Swivel on Your Drop Shot

[papajoe222]

Ever since I was introduced to this technique, I've always attached a ball bearing swivel above the hook. Not only does it help a lot in avoiding line twist, it makes it much easier to use different lines and tests. I mainly run high viz braid as a mainline on my drop shot combo and attaching a swivel to the end and then a drop line of 6lb. test mono is a breeze.  I actually keep a couple of droppers with hooks tied on, in my box. If I break off, or bend out a hook, it's one knot and done.

Other than using Spin-Shot hooks, does anyone else still do this?

[Cbump]

Nope

[WRB]

So you prefer 3 knots vs 1 knot so you can use a swivel.

The braid acts like a swivel requires 1 knot in lieu of 2 to attach a leader.

How often do you change leader rigs?

I prefer to use the main line as the leader with 1 knot at the hook. 1 knot is 300% less likely to fail then 3 knots.

Drop shot I never had a issue managing with line twist the past 30+ years using it as a main line.

I may re tie 2 or 3 times during a days outing, like any other presentation.

Tom

[Columbia Craw]

Yes

[PressuredFishing]

 I'll use a snap on the bottom to change weight sizes out easily. I remember trying it but felt it was unnecessary for a main line of 6lb nylon, on my braided reel which I don't like but use I try to use 20ft+ leaders.

[Hammer 4]

No swivel, I tie 1 Palomar knot at the hook, and that's it. Been working fine for a number of years.

[QED]

I like the convenience of the Gamakatsu G Finesse Swivel Shot Drop Shot Hooks which have a swivel as part of the assembly.  They work great so I see no reason to switch. 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, QED said:

I like the convenience of the Gamakatsu G Finesse Swivel Shot Drop Shot Hooks which have a swivel as part of the assembly.  They work great so I see no reason to switch. 

Ya, I'm the same way with the VMC SpinShots - they even have an Off-Set Wide Gap version for creature baits.

[TOXIC]

13 hours ago, WRB said:

So you prefer 3 knots vs 1 knot so you can use a swivel.

The braid acts like a swivel requires 1 knot in lieu of 2 to attach a leader.

How often do you change leader rigs?

I prefer to use the main line as the leader with 1 knot at the hook. 1 knot is 300% less likely to fail then 3 knots.

Drop shot I never had a issue managing with line twist the past 30+ years using it as a main line.

I may re tie 2 or 3 times during a days outing, like any other presentation.

Tom

Exactly.  I don’t have an issue with line twist on my drop shot anymore than any other plastic.  I also don’t like adding failure points to my setups.  I don’t use a leader either for that same reason.  I do however rig all of my dropshot baits Texas style on a #1 Gamakatsu EWG.  Most all line twist is a result of poor rigging which causes the bait to spin. That being said, I will occasionally feed out a couple casts of line with nothing on it and retrieve it pinched between my fingers to get rid of any twist. 

[Junk Fisherman]

Like Toxic, I've never had a problem with line twist but I have never liked the knot I tie for a dropshot.  I don't like the Palomar and the double improved clinch knot that Aaron Martens always recommended never worked that well for me.  I did buy these Decoy DS hooks last winter and I haven't gotten around to using them.  Going to give them a shot this weekend.  

[TOXIC]

You still added another failure point.  That’s my big problem.  

[WRB]

Owner 5133 Down Shot hook has the eye turned up specially to keep the hook point upright. This hook is a small diameter wire and when Texas skin hooked soft plastics bass hook themselves a high % with this extremely sharp hook design....give a try.

Tom

[Way north bass guy]

I tried the hooks with the swivel built into them, and I found I had more twist with them, especially after landing a smallmouth. Took forever to untangle the line from around the hook, and I felt it weakened it with all the kinks it had after that. I only use Tatsu in 6lb as my mainline, tie a palomar and put the weight in the tag end and I have much better performance with that. I’m not a big fan of braid for drop shots, and since I switched to Tatsu, I’ve never had any issues. It’s definitely worth the extra cost to me. 

[papajoe222]

Never had a problem with three knots on a drop shot, or a C-rig for that matter. It's just the way I've always tied it.  For adding the drop line to a braid main line, it's a heck of a lot easier than tying a connecting knot.  

[Munkin]

8 hours ago, WRB said:

Owner 5133 Down Shot hook has the eye turned up specially to keep the hook point upright. This hook is a small diameter wire and when Texas skin hooked soft plastics bass hook themselves a high % with this extremely sharp hook design....give a try.

Tom

 

These hooks are the best thing I have learned about drop shotting in years. I  got a pack of them in a large lot of hooks I bought off Facebook.  Desided to give them a try and now generally they are all I use.

 

Allen 

[Darth-Baiter]

10 hours ago, Munkin said:

 

These hooks are the best thing I have learned about drop shotting in years. I  got a pack of them in a large lot of hooks I bought off Facebook.  Desided to give them a try and now generally they are all I use.

 

Allen 

It’s the only hook I use. I actually tossed some others when I discovered this version. 
 

‘’I get some line twist when I rig my bait all janky.  Usually trying to keep using the same torn up worm for as long as possible 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I prefer a connection knot to a swivel and just a regular hook to a spinshot style hook.  Theres play in the bait because of the way the hook sits on the swivel.  I do use the Trokar helix hooks when I'm walking the bank or in a jon/yak and can't carry more then 1 ML rod, it just makes changing baits a little easier.  

If you were fishing for pelagics or 20+lb hard fighting fish I could understand why limiting the number of knots would be advantageous.  When it comes to DSing for freshwater bass on light gear with low drag settings I really dont think its as big a issue as long as the knots are proficiently tied.  I wouldnt do it, but if it works for you thats fine.    

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 8/26/2022 at 1:19 PM, Junk Fisherman said:

Like Toxic, I've never had a problem with line twist but I have never liked the knot I tie for a dropshot.  I don't like the Palomar and the double improved clinch knot that Aaron Martens always recommended never worked that well for me.  I did buy these Decoy DS hooks last winter and I haven't gotten around to using them.  Going to give them a shot this weekend.  

This knot is so much easier and more efficient then a palomar or uni. The hook stands out and perfectly straight everytime.

 

 

[Junk Fisherman]

9 minutes ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

This knot is so much easier and more efficient then a palomar or uni. The hook stands out and perfectly straight everytime.

 

 

And this works for you?  I tried that knot a couple times and it had little knot strength for me.  I suck at knots but felt I was tying it correctly.  

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Ive been using for 20 years without having had it break on a fish.  I use it for sand eel teasers and have caught stripers to 25lbs in heavy inlet currents.  The whole trick is cinching the knot down clean without burning the line.    

[TOXIC]

1 hour ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

If you were fishing for pelagics or 20+lb hard fighting fish I could understand why limiting the number of knots would be advantageous.  When it comes to DSing for freshwater bass on light gear with low drag settings I really dont think its as big a issue as long as the knots are proficiently tied. 

A 4 to 5lb smallmouth on 6lb test dropshot will make it an issue. ??

[Junk Fisherman]

3 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Ive been using for 20 years without having had it break on a fish.  I use it for sand eel teasers and have caught stripers to 25lbs in heavy inlet currents.  The whole trick is cinching the knot down clean without burning the line.    

I'll give it another shot.  Thanks for the tip.  

[GetFishorDieTryin]

22 hours ago, TOXIC said:

A 4 to 5lb smallmouth on 6lb test dropshot will make it an issue. ??

I caught 2 stripers last new moon in an inlet on 8lb test, both bottomed out a 15lb boga.  As long as the knot is tied correctly, and you know how to set a drag you're not going to have issues with smallmouth.

[SpinLight]

On 8/26/2022 at 12:19 PM, Junk Fisherman said:

Like Toxic, I've never had a problem with line twist but I have never liked the knot I tie for a dropshot.  I don't like the Palomar and the double improved clinch knot that Aaron Martens always recommended never worked that well for me.  I did buy these Decoy DS hooks last winter and I haven't gotten around to using them.  Going to give them a shot this weekend.  

It seems to me that the "three knot problem" is not a problem here. When you use this Decoy DS, Gama Swivel Shot or VMS Spin Shot rig, you still have only one knot between you and the fish, right?

 

The other two knots connect the drop shot weight to the swivel and will not weaken the line on which we fight the fish. We will be losing a few weights to snags, regardless of whether we use one knot or three knots. One benefit of using the hook-on-a-swivel dropshot is that you can tie a weaker line to the swivel below your hook so that the weight will break off before the hook does when the weight gets snagged.

 

One disadvantage of this "three knot" kind of rig over the "one knot" drop shot approach is that it takes more time to rig up after breaking off. Another disadvantage of the three knot swivel rig is that it costs more than the single hook used in in the standard Palomar one knot dropshot rig.

[Darth-Baiter]

On 8/27/2022 at 12:03 PM, GetFishorDieTryin said:

This knot is so much easier and more efficient then a palomar or uni. The hook stands out and perfectly straight everytime.

 

 

I use this knot exclusively.  I am even gonna start calling it the Knoten.  as in, "hmmm should check my knoten..."