13 replies to this topic

[aharris]

Hey guys, I recently started using 10lb braid with a 7lb floro leader on my spinning reel when throwing a shakey head. I usually use a uni knot to tie the two together, but I saw an article online where a pro was using a small swivle to tie his together. I might add that he was using it for drop shotting, but do yall think it would be good to try with a shakey head?

[Teal]

I live by the alberto knot, but i have flirted with that idea, but i like long leaders (5ft) and i do not want a swivel coming through my guides when i cast. And even if you keep it outside the top guide it will be like chucking a carolina rig. With all that extra hanging over, its hard to be accurate casting. I like to be pin point with shakey heads. So i have decided against it. I always count knots as liabilities. I always try to get by with as few "liabilities" as posible. The fewer the knots, the better i feel.

You can always try it and just take some notes and let us know how you feel about it.

[aharris]

yeah, I dont know how it would do casting. Maybe in open water it would work, but around docks or something I cant see it working out too well.

[mnbassman23]

I use a small swivel as well when drop shotting, but never used one for shakeyheads. Like Teal said I think it would be very difficult when trying to make those precision casts, just like carolina rigging, but even worse since the rod is shorter with shakeyheads (at least for me). If you do try it report back and let us know what you think. 

[Felix77]

I use a uni-uni knot.  Caught my personal best on a 10lb Braid to 8lb FC leader on a shakey head.

[thehooligan]

I use 10lb braid with 6lb flouro, uni-uni knot. I've had really good luck with this combo for drop shot & shakeyhead.

[skeletor6]

Hey guys, I recently started using 10lb braid with a 7lb floro leader on my spinning reel when throwing a shakey head. I usually use a uni knot to tie the two together, but I saw an article online where a pro was using a small swivle to tie his together. I might add that he was using it for drop shotting, but do yall think it would be good to try with a shakey head?

 

Are you considering the swivel because of line twist? If so, I would go with whatever connection knot you are confident with, I personally prefer the alberto and get yourself a VMC Spinshot dropshot hook, it will eliminate the line-twist issue and is a great hook for dropshotting. Also, you can throw on a 4lb mono line from the hook to the weight and if you get hung up, you will only lose the weight and not the hook and bait.

[BradH]

I wouldn't mess with it unless you have line twist issues.  Even then, if you close the bail by hand and don't try to reel in line while the drag is slipping you should not have many line twist issues.

[PotomacBassin]

I've had issues with uni to uni knots when using braid because of the smaller diameter and the slickness of the braid.  I've since switched to the albright knot to connect my braid to my leaders.  I use uni to uni or a blood knot for connecting mono to mono or mono to FC, but never on braid.  It's all personal preference though, I just have bad luck with uni knots and braid. 

[cueball]

I know that many worry about using more knots.  However, the only knot to worry about is the weakest one.  I really think that an Alberto knot is much stronger than any knot you can tie at the lure.  I really cannot remember ever breaking off a snag and having the Alberto knot break instead of the leader or the knot at the lure and I know I have never broke off a fish at the Alberto knot.

[BassCats]

More and more pros use swivels than ever before. I was at a Bass University this weekend and 3 out of 6 pros talked about using swivels when using two lines.

[DarrenM]

More and more pros use swivels than ever before. I was at a Bass University this weekend and 3 out of 6 pros talked about using swivels when using two lines.

 

I'm curious as to what length leader we're talking, 12-18"? Every braid-to-leader knot I tie comes through my guides for the next cast because my leader length varies between 4 and 8'. Even a super tiny swivel would potentially nick the guides, I'd assume?

[upnorthbassin]

I don't think I want a swivel going through my guides. Did they mention leader length?

[SirSnookalot]

Jose Wejebe said in one of his videos that an alberto knot was as strong as bimini twist, that's good enough for me.   I seldom tie line to leader except when targeting certain specific species, so basically I'm a swivel man.  I'm going to use a swivel with the split ring large enough not to go thru the guides.  There are a number of different kinds of swivels on the market, barrel, crane, power and ball bearing.  Most are really just line connectors with very little rotation like a good sampo or spro, not that they are bad for what they do, I use every type except the barrel.  Just about any fishing knot tied correctly will be just fine.  I keep it as simple as I can, clinch for mono, improved clinch for braid, loopknot for lures and an alberto for a leader.  Whether I'm fishing for bluegill or billfish, it's always the same 4 knots, if I've had knot failure it's only because I've done a poor job on the knot.