Speaking of knots
- This topic has 17 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated Dec 1, 2005 at 6:31 pm by
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Posts
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I really like to go loop/loop for my tippet, but have found that a double(and triple)surgeons knot always seem to break when used for fluoro. I need a good loop for use with fluoro.
Zach, thanks for the Davey knot. I had seen that some time ago and forgot about it without ever trying it. I am going to practice it and put it in the experimentation rotation.
Steve
Not sure I understand the ?, but what about a perfection loop for the fluro? Goggle it.
I can do a break test and post results if you want. I am thinking about switching to loop to loop for tippet for the exact same reason.
I only use a loop to loop for the tippet on my spey rod, and I usually end up with at least 6′ of “tippet.”
I’ve always used a triple surgeons knot for the leader to tippet connection, but Steve is correct that it is often the weak link in the chain.
Here is John W’s post from the FF forum.
I agree with March Brown that flouro and mono don’t mix well. Testing for breaking strength is not at all a reliable way to trust a knot.
Flourcarbon has a much higher abraison resistance. For that reason I’ve found that something like 6X fluoro will cut completely through 5X mono. If you use a knot like a double surgeons, blood knot, or similar, the flouro will cause the knot to fail.
I have started using a loop to loop connection for mono to flouro and thus far it is the most reliable connection. It will still fail in the loop knot but I’ve never had the loop connection fail. I’ve had plenty of blood knots and surgeons fail though.
For the connection to the fly with fluoro I use a “Davy”, aka “the knot”, aka “figure 8”. It is a very reliable connection and doest not slip or bind.
John
He followed up with this pic a few days later. And yes I know where this fish was caught, but dang it’s a brute.
http://www.flyfishingarkansas.com/John%20Temp/Pictures/Boomer%20Rainbow.JPG
I trust his judgment on knots. Joe Humphries on the other hand, might not be so impressed.
I personally don’t like loop to loop knots for the tippit connection. Â It is too bulky to me. Â I use an albright knot and have had no problems, even when tying a fluoro tippet to a mono leader, which is my standard setup. Â It works fine as long as the fluoro is the smaller line. Â This would be typical since there is no reason to use a mono tippet on a fluoro leader.
At the risk of raising the ire of the “Grand Pooba”, I have also included a link to an “albright loop” on FAOL that looks interesting. Â I stumbled over it while following the links in the “Davy knot” thread.
http://flyanglersonline.com/features/micus/
He uses it to make a loop in the flyline, which appears to make too bulky a knot.
I know this is a mondo expensive approach, but would an alternative be to just go to a fluoro leader?
I use the albright on my streamer leaders where I go from 30 to 17 or 20 to 10. The albright is the best knot I have found for joining line with drastic diameter differance. So far every time the line breaks but the knot holds. My streamer leaders are rarley longer then 4′.
Sorry if I didn’t make my question clear.
When I make a surgeons loop in fluoro the line always breaks right at the loop. It just seems to be very weak. My typical nymphing rig consists of a 3 ft. butt section of 0X mono and I place my indicator on that section. It gives me 3 feet of adjustment room. I double sureons knot a 2-3 foot section of 2X mono to that and loop to loop whatever length of tippet that I need. I have been using fluoro quite a bit lately and as bd said, it blows to constantly loose several feet of fluoro at a time when the loop  constantly busts at the knot. When using mono for a tippet I use the same system and if I break off it is usually at the tippet to fly knot.
Steve
Consider using a tippet ring — the tiny stainless steel ring sold by Cortland. I hand tie all my own leaders and have started putting one of these at the end of the wear section.
Easy to tie on new tippet sections, and I haven’t had any ring failures. A pretty handy idea…
TC
I really like to go loop/loop for my tippet, but have found that a double(and triple)surgeons knot always seem to break when used for fluoro. I need a good loop for use with fluoro.
Zach, thanks for the Davey knot. I had seen that some time ago and forgot about it without ever trying it. I am going to practice it and put it in the experimentation rotation.
Steve
TC, you rock! I saw some of them there little buggers in the FC catalog and was wondering how well they worked. Just have to find some now.
Thanks of the idea.
Keep in mind that I’m a dry fly guy who typically fishes fairly long leaders. I have used the tippet ring with streamers and good sized fish, but I don’t know if there are any unseen problems nymphing with the things.
With the BWO hatches of winter in full swing on the Upper Sacramento, I’m unlikely to find out anytime soon… 😎
🙂 I don’t use fluoro at all for the same reason as Phil Landry. It just doesn’t breakdown as mono does. A triple surgeons knot is my go to knot, leader to tippet. Lately I’ve experienced breakage at the fly as well as the clinch knot becoming undone. I’m wondering if it is due to old tippet or some difficulty in my tying that type of knot. Think I’ll try the Davy knot. The best tippet line I have tried is Rio. Most of my fishing is done with a 4wt. with 4x plus a 5x tippet. Silver Doc
I buy fluro in bulk 200 yard spools from Seaguar in 6,4, and 2# spools. I use a drill to put in old tippet spools. It is just as good and costs way, way less. I know people will say the actual tippet material is somehow superior but I disagree. In a market as competitive as fishing line I think they would market it in bulk spools if it were really that much better.
BD, I don’t know what your talking about 8)
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