Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

How many of you guys/gals use them while bottom fishing?What pound test line do you use ?
I have been having problems with my hands tying in the cold, looking to make it a little easier for me to get out.
Thanks for any input.

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

I use breakaways most of the time. dropper loop off leader(60lb) and for my breakaway I use 40, with a loop to connect to dropper loop, and loop at the bottom for the sinker with an overhand knot inbetween the two loops. that way I have a straight connection to my hook from braid to topshot to leader. I generally only use this for blackfishing. hope this helps!

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Rich, just tie an overhand knot in the loop for the sinker, it will weaken the line enough to break off the sinker when you get hung. Dropper loops are the weakest knots you could use. Some people use them all the time, not me. I would hate to lose a big fish because of knot failure.

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Rich check UR PM's !

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Rich, the end of my rig has a perfection loop where the sinker gets attached. Separate I make a loop of a lighter line with a simple overhead knot and connect it to the perfection loop then to the sinker. This becomes the weak link and will break before the leader. I have seen people use a rubber band instead of the loop, I always wondered if it was strong enough and decide to use a mono loop. How ironic that we sacrifice the most expensive component of the rig and protect the cheapest.

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

lou I replied

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Mick I agree with you about the dropper that most people tie. I use the Kiwi Knot for my droppers and it is the strongest knot for a drop loop 94% of the line strength.
Thanks

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Paul Rubber bands may as well just dump the sinker bucket over :) so far some good replies being winter I am bored so i have been working on making a break away.
Thanks

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

The famous drew nine knot blackfish rig haha

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Richie

I make my breakaways using 30 and 40 lb test depending on who heavy a rig I am using.

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Take your heavy main leader with the hook and where you would put a loop where the sinker would go make a small loop and add a small snap swivel. While you are at home and nice and warm, make up a bunch of sinkers that have a lighter lb. test leader on them with a loop that you can attach to the snap swivel..No tying at all when your hands are ice cold.
Now are we sure that it is always the sinker that is the one that gets hung up? Could it be the hook or hooks that you guys are using..
Richie,Design a sinker that won't get hung up.

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Right you are!

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Hmmm - I see where Richie is coming from with cold hands but it seems to me that the sinker is the most expensive part of the rig so why would you want to make that connection the weakest link? That is unless you have stock in Sam's Sinker Co. I think it's listed as SSC on the NASDAQ :D

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Putty sinkers , no issues Mick !

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Its called Supporting a Sponsor :D and he is only 10 min away.

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

You must be a stockholder... :D

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

No I use his exchange program, bring him old lead pipes he turns them into Sinkers

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Thanks for the info guys, I decided the double loop 25# test line. Crimped the 2 loops

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Richie, you got me curious and I did some research on knot breaking strength. Generally knots weaken a line, if you put a "weakest" knot between your lowest dropper/kiwi and the sinker loop in theory it should break first. So a simple overhand knot between the lowest dropper and sinker loop should produce a 50% reduction in line strength and allow the line to break at the knot if the sinker get tangled. This assumes that your main line is as strong as your leader and the ties between them is strong as well.

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Been togging since 1976 with the Old Salts from Brazicki's Tavern and never had a dropper loop fail when fighting a fish. I tie my rig to main line with dropper loop. KISS.

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Hey Richie.... How are you ? I won some of your rigs at the PUOSU Tourny.
Nice job on the rigs..... I love the hooks. Can you tell me which one you use for the 3/0 slider rigs ? Thanks

Bobby

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Bobby The hooks are made in China
I make my regular rigs using the dropper for the sinker also.

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Agree ! Only lost one I can remember using this knot in over 20 seasons !
The key to this knot is how it's tied , I moisten well & subscribe to hard nylon main rig line !
Many big Cod - Pollock etc as well !!

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Never had a problem with a dropper loop and have caught some big tog. You just have to wet it and make sure you have the correct number of twist for the line. Over hand not for the sinker

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Richie, I was out on the Gambler yesterday and had plenty of opportunities to snag the bottom. Most of the times when the sinker got snagged I was able to give slack and the sinker dropped and freed up. When the hooks snagged I tried slack, then pull left then right if all failed I strong armed and broke the rig. I tied an overhand knot between lowest dropper and the sinker loop to weaken the like and create a break point to free the rig but the sinker never snagged. When I strong armed I always got my upper dropper back, the rig broke on the lower droppers, as expected if the lower hooks snagged. In my small sample I don't know if its worthwhile trying to create a weak link to the sinker to save the rig, you can probably un-snag a sinker but not a hook. I don't know if my experience is universal, maybe other can share their thoughts.

Re: Break Away Sinker Loops?
 

Paul Thanks I'm good the loops I made will be easy enough for me to break.