What kind of hook do you use when throwing a drop shot. I used a gammie 1/0 wide gap finesse hook most of the year(for larger baits). The smaller baits I use a number 2 wide gap finesse hook. I started off the year before with the hook with a kick stand on them. which ones are better do you think.... Board
Don L
1/0 Owner Downshot hook. I like the longer shank.
Edit: I should add... they are sharper than HECK. Just look at them wrong and you'll be bleeding!!
I think your right on with your hook selection Laporte. Thats the two hooks I use for different sized baits and they work great. I dont like the standout hooks to bulky and as long as you tie the knot correctly the regular finesse hooks stand out parallel.
Owner mosquito hook. #1 or #2 depending.
#1 Owner Wide Gap
those stand out hooks are junk, as long as you run your tag end back through your eye, all the hooks stated above will work great
I use 1/0 Gami drop shot hooks but I lose about 1/3 of the hook ups especialy from the first jump that them Erie smallmouth do so often from deep water, I fiddled around with stand out hooks and Owner and Laser Sharp and a couple more then I had a light bulb come on.
I learned how to drop shot over 30 years ago in California and we didnt use these little rounded finnese hooks very often, we were usualy worming on deep boulders and brushpiles on points in cold water months slowly shaking a 6" worm with a 2/0 or 3/0 offset worm hook and I didnt have near as many of those fish throw hooks.
This last season I started using my 1/0 and 2/0 Gami offset worm hooks and they have had a way better catch ratio, they look a little big and sometimes Im not nose hooking a little finnese bait Im threading it through and out the back.
Im certain Im losing some of my finnese approach but when I set the hook I can put the hurt on them and not worry about tearing out that little hook.
I plan on experimenting Much more with this ;D
Owner 2/0 Mosquito hook in Red for me. I use the 3/0 when fishing the Gulp Goby.
think spring.
i use the 1/0 or sz 1 or 2 gammie dropshot/finesse hooks also. standouts are junk, i agree as well.
i don't loose hardly any fish on my dropshot rig (granted i don't fish smallies very often) but i use a 7' ML action rod - its rated "fast" but its really quite moderate and i think that helps a ton. A rod that bends down well into the mid-section will really help a lot with not losing fish.
I have been using the Gamakatsu 1/0 (majority) or #2 drop shot hooks (for the very small stuff) and have had a lot of success with these.
Palomar knots!! Stand out hooks are for people who haven't learned the Palomar knot yet!!
I give up what is a stand out hook.
Quote from: dartag on January 02, 2010, 07:06:27 PM
I give up what is a stand out hook.
Here you go.
(http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_119839_imageset_01?$main-Medium$)
nice pic mike. a standout hook ironically tied with what appears to be a palomar knot :D
Good topic. I don't loose many fish with a drop shot, but in 3 of the 5 BFL events I lost at least 1 key fish that cost me.
I use either the Owner Mosquito in 1 & 1/0 or the Gammy #1 Drop shot hook - depends on the size of the bait.
I plan to spend some time this spring looking for better hooks.
Does anyone use a regular straight-shank hook? I feel that often the circle-type hook points don't get good penetration in a larger fish. 2 lbers, no problem, but I need to keep the big ones hooked up.
Seth
Quote from: thedude on January 03, 2010, 03:34:11 PM
nice pic mike. a standout hook ironically tied with what appears to be a palomar knot :D
Right... but the picture is from the Bass Pro website... so it was probably tied by a ... ahem.... Bass Pro. LOL!!!
Some of the guys use an Owner straight shanked hook. Old fashioned worm type hook with a wider rounder bend in it.
I use it with the bigger baits. I don't remember what size though. And frankly, it's too cold to go outside and look through the box to find out.
When I first started playing with the d-shot a few years ago I put on the only thing I had, which was a small #1 or #2 Gamakatsu offset worm hook. After playing with a bunch of different hooks thru the the years I keep coming back to it. I would guess I lose about 1 out of 10 hookups. So that puts me in the same camp as cast n blast.
Gamakatsu 1/0, #1 or #2 Split Shot/Drop Shot. Love 'em.
Quote from: jcheetam on January 04, 2010, 09:13:31 AM
Gamakatsu 1/0, #1 or #2 Split Shot/Drop Shot. Love 'em.
Cheetam talking about drop shotting. What is this world coming to. ;D ;D
Owner Mosquito in 1 & 1/0 I feel like the gammies just don't hold the point like the owner. The palomar knot is the only way to go. also I prerig my drop shots with a swivel to eliminate line twist and save time.
reelman
<))))>{
I tried the Trokar dropshot hook at the end of last season and was really impressed. The cost is crazy but it hooked everything with ease and I rarely lost a fish. Might be worth the extra cash.
Quote from: t-bone on January 05, 2010, 08:25:01 AM
I tried the Trokar dropshot hook at the end of last season and was really impressed. The cost is crazy but it hooked everything with ease and I rarely lost a fish. Might be worth the extra cash.
I saw those, I plan to pick some up. Which sizes did you use?
I didn't even know there were Trokar drop shot hooks. Might have to take a look into them.
Currently I'm using the Gammies that alot of you seem to be using.
Seth - I believe I ordered 1/0. I plan on ordering the other size and comparing in the spring. They are incredibly sharp and perfect for a pull set.
Quote from: SethV on January 05, 2010, 10:05:59 AM
Quote from: t-bone on January 05, 2010, 08:25:01 AM
I tried the Trokar dropshot hook at the end of last season and was really impressed. The cost is crazy but it hooked everything with ease and I rarely lost a fish. Might be worth the extra cash.
I saw those, I plan to pick some up. Which sizes did you use?
I've tried the stand out hook that Waterfoul has shown. I forget the brand name - I think it was Red Alert or something to that effect.
No offense to Waterfoul, so please dont take any. This hook is weak and dull. I went through several in a day. The hooks just bend. Fish just would not stay hooked up either. Fish I did get to the boat the hook just fell out when they got to the deck.
My .02 cents.
I love the idea and bought 2 packs when I saw them. Great idea. If a company put out a quality stand up hook I'd use it in a heartbeat.
B
Quote from: bshaner on January 22, 2010, 02:45:10 PM
I've tried the stand out hook that Waterfoul has shown. I forget the brand name - I think it was Red Alert or something to that effect.
No offense to Waterfoul, so please dont take any. This hook is weak and dull. I went through several in a day. The hooks just bend. Fish just would not stay hooked up either. Fish I did get to the boat the hook just fell out when they got to the deck.
My .02 cents.
I love the idea and bought 2 packs when I saw them. Great idea. If a company put out a quality stand up hook I'd use it in a heartbeat.
B
I've heard others say that... but I have not experienced this with the Owner downshot hooks. I wonder if it has anything to do with rod action, length, hook set, etc... but to each his own I say. I'm always looking for the next best thing and I am always experimenting with new and different methods to catch fish.
I've tried several style hooks, but I keep coming back to the Gami "Octopus" 1/0 and 2/0 (not the circle hook). If I can't find these, I have used the Mustad "Bait Hook", which is similar to the Octopus. These are both, very similar to the Drop Shot and Finesse hooks, but the shank is slightly longer.
Like everyone else here, I had to give the "Stand-out" a fair shot. I found two problems with it. One, the hooks aren't very sharp at all (right out of the pack). Now, this can be remedied with a quick hit of the sharpener. The second problem is a little more of an issue (at least, for me). I use Power Pro 10# line (very limp, 2# dia.) with no leader. With the Stand-out hooks, the line wraps around the hook, more times than not. This totally defeats the purpose behind the design. If I use mono or fluorocarbon, this is not as much of a problem. I just prefer to use Power Pro.