Chicken Rig Question

Saltwater Offshore Discussion
1

I have a question about the knots used to make the loops to which the hooks are attached on a chicken rig. I know many people normally use a dropper loop, but I find it a lot quicker and easier to use a surgeon’s loop instead. Am I okay using this knot, or am I setting myself up for failure? Thanks in advance for your ■■■■■■■■.

“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”

2

You will be fine with your knot. Wet the mono with spit and chinch tight. Match your hook eyes to have a double length of your mono go through the eye and run the loop over the hook. Nothing worse than getting ready to drop and find your hook eyes being too small.

big dog

3

I tie them with a surgeons knot all the time, rarely do they fail unless the fish is well in excess of the line strength.

Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.

“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne

4

A surgeons knot will work. I like the dropper loop as it’s easy to tie, hold the shape I want of a perpendicular loop of the straight vertical rig and as long as it’s not too long, it won’t twist up on the way down. The dropper loop can be difficult to get tight but practice makes perfect.

5

I prefer a dropper loop

6

Thanks for all the ■■■■■■■■, fellas.

I agree, Rap, that the dropper loop seems to do a better job of keeping the hook loops extended perpendicular from the leader’s main line. How long do y’all prefer for the hooks to extend from the leader’s main line?

“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”

7

It depends on the species and how leader shy they are but currently I’m using 100 lb mono, 9/0 J Hooks on 6" loops and a 5" glow squid to fish for Halibut and Yelloweye in 200-800’. I’m a big proponent of chicken rigs for fish that aren’t line shy as they’ve been out fishing jigs, carolina rigs and just about every other method of presenting baits. If your target species is line shy, you could use flouro, smaller hooks and longer loops.