I thought you might be interested in the knot used to catch the 73 1/4-pound California yellowtail featured on page 24 of your March issue. Deena Nelson caught that monster on a dropper-loop rig tied with the now-famous "Roy Knot," named after Roy Rose, a deckhand on the Royal Polaris.
To tie the knot, start by doubling a 6-foot section of your main line. Tie an overhand knot with the doubled line and leave loose. Now pass the double tag end through the loop eight times - just like you would when tying a surgeon's loop. Wet the knot and pull down slowly. Attach your hook to the resulting loop using a palomar.
This knot is a simple variation of the surgeon's loop, but it holds up to a tremendous amount of abuse as a dropper loop. It can also be used in place of a Bimini when tied in braided Spectra lines, provided you pass the tag end through the loop at least 12 times before tightening.
Darrell Hillhouse
Anzo, California
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