Welded Loops and Leader Connections

[briansII]

Loop Failure....

I'd like to report under stress of a big fish but not. I noticed my fly line had a crack just above the weld maybe a weak spot where the line hinged? Anyway Stanberry made a streamside repair and I'm now without a welded loop. Line is less than one year old 3wt.

Andy

I too wonder what line it is. I have heard of some problems with the early, welded loops cracking. I have one line, where the factory, welded loop is peeling back. Have had some crack too. I've pulled on snags so hard, I've had the loop part of the leader, cut into the line coating. I have never had a factory loop totally fail. To test(not really, just a bonehead thing to do )a loop, I pulled hard enough to sever the fly line. It broke about 6" above the factory loop.

briansII

[NorcalBob]

As long as the braided core is intact, cracks in the PVC coating of the loop have no significant impact on the strength of the loop. My Rio Nymph loop is cracked so badly (after four years of very hard use) that the PVC coating is actually peeling off and getting hung up in the guides. I won't tell you how many big steelhead were landed on that thang in AK, because I was too lazy to cut it off and nail knot in a piece of mono (which I will eventually do). I didn't lose a single fish to failed loops, or any other breakoffs (and that includes the 15lb silver I had to pull out of brush on the opposite side of the river!).

[DubL HauL]

The line is an Orvis Super Fine WF3F. Bob is probably correct in that only the coating was showing signs of breakage the braided core seemed fine. I am disappointed in the short life of the welded loop, less than a year and it's not a line I fish often.

Andy

[FlyinFish]

Interesting... I usually take a short piece of 40# mono and nail knot it to the fly line, then tie a surgeon's loop on the other end and attach leaders to that.

A few trips ago, I was out creekin', and I got snagged just above my head and when I pulled, the 40# mono broke! *??? I got it out of the tree and tugged on the remaining 40# mono section and it snapped again. I've had it on there for almost a year now and it has taken some abuse, but I can't imagine why it would get sooo brittle.

I thought no way am I going to stand here tying a nail knot without a tool. I took the end of my fly line and tied a surgeon's loop with the fly line. Looped the leader into that and I'm back in business. Haven't had a problem with it since and I've been too lazy to undo it and tie a new nail knot. I'm ghetto fabulous like that...

I did the same thing as Ray on my 6wt. Looped it over, wrapped it with thread and added some glue. Haven't used it much, but it works fine and adds some hi-vis to the tip of my line as an indicator.

I guess I don't understand why manufacturers don't just include a loop on both ends of their lines. Maybe too much cost?

[Bakoguy]

Like Okie angler I use red amnesia nail knotted to the floating line with a perfection loop knot at the other. You can make the loop as small as need be or as large as you want. It costs next to nothing and lasts forever. Your FL will never crack and when fishing without an indicator it serves the purpose.

[Rob909]

Like Okie angler I use red amnesia nail knotted to the floating line with a perfection loop knot at the other. You can make the loop as small as need be or as large as you want. It costs next to nothing and lasts forever. Your FL will never crack and when fishing without an indicator it serves the purpose.

This is exactly how I set up my new 5 wt. sink tip.


Rob

[fflutterffly]

Use a double Uni knot instead of the Blood Knot. I've read that it is just as functional. May not be as beautiful, but it holds very well and is so simple to tie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvdRBg-t ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvdRBg-t ... re=related

[Bakoguy]

Use a double Uni knot instead of the Blood Knot. I've read that it is just as functional. May not be as beautiful, but it holds very well and is so simple to tie.

Actually the double uni is a stronger knot than the blood knot. Further the tag ends run paralell to to the line instead of perpindicular in the blood knot. This makes the knot a little trimmer, I think. The single uni knot is great for tying droppers off a lead hook. You can carefully cinch up the knot avoiding tail feathers etc. on the top fly. I use these knots also although I sometimes think that the single uni knot uses up more tippet than a simple clinch knot and there are times I am dexteriously challenged when tying very fine tippet with the single uni knot.

[Rob909]

Actually the double uni is a stronger knot than the blood knot. Further the tag ends run paralell to to the line instead of perpindicular in the blood knot. This makes the knot a little trimmer, I think. The single uni knot is great for tying droppers off a lead hook. You can carefully cinch up the knot avoiding tail feathers etc. on the top fly. I use these knots also although I sometimes think that the single uni knot uses up more tippet than a simple clinch knot and there are times I am dexteriously challenged when tying very fine tippet with the single uni knot.

Jim.....you need to take a break from work and put those knot tying skills to work on the water a bit more often

It's good to see you posting again


Rob

[Bakoguy]

You are right Rob
Posting is the precursor to me going fishing. It's kind of like chum in the water.
I've got some fly's tied. The gear all stacked up. I'm about ready to go.