Help with my knot...

Waterwolf2230

Waterwolf2230

Well-Known Member
In the last two days I've had two knots fail by breaking at the lure. Not coming undone but breaking. I know that a Palomar is the best knot but is not always a feasible knot to tie. The two that broke were both standard clinch knots with 3 wraps. I tried 4 wraps but they wouldn't sinch down. I'm using Yo-Zuri 50lb fluorocarbon leader material. I've used Yo-Zuri before in 15/20 but never on this lb test. I make sure the knot is nice and wet too. Could the line be bad? I have 50lb P-Line Copolymer that I could try. Just wondering if there might be a better knot to use for these heavy lines.

Thanks guys!

Oh and on another note, I caught another big Chinook today 22lbs) jigging through schools of bait with a Shimano Lucanus Jig at the Green Can in Campbell River :o image.jpgimage.jpg
 
I did a couple trips for an outdoor ESPN tv show from the states. The hosts were sponsored by this and that and insisted on trying all their stuff. Some "invisible" 50lb test fluorocarbon was some of what they wanted to tie. It broke too, a lot. It seemed no matter how much you wetted the line, if there was any friction what so ever while cinching it, catastrophic failure wasn't far behind. It was good when it was good, but why risk it?
 
Nice fish. 2 thoughts. I don't know why you are using fluorocarbon and why 50 lbs test? Fluorocarbon is expensive & tough to tie. Salmon is not exactly leader shy like trout can be. Goodness, you are using flasher and lures that are attention grabbing, hardly stealthy. I can't imagine the tiny salmon brain can process the notion that hey, that looks like a fishing line!!! Unless you are really tightened down on the drag, you really don't need 50 lb. test. I've landed 50+ lb tyees at Rivers Inlet with 20# test. Use lighter line (easier to tie a better knot, e.g., Improved Clinch; the only time I'd use a Palomar is with braid), loosen the drag and enjoy the fight! I'd go up to 40# mono when I'm going after big coho's as they have rather sharp teeth.
 
Waterwolf2230 said:
In the last two days I've had two knots fail by breaking at the lure. Not coming undone but breaking. I know that a Palomar is the best knot but is not always a feasible knot to tie. The two that broke were both standard clinch knots with 3 wraps. I tried 4 wraps but they wouldn't sinch down. I'm using Yo-Zuri 50lb fluorocarbon leader material. I've used Yo-Zuri before in 15/20 but never on this lb test. I make sure the knot is nice and wet too. Could the line be bad? I have 50lb P-Line Copolymer that I could try. Just wondering if there might be a better knot to use for these heavy lines.

Thanks guys!

Oh and on another note, I caught another big Chinook today 22lbs) jigging through schools of bait with a Shimano Lucanus Jig at the Green Can in Campbell River :o View attachment 19331View attachment 19332
Click to expand...

Very nice fish. I too have found fluoro too finicky to knot. These days I just use good old Berkley big game 40 and palomar knots on everything. Can't remember last time I had a break. As the old timers say Keep It Simple Stupid.
 
I am doing at least 5 twists with 50 lb line.

Wet it with some saliva and then make sure the line doesn't twist as you cinch it down and the loops should sit nicely.

I often hook it onto a solid object and pull the $H!T out of it to make sure the knot will hold... I figure if I cant put on as much pressure as a big spring, I should probably hit the gym..
 
Just use maxima ultra green 30lb with the improved clinch not and don't think about it anymore. SIMPLE AND CHEAP.
 
Improvced clinch knot, and a little bit of spit will tighten it right up. Also give it a good pull to make sure it won't pull out.
 
Tailwalker said:
Nice fish. 2 thoughts. I don't know why you are using fluorocarbon and why 50 lbs test? Fluorocarbon is expensive & tough to tie. Salmon is not exactly leader shy like trout can be. Goodness, you are using flasher and lures that are attention grabbing, hardly stealthy. I can't imagine the tiny salmon brain can process the notion that hey, that looks like a fishing line!!! Unless you are really tightened down on the drag, you really don't need 50 lb. test. I've landed 50+ lb tyees at Rivers Inlet with 20# test. Use lighter line (easier to tie a better knot, e.g., Improved Clinch; the only time I'd use a Palomar is with braid), loosen the drag and enjoy the fight! I'd go up to 40# mono when I'm going after big coho's as they have rather sharp teeth.
Click to expand...

I agree with the first couple of sentences. I too was using fluorocarbon for awhile and it's tough to get a good knot. While one could go to might lighter line to get a better knot, I like having the ability to bring a fish quickly to the boat that heavier leader allows (especially if I will have to release a significant fraction). I use Berkeley trilene big game 40# for nearly all my leaders now. It's super easy to tie and I get much better knots than I used to with fluoro. It holds up pretty well - I week or so ago I posted a picture of 4 springs all over 20 and 6 tuna. What I didn't mention then is that all 4 springs were caught on the same leader and a 5th one of similar size that didn't make it to the boat also hit the same leader.
 
I've experienced bad batches of Fluorocarbon leader as well. Had one morning out at the East Entrance at Renfrew where the bite was going off. Snapped off 2 reel screamers at the knot like you mentioned. Didn't have any other leader material so we scrapped the Fluorocarbon and simply used 25lb mono peeled off the reels for the rest of the trip. No more issues with snap-offs.
 
Have to be really careful with some fluorocarbon... Some can be very abrasive and you need to lubricate or keep the knot (some are better than others!) from binding or abrading on itself. I use a palomar whenever I can and I trust it a lot more than a clinch knot (Especially for fluoro - would never use an improved clinch due to the abrasive factor). Does fluoro catch more? Don't think so but I haven't used it long enough yet to tell a difference.
 
Stiffer and more abrasion resistant than most mono.
I have used the clinch knot with no problems, will have to try the palomar
 
I had my first knot break off of my life last weekend in Nootka Sound, and yes it was fluorocarbon. There is another knot to tie that has two tag ends to cut. Ugly as sin, but it seems to hold. There is a specific way to tie a palomar knot when using fluoro as well. Make sure the loop isn't crossed when you are doubling it thru your terminal tackle. Additionally, after you tie your overhead knot in your palomar, you will have a rough figure eight shape in your line before you cinch the knot. Take a piece of line about a foot long and loop it in the tag end of your figure eight. You will need to secure the terminal tackle on something, like a tying vise. Pull the line back towards the tag. this will isolate the knot before it cinches up. Moisten and then pull it almost tight. then pull the piece of line out and continue cinching the knot.
 
i dont get how you guys do 3 or 5 wraps isnt the palomar knot just a double line over hand knot then brought back over the hook and cinched down?
 
I do up my pre-voltage tuned, pre-tied hoochies with Maxima 30# which tests out normally at about 10% over it's rating and use a single penny knot for anything over 20 lb test as in this video. I commercial trolled for years and that was my knot. It is compact, locks good with spit and doesn't curl the line at all if you snap it locked. Test your fluorocarbon for breaking strength on a digital scale and a door handle. A lot of that stuff won't hit it's rating even when brand new and deteriorates faster than you would think. NOTE Don't use Maxima in the tyee pool. You will probably be disqualified. Good fishin
http://www.lurecharge.com/#!penny-knot/c1qa0
 
I had a really nice coho or chinook chomp through my 15lb fluoro last year and take my favorite my favourite beach lure :mad:, haven't used it since. I have noticed that fluoro doesn't keep it's word on lb test either. Nice fish man, I wish I was back at home in BC, also kinda surprising that it took the shimano Lucanus as well.
 
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