Eliminating drop shot twist

[Nick]

I don't like using a swivel above my dropshot worm, but the line twist really tries my patience on a regular dropshot.  Any cures out there from the West coast crowd?  P.S. I normally throw 8-10 lb. flouro on a baitcaster with a 1/4 to 1/2 oz. weight in 20-60 feet of water. I've tried different hooks with no success. Thanks.

[reellittlephish]

Someone else asked about dropshotting on the forum and I posted some links there.

I realize your using a baitcaster, if using a spinning outfit, close the bail with your hand - not the handle - this helps.  Check the rod tip with a Q tip- make sure you have no sharp edges or grooves.

I am using currently P Line Hybrid 8# and was using Spiderline Mono 8#.  P line has more sensitiivity IMO.  I would also use Yo-Zuri, Shugoi, or Berkely Vanish.  I use those on the baitcasters for shaking and doodling.  That also twists line.

To get rid of twist run your line out (all lures and knots removed) behind the boat while you run to the next area.  this helps..Might have to do it twice or 3 times in an 8 hour day.   Re-spool the first 150-200 ft. when it gets unfixable - I know you didn't want to hear that.

From Lake Mead where the dropshot bite is what gets bit - bite is at 25 to 50 ft on chunk rock currently.  Where are you fishing?

[earthworm77]

I don't have too much problem with twist but make sure you rig the bait so if doesn't spin.

[Nick]

As a response, all the Ozark lakes offer good dropshotting. And it's catching on pretty good down here.

[reellittlephish]

Nick,

OK. Probably similar highland structure. Mead is 109 ft below normal pool and all the brush, trees and weeds are way up the bank. Got a mix of conglomerate rock, sandstone bluffs and basalt pillars and rockpiles.

I use a 6 ft. Rapala Long Cast(1/16 oz to 1/4oz. rated) with a $45 Shimano spinning reel for drop shotting and tube fishing. Find the spinning outfit allows bait to drop straight down on a pitch. Good for stairstepping down rockpiles with a rockhopper or bakudan weight.

Had to run the line out twice yesterday fishing for 6 hours. P Line's 8#'s been out fishing now maybe 12 times.

Check out "Lake Police" worms. Hot on the left coast right now. The lake police were out Saturday running back and forth into the harbor while I was waiting to see if a striper surface bite would materialize - who knows what that was about?

[Zeeter]

I got some of the swivel hooks this year. Will see if that helps. 

 

Spooling counter-clockwise from the spool is also a good measure to take. And I agree, closing the bail by hand rather than by the reel mechanism. Not sure how this would prevent twisting, but it is better for the reel. 

[Glenn]

Wow, what a way to dig up an old thread!  But since we're on the topic of preventing line twists on spinning gear, here's everything you need to know:

 

 

[BobP]

You can use a spinshot ds hook that includes a swivel, or just a small swivel above the hook.  The previous posts have good tips on avoiding twist caused by a spinning reel or baits not hooked straight on the hook.  I just tie mine straight to a plain ds hook and have no problem.

[dsqui]

Great video Glenn 

[MDBowHunter]

Use braid with a fluoro leader=no twist

[SWVABass]

I've been using the mustad and Vmc drop shot hooks. I haven't had a problem with twist since. Give them a try and see if that cures you twist problem. Without a swivel I think you will have a hard time not getting twist. The other option as stated it braid to fc, which if your fishing that deep shouldn't be a problem to do, about a12-14' leader and you should be good.

[Airman4754]

53 minutes ago, MDBowHunter said:

Use braid with a fluoro leader=no twist

 

Yep. Never the slightest issue. If you run your tag end through the eye of the hook that will help also.

[Crestliner2008]

I've been using the Gamakatsu #2 DS hooks for many, many years now. A few years ago I tried the Spin-Shot hooks. Lost too many smallies on the jump. Went back to my Gammys where I'll stay. Experience can be a costly teacher!

 

Usually most folks don't complain too much about line twist with a baitcaster, but since you are having that problem, what is wrong with a tiny swivel about 3' up your hook? I use a Spro #10 PowerSwivel exclusively with all my drop shot rigs. These quality made swivels are almost indestructible and have served me very well. Haven't seen any downside to doing so either. Some folks claim that the "extra knots" cause break points. I disagree. Like I said, been using them for many, many years with no breakage at the swivels. The line will break - at the hook - if you do not re-tie after every 2 or 3 smallies boated. Their teeth raise havoc with fluorocarbon!

 

Finally, I support the previous suggestion to try a braid with fluorocarbon leader. Best of both worlds and line twist will no longer be a concern to you at that point.

[A-Jay]

On ‎12‎/‎3‎/‎2004 at 11:33 PM, Nick said:

I don't like using a swivel above my dropshot worm, but the line twist really tries my patience on a regular dropshot.  Any cures out there from the West coast crowd?  P.S. I normally throw 8-10 lb. flouro on a baitcaster with a 1/4 to 1/2 oz. weight in 20-60 feet of water. I've tried different hooks with no success. Thanks.

 

Unlike spinning gear where line twist is inherently part of the deal (design), twisted up line when using revolving spool tackle is almost always going to be caused by the bait spinning.  Reduce or eliminate that action and the line twist is also usually reduced or eliminated; especially on casting gear.    

  I drop shot a bunch, 95% is on spinning gear.  Almost always braid main line & a leader.  Tried but do not like the introduction of the small swivel into the deal so I do not do it.  The main way for me to address line twist on a drop shot is to do whatever I can to not have the rig SPIN; either on the cast/sink or on the retrieve back to the boat.  Rigging the bait totally straight is very important as is not using baits that want to spin anyway - like tubes.  Even though they are great on a D/S, they will spin the heck out of your line regardless of how they are rigged, at least for me.  

    So longer, straight baits seem to work and are for the most part thought of as the traditional D/S baits.  But Craws works as do many other plastics - As long as they Do Not Spin.

So that's my story and I'm stick'in to it.

A-Jay

[NHBull]

Used DS for the first time last year.....on spinning gear with Braid to FC.

I did use a small swivel and saw no ill effects.

 

[WRB]

Glenn's advice is excellent. Braid line has less memory therefore twisting has less effect than mono type line. The VMC or other swivel hook helps. Wacky rigged verses nose or weedless hooked worms can also reduce twisting.

Most drop shot line twist occurs during cast as it falls down and when retreived the worm can spin using either spinning or baitcasting reels. You need to learn to manage the spinning and line twist.

Tom

[blckshirt98]

If you plan on dropshotting a lot, I can't recommend strongly enough to spool up a reel with braid (10lb or 15lb) with a fluoro leader (24-36 inches).  That will fix a lot of line twist problems, and the only twist issues you should see are when a fish thrashes around out of the water and causes your weight to spin around the line (and this can be addressed with a swiveled hook).

[J Francho]

On 12/3/2004 at 11:33 PM, Nick said:

Any cures out there from the West coast crowd?

 

Only east coast cures.  Reel up slowly.  Perfectly center the bait on the hook.  Remember to troll out your line after a day of drop shotting.  Line twist is inherent in all spinning reels, with any line.  You get coils with mono, fluoro, coply, and wind knots with braid.