Wind Knots

[Hawnjigs]

I just found out that its correctly(?) pronounced "wined" knots which makes more sense since I get them even on dead calm days. Did you know that?

Is reel design a major culprit? I get a lot of wind knots that actually snag & snap the line mid spool of my Daiwa Capricorn 1500.

 

[Jig Man]

Ummm not for sure, but maybe your line is twisting? Spinning reels are bad about that...

 

[Pup]

I get wind knots whenever I'm fishing in-line spinners (or any other line-twisting lure) on braided line with spinning tackle. The make of reel doesn't matter. Knotting occurs much more frequently, for me, with larger diameter braid. This is why I fish with Power Pro 10/2 or Sufix 832 6-lb for all of my braided-line applications.

To me, it's all about line twist. I've read many claims on web forums that line twist is virtually non-existent with braided line. However, I've had it occur with every braided line that I've used so far.

With monofilament or copolymer lines that I use, wind knots are not a problem for me.

 

[Jig Man]

Hey Pup,
I started using nanofil this year and so far its pretty impressive!!

 

[Pup]

JM,

Thank you for your suggestion.

Have cast a friend's spinning outfit that is spooled with it. I really like the way that the line travels (zips!) through the rod guides. It accomodates longer casts which are often advantageous to a stream fisherman.

His line had a fluorocarbon leader. It seems that Nanofil's knot performance is less than stellar with lures attached directly to it. That's why his outfit had a leader. This would be absolutely fine for cases when I'm fishing from a boat. However, I need a braided line that will give me my jig back when it gets hung up. That's really why I use braid in the first place.

The best of all worlds, to me, would be a braid that casts like a very soft monofilament line.

Do wish that I could use it, as far as its casting performance goes. It's a good line. :icon14:

 

[Fatman]

I get them more with the tippet on my fly rod than any of my spinning rods

 

[Hawnjigs]

I'm looking at Nanofil, but on BassPro for example there are currently 37 - 5 star and 15 - 1 star reviews. Really hot & cold - definite agreement on long cast handling but many complaints about weak knot strength.

Altho the Boolies I fish pretty much 100% of my water time don't appear to spin on retrieve, jigs often helicopter on the casts.

 

[Shoemoo]

I use Nanofil almost exclusively. I like it because it floats and doesn't absorb water, and it's low memory but stiff enough not to get wind knots. Plus you can feel a bite even when the line isn't fully taut. Many of the people who float fish for steelhead use it for the same reasons, and steelhead fight plenty hard. I have caught smallmouth and trout on it up to four pounds and channel cats up to 15.

I use 12 pound and have not had problems with knots slipping. There's a special knot you're supposed to use, but I've always just used a Trilene knot and I've never had it break at the knot. You may need to use it for lighter pound tests, though.

All of the issues I've seen mentioned were from people tying the line directly to the lure. I always use a swivel and a leader so it has not been a problem for me. If you use some mono or fluorocarbon as a shock leader you will not have a problem.

IMHO it's always a good idea to have the last couple of feet as mono anyway, because most superlines (especially braid) have extremely poor abrasion resistance. Plus if you get hung up, you want a leader that's slightly lighter pound test than your main line. That way if you do have to break off, you only lose a couple of feet of relatively inexpensive mono instead of losing yards of your expensive braid main line. Makes it last longer.

 

[Fatman]

Good info on the line!!!!!! and great tips!!

 

[Hawnjigs]

Yes, thanks for the info guys and gal - I'm going shopping. Nanofil retail is double what I pay for 5# Power Pro on eBay bargain hunts.

My local tackle shop recommends Power Pro Slick, also expensive, but lightest available is 10#. Anyone tried the Slick?

 

[Jig Man]

I use the double surgeons loop on jigs and don't have any problems with the knot. It takes a pretty good pull to break the 10lb... Only problem I have is the line is so small a cork slips on it. You have to hook it on both ends...

 

[eyecrosser]

Sounds like line twist to me also. My 2 pennies worth. I have great luck using Fireline in the braid department and P-Line in the mono/Flourocarbon dept. I use mono backing on the spool behind the Fireline to keep it from spinning. Also, if plenty of line capacity remains at the end of the fishing season strip it off, turn it around and respool with the line that was buried on the reel. Not so expensive when you can get 2-3 years out of one spool purchase. As for the P-Line have mostly fished with the lighter tests for ice, dock and boat fishing for crappies. This line is tough as nails in lighter lb. tests and very castable. I have used anywhere from the 1lb. test to 6lb. test depending on the application and it outperforms all the other monos I have used. Good luck.

 

[Fatman]

thanks for the info - I use alot of Trilene but have wanted to try others and this is really good info!!

 

[bombora]

Have just retired a Capricorn 1500 after the drag finally died from one too many mini pelagics. Such a great little reel. Fished it with four pound Fireline and wind/wined knots were very very very rare.
I always flick the bail arm over with my hand, never just by winding, and when using very light lures and hopping and drifting retrieves I pinch the line between thumb and forefinger with the foregrip hand (helps to have large hands!!).
I'm convinced using the handle to automatically flip the bail arm is a major cause of wind/wined knots _ with very light lures, or a slack line after a cast, it can lay a loose loop on your spool.
Every so often I do a straight retrieve with the line pinched extra tight between fingers to keep the line laying well on the spool.
Just spent six days fishing serious wind, casting up current with some decent run in the water, and using light lures with "indirect" retrieves, and got just one knot, and that was first morning, with a new spool of Powerpro 8 lb, and as usual I'd slightly overfilled the reef's spool (bad habit).
Really impressed with the Powerpro, in orange with black marks every so often.

 

[Hawnjigs]

So what reel did you replace the Capricorn 1500 with? I'd actually like to retire my 3 and replace with Pflueger Arbors, but the the Caps just keep going, and going...thought one was history but Mike's Reel Repair fortunately, or not, was able to find the parts.

I am learning to manually flip the bail but have lapses due to 50 years of habit and a declining mind. Have small hands, so when conditions allow I use the finger pinch with hand on the blank up by the first large guide, with the rod butt resting in a well cushioned belly button.

Haven't seen orange PP, will have to look for some.

 

[hookup]

5# Power Pro

Braid right. Hate to say this, but the problem's user error. I get them too when I get off my A-game.

Keep all the slack out of your line (hard to do, esp in wind).

 

[Bucko]

I get them alot when using inline spinners too. what I do is use a flourocarbon leader with a high-end ball bearing swivel. dont use the cheap swivels, they dont work.

 

[bombora]

I took the littlest Arbor to the atoll as a lighter line backup. Loaded with 6 pound Crystal Fireline. The bigger trevally during my first lttle fishng session scared me from using it.
It's a new backup to the couple of years old indulgence 1500 Daiwa, which has a shallow spool.
The Arbor's been out just a few times, for a couple of bonito. It was a great little reel, absolutely way better than the price they go for, I reckon.
I love the wide narrow spool and solid bail arm and compact body.
That spool swallows surprising amount of line (so something nasty which assassinates a little jig while spinning for little pelagics doesn't strip all the line, like sometimes happens withe the Daiwa).
Spare spool too, love that.
Really, really smooth, strong drag. And I reckon it looks good! That's important, ha!

 

[Hawnjigs]

Yup, JiggerJohn turned me on to the Arbor 7430, might have to get another. Also have the 7440, still haven't gotten wet. But summer is omilu season here, so may need the 40# PP for those reef rippers.

I would have thought you'd go with the deeper spool Cap 2000 for pelagics?

 

[bombora]

Ah, Keith the little speedsters are, well, little! Pound to maybe four or six pounds. Step up the gear if they are bigger. Depends on exact species too. Even little skipjack are just another level of speed and power, so don't use the 1500 size on them.
Any issues with the bigger Arbors, been thinking of one?