drop-shot + jig combo: best knot for the d-shot?

When you pull the tag end on a Palomar, that usually comes out a little frayed/curly.  Probably the tag end is being weakened slightly by being pulled through the knot + light line. 

Are you using fluoro? The thicker fluoro should help.  Also, tie your bottom jig on first, then the top drop shot hook on second, take it slow and pull evenly from both ends while tightening. 

Well it will certainly break with force over the knot strength.  But the way the palomar knot is tied makes me believe that the tag end is as strong as the main line, since it's basically a loop.

Well it will certainly break with force over the knot strength.  But the way the palomar knot is tied makes me believe that the tag end is as strong as the main line, since it's basically a loop.

If you were pulling away from a single point in the same direction.  But in the drop shot config, you have the 2 ends pulling opposite each other.  Well, ok, it gets further complicated by the loop through the eye.

I do believe the palomar itself, tied to a single point, is a strong knot.

-Allen

As previously mentioned in above posts, check out the VMC spinshot hooks.

Hot tip: They are 50% off at Dick's Sporting Goods right now

I use P-line CFX  - 6lb in gin clear and 8lb in stained water and all the way up to 10lb in the Delta. Did you happen to get your jig/weight snagged at all and had to jerk it out or twang it loose? Maybe you stretched that tag section out a bit. I've noticed that if I get hung up a lot, that tag end definitely weakens. I use 10lb braid for my main and my fluoro leader takes all the abuse.

You're no stranger to managing large fish.

Mike

As previously mentioned in above posts, check out the VMC spinshot hooks.

Hot tip: They are 50% off at Dick's Sporting Goods right now

Thanks for the tip, I could not find them when I asked around, but that was awhile back.

Thanks for all the helpful information guys.  I’ll continue to tinker with my Palomar knots—I only tie a Palomar when I’m drop shotting, so it’s not a knot I use every day (my go-to for basic line-to-hook is the double clinch).  I’ll also try a uni knot, and maybe even that Spider Hitch that Bushy posted.  Of course, all this tinkering will be done on dry land with no fish involved.  Last thing I want to have happen is to hook a monster, only to lose it due to me messing around with new knots!

Bmb2.0: yep, I was using fluorocarbon.  But it was only 6 pound fluoro, so the thickness was comparable to 6 pound mono.  I feel like I tied it carefully, wetted it before cinching, etc.  But since the Palomar isn’t one of my everyday knots, I could’ve made a mistake somewhere along the line.

Wingshooter: I never snagged while I was out there experimenting with this rig.  I even caught a few nice fish on the bottom jig without any issues, along with a bunch of fish on the drop shot hook.  But then I hooked a good fish on the bottom jig, played him for a bit, then out of nowhere the line simply broke.

It looks like those spin-shot hooks that Mickfish first mentioned are going to be the easiest remedy for my situation.  It’ll involve a total of 3 knots instead of two, but they’ll be knots in which I have high confidence in tying and I know their limits.

And Nelson: thanks for the tip on the sale at Dick's!  Time to make an order  .

Test your line strength by tying a simple overhand knot in it and pull on the ends to see what it will take before breaking. If it breaks really easy the line is bad.

Palomars are sensitive to the way the line lays as you tighten the knot if the loop lays on the hook eye wrong or you have crossed lines the knot will be weak.
Watch a video and look at the way the loops lay on the hook eye. Make sure you lube the knot and tighten slowly.

Great Bass II told me once that he has "NEVER" had a Palomar knot fail him.  (This after I lost a big halibut at MBK, or the Monterey PIF day.  I probably had the line twisted on my overhand loop.

Anyone has a dog like his, you gotta believe him.  Plus GB@ is scientifically meticulous.  (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)



Bushy