When would you choose one over the other? And which is better at preventing snags on rocky bottoms?

I like to use the pencil on rocky bottoms as well as grass. Tear drop on soft bottoms as well as small gravel bottoms.

 

I like the cylinders rather than the tear drop ones because I think they don't get stuck as much for me.

The pencil weights are better overall IMO.  They dont really snag up in chunk rock and are much better with grass then the tear drops.  Just make sure to get weights with a closed ring, the clips have a tendency to fly off when fish jump.

Why do most of the manufacturers make the weight eyelets so that you slip the line in somehow, why not just tie a knot? is there some reason not too? 

5 minutes ago, LakeWinni said:

Why do most of the manufacturers make the weight eyelets so that you slip the line in somehow, why not just tie a knot? is there some reason not too? 

I like it because it's very easy to adjust the depth. If I've been fishing at 12" but the fish move down, it's a quick thing to unclip the weight then reclip it to make it closer to the bottom. It's the reason I usually tie the hook at about 18" from the end of the line. Now I can clip it to whatever depth I want without having to cut and re-tie...the spare line just hangs if I've clipped it short, but I don't have to re-tie the whole rig to make it longer.

2 hours ago, LakeWinni said:

Why do most of the manufacturers make the weight eyelets so that you slip the line in somehow, why not just tie a knot? is there some reason not too? 

It’s also so that if you get hung up, you only lose the weight and not the whole rig.  Tying a knot in the tag line defeats the purpose.  If you are going to do that then just buy cheap bell sinkers instead of dropshot weights.  I used to alternate between teardrop, cylinder, and hex style weights depending on the bottom composition until I discovered QuickDrop weights.  They work in all conditions and they are teardrop style only.  I swear they put some magic in the lead.??

I just slide the line through a bullet sinker  add a bobber stop and tie a simple overhand knot on the end . 

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

I just slide the line through a bullet sinker  add a bobber stop and tie a simple overhand knot on the end . 

Interesting.....there are hang ups where you know you’re going to lose the weight. But there are those where a little tug or pop will loosen it. Do you find you lose weights on these with the bobber/sinker stop method?

1 minute ago, 5/0 said:

Do you find you lose weights on these with the bobber/sinker stop method?

The overhand knot keeps it on until it gets wedged then it pulls off .

4 hours ago, LakeWinni said:

Why do most of the manufacturers make the weight eyelets so that you slip the line in somehow, why not just tie a knot? is there some reason not too? 

It can help in snags. Better to lose only the weight vs. the weight, hook and bait.

 

imho, the tear drop shape is a good all around shape and my preference when I used to buy ds weight and I loved the quick drops. The two shapes I like are tear drop and pencil. 
 

I am still a drop shot person, but I no longer buy traditional ds weights. I “make” my own. No, I don’t melt lead or any of that. I have just devised a more economical way to make ds weights that also gives me maximum flexibility, economy and yet still provides excellent performance. I think I posted what I do but it’s an old post. 

 

 

4 hours ago, scaleface said:

I just slide the line through a bullet sinker  add a bobber stop and tie a simple overhand knot on the end . 

 

I have done this in a pinch when I run out of D-Shot weights in snaggy cover. 

I prefer the cylinder type weights, but I have clamped a split shot on the end of my line before.

Owner Bell shape works for me. 

Tom

You could try hollow core pencil lead.  Just cut off a piece of lead the size you want and slide the line through the lead.  Pinch off with pliers.  When the lead gets stuck pull hard and it slips off saving your hook and bait.  Advantage is you can use any weight you want, pencil lead snags less, is inexpensive, and you only loose the weight.  Salmon anglers have been using it in rivers for years.

Cylinder I prefer overall because it's less snags. 

Doesn’t matter to me which. Whatever I have on hand is what I use.