It’s so easy to slip into a routine and do the things that are easy, convenient, or familiar when you are fishing. I got a stark reminder of this recently when I finally bought my first spools of 100% fluorocarbon mainline. I’d found some 17lb line that wasn’t as thick as tow rope and looked like I had a hope of casting it.
I unwrapped my eBay prize and was impressed until I tied on a hook with my usual five turn grinner. My tests are definitely not scientific but I estimate the knot broke at around half it stated breaking strain. I was gutted, fluorocarbon is not cheap and I’d just bought four spools of it, so I went through my usual armoury of knots but only slightly improving the lines performance.
Then I noticed in very small print on the box that the manufacturer recommended the double clinch knot. I’d never heard of it, and hadn’t got a clue how to tie it. So it’s off to the internet and very soon I’m tying a knot that looks very similar to the first fishing knot I was taught, the blood knot. The only difference was the line is passed twice through the eye of the hook or swivel and the tag end of the line is passed through the two loops formed trapping it between the hook and the turns of line.
I found it difficult to believe that this knot could make a difference, but the change was astonishing. I found it difficult to snap the 17lb line and would have continued but was in danger of cutting my fingers off or pulling the door knob off. I told you it wasn’t scientific.
We are all constantly trying to get that edge, improve our performance. I’m a sucker and I’m constantly experimenting with new products, tackle manufacturers love people like me. What I will always remember in future that new materials require new techniques, don’t be complacent and just tie your same old knots, it could loose you a real lump. What’s the point in having a new hi tech line that is invisible and sinks like a stone if it won’t land a minnow? Every time you tie a knot you weaken your line, do your research and make sure it’s the right knot.
Ron Key
