PC Thursday 6/9

If I were to ever want to fish with 3 hooks at at time with any kind of strength on my meat crane, I would probably tie a properly rated swivel to my 30# main line with a Palomar knot.  Then taking two 1 foot lengths of 20# mono and tie the same rated swivel on one end of each, and a duo-lock type snap to the other end of each with Palomar knots. 

With this you can quickly add one or more of your 1' mono leaders to the above swivel until you have three swivels and two duo-locks and two 1' lengths of mono coming down from your mainline. 

Pre tie as many short 10-15# mono loops with double over hand knots that can be used to attach through the upper eye of the top two 1' leader's swivels.  Just fold and push the loop through the swivel eye, and then pull that tag back through your loop putting the double overhand knot down at the swivel when pulled tight. Now, just push the same folded end of the loop through the eye of whatever hook or fly you plan to use, and over the hook itself and pull tight. 

You can now use yet another duo-lock to attach a heavy jig head to the bottom swivel, or add another 1' section of 8-10# mono with a heavy sinker and add a 3rd fly off the 3rd swivel top eye.  This gives you a break away option and mostly only lose the weight and the lower lighter mono. 

Pre-tying a bunch of these at home and coiled up nicely on a pool noodle for easy storage will make on the water attachment quick and easy.  You can fish directly off the first swivel however you like, or add as many together as you like (up to 3 hooks) and fish with confidence that a tied dropper loop won't be your weakest link and lose everything below it. 

This is a brilliant idea! Of course I may be biased since this is what I have been doing it since the first time my line broke at the dropper and I lost a big tasty fish. Great minds think alike.    I quickly realized no black rockfish was worth loosing a lingcod. But, that is my opinion. Some may prefer them.

Anybody on the fence for tomorrow it should be good at PC.  Today was a little bit sloppy, but the launch was real easy even with the short periods swell.  Tomorrow should be a lot cleaner.  The bite was hot!

I'll be on the beach at 5:30.

Zach, to answer question regarding adding a 10 foot leader, and able to reach my fish because of the long leader.  When I add a topshot of mono to my mainline braid, I ALWAYS use the super strong Albright knot.  If tied correctly, it is a nearly a 100% line strength knot (strong as the smallest rated line in the knot).

As Red Beard mentioned, dropper loops are your weak link in any line.  I think it effectively drops your line strength in half at each loop tied.  Fine for surf perch fishing, but not reliable enough for me to use for bottom fishing. 

If I were to ever want to fish with 3 hooks at at time with any kind of strength on my meat crane, I would probably tie a properly rated swivel to my 30# main line with a Palomar knot.  Then taking two 1 foot lengths of 20# mono and tie the same rated swivel on one end of each, and a duo-lock type snap to the other end of each with Palomar knots. 

With this you can quickly add one or more of your 1' mono leaders to the above swivel until you have three swivels and two duo-locks and two 1' lengths of mono coming down from your mainline. 

Pre tie as many short 10-15# mono loops with double over hand knots that can be used to attach through the upper eye of the top two 1' leader's swivels.  Just fold and push the loop through the swivel eye, and then pull that tag back through your loop putting the double overhand knot down at the swivel when pulled tight. Now, just push the same folded end of the loop through the eye of whatever hook or fly you plan to use, and over the hook itself and pull tight. 

You can now use yet another duo-lock to attach a heavy jig head to the bottom swivel, or add another 1' section of 8-10# mono with a heavy sinker and add a 3rd fly off the 3rd swivel top eye.  This gives you a break away option and mostly only lose the weight and the lower lighter mono. 

Pre-tying a bunch of these at home and coiled up nicely on a pool noodle for easy storage will make on the water attachment quick and easy.  You can fish directly off the first swivel however you like, or add as many together as you like (up to 3 hooks) and fish with confidence that a tied dropper loop won't be your weakest link and lose everything below it.

Insayin,

I like this idea and am tying some up right now.  Question on the loops you use to attach your baits to the swivel.  Any concerns on the double overhand knot loops on knot strength?  I usually use a triple overhand knot at the top and bottom of my rigs to attach weights and my leader to the mainline swivel.

Your method seems very solid and easy to change out baits.  Also, if I understand correctly, you aren't using 3 way swivels, just standard, properly rated barrel swivels?

Thanks for the tips.

Trokar has a couple setups like this one

I am a little confused on the loops. Any chance for a picture?

Try this, works great.  Very adjustable.

http://www.hogylures.com/data-sheet-drop-shot-rig

I am a little confused on the loops. Any chance for a picture?

I have done the loops, but now I just tie a short leader (6 inches) to my shrimp fly or soft plastic using a palomar knot. I also tie a swivel to the other end with a palomar knot. Very little loss of line strength. I put a bunch of these in my tackle tray. I just clip them on as needed. If the lure gets broken off, you still have your swivel to tie a new one to when you get home, or on the water. I personally rarely tie a knot on the water though. I have enough gear tied up prior. Less chance of getting sea sick that way.

Just remember if your worried about big Fis breaking you off ... Use smaller bait

The double over hand loop knot on 10-15# is more than enough knot, but triple works as well.  Your line strength/weakness won't change much as your line will still break on the loop side of the knot anyways.  I just do the double so it doesn't untie on me.

As Craig said, and I would actually follow suit, is doing the Palomar knot on the hook end, or even a Snell if you have access to the shank.  Then a Palomar to another snap swivel that can be clipped to the upper eye of the main line swivel. 

The main reason I suggest attaching to the upper eye of the swivel is that it allows any dangling fish on the lower swivels to do just that....swivel without affecting the fish or hooks above.  No need for a 3 way, especially if you connect each fly/plastic bait with a snap swivel as it will allow a thrashing fish to have it's way without tangling up. 

Just remember if your worried about big Fis breaking you off ... Use smaller bait

No, don't do that.  Just play them with the drag lighter and use your thumb on a bait caster, or palm on a spinning reel.

Besides you are fishing from a kayak and 20# is about all you should ever need for most fish anyways. 

Just remember if your worried about big Fis breaking you off ... Use smaller bait

No, don't do that.  Just play them with the drag lighter and use your thumb on a bait caster, or palm on a spinning reel.

Besides you are fishing from a kayak and 20# is about all you should ever need for most fish anyways.

Just use a smaller bait and leave the bigger fish for INSAYN and I to deal with.