The Good-
I just started furling my own leaders and after about 4 tries, I’m making leaders that work fairly well. It was a beautiful day today and I decided to try one out. I made three that are worth trying out. One is about 5’, the middle was5’8", and the longest was about 6’6". I decided to try the 5 footer and it worked very well, even with a tail wind. I caught a bass on a nymph and was rather happy that my leader worked out so well.
The Bad-
I attached a Cortland Leader Loop to my fly line a few days ago to make change-overs a little easier. It worked very well for a while until I noticed a whipping sound on the back cast. The loop failed and I lost my leader and nymph.
The Ugly-
I recommend that if you use these, do not use the shrink tube that comes with the package. Nail knots are much more secure. That, I learned from a previous mishap. And today’s incident taught me to secure the loop itself a bit better. Probably a nail knot there also. Or some super-glue.
The directions for the use of this product do not suggest securing the loop. It just says to slip it on over the fly line and secure with shrink tube.
I use these loops all the time. I’ve never seen one fail like this… What I do see that over the time the little "threads will start breaking right at the leader’s end. But it takes a while. I’m fishing fairly often and last year used onlt two loops per rig. I do not put the shronk tubing over the whole thing. If you do that than you realy preventing the “Chinese handcuffs” effect. My tubing covers only the very end of the loop to prevent it from “braiding out?”
I actually bough a pack of Rio loops this year. Will see if these hold up any better.
I would highly recommend that you not use the loops and take a look at the “Castwell Knot” instead. It is very small and has never failed me. The loop problems you experienced are the same problems I had with the loops plus where the shrink tubing meets the fly line you will discover, after use, the fly line coating will develope a crack caused from the “hinge” effect. This crack will allow water to get to the core of the fly line plus create other problems.
The “Castwell Knot” is all I use now and it works great for me. It is worth a try to see if it works for you since you are trying out different methods. Who knows, you may decide that you like it too.
The first time I tried it, I used the shrink tube but the whole loop ended up flying off. I don’t know why it came off like it did. I thought it may have been a problem with the line being too small. (4 wt line) I thought I fixed that this time and after several casts today the loop itself failed.
I’ve looked at other websites and have found several ways of making secure loops on the line itself. Most of which require you to re-seal the line with Aquaseal or something similar. I’ve heard of people making their own loops with braided fishing line so I may try that also.
I’ll definitely give the Castwell Knot a try though and see how well it fares. I may just do some hard casting in the yard though, so I don’t lose another leader and fly.
Kind of relative to this thread, How do the factory loops hold up? Any opinions, I have a couple new Rio lines should I consider replacing or modding the factory installed loops?
Seriously; get yourself some of the Loon UV Knot sense. Put a small amount right at the junction of the loop so it soaks into the braid and cure it with the UV light. You loops will stay together just fine. I’ve been gluing mine that way ever since I had a failure about 5 years ago. It has never happened again.
In regards to the factory loops; I LOVE them! I never had any issues.
Every braided add-on loop I’ve tried has eventually failed.
Like Janus, if I have a line with no factory loop (which I like), I nail knot a 3-4" section of Amnesia to my line and tie a perfection loop in the end, which ends up about 2-3" long. Once knotted, drip a drop or two of zap-a-gap or crazy glue on the nail knot and the end of the fly line to seal the end and you’re in bizness!
Never ceases to amaze me that at least once a year some pioneering soul, or company, comes up with a “New and Improved” way to accomplish one of the oldest and simplest tasks in our sport.
I have used what seems like a million different knots, loops, eyes, links and etc… to accomplish this one, simple task. I prefer the Scientific Anglers L-2-L system first and the Castwell knot second. The Castwell knot comes in second because I do not like, read cannot afford, to nip the end of my line off every time I want to change a leader. I may even tie a L-2-L leader into a short loop so I can use a furled leader. Perhaps not as I do not really like furled leaders.
I put a tapered-end loop on my line the other day. It is permanent, and so far it has held up very well. I actually put a leader on it and tugged on it pretty hard and it didn’t break or show any signs that it was about to break. I did mine slightly different from the website from which I got it. Even though it is glued, it still remains flexible.
nighthawk, I am so cheap that I have been known to untie my knot and re-use it. Not really, it plays hob with the end of the line. BUT, when I do tie it the first time, I kind of squiggle the whole knot to the end of the flyline and get it so close that I do not need to trim it. Really does not use much line. That help any?
My dad introduced me to the, “Tention knot”, in 1951. I was 7yrs old… Today, it is called the, “Castwall.” It is the best way to attach the line, to the leader loop, I have ever used… The, “Knot” it’s self, has never failed. I have tryed most of the new ideas. If ya take the time to tweek the joint to the loop, you might have to nipp and 8th of an inch, off the fly line… You might want to rethink the cost.
Oh my God, J.C., you read my mind! Well, O.K., reading my mind would be like reading the Dick and Jane reader, grade 1. Yes, I am simple minded. I am glad that you picked up on the tongue in cheek of my post and your reply got a good belly laugh out of me.:lol:
I should not have been so coy because I actually do use the Castwell knot on some of my light lines for trout. However, can you imagine having to tie knots with arthritic meat hooks that look like this:
Now you cannot see the arthritic knuckles from the palm side but you can see a palm big enough to hide a soft ball with relatively stubby fingers. Not much dexterity in those stubby fingers of mine. That’s why I like the L-2-L system. Well that is the long and short, big and small of it for me.
B.T.W., J.C., it was you that got me going on the L-2-L system too.
Thumbs down on the leader loops. Used them and had 'em fail. Maybe I did something wrong. Thumbs up to tyind perfection loops to either end of a 4-6 inch piece of 20-30lb amnesia and Castwell knotting it to the flyline. Cheap, easy and strong.
Tom.
I am glad that you picked up on the tongue in cheek of my post and your reply got a good belly laugh out of me.:lol: