Dropshot virgin no more!

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KeithFox

New member
Hi all

Just returned from Bushman's river mouth where I finally had some success - thanks in no small part to discovering this forum and how helpful everyone is! Caught 5 different species (grunter, strepie, some kind of skate, blacktail and mullet). Either on camo worm or pumpkinseed minnow. Nothing very big, but at least I've learned to crawl!

(7 foot rod, 12lb braided line, 3 metres of clear 7lb monofilament and 50cm of 10lb fluorocarbon.)

I still have some questions though, mostly relating to tackle - of which I lost a lot!

First problem I encountered was how difficult it was to join other lines to 0.2mm braid - I managed a spider's hitch to an Allbright knot after much difficulty but I eventually had to revert to 2 Fisherman's knots to make time for fishing....

What alternative knots are there for joining monofilament or fluorocarbon line to my casting braid?

The other problem was getting caught on rocks and other objects and losing tackle. I resorted to using lighter jig hooks (1/8 and even 1/16oz).

Any tips on ways I can minimise this and alternative rigs to use when the jig hooks run out??

Thanks

Keith
 
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Reefman

Sealiner
Keith... Congrats on your first catches... it's a great feeling to hook a fish on Ultra light tackle, no?

The Statistics show the following knot strengths in Fireline Gelspun line:

attachment.php


To tie a YUCATAN knot is really simple....

http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=1703&forum_id=44

You need a Bimini double in your braid, (or a Spider Hitch is 2nd best) - then join it to your leader with a Yucatan knot... I prefer at least 15 wraps in the smaller braid strengths.

To stop catching rocks? Eish, goes with the territory you're fishing bud. If you're fishing worms, where the retrieval demands the lure hitting the bottom, you're going to have your fair share of lost tackle if you're fishing on rocky areas... not much you can do about that.

Going lighter on the Jig and speeding up your retrieval so that the Jig never touches the bottom, is a possibility too... but them Camo worms were never intended to do that...
 
K

KeithFox

New member
Reefman

Thanks for your response. I tried the Yucatan several times, following your instructions/diagrams but the problem was that the knot simply wouldn't hold. I eventually got an Allbright to hold but it took quite a few attempts and then didn't work every time. I'm using Rapala Core Titanium 12lb (0.2mm) braid.

That said, I'm going to try again tonight - off to Pennington on the South Coast tomorrow for a few days so will let you know how I get on!

Keith
 
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Reefman

Sealiner
Keith... When it comes to the small diameter leaders and also with some of the softer leader materials, you need to use more wraps for the Yucatan. Just keep increasing the number of wraps until it does hold. I remember there was a definite problem with Berkley Vanish and tieing the Yucatan... there may be a 'grip' problem with other makes of leader too. Thats why I say at least 15 wraps to start with. If it still slips, then do 20 wraps -
 
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Dingleberry

Senior Member
Howzit Keith. I only use the Albright knot and never have breakoffs. I catch mainly fish in the 5-10kg bracket from a boat. The trick is the end of the knot. I only use about seven winds around the leader. Remember, it is critical which way you insert the tag end through the loop after the winds. The one way works and the other doesn't. Practise a couple of times WITH MONO and you'll work out which is the correct way.

Now comes the trick. When using braid to mono, once you've completed the traditional Albright, don't tighten the knot yet. turn the tag end around the mono loop and put it back through from the opposite side and then once again from the original side. This creates a braided effect. Now, pull on the main line gently and it'll take the slack out of the back end of the knot. Then pull the tag and main lines together to finish.

If I was half as competetent as Reefer or Trophy I'd try a pic, but my attempt would probably resemble a burst bum so I'd rather not.
 
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Dingleberry

Senior Member
Nah, not the same. I try to use less complicated stuff 'cause all my fishing is done from a 4.8m boat on the sea, so it bobs around a bit. It's just the standard Albright with a bit of a weave at the end. Here's a rough sketch. Sorry, I didn't have the time to do the job properly 'cause I'm off to Sedgefield for a bit.
 

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Ocean_darku

Senior Member
Hey keith congrats on the catches bro ,you've outfished even some of the dropshot gurus here by lapping onto a grunter ,any pics? Or rather some info on plastic and retrieval for grunter would be great thanks. Tight lines
 
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KeithFox

New member
Lost one phone already, so unfortunately no pics. Camo worm for grunter - very slow retrieve, twitching every few  turns. I found the pumpkinseed minnow quite effective as well - got most of the other species on that.

In Pennington on South Coast at the moment and it works here as well. I never got this much interest from fish before - the Gulp stuff really works! I'm targetting smaller fish using 1/16 to 1/4 oz jig hooks until I get the dropshot thing down.
 
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KeithFox

New member
Reefman and Dingleberry. thanks for all the help with the knots. The Yucatan's working for me nicely, no line breakages so far...::S
 
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