Dropshot Knot Trouble

[You_Only_Live_Once_Fishing]

Almost every time i tie a dropshot, the hook is pointing down. I tried reversing it and it didnt work. It faces the right way sometimes. I tie the knot by threading 18 in through the hook eye. Next i thread 15 in back, then i tie an overhand knot with the hook on the bottom. i cinch it down by pulling the tag end and the main line. i then move the knot so that it is centered on the hook eye. i am stumped...

[Todd2]

I just really started fishing it seriously this year. Some buy the specialized hooks with swivel ties on two ends. I just use a straight shank hook with a palomar knot with a tag end about 2 feet. Run the tag end back through the hook eye going through on the hookpoint side. When you pull down it should stick out and up.

[Airman4754]

1 hour ago, Todd2 said:

I just really started fishing it seriously this year. Some buy the specialized hooks with swivel ties on two ends. I just use a straight shank hook with a palomar knot with a tag end about 2 feet. Run the tag end back through the hook eye going through on the hookpoint side. When you pull down it should stick out and up.

Yep. 

[Big Bait Fishing]

 palomar knot

[Sam]

Tie a Palomar Knot as shown above.

Remember to leave enough line on the "tag" end for your leader.

Learn the Palomar Knot and use it for other presentations.

Good luck.

[blckshirt98]

It doesn't sound like you're bringing the tag end back down through the eye after tying your palomar.  And like other's have mentioned there are some specialty hooks made to keep the hook centered and upright (VMC Spinshot, Gamakatsu G-Finesse Swivel Shot, Blakemore Standout).

[Steveo-1969]

I had this same problem when I first started tying up dropshots, half the time the hook would end up upside down.  I figured out that if I started the palomar knot by putting the line through the hook eye on the hook point side of the eye, when I finished the knot the hook would be right-side up every time.  Just like the diagram posted above.

[J Francho]

17 hours ago, You_Only_Live_Once_Fishing said:

Almost every time i tie a dropshot, the hook is pointing down. I tried reversing it and it didnt work. It faces the right way sometimes. I tie the knot by threading 18 in through the hook eye. Next i thread 15 in back, then i tie an overhand knot with the hook on the bottom. i cinch it down by pulling the tag end and the main line. i then move the knot so that it is centered on the hook eye. i am stumped...

First off, do not pull on the main line to cinch a Palomar.

You did not thread the tag end back through as shown in the picture above.

[Steveo-1969]

Threading the tag end back through the eye will make the hook stand out better, but it won't turn an upside down hook right-side up.

[J Francho]

3 minutes ago, Steveo-1969 said:

Threading the tag end back through the eye will make the hook stand out better, but it won't turn an upside down hook right-side up.

Uh, yes it will.  It doesn't matter what way you tie the hook on.  Pulling the line back through as illustrated above will guarantee that, when you pull on the tag end with weight.  The ONLY way it would remain upside down is if you ran the tag through the back side of the hook eye.  This is WHY we run the line back through the top of the hook.

[Steveo-1969]

3 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Uh, yes it will.  It doesn't matter what way you tie the hook on.  Pulling the line back through as illustrated above will guarantee that, when you pull on the tag end with weight.  The ONLY way it would remain upside down is if you ran the tag through the back side of the hook eye.  This is WHY we run the line back through the top of the hook.

Hmmmm, not my experience but I will bow to your expertise.

YOLO_Fishing - VMC Spinshot... 

[J Francho]

Then something else amiss..  knot is cockeyed or something, or there is a kink in the mainline.  I know I've fouled up a Palomar more than once.  Tough to tie on a rough sea with a #4 hook and 6# fluoro.  If everything is straight, the through the top trick, with a slight tug will work every time.

I like the spin shots, despite my skepticism of losing sensitivity, but they're even harder to tie on, for me, at least.  Butter fingers....

[S Hovanec]

I tie lots of Palomar knots for DS.  Half the time it's up, half the time it's down.  When it's up, I leave it alone.  When it's down,  I run the tag end through the eye and viola, it's up.

[Hattrick7]

you gotta pull the tag end through the eye of the hook before you tie it to the weight. 

[JustJames]

For me I tie different drop shot knot per this post.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/108328-very-cool-dropshot-knot-from-japan/

 

[contium]

9 hours ago, JustJames said:

For me I tie different drop shot knot per this post.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/108328-very-cool-dropshot-knot-from-japan/

 

Thanks for posting that. I've been trying to figure out a knot like that.

[RB 77]

The tag end back through like in step four in the diagram and like others have mentioned is the CRUCIAL component in assuring the hook always points up.

[NYWayfarer]

On ‎8‎/‎23‎/‎2016 at 3:41 PM, Steveo-1969 said:

Hmmmm, not my experience but I will bow to your expertise.

YOLO_Fishing - VMC Spinshot... 

I love the VMC Spinshot hooks. I have several pre-tied with the tag end for the weight in anywhere from 10" to 24" length. I store them in zip lock bags, length written on the bag in sharpie. Saves me time and line twist at the same time.

[J Francho]

12 minutes ago, Finesse Wayfarer said:

I have several pre-tied with the tag end for the weight in anywhere from 10" to 24" length.

You kind have to do this, because it takes so much time.  Curious - what knot do you use?  I know if I attach the hook to the main line first, I use a Palomar, but if they're pre-tied, I use a Uni.

They are a cool idea, I just stopped using them, since it was easier to tie up the traditional way, and faster, for me.

[NYWayfarer]

14 minutes ago, J Francho said:

You kind have to do this, because it takes so much time.  Curious - what knot do you use?  I know if I attach the hook to the main line first, I use a Palomar, but if they're pre-tied, I use a Uni.

They are a cool idea, I just stopped using them, since it was easier to tie up the traditional way, and faster, for me.

I use a palomar knot on the pre-tie tag end and when attaching it to the main line another palomar knot. I pass the hook and the pre-tied end through the loop then cinch the knot.

I agree it takes too much time tying these hooks on while fishing. Add on the small loops on the barrel swivel, movement of the boat and bad eyes and it could be an all day affair.

[Chrisran99]

I started using a special shank hook for my drop shot rig after receiving it in a MTB. I like the way it allowes the bait to bounce with ever shake of the rod. I still use the Palomar knot tied to the bend of the hook and run the tag end through the eyelet, so the hook is always pointed up. I don't have the package the hooks came in, so I don't have the name brand but it has worked very wellthis summer.

 

[Largemouth21]

On 9/8/2016 at 3:03 AM, JustJames said:

For me I tie different drop shot knot per this post.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/108328-very-cool-dropshot-knot-from-japan/

 

Yes, its an old post but how is the knot strength on that? Just curious

[JustJames]

3 hours ago, Largemouth21 said:

Yes, its an old post but how is the knot strength on that? Just curious

Never lost a fish from this knot and never got break off from the knot either. The hook stay streight 90 degree from line.