That kind of question offers a bunch of answers and possibilities. Are some knots better then others?
This week I am going to give you the reader the defining answers to these timeless questions.
Line Types:
For every line there is a knot, and each knot serves it's purpose for each particular Type of Line.
Monofilament: Monofilament line is declared by some as your generic line. .
Monofilament, The Good
•Easy handling casts well when on a spinning reel or even a bait caster
•Fair knot strength when using a clinch knot or improved clinch knot
•High stretch ratio gives nylon the ability to absorb the initial shock from a strike
•Floats on the water, sinks slower which helps top water fishing ;visualizing strikes
Monofilament, The Bad & The Ugly
•High stretch increases your miss/hook set ratio
•Low abrasion resistance causes more break offs when fishing rough structure
•High memory causes your line to retain it's form on the spool causing roll off, line twists, birds nests
Fluorocarbon: Fluorocarbon line, highly coveted for it's near invisible qualities. Fluorocarbon lines are a type of monofilament line in that it's a single strand line. It's a polymer derived from introducing fluorine to carbon. But once again is Fluorocarbon line the best line for all fishing applications? No! And once again here's why.
Fluorocarbon, The Good
•High abrasion resistance allowing you to fish rough structure, and toothy fish
•Virtually invisible under water
•Moderate stretch but still allows for solid hook up vs. mono lines
•Great leader line when accompanied with a braid main line
Fluorocarbon, The Bad & The Ugly
•High memory make it virtually impossible to cast from a spinning reel
•Sinks (not necessarily a bad thing for crank-baits, but not if you're fishing poppers)
•Expensive due to it's high density strength, low diameter and other properties did I mention it was virtually invisible.
Braided Line: Braided lines. It's created by "fusing" multiple braided fibers of new types of micro filamentous materials like Dyneema, a gel-spun polyethylene (plastic). This is what you find with Spider-wire, Power-Pro and Fire-line. Is this the line suited for all fishing applications? No! And here's the Good, Bad and the Ugly to explain why.
Braided Line, The Good
•Thin diameter allowing more line to be put on your spool
•High strength ten times stronger than steel, great for hook sets
•Abrasion resistant allowing you to fish heavy cover, rough structure, and toothy fish
•Low stretch increases your hook set/miss ratio
•Low memory allows for easier casting
•Extremely sensitive allowing you to telegraph strikes quicker
Braided Line, Bad & The Ugly
•High visibility in water can spook fish in clear water conditions
•Very high strength Low stretch can damage your reel drag and break your rod with hard hooksets
•Knot slip when using the wrong knot
Now that we have a general understanding of the different types of lines, lets look at the knots for these lines.
The Clinch Knot:
The Clinch Knot is widely used and is one of the simplest knots to tie
1. Pass your line through the eye of the hook
2. Make 5 wraps around the main line with the tag end
3. Pass the tag end through the loop near the hook eye
4. Moisten the knot and pull tight
5. Snip the tag end off, leave a 1/4inch
This knot though simple isn't as strong as other knots, great for single hooks and novice anglers.
The Palomar Knot:
The Palomar is the knot of the elite anglers and is revered to be one of the strongest and versatile knots
1. Pass your line through the eye of the hook, then pass the tag end back through the eye of the hook
2. Take the loop you just created and make an overhand knot around the main line and tag end
3. Take the loop and pass it over the hook
4. Moisten the knot and cinch it down
5. Snip off the tag end 1/4inch
Applications for the Palomar knot are tying on crank-baits, and other lures, jigs etc. and if you leave yourself a long enough tag end you can use it as a drop shot rig by tying a weight on the tag end.
The Palomar Knot is one of the strongest knots and is great when tying Braid line.
Till next week Tight Lines!
