Jack O'Malley Interview w/ Dave Richey
Three easy knots to tie that will serve most angling needs. Learn them!
The knot connecting monofilament line to a fish hook or lure often is the weakest link between you and any game fish.
Tie a strong knot and keep your head focused, and you can land fish much heavier than the line’s pound test. Tie a poor knot, and a hefty bluegill can snap 6-pound monofilament as easily as silk sewing thread.
Some fishermen never learn to tie even the most basic or common fishing knots. They often feel that knot tying is for Boy Scouts, not for anglers. That is a bad leap of faith. Never tie a series of overhand knots (sometimes know as Granny knots) and expect them to hold, especially with a fish of any size. Bad knots can weaken line.
These knots will serve fresh-water anglers. Salt-water knots are complicated.
Savvy fishermen realize that a poorly tied knot can result in a lost fish and tackle due to line breakage., They take the trouble to learn the easier knots – the ones that break at or above the advertised pound-test of the line.
It’s not commonly known, but many lines rated as 6-, 8- or 10-pound, or even heavier, often have a knot strength of 20 to 25 percent higher than advertised. Some 10-pound monofilament will break at 12 or 14 pounds. The reverse is also true, and some lines break below the advertised strength.
Which knots to tie for Michigan fishing? There are many that work, including some common and uncommon ties.
A very common tie is the Improved Clinch Knot. But few have heard of the Twice Through The Eye Improved Clinch knot, It is tied the same as the regular Improved Clinch, but the line is passed through the hook eye twice before completing the following steps. It offers an extra strand (or cushion) of line beneath the knot when it is pulled tight.
This is a very common fishing knot to tie and can be tied in just a few seconds.
The Palomar knot is another easy knot for fishermen to learn and use. It gives about 100 percent knot strength, and can be easily tied with cold, numb fingers on a nasty early-winter day on a steelhead stream.
The Uni-Knot is a favorite among anglers who troll with a minnow-imitating lures such as a Rapala or Rebel. The loop at the line tie allows greater freedom of lure movement, and increases the chances of the lure attracting and hooking fish.
Poor knots cause lost fish and costly tackle, but a few facts about knot tying bear repeating. Friction weakens any knot and line, so pull knots together very slowly to decrease friction.
Another trick is to lubricate the knot with saliva before pulling it tight. Research indicates that lubricated line creates less friction and forms a tighter, stronger knot.
Heat, ozone and sunlight are enemies of fishing line. Store line in a cool, dark place.
Still another thing to remember is that heat and sunlight are enemies of modern monofilament line. Store your bulk line or line-filled spools in a cool, dark place when not being used. Lines retain strength much longer when properly stored.
A last tip is to invest in quality line. It pays to remember that cheap line is no bargain if it breaks and costs you the fish of a lifetime. I get my line in bulk spools, and change the line on my reels twice each year or more frequently if needed.
Quality line and quality knots are a wise investment for any fisherman. Always store line in the box it came in, keep it in a cool, dark place, and away from an electricity. It’s been found that ozone cause by electric machinery can possibly have a detrimental effect on quality fishing line.
Take care of your monofilament line, learn to tie the knots pictured above, and you’ll have fewer problems with line breakage and lost fish.
Title: Good fishing knots to know.
Tags: ((Dave, Richey, Michigan, outdoors, fishing, knots, twice,through, the, eye, Improved, Clinch, Palomar, Uni-Loop))
