Shot - how close to the hook?

[tpcollins]

A few months ago I was having a frustrated morning with my pin and rod just below the coffer at Tippy. Besides not being able to cast worth a crap and thinking my offering was not getting down to the bottom, I also enjoyed having my 2'-3' of tippet wrap aroung my float and make my morning even more miserable.

Then I read a post recently where someone said they put shot on their tippet and close to the hook if that's what it took. I've been keeping my shot between the float and swivel, nothing on the tippet. Then I thought if I put shot on the tippet as well, that might keep it straight during the cast and keep the hook from tangling up with the float. Am I correct in this thinking, and if so how close can I put shot near the hook? I'm going to learn how to do this eventually, thanks.

[turtle assassin]

During high flow times I have put a #6 shot about 8" above my hook. It does work if the conditions are rite.

[RyanS]

i have noticed many guys to be very afraid of putting shot to close to their hooks, and miss opportunities doing so. many times i have put shot as close as six or eight inches and sometimes less from my hook, and sometimes bulked a few eight or so inches above the hook. their is no reason you cant put shot on your tippet, why shouldnt you? i wouldnt put a bunch, most should be above, but if your last one or two shot are on your tippet, big deal. if it works, it works, and their is no "righr way"

i say try it, it can never hurt, and i think you will be surprised.

[hero]

I agree with Ryan on this one...

[Phishin incident]

I like fishing jigs all the time...with sacs waxies, everything, that gets it down...

[SSG Steelhead]

I always put a small shot group on the tippit when fishng faster water wtih my pin, you do however have to pinch it on carefully if you use lighter (#4/#6) otherwise you can create a weak point in the line that will always break on the biggest fish of the day, such is my luck.

"whatever it takes to get it in front of the fish" good words to fish by.

[Downtown]

SSG's comment about damaging your tippet is correct. The same holds true for your main line. You can eliminate this potential problem by adding your shot to the tag end of the main line or tippet, pinch lightly and then slide the shot to your desired position. Cut off the area where you pinched and tie to your swivel.

[cysko74]

Im definitely one of those guys that dont put shot on my leader. Id rather run a shorter leader than have to put shot on it especially now when using the lighter stuff.

[95talon07]

have never lost a fish due to shot being on my tippet. And i pinch it on farely hard so it doesnt move on me. and i have used 2# tippet while doing this. still never lost a fish. Personally think it doesnt make to much difference as long as it doesnt slide around on the floro, this is when the line will start to "string cheese" itself, thats when it weakens. But if you do not move it around it wont break.

[cpinner]

My experience is that larger shot on your tippet have a much bigger chance to snag between or underneath the river rocks than small shot. It's ok to use shot on the tippet but the closer you get to the hook or the closer you get to the bottom of the stream the smaller the shot should be. Better to have several #4 or #5 shot shirt buttoned on the tippet than one big marble. If you are fishing a sandy bottom stream then this isn't much of a concern.

[Fishndude]

What, no shot-leader suggestions? I use a shot leader, and then a short (12" - 15") to my hook. The leader to my hook is lighter than the shot leader, and breaks if I snag. Then I only have to tie on another 12" leader, and hook. Works great - and I can place shot within 12" of my hook to get a great presentation.

[cysko74]

I use a knot to attach my main to leader. Im just curious do most of you guys use swivels of knots to attach your tippet/leader?

[jtmoneyjo1]

I use a swivel, never had any problems with it.

[RyanS]

just so you guys know, this thread is from january.

i use a swivel from main to leader. i dont like mono to mono knots, and prefer to use the small eye on the swivel to get the best, strongest knot i can. i still believe no mono to mono, or mono to fluoro knot can beat a properly tied double clinch or palomar tied to a hook or swivel in strength. IMO