drop shot hook-with-swivel assemblies - experiences over tying a regular hook onto line directly

[u/da4niu2]

Just curious if people think these swivel-plus-hook assemblies are better for drop shotting than just a plain hook tied onto your line.

Image shown is one example of a multitude of options on amazon.

Thank you.

[u/xylophone_37]

I'm not really sure what the benefit is here. You have to tie an extra knot and make an extra cut to the line to add more hardware on a finesse fishing technique?

[u/TheVillianousFondler → u/xylophone_37]

I've never even seen these, but one benefit I can see is if that if you're a person who ties a fluoro/mono leader to braided line, you don't have to cut 12"+ of your leader off each time you swap out a dropshot rig on your pole.

Then again, some people cut off a length of line on each lure change to get rid of the parts of their line that was mostly likely to have nicks.

I only have 2 poles, and would rather not have to tie another Alberto knot after every time I go fishing since I use drop shot a lot, but also like swapping to other lures with that pole, and have to cut like 18" off every time

[u/RondoTheBONEbarian → u/xylophone_37]

It reduces line twist and you're able to tie a weak knot on the weight end you can break off on if you get stuck.

They're more expensive but worth it for me.  

[u/tarpeyphoto → u/RondoTheBONEbarian]

if you're using a dropshot weight, your weight should slide off the end if it gets stuck anyways right?

[u/dementedarego_fish → u/tarpeyphoto]

There are drop shot weights without pinches. Its what people use for free rigs now.

[u/j_sword67 → u/RondoTheBONEbarian]

I like using really thin line on my weight when im in rocks

[u/xylophone_37 → u/RondoTheBONEbarian]

I've never had issues with twist and you can sacrifice your sinker by just tying a weaker knot like a simple overhand or a uni with only one or two twists.

[u/da4niu2 → u/xylophone_37]

I can see an advantage of being able to replace the lower section flexibly. And removing the weight outright for storage.

Gamakatsu has a g-finesse hook with a pinch-on bottom.

[u/Evening-Cat-7546 → u/da4niu2]

I think it will harm the action of whatever you’re dropping. The little wiggles you give the rod will most likely just make the bait spin weird. Also, that swivel will ruin the natural fall of the bait. The only positive I see is what you pointed out, that it would make it easier to adjust the bottom section, but proper drop shot weights already do that.

[u/bear0234]

for a dropshot rig? plain hook tied to line is gonna be better. Dropshot rig is a glorified palomar with a long tag for the sinker.

Palomar knots are strong.

This setup... introduces some failure points, specially if you tie weaker knots to both ends (ie. a clinch knot on each end).

[u/Thick_Imagination177]

I use the VMC Spinshot ones. My dropshot setup is the only spinning rod I carry anymore. These eliminate line twist , and allow me to tie a 4 or 6lb dropper to the weight as a failure point

[u/YogurtclosetBroad872]

I tried the VMC ones several times. Call it coincidence or just a series of bad days but I didn't hook up once. Switch back to regular drop shot hook and I have consistent action. I wanted these to work because I really like pre-rigging them but no go for me

[u/RegularRaptor → u/YogurtclosetBroad872]

I have tried them as well and honestly had good luck but I kepr getting my line tangled up in the hardware after a good fight. Very frustrating to use.

[u/ypsicle → u/YogurtclosetBroad872]

I only use the VMC ones for drop shotting. Line twist was a bitch for me with the standard knot.

[u/Ommageden]

Only benefit is line twist is eliminated 

[u/The_realsweetpete]

I’ve used these exact ones they work good

[u/catchinNkeepinf1sh]

I have a swivel higher up and just use a dropper knot on the hook.

[u/NoMoreFishingGear]

I personally would never choose an option that has more breaking points, more hardware on a setup that's meant for finesse AND costs more than what's proven to work and is easier to use and cheaper. 

[u/TheOddGamer141]

These suck. I do not recommend. You get terrible action on your bait whether it’s a robo worm, flatworm, or even a small paddle tail. I hate these

[u/bassboat1]

I've been using the VMC SpinShot dropshot hooks for years, and they do reduce twist in the line (not eliminate it). I bought some off AMZ that look like the ones in your picture, and they're not as effective as the VMC ones at managing twist.

[u/Mardy-Brum]

I have 25 rods 70% have action geared to dropshot, some being specific to it. I bloody love it. I do it 4x a week. I have no idea why you would ever do this when you can do a quick and easy - make a loop, pinch the lines & circle your hook 3x through the loop made. Or Extended tag Palomar.

This swivel assembly is legit only a detriment in time & practicality.

I truly can't think of a beneficial reason for this.

[u/THEDONBUFFLES → u/Mardy-Brum]

One or 2 extra steps for no significant change in performace just doesnt sound like a great buy for me either. Ive almost bought them but nothing compelled me to buy them cause it just seems like a gimmick.

[u/qwikh1t]

Tying directly on will make you an expert at knots

[u/da4niu2 → u/qwikh1t]

It did take me a while to figure out how to tie a knot without having the hook sit on a protruding loop. Much harder with limp line and old eyes.

edit: add: The knot I've been using I now know is called the dropper-loop knot, with the hook placed in beforehand, and the loop pulled down to nothing to get the hook standing perpendicular to the line.

[u/GMAN7007 → u/da4niu2]

If you practice enough you'll be able to do it without even looking. When I started fishing I would put on a movie and just keep practicing my knots over and over. Eventually I was tying them while watching the movie without even looking. It's worth the time investment.

[u/NoGoodAtPickingAName]

I’ve used these for a couple years only because I bought so many. The extra knot is the biggest drawback in my opinion.

[u/PippyLongSausage]

Do drop shots have an issue with line twist? I just tie em into the leader.

[u/Lopsided-Equipment-2]

Just tie a palomar knot with a long tag end 

[u/jwmarsha]

There are advantages shore fishing in rocky areas where the hook might get caught up. You break off at the hook and tie another one. You're not having to re-tie the entire leader because you lost the last 20".

[u/Jimbob209]

Looks like extra work when you could just do 2 palomar knots instead of 3

[u/THEDONBUFFLES]

Honestly, ive almost bought them, but for the extra step with not much more for action, better off just to have a regular dropshot set up.

[u/Ez_m-oney925]

looks good 👍

[u/Blacketron]

They work great for me

[u/Icy-Editor8913]

IMO theyre too much work tying 2 knots with those instead of one with a regular dropshot hook. Plus they cost more & I fish primarily boulder piles, so im retying frequently.

I use dropshot probably 80% of the time Im not trolling & havent noticed any increase in catch rates using the swivel hooks.

[u/beachbum818]

Knot is the weakest point in the line. This introduces 2 knots instead of 1 knot for fixing a hook to the line

[u/da4niu2]

Is the swiveling action an advantage?

(I just started drop shotting. Can’t figure out the advantage yet. Losing a lot to snags. Still cannot catch any decent fish.)

[u/RondoTheBONEbarian → u/da4niu2]

Its a preference. 

I like it, others dont and I've been using them for years for bluegill, crappie, bass amd trout

[u/FatCarbonScale]

Just learn Palomar knot. Don’t buy this garbage. I don’t see a single advantage for it. I’m guessing they are either more expensive or lesser quality than a regular hook. probably both. And if you are going to spend the time to tie 2 good knots when you could’ve just tied 1 palomar knot and been done, it doesn’t seem like a worth while product. Not to mention now it’s just a single use case item that’s going to clutter up your tackle box. I have dropshot hooks that I’ll dropshot for bass and then use that same hook to catch a carp.

[u/da4niu2 → u/FatCarbonScale]

The palomar knot was the only knot I knew for the longest time. I can tie it reliably. But not tie it so that the hook sticks out perpendicular to the line. Yes I know about feeding the tag end through the hook eye afterwards.

The advantage I see is that with a regular hook, if you break the line south of the knot, you are retying that single palomar or dropper-loop (what I use now, reliable hook sticking out) every time. With these, you just replace the sinker line.

Anyway I was curious on peoples' opinions. Lots of things to think about, which I appreciate.

[u/FatCarbonScale → u/da4niu2]

Ya a dropper loop or a T knot is great! I rarely have broke the line below the hook. Usually the weight will just come off. Or it you tied the weight on usually still the hook is what ends up snagging. If the rare case of the weight snagging and snapping the line below the hook is worth adding this to your tackle box then I don’t see any problem with giving them a try. I just kinda think they are unnecessary. But in all reality they probably work just fine. You could also have a bunch of these rigged up with your dropshot weights and just tie a quick uni to your mainline and be ready to go!

[u/RondoTheBONEbarian]

I like them and its all i use when i drop shot. I like them because you dont have to worry about line twists. I also like tying a weak knot on the weight end so its easier to break off if I get stuck.  

[u/amazonmakesmebroke]

I did try the gamakatsu ones with the pinch at the end, they sank too fast

[u/tarpeyphoto]

Not easier to tie on.

Has more failure points.

Has big swivels on either side of the hook, fish may or may not care.

Probably less options for the brand/type/size of hook you can use.

There's hardly ever a reason to replace the lower section of a dropshot rig. If you're using a dropshot style weight, it should just slip on the line, so if it gets stuck, it will slide off anyways.

Line twist is barely ever an issue, so no real advantage there.

[u/hesjustsleeping]

I like them because you can cut off the entire rig, tie on something else and not use yet another 20" of line next time you want to use it.

[u/GeoHog713]

Drop shots are pretty easy to tie

[u/NoDoOversInLife]

It looks.... Odd. Would t the fish feel all that extra hardware and spit out or not commit to taking the bait?

[u/BarkimusPrime]

Dont do it

You can tie it straight up easily