment:

 

[Fishinthefish]

Pull enough line to rig a drop shot, cut it, and tie both ends of flouro to a swivel. Tie your drop shot and enjoy the day.

[WRB]

With a swivel you have 3 knots to fail not a good idea with FC line and potential big bass on 6 lb line. The line twist occurs when dropping down and winding up if the soft plastic isn't straight or wacky hooked, both help to prevent this problem.

I use Tangle Free which helps and cut off the rig, drag it behind the boat about 1/4 mile before heading to the barn at the day's end.

Twist isn't caused by bail loops, that is a different problem and easily resolved by hand closing the bail.

Didn't watch Glenn's vedio's and will when I get a few minutes, he always offers good advice.

Tom

[ww2farmer]

Braid mainline, fluorocarbon leader connected with the alberto knot, vmc spin shot hooks.............problem solved.

[Fish4bigfish]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

With a swivel you have 3 knots to fail not a good idea with FC line and potential big bass on 6 lb line. The line twist occurs when dropping down and winding up if the soft plastic isn't straight or wacky hooked, both help to prevent this problem.

I use Tangle Free which helps and cut off the rig, drag it behind the boat about 1/4 mile before heading to the barn at the day's end.

Twist isn't caused by bail loops, that is a different problem and easily resolved by hand closing the bail.

Didn't watch Glenn's vedio's and will when I get a few minutes, he always offers good advice.

Tom

what are your thoughts on swivel style ds hooks? Thanks

[WRB]

Tried the VCM Spin shot hooks and didn't like the added cost, hardware/weight, but they do resolve line twist. Where I fish the bass are heavily pressured and tend to avoid line over 7 lbs and drop shot hook over size 1, spooky fish when they are not active so the extra size of spin shot hooks reduce strike ratios.

I did watch Glenn's vedio and agree with what he is telling us. Just don't like spin shot hooks and use straight tail worms on drop shot, would use a dart head jig for a curl ring worm...if it works use it.

Tom

[scaleface]

I have never used a drop shot rig . What would be wrong with this setup  ? Two bobber stops to hold the hook in place . The hook would  be free to spin  .If the hook  eyelet is to big a small plastic disc could be used between the stops and hook . I always have those on hand  for trailer hooks . I just punch them out of butter lids with a hole punch .  The weight would have to be tied on . A split ring or swivel could be tied to the end  and a sliding worm weighton the line .  The hook would just slide down the line when a fish is hooked .

 

Edited : I just Googled this and apparently some people rig it like this .

 

["hamma"]

I just tie on a swivel about a foot or so above the shot,..Like wrb, I dont care for the extra knots.,..But I tie a good polomar and have had no issues, just when you tie the long leader to the swivel (last knot tied) make sure there's no twist in the knot or it may fail and of course wet each knot before cinching it down

[CenCal fisher]

I do braid to a floro leader and line twist isn't an issue 

[WRB]

2 hours ago, CenCal fisher said:

I do braid to a floro leader and line twist isn't an issue 

Braid does twist the same as mono or FC becuase it's soft and doesn't have memory issue you don't see the twisting. What twisted braid does after awhile is cause wind knots that can wrap rod tips cutting the tip off. The down side for me with braid is 2 FC knots that can and do fail.

Braid isn't a panacea but it does help with line twist. When you have a big bass near the boat using braid with and 6 lb FC leader one of the 2 knots usually breaks, your odds are better with 1 knot.

Tom

[Airman4754]

Braid to fluoro, make sure your braid is wet when you tie your albright and it won't fail. 

[Fish4bigfish]

I have to say I don't want braid. I don't want a leader knot. I just caught s 6 lber yesterday on 6lb fluoro drop shotting with a 25 size pflueger pres. Light drag brought the fish to hand. I will try the spin shot hooks.

[Wildbillb]

Vmc spinshot hooks.  I have been using them for 2years with no issues.  But I have only caught small mouth with them.

[Fish4bigfish]

21 hours ago, scaleface said:

I have never used a drop shot rig . What would be wrong with this setup  ? Two bobber stops to hold the hook in place . The hook would  be free to spin  .If the hook  eyelet is to big a small plastic disc could be used between the stops and hook . I always have those on hand  for trailer hooks . I just punch them out of butter lids with a hole punch .  The weight would have to be tied on . A split ring or swivel could be tied to the end  and a sliding worm weighton the line .  The hook would just slide down the line when a fish is hooked .

 

Edited : I just Googled this and apparently some people rig it like this .

 

I don't think the bobber stops would hold strong enough for good hook penetration.

[scaleface]

9 hours ago, Fish4bigfish said:

I don't think the bobber stops would hold strong enough for good hook penetration.

Your probably right . 

[blckshirt98]

I tried the VMC Spinshot hooks and while they work it's a lot of extra work to re-tie.  You might want to try the Gamakatsu G-Finesse Swivel Shot hooks.  They're pricey but they replace the line tie loop at the bottom of the swivel hook with a crimp like drop shot weights have so it's a faster re-tie.

For line twist in general I started using a small Spro Power Swivel to attach my fluoro leader to my braid mainline which has helped a lot.  If you're talking about line twist from the fish trashing about once you get it out of the water, only something like the Spinshot or Swivel Shot hooks will help with that.