Thread: Gamma Panfish 2 or 4 lb test line

Originally Posted by jawjatek

Check your jig eyes! Lost a big slab yesterday on the Gamma 2 lb. Fish on, then - nothing. Reeled in to find an intact loop knot that had slipped thru a gap somehow. This was a 1/32 oz hand-tie jig with #6 sickle hook from a CDC member I buy a lot of jigs from. I'll be checking them all today. Hated to lose that particular jig because I have caught over 10 fish with it: red head, fool's gold new age chenille, chartreuse hackle.

I ordered some 2 and 4. I haven't spooled it up yet but I found out with 2# Stren Crappie line that a loop knot with 2# and Eagle Claw sickle hooks is a no no. I quit using sickle hooks because of that and have much less problem with standard hooks but it's happened a couple of times with a standard Eagle claw hook. I finally just quit tying a loop knot with 2# mono. I tried using pliers to close the hook eye more, but I lost jigs where I couldn't see any gap at all. I'd be fighting a fish and wind up reeling in a tied loop.

I switched to a palomar knot for the 3 lb and under lines, and will now only use the loop knot when dock shooting, since I always use 4 lb test K9 flouro for that. Caught my PB largemouth (9+ lbs, 24") on that line while dock shooting for crappie.

I think the loop knot is mostly needed when vertical jigging, not so much casting and retrieving.