Anyone have a strong feeling on which method would be best suited for putting a loop on the back end of my 12 wt. floating line? It didn't come with a loop, which wasn't a problem until I started using the reel it was on as a spey reel also.
Right now I just used 6/0 GSP and covered ~1" then whip finished and soaked in UV knot sense. Should I cut that out and do a double nail knot, or is it strong enough? Again, this is a 12 wt setup we're talking about. Thanks for the feedback.
That should do it.
We also use 50lb. GSP (power pro) and do 3 consecutive 8-10 turn nail knots in succession, covered in flexible UV glue.
The whipped loop is a good alternative though.
I have noticed floating lines are a little more tricky to weld. Sinking line (and polyleaders) weld much better. I'm getting better results each time. I also cut the mono end off the tip of polyleaders and just weld them, much easier to change a leader that way. They seem to be fairly stout, I have test yarded on them with a curved automotive pick and they seem solid enough. Some say they are weak, but for trout I'm not really too worried. Probably stronger than most leader/tippet connections.
Braided loop is the gold standard on heavy lines. They are easy to make and have been used by many anglers on tuna, marlin, tarpon etc... I used them for years fishing in Mexico and never had a problem with large fish and heavy leaders.
Nail knot option- no where near as smooth through the guides
Thread wrap- not as strong
For clarification I should note I am referring to home built 50lb braided loops (Dan Blanton style). They are great!
I learned a good trick from someone who sold me a used reel on eBay. The reel came with a nice line on it (Wulff, I think). The previous owner had tied a nail knot to a very short, very stout butt section of mono for the line to leader connection, then tied a loop knot in the end of the butt section for connecting the rest of the leader. Works great!
Nail knots work great for attaching leader or backing to fly lines for trout and salmon. However, the OP mentioned this is for a 12 weight where a single nail knot won't work for BIG fish. They pull so hard they cut through the line and you will lose the fish and your tackle.
Here is a link describing how to make a braided loop. http://www.danblanton.com/blog/getting-looped/
The strongest part of a flyline is the core, not the attached coating to the core. Expose enough of the core material to make a perfection loop. Coat the knot with UV knot or tying cement to make a smooth transition back to the flyline coating. Loop whatever butt material you want to the loop, preferably something of similar diameter and slightly less breaking strength, add your leader from there.
This is a quote from Trey Combs book Bluewater fly fishing. " Stripping the finish off the fly line and by using the braided core, whip finishing a loop, and coating the finishing with Aquaseal. This is the ultimate no-brainer. The braided core wears badly against the butt section of the leader. I tell any fly fisher who will lessen that one of the few Golden Rules of Bluewater fly fishing is to never attach am leader in such a manner that it bears directly on the core of the fly line." I'm guessing that sence Ryan is asking for a loop for a 12wt setup he may now want to use the loop system your talking about.
Well, the whip finish held up because nothing 12wt worthy was hooked. Thank you for all of the information. I think I'll cut it off and try the braided loop 2x nail knot method before my next trip (this winter in Mex if I'm lucky). Here's the (live bait) fish of the trip:
The bluefin weren't in range so we went to Catalina. White sea bass, yellowtail, barracuda, etc. We ended up with 15 species.... if you count the pelican.
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