If I tie a dropperloop , can I cut the loop and tie the hook to a single strand instead of putting the loop double through the eye of the hook, and will it be strong enough? and does it matter which strand in the loop I cut
Dropper loop kestion
- Thread starter Double O
- Start date
When I want a single line tied to the hook like that, I rig to a three way swivel instead of a loop. I'd be worried it would weaken the knot doing like you say but I don't have personal experience with it
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IMHO:
the dropper loop (AKA: Blood Knot Dropper Loop) is the weakest loop out there...
i highly suggest tying a "Spider Hitch" and cutting the loop.
... but that's just me.
the dropper loop (AKA: Blood Knot Dropper Loop) is the weakest loop out there...
i highly suggest tying a "Spider Hitch" and cutting the loop.
... but that's just me.
Urban dictionary defines “kestion” as the coxian form of the word ‘question’. And coxian is defined as adjective: to explain a very sarcastic attitude towards somebody or something, an over the top attitude used to insult someone with sarcasm.I want to know what a "Dropper loop kestion" is?
Just because I'm "that guy"
I have no idea what dropper loop is though
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I 100% agree. Lost too many good ones on typical dropper loop knots. I was turned onto the Spider Hitch and never turned back. Both tag ends from the loop are equally strong. Homeguard proof I like to say.
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I would do a spider hitch, the traditional drop loop is not that strong. And with spider hitch you can cut the loop and tie straight, it will work fine.
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Test it out in your garage right now and tell us the results. Tag end strength and loop strength are both about 30% as it is. Don't have data on cutting the loop and using the ends. But it does help a bit to maintain the loop for stiffness in keeping your gear away from the mainline, and tie your gear onto the loop via cow's hitch or cat's paw.
I did recently switch to a blood bight loop because I was unhappy with dropper loops. But like one said above, over 40# for rockfish and you're not pulling it through. Blood bight is a good bit stronger and also SO fast, if I do a few in a row it's literally like a 5 second knot.
EDIT: I JUST realized how the spider hitch functions as an alternative to a dropper loop, at least in circumstances where you need all the line strength you can get. You don't just replace the the dropper loop with the spider hitch as a mid-line knot. You create a double line with the loop, then you cut the one loop into two appropriate lengths for sinker and hook, ie make a loop with 5' of line inside the loop, then cut it to 4' for sinker and 1' for hook. Then they both absolutely have strong connections and they're pulling on the knot in a highly functional direction. Ain't that somethin'!
I did recently switch to a blood bight loop because I was unhappy with dropper loops. But like one said above, over 40# for rockfish and you're not pulling it through. Blood bight is a good bit stronger and also SO fast, if I do a few in a row it's literally like a 5 second knot.
EDIT: I JUST realized how the spider hitch functions as an alternative to a dropper loop, at least in circumstances where you need all the line strength you can get. You don't just replace the the dropper loop with the spider hitch as a mid-line knot. You create a double line with the loop, then you cut the one loop into two appropriate lengths for sinker and hook, ie make a loop with 5' of line inside the loop, then cut it to 4' for sinker and 1' for hook. Then they both absolutely have strong connections and they're pulling on the knot in a highly functional direction. Ain't that somethin'!
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interesting, I too use the spider hitch, but never thought about cutting the loop for the sinker and the hook, gonna give that a try
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yessokk
Luck favors the well prepared.
Have done some testing on knots for dropper loops and as realized by many the standard
dropper loop set up is marginal at best. The Spider Hitch works much better. As a very strong alternative could respectfully suggest using a 5-6 wrap Surgeons Loop Knot. It is an 80% knot that is very strong, quick and easy to tie.
Just follow the link below but use 5-6 wraps and make the loop end about 3-4 ft then just cut the loop and adjust the lengths as required. .
Now,,, as a trick modification it is beneficial to put a small kink in the standing line
so when you cut the loop you will know which line to attach the hook. You can also use
2 lines and eliminate the loop, the standing line and a
lighter line to attach the sinker.
My .37 cents worth for your consideration .
Walt
dropper loop set up is marginal at best. The Spider Hitch works much better. As a very strong alternative could respectfully suggest using a 5-6 wrap Surgeons Loop Knot. It is an 80% knot that is very strong, quick and easy to tie.
Just follow the link below but use 5-6 wraps and make the loop end about 3-4 ft then just cut the loop and adjust the lengths as required. .
Now,,, as a trick modification it is beneficial to put a small kink in the standing line
so when you cut the loop you will know which line to attach the hook. You can also use
2 lines and eliminate the loop, the standing line and a
lighter line to attach the sinker.
My .37 cents worth for your consideration .
Walt
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I’ve done this for several years. I do make sure I tie my hook on the main line. I’ve also done it where I tie on a swivel, and in this case I use a lighter line to my sinker.
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So... anyone try the popular "drop shot" sinker rig being used successfully for bluefin for a while... for YT or other bottom critters? Larger ringed hook, circle or J, only 2 direct tied knots to the ring.
Heard this from one of the Intrepid captains. Said guys were using it for Ridge YT. He was also not inclined to have the rig use lighter line to the weight. You don't intend for your sinker to break off on YT when dropper looping (yeah, it's usually rigged to break off first if snagged on bottom, but not just from the fight). But why not try to save your weights?
Any thoughts?
Heard this from one of the Intrepid captains. Said guys were using it for Ridge YT. He was also not inclined to have the rig use lighter line to the weight. You don't intend for your sinker to break off on YT when dropper looping (yeah, it's usually rigged to break off first if snagged on bottom, but not just from the fight). But why not try to save your weights?
Any thoughts?
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I have always been a 50lb spiders hitch to a double uni to attach the hook. Two strands of mono out to the hook for teeth protection from large seabass.
I recently fished a well known seabass boat up in Ventura and they instructed everyone to tie the cheesy dropper loop knot and slip the hook on thru the loop with no knot on 30lb gear for seabass. I must have seen at least 15 fish lost due to this connection breaking. Moreover, if a seabass severs the loop holding the hook with its teeth when there is no knot securing the hook the fish is lost. When I asked why they prefer the dropper loop over a spiders hitch they said the bait fishes better and is more perpendicular to the main line whereas the spiders hitch hangs down. I did not buy that at all from my years of experience with the spiders hitch. Just did a trip with them last month and went 6 for 6 on the nice grade seabass with the spiders hitch. It fished just fine.
As a side note, for the halibut fishing we did, they did not recommend the reverse dropper loop with the bait being pulled along the bottom behind the sinker while on a drift. Their theory was the sinker was come in contact with the fish first and spook it before the bait got there. They recommend a standard dropper loop where the bait was ahead of the sinker on the drift and cutting the loop so just one strand, somewhat longer than a standard dropper loop, went to the hook. I used this method and scored two nice halibut.
These guys catch hundreds of seabass and halibut every season so it was hard to question what they recommended but that standard dropper loop knot is perhaps the weakest connection you could use...
I recently fished a well known seabass boat up in Ventura and they instructed everyone to tie the cheesy dropper loop knot and slip the hook on thru the loop with no knot on 30lb gear for seabass. I must have seen at least 15 fish lost due to this connection breaking. Moreover, if a seabass severs the loop holding the hook with its teeth when there is no knot securing the hook the fish is lost. When I asked why they prefer the dropper loop over a spiders hitch they said the bait fishes better and is more perpendicular to the main line whereas the spiders hitch hangs down. I did not buy that at all from my years of experience with the spiders hitch. Just did a trip with them last month and went 6 for 6 on the nice grade seabass with the spiders hitch. It fished just fine.
As a side note, for the halibut fishing we did, they did not recommend the reverse dropper loop with the bait being pulled along the bottom behind the sinker while on a drift. Their theory was the sinker was come in contact with the fish first and spook it before the bait got there. They recommend a standard dropper loop where the bait was ahead of the sinker on the drift and cutting the loop so just one strand, somewhat longer than a standard dropper loop, went to the hook. I used this method and scored two nice halibut.
These guys catch hundreds of seabass and halibut every season so it was hard to question what they recommended but that standard dropper loop knot is perhaps the weakest connection you could use...
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Have never used it for yellowtail as I have never felt the need to bomb a bait down 300 feet on a fast moving school of yellows like you sometimes need to do with bluefin. Also, I fish a larger J hook for dropper loop yellows as they have no teeth to chew you off and typically are hooked deep in the mouth or throat so even if the sinker was attached less likely they could use that weight as leverage to throw a deep hookset like that.
With bluefin, using a smaller circle hook and looking for a corner of the jaw hinge hookset. If I had a 12 ounce sinker attached and pulling at 180 degrees to my mainline attached to that circle hook could a large bluefin, using those vicious head shakes they do, use that weight as leverage to pop the hook free? Possibly. And if hooked in the corner of the jaw as opposed to the back of the throat, if the hook does dislodge less likelihood the hook would reengage on the way out...
But what the fuck do I know...
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I have to admit, the whole drop shot method just seemed weird to me, with the weight putting tension on the line, and the lack of a free-swimming sardine, let alone a fish sucking it down with the tension above and below.
But damned if it doesn't work. Your explanation does clarify why it works well for bluefin and maybe not so much for YT.
Two more weeks for me! Dropshot for bf, surgeon's for Ridge/Alijos Babk yt.
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Do you think the spider hitch would be stronger than the surgeons knot for cutting the loop and tying the hook to a single strand?? Im gonna test em both today with some 30lb. Thanks for your input
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Don't forget bluefin are notorious for being really picky when eating a bait. I have seen those things blowing out on chummed baits but consistently not touching anything with a hook in it. Yellowtail not so much.
What is interesting is we had 22 peeps fishing drop shot or rubber banded sinker rigs and a full half of those peeps never got a sniff. It could be just that they never had their bait in front of a fish but it could also be how their baits were presented. Several guys on my trip had two fish each which can't just be attributed to luck. I would think it was how they presented and fished their baits to get those bites when guys on either side did not. That and presenting the bait at the right depth that the fish were coming through at (marked line).
I use 12lb pink mono to attach my sinker which disappears down at 250 to 300 feet. My sinkers are painted blue. I want the bluefin focused on the sardine...not the sinker and rigging
Once Again, IMHO:
Spider Hitch vs Surgeons is "Splitting Hairs"... 6 of one, half dozen of the other... bean counters will disagree i'm sure, but...
what ***DOES matter to "ME"*** is using a short-ish loop which stand more perpendicular to the mainline when fishing Turds & Rockfish.
there "IS" a time & place to "Cut Said Loop", but that's another thread...
Spider Hitch vs Surgeons is "Splitting Hairs"... 6 of one, half dozen of the other... bean counters will disagree i'm sure, but...
what ***DOES matter to "ME"*** is using a short-ish loop which stand more perpendicular to the mainline when fishing Turds & Rockfish.
there "IS" a time & place to "Cut Said Loop", but that's another thread...
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I missed 2 local YT a couple weeks ago on the Bralla rig. 3/0 ringed circle with 4 and 6oz torpedo. One in the rod holder I let the circle do it's job and the second I counted down a few seconds before going to strike. Both ended up spitting the hook. My theory is they either tried to smash or dogbone my sardine before committing. The constant line tension from the weight didn't allow the proper freedom to feed them a few more seconds before inhaling it. A dropper loop with an unweighted lead would of felt more natural I imagine and would of allowed them to eat.
An initial loss of confidence on the rig, for now at least. I'll try it again but will also have a traditional dropper loop via Spider Hitch in the water as well. Will also try different hooks and maybe with more WFO conditions.
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