Knots keep breaking

[Steve Brown]

Gidday all,
Let me start by saying I use 4 & 6 lb fireline with 8 -10 lb leaders by stren(magnathin) and also pen powerline. I have tried using a bimini twist once but it kept on getting caught on the guides so now i just double the fireline to keep the diameters as close as possible. I use a double uni to join the two together.
I have lost about 6 lures as a result of the knot breaking at the join between fireline and leader. Whats left is the fireline knot only. This has happened by a number of foul casts and the occassional bust offs.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Cheers Steve

[Craig H]

Steve,

sounds like the Fireline is cutting through your mono. I used to have this happen to me. This is going to be hard to explain on here, without demonstrating in person, but what I do is make sure I pass my mono line through the fireline loop/knot twice. This seems to stop the Fireline from cutting through when there's a decent amount of weight on the line.

[saltydog]

I read some advice on this very site from a very clued in angler, put a drop of superglue on every knot you tie. I used to lose leaders at the knot but not any more. I keep a tube in the old tackle bag.
it also helps in keeping whats left of the tag end of the knot in check.
catch ya later

Hey Steve.
Try keeping it simple mate. If you look through the archives i think you'll find that the majority of people on her use a double uni knot, with no double in the Fireline!
I use 4lb fireline and 6lb powerline. 7turns on the fireline and 5 of the powerline and your in business! If the knot is tightened correctly with a smooth even pressure it wont break! I almost never break off at the leader join!
HTH mate

Dave

[Craig_S]

Make sure you lube the knots up nice and sloppy before you pull them tight too.

[Mattj]

I agree, drop the strength of the leader. The same thing used to happen to me a lot then I dropped down the leader strength and it hasnt happened since. You still lose some gear but you dont have to tie the leader on again. Also the lures work better with lighter leader also

The superglue idea sounds interesting
Matt

Yeah i am a big fan of light leaders.
I did the KurtB special of goin soft on the fish when it gets to the structure while down south last weekend!
The 6lb leader held up against some serious structure (pylons) without breaking! My Kilo fish took me in there more than three times and i still landed it, so i really think you can go down in leader size. Hook ups increase aswell! Knots definately tie better!

Dave

[beefaman]

Agreed, I use 8lb leader and have never had a problem with the joining uniknot! Just have to play the fish a bit more when in trouble. ;)

[Geoff R]

It must be your big fat fingers, and your lack of Angling Prowess:rolleyes: , Get your book of Geoff Wilson's knot's and start tieing bro, hey. Or come and see your cuzzy down at the shop hey bro and we'll try sort it out. I'll make you a Brew
Geoff

[Steve Brown]

Thanks boys, some interesting things for me to try out. Get that brew gear rolling my cousy, i'll pop in tomorrow for some more idle chit chat. That super glue trick sounds good Salty dog, i remember that a while back too.

Cheers Steve

[MATTY]

i dont know if you guys have seen what supaglue does to lure bibs,but its not good so same goes for sealing knots.if you look at flurocarbon under a glass after sealing knots with glue it doesnt look too flash,a lot of crazing/bubbling.supaglue also goes a bit rubbery after being immersed and probably does nothing to help knot.tie your knots well and you wont have a problem.

[Bear]

Mate,
After the chat we had the other day, I'm beginning to believe it's the Powerline. I was amazed how easy it was to break the 8 pound line.

I use the 10 pound line, and while it was a lot harder to break, it easily ribboned when given a good stretch. I vener really gave this line much of a test b4, buthave my doubts about it now.

I'm pretty impressed with the Stren you put us onto though.

[Evan]

thats interesting bear- i have never had a problem with my 8lb powerline breaking at the knot that connects my leader to fireline

mind you though i always use a bimini with an improved albright

just another tip guys that i was recently told is that when you are using such light line it burns really easily so lubrication is essential.

i have always used saliva but on my recent fishing trip to cape york i started using surfboard wax. this stuff is great and all you have to do is simply rub a little on the semi tightened knot and when pulled tight youll get a perfect knot every time

just a thought you guys might want to try!!!

[canoeboy]

Use same line setup myself. I use an Improved Albright knot, with a bit of spittle when pulling it together, and give it heaps of tension to test it out before fishing with it.
Your leader line could be past it. If you can afford it use the expensive 8lb flourocarbon line as a leader.

[Bear]

Hi Evan,
Geoff had another Penn Powerline that was supposed to be 50% stronger that is really good. The stuff Steve Brown and I had seem to have no memory. Soon as you stretch it, it ribbons. Could just be the batch as well.

Steve's 8lb we could quite easily break off the spool with our hands. The stuff Geoff had wasn't that easy and then Stren was just as good.

[captn' squinty]

;) use water as lube since there is heaps around. it seems to have a more consistent feel to it than our spit.

i use 6lb penn on 6lb fireline. only had fireline cut the leader once but i was fingering the spool to get line back from a monster... :(

[chris_lemess]

Do a Bimini and an Albright - nothing is stronger whether you tie it in 4lb/6lb or 4lb/20lb, both of which I have done, plus everything in between. Tie your Albright about about 5cm from your bimini and you'll never get it tangled in your guides.

Can't recommend any remedy as big-bream-proof as this.

cheers