Snell knot & bobber stopper on drop shot?

[hasetak]

Been playing around with knots and stuff in the garage. Had just gotten done tying a punch rig and was going to re-tie my drop shot set up and just tried it and seems like it would work well. Makes it a little easier to get the tag end back through the small eye on a drop shot hook, and if you slide a bobber stopper down on the to of the eye the hook really stands out and doesn't seem to want to droop like with a palomar knot.

Just kind of wondering what you guys think or if any of you have tried this.

[mark poulson]

I tend to break off a lot of drop shot rigs, because I cast and retrieve them, so I try and keep it simple.
Palomar knot, bring the tag end back down through the hook eye to get the hook oriented properly and to get it to stand out, and clip on cylindrical weights is quick and easy for me to tie on the water, even in the wind.
I use bobber stoppers and a slip sinker for my split shot, because I have found that actual spit shot slip down fluorocarbon when I cast.
I found I need to use two, a red and a black in the 4-8lb size, to get them to hold on the 8lb fluoro I use.

[hasetak]

I tend to break off a lot of drop shot rigs, because I cast and retrieve them, so I try and keep it simple.
Palomar knot, bring the tag end back down through the hook eye to get the hook oriented properly and to get it to stand out, and clip on cylindrical weights is quick and easy for me to tie on the water, even in the wind.
I use bobber stoppers and a slip sinker for my split shot, because I have found that actual spit shot slip down fluorocarbon when I cast.
I found I need to use two, a red and a black in the 4-8lb size, to get them to hold on the 8lb fluoro I use.

I cast and retrieve mine as well and also tend to break allot off, but I feel like that is because trying to tie a palomar knot fast burns my 6lb floro and I end up with week line at the knots. I can tie a palomr in my sleep but I acctually think that I can tie a more reliable snell faster. Plus I feel like it makes the hook stand out BETTER than a palomar does when used with a bobber stopper.

I am starting to tie a snell not on about everthing I can because I feel like it is a super strong knot and won't burn fluoro like a palomar has a tendancy to do to me ( this may be related to my ability to evenly sinche down a palomar)

Just some food for thought.

[mark poulson]

I went away from 5 and 6lb fluoro because of knot failures.
I am trying to envision how you're tying your snell knot setup.
Any chance there's a site that shows it?

[toddmc]

Remember that your weight is attatched to the tag end of the line and many knots are not designed to have the tag end pulled on. I don't know if a snell knot would hold up. The Palomar is one of the only knots that holds up when you snag your weight with a drop shot. This seems like it would be pretty easy to test with the snell knot.

[hasetak]

Remember that your weight is attatched to the tag end of the line and many knots are not designed to have the tag end pulled on. I don't know if a snell knot would hold up. The Palomar is one of the only knots that holds up when you snag your weight with a drop shot. This seems like it would be pretty easy to test with the snell knot.

I have done some decent tugging on it on the garage but have not fished it yet. Plan on throwing it next time I go out.

I went away from 5 and 6lb fluoro because of knot failures.
I am trying to envision how you're tying your snell knot setup.
Any chance there's a site that shows it?

I tie it the same way Bub Tosh ties the snell on his punch rig just with a long tag you don't cut off, then feed the tag back through the eye just like you would with the palomar. I only wrap it 5 times with the fluoro.

[mark poulson]

I'll give it a try.

[acm95301]

If you get a chance can you post a picture?

[hasetak]

If you get a chance can you post a picture?

I am out of town tight now I will try & get a pic when I get home tomorrow afternoon.

[mark poulson]

Fisherman, they seem to always have to change a technique or bait. I do this more than anyone. I call em oportunitys for improvement. This past season on Lake X I made a change that really is cool. I have dropshotted some pigs in my day with the standard polomar knot and dropshot weight and hated the dreaded line twist and knot failures but this change really makes it better.
This is a deep water technique(60 to 100)not shallow for obvious reasons. I start with Dobyns 702 spinnin rod. Just use a good reel of your choice. I spool with 4 lb P line Florocarbon. I slide a 2-4lb size bobber stop on then run the line down thru a drop shot hook. I then add another bobber stop below the hook. When slid together and then gently seperated the drop shot hook can spin all it wants and not twist the line. It also sticks out like a sore thumb. I place a small leach here.I then tie a Gammi hook on the bottom that has the plastic weed guard on it. I then nose hook a 5" sinko.( You nose hook it and it wont twist on the retrieve) I use a 3/16- 1/4 oz screw in bullet weight and cut the tube out of the screw part.Screw it right in the bottom of the sinko and then graph you target and drop. It falls very precise and with a little shake the bites come. I just reel and that little hook gets em. Danny

Very clever! Where did you find that size bobber stoppers?

[mark poulson]

It sounds like the old halibut rigs we used to use. But those had short leaders, and live anchovies.
I see Tacklewarehouse has the bobber stops in 4-8lb.
I'll order from them.

[kopper_bass]

hasetak,

I also do a lot of playing around with knots; I do seminars for Berkley and i built my own knot machine to test strengths of knots. The concern i would have with your idea is that the weight may lose you fish.

The purpose of the snell knot is to get a direct pull on the hook as you set on a fish. because you are pulling on the shank, the energy is directly inline then with the hookpoint. But, with a weight hanging off the end of the tag, which you put back thru the eye, it would tend to pull and rotate the hook out away from the fish, causing you to lose hookups. Because the palomar knot is tied on the loop of the hook and can slip around the loop, this doesnt happen. I dont believe you will have isseus with the weight pulling on the tag, but its more about it just rotating the hook.

this is just my educated guess, as i havent really tested any of it.
When you get to fishing it and catching fish, let us know. its an interesting idea.

Kopper

[mark poulson]

It sounds like the old halibut rigs we used to use. But those had short leaders, and live anchovies.
I see Tacklewarehouse has the bobber stops in 4-8lb.
I'll order from them.

That 4-8lb size wont fit tight enough on the 4lb test.Just request the 2-4 lb size and they will get them for you.
Your not the only guy after them so they need to stock them.

I'll call them Monday. Thanks.

[Team Davies]

I use the drop shot about 60% of the time never had a problem with the palomar knot. I use 4lb fluoro and sometimes even 3lb. The key to a successful plomar knot is to wet the knot before you tighten it up. If you don't the friction of the line will damage it. 90% of the time I cast my drop shot out and never had any problems.

Team Davies
DeLynn

[ScottyJ]

So after reading this it got me thinking and started playing around with something. What I have seems like it will be very effective but I have yet to try it on the water. What I have done is first tie on a dropshot hook to whatever lb. line you like to dropshot with with a snell knot just like you would a punch setup. Once tied, clip off the tag end so you just have a weightless dropshot hook tied on the end of your line. Then, using whatever line you like, ie: old line, lighter test line or light line you dont use anymore, cut a piece as long as you'd like your weight below your dropshot hook. Take that line and tie one end to the TOP of the hookeye and clip/tie your dropshot weight to the other end.

Now you have a strong snell knot tied to your hook, and an independent line for the weight that acts like a lever/counter lever on the hook creating some awesome action with the bait. The even better part is that if you get your weight snagged in a rock or something, you are able to pull harder to free it or simply break it of without compromising the knot tied to the hook. I have it tied up and looks like it will be a solid setup but cant get out to try it until Thursday. What you all think?

Scott

[Team Davies]

ScottyJ it might work but it would take too long to rig up in the middle of a tournament. The more the bait is in the water the more chances of catching fish.

Team Davies
DeLynn

[ScottyJ]

It didn't take me any longer than it does tying a palomar carefully trying not to burn it. The snell knot is quick and easy to tie with less chance of burning the line then the line for the weigh you can just tie a couple overhand knots. Give it a try...