How do you rig your “dropper loop” squid?

[Encinoman]

I think we can all agree that the standard dropper loop is just not a very efficient knot. It works… but there’s definitely better options.

A few years ago I came across an article here on different dropper loop alternatives (below), and I’m curious as to how you personally rig your “dropper loop” when fishing squid along the coast or at the islands for yellows and seabass?

https://www.bdoutdoors.com/fishing/how-to-fish/fishing-the-dropper-loop/

Historically I fished the cut spider hitch or surgeons loop almost exclusively, but in the last couple years moved primarily to the sliding swivel rig shown in the article which has cut down significantly on line twists. Yes, there’s more connections that could potentially fail, but so long as you don’t bomb that rig down it stays clean even in heavy current.

The only non swivel rig I’ve fished that if found to not twist much in heavy current is a standard (loop intact) spider hitch/surgeons loop on 50/60 mono, which did not get but as well as the cut loop rigs or the swivel rigs when fished side by side. This of course could be luck of the draw, but was definitely not confidence inspiring.

Set up wise for the swivel rig, I’m generally running 50-80 braid to 10 yards of 40 or 50lb seaguar salmon, same from the swivel to the hook, and 15-20lb mono to the sinker.

So what say you? How do you fish the dropper loop, and why?

 

[yakdout]

I like to fish a 3 way swivel to eliminate line twist. More of a reverse dropper with a short 1-2’ piece of mono for the weight and a 4-6’ piece of mono or flouro for the hook. It’s how I exclusively fish the bottom for YT, WSB, and HALIBUT. Unless I am in less than 40-50’ of water in which case I prefer a Carolina rig. I almost never have tangles with the 3 way swivel. Another important thing is to not be too scoped out. Use enough weight if you are drifting or in heavy current so that you are mostly straight up and down.

 

[swami 805]

Not a huge fan of dropper loops. The last few years I’ve had better success with a sliding egg sinker and a hook. Less crap to tangle
If I use a dropper loop I use 60lb mono at a minimum. When sea bass are feeding they’re not line shy

 

[Encinoman]

I like to fish a 3 way swivel to eliminate line twist. More of a reverse dropper with a short 1-2’ piece of mono for the weight and a 4-6’ piece of mono or flouro for the hook. It’s how I exclusively fish the bottom for YT, WSB, and HALIBUT. Unless I am in less than 40-50’ of water in which case I prefer a Carolina rig. I almost never have tangles with the 3 way swivel. Another important thing is to not be too scoped out. Use enough weight if you are drifting or in heavy current so that you are mostly straight up and down.

Very good point on the weight. Our starting point is generally 12oz, but more often than not fished 16.

What benefits have you found from fishing the reverse dropper loop rather than standard?

Aside from halibut, we’ve almost exclusively fished a high dropper loop (5-7 ft) with about 18-36 inches to the hook depending on current.

 

[jer dog]

Very good point on the weight. Our starting point is generally 12oz, but more often than not fished 16.

What benefits have you found from fishing the reverse dropper loop rather than standard?

Aside from halibut, we’ve almost exclusively fished a high dropper loop (5-7 ft) with about 18-36 inches to the hook depending on current.

I have been on the Ranger 85 ,fishing the gap, and it took 20 OZ, in 90 feet of water,
And they told everyone to stock up,
At the tackle shop before we left,
Thank god I brought 4 of them in case,
$7.50 A pop people were complaining,
Till they needed them, you never no
Till your out there.

 

[Dolt Sniper]

20 oz. in 90 feet of water?!?! You guys go out during a hurricane?

I could see that much weight rockfishing in 300 fett but not at 90.

 

[jer dog]

20 oz. in 90 feet of water?!?! You guys go out during a hurricane?

I could see that much weight rockfishing in 300 fett but not at 90.

Well it was the last two day trip, before it headed south for the summer months?
And they didn’t want to cancel,
All the other boats did cancel but ours,
It was blowing plus 30 on the way out,
We crawled out there, but we have a good first morning, and I caught two legals WSB?
But it was brutal.

 

[hucklongfin]

I have been on the Ranger 85 ,fishing the gap, and it took 20 OZ, in 90 feet of water,
And they told everyone to stock up,
At the tackle shop before we left,
Thank god I brought 4 of them in case,
$7.50 A pop people were complaining,
Till they needed them, you never no
Till your out there.

I sometimes connect sinkers with split rings to get to the needed weight. I usually now have sinkers to 24oz. 6/8/10/12/16/24. I prefer to use more weight than need but not if the guy uphill is going light!

 

[wils]

Is it snowing in the Valley?

 

[yakdout]

Very good point on the weight. Our starting point is generally 12oz, but more often than not fished 16.

What benefits have you found from fishing the reverse dropper loop rather than standard?

Aside from halibut, we’ve almost exclusively fished a high dropper loop (5-7 ft) with about 18-36 inches to the hook depending on current.

IMO, live bait has much more movement and freedom on a reverse dropper loop. Longer leash.

 

[Rubberhook2]

I do a spiders hitch to a double uni with an 8/0 Aki twist and it has never failed me. Always two strands of mono to the hook.

As a side note was invited to fish the Endeavor out of Ventura and the crew insisted on rigging everybody up by tying a dropper loop knot (breaks at 60% of line strength) and utilize a small 5/0 Aki twist. I know the boat catches a lot of seabass but I was absolutely floored by how many of those knots broke and how many fish were lost. Me and my buddy quickly switched over to the spider...something we have confidence in.

 

[MYNomad]

This is a great thread and the article you linked is about the best, in terms of giving practical fishing advice, I have ever read. And in my efforts to learn how to catch ocean fish, I have read a lot, but only rarely is actionable advice given. Instead, other articles are typically full of platitudes of questionable applicability in the general case. I remember one Fred Hall show many years ago stumbling on Fred Archer's book. Fred talked a good game so I bought the complete series. I studied the books intently, with my highlighter in hand, intending to focus on all of the actionable advice. Well, nothing is highlighted -- the books are in pristine condition and apparently have some collector value.

 

[mullet]

20 oz. in 90 feet of water?!?! You guys go out during a hurricane?

I could see that much weight rockfishing in 300 fett but not at 90.

The current can get really smokin' at the northern channel islands . I anchored my skiff on the backside of Santa Cruz one day and we were throwing a wake . It looked like we were doing about 8 kts on the anchor .