Excuse the Newbie for another ignorant post. As my finals come to a close, I have stepped up my casting practice in preperation for actually catching fish!
anyone my question: I noticed today that (my cheap SA begginers outfit’s) flyline is sinking in the first foot or so of the tip. Of course this makes it extremely difficult to cast for someone like me. Why is it sinking (i have my leader tied with a blood knot because for the life of me I couldnt figure out how to tie a nail knot!)
Thanks
When you figure out how and why a boat floats,your mystery will be solved. 
I think what JC is refering to has something to do with weight and mass.
This is common. Very common. In days of yore fisherfolk would grease their lines. I use furled leaders and I coat them will silicone. THere are several products that might help your line float.
“Give me ambiguity or give me something else”
How about cleaning your line as a good place to start? If you have been practicing your casting the line is probably dirty. Most lines will slowly sink if they are dirty. I use a soft cloth wetted then rubbed on a bar of Ivory hand soap. Then wiped down with a damp soapless cloth (to remove any soap). I am sure that there many folks who would have other methods for line cleaning. This method works for me. If a good cleaning doesn’t solve the problem try a little floatant.
Hope this helps.
xfishcop Dick
What kind of leader? What kind of fly line (weight forward?). What is on the end of the leader, something that sinks?
Typically, the thin tip of the fly line is not as bouyant as parts that have thicker coating. I have no knowledge on this, but I’ve heard that some fly line tips float better than others. Also, the leader can contribute to dragging it down. Fluorocarbon leaders sink, nylon tends to float (close to neutral bouyancy, I think). I often use Orvis Hy-Flote leaders to help.
Rawfish,
The comments about the line being dirty are sure enough true. A clean dressed line floats better than a dirty line.
I noticed you said you tied your leader to your fly line using a blood knot. That may be creating a bit of mass in a small spot causing your line to sink, or the current could be exerting a lot of pressure on the larger knot, causing your line to sink.
If your having trouble with a nail knot check out the knot tying section on this site, or switch to another system such as a braided loop connection. Of all the braided loops I’ve tried, I like Orvis or Rio the best.
Hope this helps.
REE
rawfish:
Besides all the excellent advice already given, especially cleaning; I have recently started to seal the ends of my fly lines to prevent water from wicking into the cut end. If you coat the “Blood Knot” you used to secure your leader to fly line with Pliobond or UV Knot Sense you will create a smoother junction as well as a waterproof one.
IMHO It really does help.
I have found that by just cleaning your line in Ivory soap, rinse well and dry, the line will float unless there are other issues with the line itself.
I am not a big fan of line dressing. I have seen it collect dirt which causes the tip to sink.
Ron
A nail knot produces several turns of mono in one place over a single length of fly line and is managable. A blood knot will have several wraps of each in one place and is not. The weight vs mass ratio is dangerously violated. Sinking is imminent; surface tension being broken, it sinks. The use of a knot which does not place multiple coils of fly line in one confined area should correct the problem.
Hi,
Like J.C. said in his last post using a blood knot from fly line to leader would have a very large knot (and still don’t know how you would do that with a fly line). Here is a site that was on another post [url=http://flyfisherman.com/skills/jb4knots/:f2f9b]http://flyfisherman.com/skills/jb4knots/[/url:f2f9b]
This shows four different knots being tied and the last one is the nail knot. They are actually pretty easy to follow.
Alan (salmonguy)
How to tie a nail knot in one easy step
"take it to local fly shop - ask them to do it. "
I’ve only run into one place that wouldn’t do it for free and I took my money somewhere else.
I can’t tie one either - but a blood knot is not the answer.
Tie a nail knot at home with 40 lb maxima, then on the water all you have to do is tie a blood knot between the leader and the maxima. Better yet tie a needle nail knot with the maxima.
If you destroy your leader you need only to blood knot another one to the butt that you’ve semi-permanently put in the line. This is what I use. It works, is less wind resistant that any kind of loop system and reels through the guides.
Ususally a fly line comes with instructions for the knots you need to do it right.
If all else fails, use this. [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/knots/castwell.html:cf3fd]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/knots/castwell.html[/url:cf3fd]
Thanks all for your amazing advice as always.
Well I tried cleaning the line which didnt help. I think it must be the knot. I will try JC’s super cool know that he linked and see if that works. I never saw that one before. Thanks again everyone!
Here is how I clean my line:
Get two bricks, a sponge full of water and soap, and a dry dishrag. Place the sponge in front of teh dishrag by a few inches, and place a brick on both the sponge and dishrag. Strip all the line from your reel put it under both brick setups and begin to reel it in. The line will pass by the sponge, getting cleaned, and then it will pass by the dishrag, so it will be clean and dry when it is on your reel
JC,
From my sailing days, I believe your Castwell Knot is a “bend”- specifically the Sheet Bend. The sheet is the line that controls the aft-edge of the sail.
God Blesses!
A wing & a Prayer! ----*<(((><~ ~ ~ ~
Quinn
I almost exclusively use something called the Krazy glue splice. There is no knot, and it is a perfectly smooth transition from fly line to leader, and pretty much the lightest. This along with line cleaner and/or conditioner, should keep that line tip floating as good as anything. Check the link below for directions. [url=http://www.flyfishingjournal.com/archives/tt199804.htm:ea79d]http://www.flyfishingjournal.com/archives/tt199804.htm[/url:ea79d]
“There’s a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot”
Thanks again everyone for your help…I am starting to regret all the money Ive spent on books etc! Between everyone here I’ve got an interactive library.
Flfyfisher: in terms of that sailing know it seems a little different than what JC was suggesting. In JC’s knot you start with a loop already tied and slide this knot on the bottom of the loop this seems to distribute the mass and weight of the know and I’m guessing makes it float better (like a boat right?). This sailing knot seems to concentrat all the mass in one area and would defeat the purpose of the knot. I think.
If it’s not too much of a diversion, I’d like to ask how bouyant the Pliobond and/or Knot Sense are. On my list to buy next, but haven’t tried them yet. Any difference between them (other than the UV feature)?
I am primarily interested in lessening the hang-up of the knots going through the tip top, but it also might save a knot from unraveling one day.
Keepeth they back cast out of the freakin’ flora.