What drop shot hook are you using on st clair?

[Hollada]

Spin shot style or regular DS hook tied with a palomar?  What size?

I've been using the gammy spin shot in size 1 on 6lb with a 3/8 oz ball weight.  Haven't broken off any fish.  Just wondering if you think you get more action or better hook ups on the palomar rigged setup?

[Mojo]

Hey bud, I use exclusively a 2 owner ssw straight shank..... Polamar, tag lined flipped through, weigh varies. 8 lb invisix, pitch not cast your line out to minimize line twist, let bait spin back in place between casts. Slow to go fast brother........

[Manxfishing]

For me
It's a GAM 1/0 DS hook with 1/4 oz, Might go with 3/8 if it's real windy
Works with Senko's or the goby

[motocross269]

I use a Gamma finesse hook....Polamer knot....Tatsu or sniper leader on braid...very little issues with line twist....
Lots of guys seem to be going with straight shank hooks like MOJO talked about...I need to try that out

[dartag]

Gammi 2.0 EWG thin wire hook.  Palomar with the line threaded back through the eye.  Thread that worm on the hook.  No nose hookin for me.  You remember don't ya??. 

[Big dreams]

I have been using the Owner #2's.  The Gammies #1 are about the same size as the Owner #2.  I switched to Owners due to the price and they are off set a little bit which seems to help.  I use 6 or 8 lb on my spinning setup and never have line twist using a stick bait or minnow.  The only time I have line twist is with something with a wider body or if the bait is not hooked correctly.  As for weight, try a smaller weight such as a 1/8th which is what I use 99% of the time.  It gets it down there in the strike zone and doesn't get hung up nearly as much as the heavier weights.

[YpsiBass]

I use VMC spinshot 1 and 2 sizes on 6 pound fluorocarbon. The owner hooks are cheaper and I don't feel as bad losing one of those instead of the gamakatsu with swivels.  I don't have line twist issues and I haven't broken off a single fish using that setup this year.  Was fishing the Detroit River last week and used a 1/4 ounce stick-type weight because of the current. Otherwise I tend to fish lighter weights.

[Waterfoul]

For many years now I've been using the Owner Downshot hook in either a 1/0 or 2/0 (they are still pretty small).  This is the sharpest hook out there (in my opinion).  I like the longer shank on this hook and in a pinch you can texas rig your bait if there are weeds.  I've never had a fish bend one straight, and that includes many, many big pike that seem to think the little baits we throw on the DS rig are good to eat!

Normally I use 8lb P-Line floro leader, palomar knot with the tag put back thru the hook, and 15lb Power Pro main line. 

[Mojo]

I use a Gamma finesse hook....Polamer knot....Tatsu or sniper leader on braid...very little issues with line twist....
Lots of guys seem to be going with straight shank hooks like MOJO talked about...I need to try that out

Put your hook under anything soft and tug up (or the fish tugs down). The line and straight shank line up straight to the lowest base of the hook, which is what you drive into the upper lip.

Now do that with your wide octopus ..... the hook curves AWAY from the lip and that creates a lever action at the knot, and sometimes it side hooks or angles away from 90 degrees to the inside upper lip and hence not a good hookset ....... I know we aren't talking physics here but why put yourself at a natural disadvantage ?

[21XDC]

I use the Owner Wacky Hook in camo green

[21XDC]

BTW... I used these hooks to catch a bunch on StClair yesterday.

[Mojo]

Oh.... That shank is straight, but that reaches deeper ! Well then brother, I may try those !

[YpsiBass]

How's line twist on those non-swivel hooks when you're reeling the bait back in?  Or do you only reel in when you have a fish on...

[Mojo]

How's line twist on those non-swivel hooks when you're reeling the bait back in?  Or do you only reel in when you have a fish on...

It takes work brother. I learned to hand wind on the spool first. You wouldn't believe how many twists you put in at the very beginning, so once I'm hand wound I attach to my rod & reel, then walk the line down the block. Then wind in using a lot of Reel Magic.

So.... Now I have zero twist ..... With me ? When I'm on the water I pitch not cast. Short tight line, let's the bait spin (only a few per cast) and you'll go most of the day ok.  I have more twist on my tube rod because I'm casting longer line out.... Hope this helps.

[dartag]

Why do all that work.  Just put 8lb braid on and use a floro leader.  Since I can't tie the blood knot I use an inline swivel.  You can reel it in all day and never worry about line twist or it flying off the spool. 

[21XDC]

I'm thinking about trying these in a 12lb version...  http://lurepartsonline.com/Online-Store/Swivels/Aquateko-Invisa-Swivels.html


Read>>> http://www.wired2fish.com/aquateko-invisa-swivel-review/

[Mojo]

Sportsmens Direct has those.

For braid, break off my weight allot....allot, and have to move my hook up a few feet every couple a fish anyway when I swap out hooks so I run out of leader real fast

[MSURoss]

I use 14lb braid to 10lb sunline. It has the diameter of most 6lb fluoros... I tie the uni to uni knot and have never broke off at the knot. If you don't tie the uni knot perfect it will snap. I often have to tie two times... I use the same hook as motocross, unless it is really weedy or snaggy I will use long shank hooks. 

[Hollada]

Mojo - That's what I like about these hooks.  Changing the hook to weight leader is a piece of cake not a total retie.


https://www.landbigfish.com/Gamakatsu-Hooks/Gamakatsu-Hooks-Swivel-Shot-Octopus-Hooks.cfm

I just wonder if the bulk of it scares away any fish.  I may have to load two rods and see if I can tell any difference   As aggressive as smb can be, I'm not sure it matters.

Btw - good luck in the open!

[21XDC]

Where do you make the braid to flouo transition if you use that set up? I don't like braid to the hook, and that's a lot of hardware I really don't like right at the bait. I'm not saying the fish care, But it hurts my stealth confidence during a tough bite in clear water.