+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 19

Thread: Knots for Stranded/Coated Wire Leaders

Hybrid View

  1. #1

    Default Knots for Stranded/Coated Wire Leaders

    I've been chasing some nice Chain Pickerel lately and have found a wire bite leader to be a necessity for me.

    I have settled on an Albright for the mono to wire connection but a simple knot that draws up nicely to the hook eye is a pain. I've been using a Palomar because it doesn't involve a lot of wraps but the coating on the wire I use makes the knot bind at the last minute so I gotta figure there is a better option.

    Any tricks or suggestions other than skipping the coated wire or wire altogether?

    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2

    Default

    What I do for pike fishing is 'pre tie' short wire leaders. I'll use either 17 or 20 pound leader material and keep the length down to around 3-4 inches (I use the beading wire sold at the craft shop, then 'camoflage' it with several colors of sharpie markers-not sure it matters to the fish, but I like them to be less visible).

    I use a duncan loop knot on the end where I'll tie my tippet.

    For the 'fly' end, I use several options. Either a duo lock snap, a cross lock snap, or just a small split ring (works best, especially if you are a bit 'hardware shy'). I attach whichever with the same duncan loop knot as on the other end.

    I don't want a knot that is tight to the fly's eye, as doing that with wire restricts the action of the fly too much for me.

    Nice thing about this, I just use my 'normal' knots to tie the leader to the tippet, then I can easily change/replace flies as the toothy critters tear them up.

    Works well for pike, which aren't in the least leader shy. I've never even seen a pickeral.....

    Good Luck!

    Buddy
    It Just Doesn't Matter....

  3. #3

    Default

    Thanks; I'll give that a try too!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2000
    Location
    Coon Rapids, MN.
    Posts
    1,053

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bamboozle View Post
    I've been chasing some nice Chain Pickerel lately and have found a wire bite leader to be a necessity for me.

    I have settled on an Albright for the mono to wire connection but a simple knot that draws up nicely to the hook eye is a pain. I've been using a Palomar because it doesn't involve a lot of wraps but the coating on the wire I use makes the knot bind at the last minute so I gotta figure there is a better option.

    Any tricks or suggestions other than skipping the coated wire or wire altogether?

    Thanks in advance!
    Bam,

    I chase pike and muskies on the fly. With the supple, knotable, braided wire available today...e.g. Tygerwire or American brand,try this... It's never failed me.
    .....................
    The knot!
    It's called a Jig Loop. Tie an overhand knot about 2-3" from the end of the wire tippet BUT don't pull it totally shut. Leave it "just loose enough" to insert the end of this wire back into. Now put the tag end into the hook eye.

    Now push this tag end through that overhand knot...that you left loose "enough" but not too loose, right?

    Now, take and make a 1/2 hitch just behind that overhand knot and snug it up. and make a second 1/2 hitch again behind this one but this time puller her tight with a pair of pliers!

    Done! If it turned out right..and sometimes it doesn't, depending on how tight that overhand knot was...you'll end up with a neat little "jig loop" that your fly can swing freely on!!!

    If it didn't turn out just perfect don't sweat it. Fish it anyhow. And I find it best to try to tie a few of these in the plain cheap mono before I go fishing...for a test!
    Really, it's simple.
    ..............

    It's not a knot that "draws up nicely" but rather allows the fly freedom to move.

    Jeremy.
    Last edited by Jeremy; 10-14-2008 at 01:55 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    quitecorner,ct.
    Posts
    2,554

    Default

    I was using coated wire yesterday for bluefish
    Albright knot with a uni-knot lock (think 'improved' like the improved clinch) to the leader.
    Figure 8 knot to the fly
    The simpler the outfit, the more skill it takes to manage it, and the more pleasure one gets in his achievements.
    --- Horace Kephart

  6. #6

    Default Nylon wire connection to hook

    I learned Larry Dahlberg's use of nylon coated wire as a bite tippet. He connects the leader to the wire with an Albright knot. Then tie on the fly by running a couple of inches of wire through the eye, twist it several times and then take a lighter or match and heat the nylon coated wire. This will cause the nylon to melt and and cross link itself, making an almost indistructable connection.

    Practice it until you don't set the nylon on fire and I think you will find it holds very well.

    To change flies just snip off the fly and use the same method to tie on the next one.
    This works quite well and saves a lot of time and material.

    iaflyfisher
    Central Iowa Fly Fishers

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Coldwater, Ontario Canada
    Posts
    252

    Wink

    Quote Originally Posted by iaflyfisher View Post
    I learned Larry Dahlberg's use of nylon coated wire as a bite tippet. He connects the leader to the wire with an Albright knot. Then tie on the fly by running a couple of inches of wire through the eye, twist it several times and then take a lighter or match and heat the nylon coated wire. This will cause the nylon to melt and and cross link itself, making an almost indistructable connection.

    Practice it until you don't set the nylon on fire and I think you will find it holds very well.

    To change flies just snip off the fly and use the same method to tie on the next one.
    This works quite well and saves a lot of time and material.

    iaflyfisher
    Central Iowa Fly Fishers
    I have also used this above method for many years and found it to be the easiest method for me. Caught many 10lb Pike without any breakoffs and once the fly is destroyed, it certainly makes for a quick change up. I tried other knots, but found them a pain at times and lost fish because of my inexperience in tying them. I enjoy the easier less time consuming methods when I'm on active fish. Trick is to only melt the plastic coating, not set it on fire!
    David Parker
    Guild Certified Professional Rod Builder

  8. #8

    Default

    More great ideas; thanks!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    St. Paul, MN, USA
    Posts
    240

    Default

    The jam knot that Jeremy describes works great if you want a loop. If you want a knot that draws up tight go with a basic figure eight knot. It will not come undone or pull out. Real easy to tie.

    Kevin

  10. #10

    Default

    Kevin:

    A regular figure eight knot or some "official" fishing figure eight knot? Just thread the hook eye through and tie it?

    I never would figure that would hold. I'll have to try it.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Wire versus Wire
    By Allan in forum Fly Tying
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 11-15-2012, 05:34 PM
  2. Knots?
    By hungNtree in forum A Learning Experience, Pass it On.
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 01-27-2010, 03:19 PM
  3. Wind Knots
    By doftya in forum Fly Anglers Online
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 07-31-2009, 02:20 AM
  4. No More Nail-Knots
    By bazakwardz in forum Sound Off
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 12-16-2008, 05:28 AM
  5. More on Knots
    By ducksterman in forum Fly Anglers Online
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 07-15-2005, 04:38 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts