Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: braided line ?
|
Author | Message Text | ||
drrick |
|
||
AmarilloJim |
|
||
mastertangler |
quote A1t2o: "With the FG knot, how often do you want to cut that out and retie? If I caught a monster then I could see it being a little obvious to check your knots and for nicks in the line, but with not so obvious situations how do you make that call? As per your leader fraying just check it. You can see it and / or feel it. Just cut above the fray (if there is one, often everything will be just fine). I have not had the FG knot fail even after numerous good pike but I am using rope for line. You are smart to question the integrity of your knots after catching a fish. The best way to check is to wrap the line around your wrists and pull. If it breaks it's time to retie ;-) I build my leader thus when using braid........braid directly to fluorocarbon using an FG knot (saltstrong video tube) and then to the lure. If using anything which will spin (in line spinner or spoon) then a ball bearing snap swivel is a must otherwise I tie directly to the lure omitting the snap swivel. If using a snap swivel it is tied to the end of your fluorocarbon and lure added. Don't use a small snap swivel for pike fishing but rather at least 100lb test. This is for a few reasons. First off your heavier fluorocarbon will tie better to a thicker wire. Remember that fluorocarbon and mono ties best to similar diameters. (I use a 3 turn gryp knot tied via the tie fast tool). The second reason is that spoons need freedom to be effective. Small snaps are tight and will restrict movement. If you use a barrel swivel between your braid and fluorocarbon leader that is fine as well but your leader will be much shorter, say 18" instead of 8'. Does it matter, I dunno. Sometimes it might, other times probably not. In any event with the FG knot you will be able to reel your knot right through most guides (I even put my FG knot through micro guides which are tiny indeed) and you can cast or troll without any problem. The fireline which Quetico mike advocates also has its devotees including some very good canoe country fishermen that I have fished with. I have not used it so I have no knowledgeable opinion on it but it is another option. |
||
walleyevision |
|
||
joetrain |
As far as the Fluoro to braid connection the knot that the other poster is referring to is the FG knot. It is a great knot if it is tied properly. There is a video on YouTube that I recommend. Look for the video of a young man demonstrating how to tie it while he is seated at a card table. I think he is affiliated with "Salt Strong." The knot works great but it has to be tied correctly or it will fail. Practice it at home a bunch and it will become second nature. If I go without a fluoro leader I use a palomer knot for my connections. I do not think I ever had one fail. -~JOE~ |
||
HotDog |
|
||
Nozzelnut |
I use the Palomar knot for connecting braid to the lure or swivel if I don't use a leader. I've got a spool of Sufix 832 waiting to go on my next reel; and have only heard good things about it. |
||
mastertangler |
Here is a few practical suggestions. Braid can and will hurt you if you allow it. I ALWAYS work with fingerless gloves while working with braid. Cycling gloves, weight lifting glove etc. You simply MUST check your work and that means wrapping the line around your wrists and maxing it out. Also be advised if you get hung and then pull things very tightly bad things can happen. If pulling by hand you can cut your yourself, if pulling via the rod you can break your rod or, worst of all, you can have a jig head or lure rocket back directly at you under incredible speed and could potentially knock your teeth out or nail your eye. My set up is 20 lb suffix 832 with 8' of 12 lb fluorocarbon tied via an FG knot for August walleye trolling in say 25 to 30 ft of water moving along at a good clip. If I wanted to focus even deeper or troll slower I might drop to 10 lb braid and 8 lb leader (thinner diameter, less drag, deeper depths attained > physics) but your margin for error is slim. Longer moderate action rods help with handling big fish and light braid by absorbing much of the energy. Remember, braid has no shock absorbing stretch. For Pike I don't fool around and run 65lb power pro and 8' of 60 lb fluorocarbon leaders. Again I use the FG knot. The heavy line is for several reasons........first I run big lures often weighing 8oz. Secondly get a big pike in the cabbage weeds and suddenly 20 is undertackled (I rolled my boat trying to get a big pike out of cabbage weeds, the 20lb line broke, I was sideways to the fish and over my solo went). Thirdly I don't bring 40" plus fish into the boat. I stick the rod into my rod holder and tow the brute to shore. The long heavy fluorocarbon protects the line from rocks as I get close. Braid does not like sharp surfaces and can be damaged and come apart easier than many would believe. |
||
A1t2o |
Also when using a swivel do you tie that between the braid and the fluorocarbon or do you tie it down closer to the spoon/lure with a fresh 18" piece of leader? |
||
QueticoMike |
|
||
drrick |
|
||
Nomadmusky |
I like the FG knot but it can be tied incorrectly and then bad things can happen. I like the uni to uni and have used it for years when tying braid to Fluorocarbon without fail. An Albright knot is another that works good and leaves no tag ends and slips through the guides easily much like the FG knot, but is harder, (in my opinion), to tie incorrectly so less likely to have catastrophic failure. Nomad |
||
drrick |
Also, how about Power Pro line? Thanks, Rick |
||
gqualls |
If you will be using a fluorocarbon tippet you can join to mono to braid with an FT knot. You can kind find a lot of different ways to tie it on You Tube. A double palomar knot also works well for me; I used it last summer without any fails. I am sure you will get some sound advice from members of this community. Tight lines! |
||
drrick |
|
||
walleyevision |
quote A1t2o: "With the FG knot, how often do you want to cut that out and retie? If I caught a monster then I could see it being a little obvious to check your knots and for nicks in the line, but with not so obvious situations how do you make that call? Braid to swivel to fluoro leader to lure |
||
Cc26 |
|