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Posts: 18
| I thought I'd try to make up some leaders using 70 lb fluorocarbon after reading some comments on the board recently, but I'm finding that I just cannot get my knots to work with this stuff. I've tried tying snaps and swivels on using Bucher power knots, Uni knots, Palomar knots, but the line is so stiff that they won't cinch down - the knots end up just being a mess of tangled loops. I lubricate with lots of saliva and try to draw down carefully. Even tried soap to lubricate. The only thing that has worked is a simple perfection loop on either end, but I'm not sure I have much faith in that knot for the intended purpose. Am I just "knot challenged"? or does anyone have any suggestions or tricks that might help? I'd rather not have to resort to crimping if I can avoid it. Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike |
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Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | Mike I use 80# hard mono and the stuff is hard to tie but here is what I do. I tie a simple clinch knot with only two wraps then pass the tag end through. Now I just make the knots on both ends before tightening them. I have a large electrical wire hangning from a beam in the basement where I insert the swivel end and then use the claw from a hammer to grab the snap and pull down to tighten the knots. At the same time this will straighten out the hard mono for me as well. Even with only two raps there is no way once you put your weight down to tighten those knots that they will ever come apart. I actualy leave the tag end near the swivel to help catch weeds as I use my mono leaders for trolling. Good luck |
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Posts: 20278
Location: oswego, il | Knots are hard to tie in the 70lb flouro. I tie a similar knot to the clinch but instead of going through the loop in the hook, I come up through the wraps I made around the line from the bottom. You have to work at it and pull it slowly but it will work. I also put a dab of superlgue on it for good measure.
Another thing you can do is crimp the line. Works just fine, I do not crimp down on the ends of the crimp so it digs into the line. I think it gives the baits better action too. |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | This sounds funny but.. KY Jelly is way more slippery than saliva.
It is water based so it washes off easy. It works |
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Posts: 24
Location: Monroe WI | Has anybody tried to use the leader sleaves that you crimp down or does that mess up the line. |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | I made some leaders for trolling out of 80 lb mono with the crimp on sleeves from sevenstrand. I have yet to try them out however. I tried to break them and I couldn't. The open loop will give even more action than a snap alone I think. As is the message of this topic, I found it mighty frustrating trying to tie knots in the stuff. |
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Posts: 5874
| I used Flouro for the first time last year. Someone gave me a tip on cinching down the knots. Use a finishing nail on a board or a wall, just small enough to put the snap or swivel over, and use it to pull against. I like TM's suggestion to tie both ends up, and use the claw of a hammer to grip the other end. Make sure the knot is wetted up, and you can really cinch them down. I used a Uni-Knot, and am satified with the results. |
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Posts: 18
| Thanks for the tips, guys. Richard, last night I tried your suggestion of loosely forming the knots on either end (used the clinch knot you described, with 3 wraps) and then anchoring one end and applying tension to the other - worked great. Lobi, I didn't see your message until this morning, but the idea of using K-Y to lubricate the knots sounds like a winner - I'll try that on the next ones I tie up.
Thanks again to all who responded.
Mike |
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Posts: 20278
Location: oswego, il | Yes the crimps do work. I use them alot, no problems. Don't crimp down on the ends of the crimp so you don't dig into the line. |
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Posts: 323
| Try the "World's Fair" knot. It's not really widely used but it is easy to tie and most of all, strong. I used it when tying with 80lb mono and it was no problem. I put a nail in the vise and my swivel over it and tied it on and pulled it up tight. Stren used to have a booklet that showed many of the various fishing knots and the "World's Fair" knot was one of them. Give it a try... |
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Posts: 18
| Thanks for the added input.
Does anyone have any suggestions of where I might find an illustration of the World's Fair knot? I don't have the Stren booklet. Maybe I'll search online.
Mike |
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Posts: 109
| http://www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com/WorldsFair.html |
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Posts: 332
Location: Neenah, WI | I am trying this for the first time this year on my own equipment, however
I was able to try it on a friends last year and after a hour or so i was hooked. He told me that a uni tied directly to the braid worked the best and a palomar to the snap was used by choice after many attempts with other knots. Just my 2 cents |
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Posts: 1247
Location: On the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY | Like Trophymuskie,I also use a simple Clinch Knot when tieing 80 lb test Seaguar Fluorocarbon Leaders.I use two pairs of pliers,one pair to hold the snap or swivel,the other pair to pull hard on the the tag end of the knot.Never had a knot come undone or break yet. Capt. Larry D. Jones |
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Posts: 323
| Mike,
I found the Stren booklet. Here's some background on the "World's Fair Knot." It was created by Gary Martin of Indiana and was voted the best new, easy to tie all purpose fishing knot in the DuPont Great Knot Search. A panel of outdoor writers selected the knot over 497 other entries in the contest. It got it's name because Martin first demonstrated the knot at the 1982 Knoxville World's Fair. If you can't find how to tie it, email me at [email protected] and I'll make a copy and mail it to you. Good luck..... |
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Posts: 18
| Thanks ToddC. I actually found it through the link provided by EViLOnE earlier. I tried it last night - certainly seems promising. Very easy to tie and cinch's down tight. Having the line doubled through/around the snap or swivel would seem likely to make it a pretty strong knot as well. Lots of great suggestions. I might just make up a few with each of the knots suggested here, and see how they hold up in the real world. Thanks all.
Mike |
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Posts: 323
| Mike,
Glad you found it. It really is easy to tie and it is very strong. I tested this knot several times before using them. I put a nail in the vise and put the swivel eye over the nail and pulled on the leader until it failed. Every time it failed, the leader actually broke, the knot did not slip. Good luck on the test........ |
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Posts: 1189
Location: Bagley,MN 56621 | MIkeFF, how about an update on your knot tying??
thx much.
any others wanna contribute more to tying fluorocarbon? Any new ideas you discovered throughout this season?
thx again. |
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