Dropper Loop Instruction/Trolling Speed

[steelie]

Someone please tell me how to fish live bait with a dropper loop.

Also, if anyone can give me info on how fast to troll live bait, and the best way to rig them, that would be great too.

Thanks for the info.

[bdmudd]

For the dropper, tie your weight to the end of your line and then create your loop about 12 - 18 inches above the weight. You can also add a second loop above the first about a foot higher. Make your dropper loop about 3-6 inches long. Attach your hook with a palomar knot. Always nose hook your bait when using a dropper loop. This rig is used for bottom fishing. A slow drift works well, keeping your weight in contact with the bottom. Another technique is to use a leadhead jig with a plastic swimbait instead of a lead weight on the end of your line. Tip it with a small piece of squid.

[bdmudd]

When trolling live bait you must troll very slowly, 1-2 knots. Nose hook the bait. I add a sliding sinker above a swivel and then attach 3-4 feet of flourocarbon with my hook and bait at the end. Slow trolling mackerel is killer for the larger yellotail with occaisional white seabass. Big calicos, too.

[watch-n-learn]

Bmudd has it down. Also, when we troll a dine we use no weight, just drop it back, kick it into gear for a few seconds, take it out of gear for a few seconds, wait wait, etc. But yea, very slow.

[HamburgrTuesday]

Have lots of bait with your dropper loop. It's one of the quickest ways to lose bait. If the fish hits it hard and feels the weight it can spit your hook quicker than shit. If it's nibbling and you set the hook, you probably pulled the bait off the hook and left him a free meal. It's all in what line you use, how deep you fish, your rod's action and what kind of hooks you're using. Not as complicated as it seems once you get the hang of it, but if one of these is off you can lose way more than you catch (also make sure you keep a steady retrieve and don't pump a hole in the fishes lip on the way up off the bottom, if you have to momentarily muscle it do so then return to the steady retrieve). I suggest trying some Berkley Gulp! Shrimp, Squid, or those little grubs and make sure you match the type and color to the forage of the fish you're after. With the Gulp!, you'll only have to check it every so often to see if the bait's ripped to shreds (the little grubs get their tales ripped off really easily so watch out with those ones). Make sure you definetly pick the right hook and thread it through well or you're going to come up empty handed over and over. The glow in the dark ones kick butt in deep waters. I recommend a combo of a live bait or piece of squid on one hook and the glow in the dark squid on the other. That way when you do rebait it's quicker and the glow attracts the fish to the other bait.