Bill Butts Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 Why don't you super-glue the leader in the fly line and not have a knot at all?? I have been doing it for nearly 20 years and it works fine. I would also suggest cutting off the first 2 to 4 foot of the fly line. It holds the leader higher. Knotless splices are great especially for fishing in very weedy/mossy waters. The key is to eliminate as many knots as possible, usually allowing only a tippet knot. I've always thought they're fine for size 5 lines or lighter and have used them going back almost 30 years when we were making them with epoxy. The advent of waterproof super glue revoutionized knotless connection construction. While I'm sure they are plenty strong for heavier lines, too, I've always used the needle-nail knot for larger lines where there is more overall pressure and impact shock to the leader system. If I was going to spend considerable time fishing trout streams for extremely selective fish with light lines (the Henry's Fork, classic Spring Creeks, San Juan, Hebgen Lake, Hat and Hot Creeks all come to mind) there is no doubt I would go back to the knotless splices. They do have their niche' applications. Umpqua markets the Dave Whitlock Knotless Splice Kit for about $24 with a nice instruction book, tools and zap glue to do a variety of splices. If you cut off the front 2- 4 feet of a standard floating fly line, you are cutting the level tip section off (most are 6") and part of the front taper (most are from 4-8 feet). Certainly you get a more bouyant tip after removing a few feet due to the greater diameter, but it is still wise to seal it with super glue if you're using a knot connection. Cutting that far into the taper will also change the way the line casts, which could be good or bad depending on how well the line matched the rod and fishing situation to start with. So, to say it would be either a good idea or a mistake would be a risky statement. I would, however, caution folks from arbitrarily chopping very much off the line all at once. You can always cut off a little more, but you can't add it back if you chop too much. Bill Butts Springfield MO "So many fish, so little time"
CaptainT16 Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 Thanks for all the help as well. I have noticed the same with mine always starting to sink as well. I will make sure I try some of these nice tips you guys have provided. Thanks "He told us about Christ's disciples being fisherman, and we were left to assume...that all great fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly fisherman and that John, the favorite, was a dry-fly fisherman." - Norman Maclean-A River Runs Through It
Members SGFChief Posted February 10, 2006 Members Posted February 10, 2006 Super Glue? How well will it hold? What if you get ahold of one of those fish gut eating browns that live under lilley's dock? I like the idea of a smooth knot but panic at the thought of the glue letting go. Is there a special glue or any ol' super glue work?
Bill Butts Posted February 11, 2006 Posted February 11, 2006 Super Glue? How well will it hold? What if you get ahold of one of those fish gut eating browns that live under lilley's dock? I like the idea of a smooth knot but panic at the thought of the glue letting go. Is there a special glue or any ol' super glue work? chief, there is something about the knotless spices that causes me to draw a line on when and where I'll use them. honestly, i've never had one fail but never used one with larger than 3 or 4X tippet or very large fish. if you decide to go over to Lilley's and drift a gut imitation under his dock I would suggest a knot-type connection just to be sure. the best known super glue for fly fishermen and fly tyers is Zap and Zap a Gap. Zap is very thin and absorbs well, and Zap-a-Gap is slightly thicker, more like head cement. both are waterproof, so that may be a different characteristic than other super glues, but i'm not familiar with other brands. I keep fresh bottles of both types of the above and they do everything I need. I also bought some QuikTite by LocTite at Backcountry that has a brush applicator instead of squeeze and look forward to seeing how that performs at the bench. Bill Butts Springfield MO "So many fish, so little time"
Brian K. Shaffer Posted February 11, 2006 Author Posted February 11, 2006 Anybody tried Knot Sense from Loon Outdoors ? I have not.. but I have some to try now. screaming reels - Brian Just once I wish a trout would wink at me! ozarkflyfisher@gmail.com I'm the guy wearing the same Simms longbilled hat for 10 years now.
Danoinark Posted February 11, 2006 Posted February 11, 2006 Brian email me please dfsears at alltel dot net Glass Has Class "from the laid back lane in the Arkansas Ozarks"
Members Robert Posted March 13, 2006 Members Posted March 13, 2006 I used Super Glue for years for leader to fly line attachment. It worked fine except when a leader change was needed. If you are going to use super glue, store it in the refigerator. I now have a loop on all my fly lines. A perfection loop, nail knoted to my line using 20# test Sunset ?Amnesia?. I picked that setup from Steve at the Fly shop at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield. Robert
Steve Smith Posted March 14, 2006 Posted March 14, 2006 Same as Robert. I nail knot about four inches of 20# Amnesia with a surgeons loop for the leader. Coat it with Loon Knot Sense UV. Since I mostly dry fly fish, I use a furled loop to loop leader and tippet connections. Then I put on a good coating of Mucilin silicone, and it will float all day. No problem. I know a lot of people say you should not use loop to loop or surgeons for that matter. That's the way my dad taught me to rig 50 years ago, and it has always worked. I do not get any of the so-called hinging blamed on loop connections, and the surgeon's knot and loops have never failed. ___________________________ AKA Flysmith - Cassville MO
Danoinark Posted March 14, 2006 Posted March 14, 2006 Steve, Same set up I use..except I haven't used the amnesia yet, just some heavier mono. Are you using thread or mono furled leaders? Dano Glass Has Class "from the laid back lane in the Arkansas Ozarks"
Members Robert Posted March 14, 2006 Members Posted March 14, 2006 I do not use anything on the knots, but will give that some thought. I trim my knots very close. I get a very small loop with the perfection knot. I did not mean to say that super glue was not a good idea. It worked for me for many years. The only problem with that set up is you loose line every time you change leaders.
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