Pre-Making Dropshot Leaders

[GTN-NY]

This winter needs to end so I can stop thinking about things to do and just go fishing. 
I just started fishing a dropshot last fall. I kinda like it! 
I’d be using braid mainline to FC leader. So I started thinking about making leaders ahead of time.
I’d start the FC leader with a barrel swivel, maybe a 2’ FC section, hook, then 1-2’ FC with different sinker weights tied on. I know a lot of you use the DS sinkers that you just clip on the line but I’ve heard they can get thrown off. To me they are expensive. 
Then you can store these pre-made leaders on something like this Lindy Leader Holder. 
 

Thoughts on this?

 

edit: I’m in a kayak so storage/mobility is limited 

[BBuck]

It seems like it might work, but I wouldn't do it personally. I'd rather just start with a new dropshot rig instead. I'd be fumbling around with that thing and end up with a twisted slinky of a leader. ?

[GTN-NY]

Just now, BBuck said:

It seems like it might work, but I wouldn't do it personally. I'd rather just start with a new dropshot rig instead. I'd be fumbling around with that thing and end up with a twisted slinky of a leader. ?

That’s one thing I was worried about is how FC would be wrapped on the holder after some time

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, GTN said:

This winter needs to end so I can stop thinking about things to do and just go fishing. 
I just started fishing a dropshot last fall. I kinda like it! 
I’d be using braid mainline to FC leader. So I started thinking about making leaders ahead of time.
I’d start the FC leader with a barrel swivel, maybe a 2’ FC section, hook, then 1-2’ FC with different sinker weights tied on. I know a lot of you use the DS sinkers that you just clip on the line but I’ve heard they can get thrown off. To me they are expensive. 
Then you can store these pre-made leaders on something like this Lindy Leader Holder. 
 

Thoughts on this?

 

edit: I’m in a kayak so storage/mobility is limited 

I don't make them ahead of time, but that is not a bad idea. I would suggest you omit the swivel and sinker, since there is one on the end of your line already, and you are still only tying one knot.

[fishwizzard]

If you tie an overhand knot in the line it will keep the clip on weights from flying off on the cast but will still usually let you pull the weight off when snagged.  I DS with a casting combo and that weight coming of on the cast is usually a complete show stopper.

[Junk Fisherman]

I always have 1 or 2 pretied leaders but I don't use a swivel and I don't put the sinker on.  I figure I am saving 1 knot if I have to retie the entire leader.  The water I fish has a lot of awful snags so when you are fishing a dropshot most of the day you will have to completely retie a couple times a day.  I don't like pretying more than 2 since I want fresh line with little memory and not something that has been sitting in a compartment for a couple months.  Probably doesn't make much difference but I like to tie the leaders the night before.  

[Choporoz]

I carried a couple for a while.  Always messy.  Turns out it doesn't take me long to tie a Palomar knot and clip on a weight. 

[JustJames]

2 hours ago, GTN said:

It might work for you, if you dropshot a lot and trend to loose the rig. 
I just wanna comment regarding dropshot weight. It might be a little bit pricier than other but there are plenty of benefit. Cylinder weight, a lot less hang up, swivel on top reduce line twisted, the clip is help for quick change for depth, in a lot of case you lost only weight not the whole rig.
Regarding the weight thrown off, when you insert the line to the clip do not pull up too tight, that will damage (kinked) the line and weight can cut the line off. Or some case the line is too small and the clip doesn’t work properly. You can expand the hole on the clip to be bigger or smaller depend on line size. 

[Jigfishn10]

I like the idea and out of the box thinking but instead of of carrying all those leaders would it be easier to tie a surgeons loop at the end of the line and attach your sinker to it?

You pass the loop thru your sinker hole, open up the loop and bring the sinker back thru. It's tied on and can be taken off and replaced much faster.

 

Edit:

 

[GTN-NY]

12 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I like the idea and out of the box thinking but instead of of carrying all those leaders would it be easier to tie a surgeons loop at the end of the line and attach your sinker to it?

You pass the loop thru your sinker hole, open up the loop and bring the sinker back thru. It's tied on and can be taken off and replaced much faster.

I like that!

[Jigfishn10]

2 minutes ago, GTN said:

I like that!

I had a feeling you would. I have vision issues in my left eye, so I try to keep it simple! ?

[Deleted account]

3 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

If you tie an overhand knot in the line it will keep the clip on weights from flying off on the cast but will still usually let you pull the weight off when snagged.  I DS with a casting combo and that weight coming of on the cast is usually a complete show stopper.

Can someone who isn't in the sinker selling business explain to me why tying a loop at the end of the line and threading the sinker (one without that silly clip thing) through isn't a better idea? That is how we've done it with dipsey, bank and other bottom sinkers everywhere else. The line shy bass will see the knot maybe....  :) 

21 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I like the idea and out of the box thinking but instead of of carrying all those leaders would it be easier to tie a surgeons loop at the end of the line and attach your sinker to it?

You pass the loop thru your sinker hole, open up the loop and bring the sinker back thru. It's tied on and can be taken off and replaced much faster.

 

Edit:

 

Perfection loop, but yeah. We need a video on how to do this? wow!

[Jigfishn10]

3 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

Perfection loop, but yeah. We need a video on how to do this? wow!

A little upset today?

[Jig Man]

Many of the drop shot sinkers are designed to come off instead of breaking the bait off.  Before drop shot became a term we rigged a jig under the worm as a weight.  Sometimes you could get twofers.

[J Francho]

I eliminate most of the work by using straight fluorocarbon line.  One knot with a long tag and I'm done.

[WRB]

All plastics cold flow or creep from pressure over time. 

All single filament ( monofilament) including Nylon, blends of Nylon (copolymers) Flourocarbon and Hybrids (FC extruded over Nylon) cold flow from pressure at the knot over time wreaking the knot.

You should re-tie often within the days outing. You shouldn’t leave knots tied over 24 hours time.

Tom 

[Deleted account]

58 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

 

 

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

A little upset today?

Yeah, I just found out March 4th might not be a thing....

[Columbia Craw]

I pre-tie leaders to assure I have enough for my next outing.  But do to clear water, I tie my braid to an 8 foot leader and then the FC leader to very small black barrel swivel.  The pre-tied leader is quickly tied to the swivel and trimmed to length.  I add the weight, hook my bait and go.  I have my pre-tied leaders in little plastic zip lock baggies I got at the craft store. I write a code for hook type, size and test on the baggie and refill them.  The change out process is fast and I’ve yet to break off a fish.  Line twist is not an issue. I don’t have spot lock so quick retires are a priority to keep from getting blown well off my spot.  Works well for me.

[Williep99]

38 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

 

Yeah, I just found out March 4th might not be a thing....

Hahahaha, that’s funny and you are right

 

[Jigfishn10]

1 hour ago, BassWhole! said:

 

Yeah, I just found out March 4th might not be a thing....

Ok...whatever

[Williep99]

I used to pretie lindy rigs for walleye and tried some dropper rigs for fly fishing. But for drop shots I think it’s a pretty fast tie. I use braid to fluoro so twist isn’t much of an issue. I sometime use the weights that swivel as well. I don’t add swivels anymore at all. A quick palomar on the hook and down through the eye, tie on a weight and you’re good to go. If it snags it breaks at the weight or hook and more money is added to the end of the line.

[fishwizzard]

3 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

Can someone who isn't in the sinker selling business explain to me why tying a loop at the end of the line and threading the sinker (one without that silly clip thing) through isn't a better idea? That is how we've done it with dipsey, bank and other bottom sinkers everywhere else. The line shy bass will see the knot maybe.... 

Oh man I way way prefer a proper DS sinker, if just for the imbedded swivel.  Also, I try to use the lightest DS weight I can get away with so being able to swap them out as needed is nice.  The overhand knot keeps the weight just fine on the cast and still lets me pop the weight off and save my hook and plastic.  Surprising no one, most of the time the line breaks right above the knot, I wonder if anyone has even done a strength test on the overhand?

[NHBull]

Many tournament angler use a device like the one you posted.  I use a small piece of pipe insulation 

[BurrStone]

I normally drop shot with a spin-shot type hook. I pre tie FC line from the spin shot to the weight. Then I take about a half dozen of those setups and hook them lengthwise onto one end of a piece of 3" floaty tube/pipe insulation with the loose ends of the lines held in place on the other end with a rubber band.

 

If I run out of those I tend to go to a regular drop shot hook w/palomar knots. Spin shot hooks are great but they add to the time you spend tying knots.

[MickD]

On 2/15/2021 at 10:24 AM, GTN said:

how FC would be wrapped on the holder after some time

If it forms loops simply pull it aggressively, to build up a little heat, through your fingers, or use a leather leader straightener.  

 

Unless you're fishing rocky areas where they may get caught between rocks one can use split shot, which is cheap, easy to adjust distance to hook , and easy to adjust the weight being used.  You can let them slide,or tie a half hitch below them to keep them from moving.