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which loop knot ?

Cliff Turner

Senior Member & Supporter
I've always used a figure of eight loop knot to create the loop to attach my hook link to a quick change swivel. Today I lost a fish first cast with a newly tied hook length when the line snapped just below the knot, this made me think and realise that just below the loop is almost always where the line breaks if Im snagged and pulling for a break or occasionally on a fish. Im using fluro btw... any suggestions for a better loop knot gratefully received ?
 
I've always used a figure of eight loop knot to create the loop to attach my hook link to a quick change swivel. Today I lost a fish first cast with a newly tied hook length when the line snapped just below the knot, this made me think and realise that just below the loop is almost always where the line breaks if Im snagged and pulling for a break or occasionally on a fish. Im using fluro btw... any suggestions for a better loop knot gratefully received ?
I religiously use the fig8 aswell Cliff especially with all my float fishing hook lengths and find it to be a reliable knot but certainly one that needs snugging up very gingerly.
Double overhand loop is another that can be very strong but personally I just stick with the fig8
 
Come across this problem last year with fishing as I had come back to it. I found that the figure of eight would not tighten on any line with a diameter above approx .20 mm. ( About 6 lb ) I think these new lines (to me) are a lot more slippery. I tie the double over this diameter and my breaks (in a snag are always down the hooklength away from the loop. The loop has not let me down.. Possibly your loop had been unravelling.
 
I religiously use the fig8 aswell Cliff especially with all my float fishing hook lengths and find it to be a reliable knot but certainly one that needs snugging up very gingerly.
Double overhand loop is another that can be very strong but personally I just stick with the fig8
I did think I may have been over tightening the knot, I do wet with saliva first, maybe a more gentle touch required !!
 
I've always used a figure of eight loop knot to create the loop to attach my hook link to a quick change swivel. Today I lost a fish first cast with a newly tied hook length when the line snapped just below the knot, this made me think and realise that just below the loop is almost always where the line breaks if Im snagged and pulling for a break or occasionally on a fish. Im using fluro btw... any suggestions for a better loop knot gratefully received ?

For fluro, it’s a perfection loop knot for me. I’m happy with a fig 8 or double overhand on mono but wouldn’t be happy with it at all for fluro.

I had similar issues losing fish on fluro and have lost all confidence in fluro loops but for the perfection.
 
Double overhand knot for nearly 50 years, if I'm thinking about it I'll occasionally use the figure 8, but usually my muscle memory is too strong and I've tied the loop before I think about it.
 
Try a Krey loop (aka non-slip mono loop).

In my experience it is by far the best (most efficient) loop knot, I nicked it from saltwater fly fishing where knot tieing is almost a religion.

I have used it for decades for most of my fly fishing and that includes using fluorocarbon tippets. It is ideal for lines between 8 and 25 lb.

In contrast, the perfection loop is a very inefficient knot - probably around 70% knot strength. I only use it on heavy lines (over 30lb) where that low knot strength isn’t an issue.
 
I use a tucked blood knot onto a swivel that I have gone through twice ( braid hooklink) before tying.
I use the same knot to attach the mono mainline above.

I rarely feel the need to change the hooklink. If so it means just cutting above the mainline link swivel and attaching a new one with desired change.

About 1 minute in time. And no worries.

Incidently, I see no advantage in ever using fluro for barbel. It's too unreliable in my opinion.
 
I use a figure of 9 loop , its a hangover from my caving days , we used it when descending ladder pitches as a lifeline .

No particular reason to use it , It is just a familiar knot which I have never had problems with . I suspect though that if there were problems they would be the same one as Cliff highlights .

IMG_2704.jpeg

Dependent upon the rig I am using I sometimes just use a swivel on the end of the mainline . I never use braid at all so there are never issues with unknowns for me .



David
 
I use the figure of 8 with flourocarbon. I find it reliable as long as it tightens correctly, make sure you can see the 'figure of 8' - it sometimes takes a couple of attempts, then I always give the hooklength including the hook a few good pulls and a dab of Superglue to prevent slipping, flouro is quite hard (if it's good enough for big game anglers it's good enough for me and only takes a few seconds). The loop tiers are very good for this knot. I don't know what flourocarbon you use but I don't think Seaguar can be beaten. A friend of mine compared it to Reflo Power, he gradually adds water to a container then weighs it and examines the failure after. The Seagaur Grand Max in 0.21mm measured 0.22mm, knotted broke on a Palomar at 7lb 8oz. Reflo Power Line, a mono I use a lot, 0.19mm was actually 0.23mm and broke at 7lb 6oz.
 
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