Loop connection vs. knot

Here's a different point of view.

I nail knot some red amnesia to the end of my fly line and tie a surgeon's
loop in it --if it doesn't already come with a loop like, for example, the
Rio Grandes do. Then I use a loop to loop connection for the leader.
Again, RIO's come with a loop already in them. It doesn't seem to harm my
casting at all.

My son, on home leave after combat and peacekeeping in Iraq, asked me to
take him FFing for the first time. We're past the season for dries and so
are chucking nymphs with indicator and weight. Not surprisingly, as a total
beginner, he's getting the occasional snarl.

We could spend time fixing the technique flaws that caused the snarls. I
did a bit of this, but I don't think he's going to get enough enjoyment from
that to hook him on the sport. We could sit there on the stream bank and
work out the snarls or retie leaders. But I figure his time on the water
actually fishing is precious and new leaders are cheap.

Today we cut off 3 of his snarled leaders and got him back to fishing fast.
He caught 4 trout and grinned all the way home.

I can get a 3-pack of leaders for about what it costs me to rent a DVD. The
loop to loop makes it really fast to change leaders. Beginner's casts
aren't influenced as much by the connector as by other issues. If you've
only been at this for a year, "transfer of energy" is more of a concept like
global warming than an issue like standing on a burning bridge.

Getting through a total season with one leader is not my goal. I wanna
catch (and release) fish. I wanna have days filled with fishing, not
unsnarling knots or reconstructing leaders. Unsnarling knots and
reconstructing leaders is too much like what I do for a living as a
consultant, not what I want to do for fun.



"Ernie" wrote in message
y.com...
Tim,
Sierra Fisher and Wolfgang are giving you good information. Leader
Links
allow you to change leaders quickly and they last a long time. They don't
catch moss, cause drag or make a splash and they transfer power well.
They
are strong and you will break your tippet long before you break them.
They
are very economical.
Leader Link - A small nylon device that connects your line to the leader
with a simple overhand knot. Can be purchased from Eagle Claw Country
Store
Phone 1-800-628-0108. Get LL1 for tapered lines and LL2 for level lines.
Ernie

"haresear" wrote in message
My Question: Are loop connectors at the end of your fly line an
advantage? They sure make it easy to change leaders, but do they
provide sufficient transfer of energy from line to leader? Is it
"better" to use a nail knot? Or does it matter?
Tim

In article . net,
"Oldfrat" wrote:

I can get a 3-pack of leaders for about what it costs me to rent a DVD. The
loop to loop makes it really fast to change leaders. Beginner's casts
aren't influenced as much by the connector as by other issues. If you've
only been at this for a year, "transfer of energy" is more of a concept like
global warming than an issue like standing on a burning bridge.

A dvd rents for about $2. Where do you buy 3 leaders for $2 to $4?
That is what you get a leader for at a fly shop, about $3.50, about $2
if you get FAIRPLAY. And that is at Wallmart, which has nets for $6
that fly shops sell for $30

I and many friends have had loops pull off unexpectantly, including those
installed at the factory by Orvis or their subcontractor. Many have changed to
"nail" or "needle" knots. However, Warren introduced me to plastic connectors
that I really like. They are small and pass through the guides with ease. I
am now using them on sizes 2 through 10.

Lou T

On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 17:11:13 -0800, rw
wrote:

What, please tell me, is the pressing need to change leaders easily? How
many times, per fishing day, do you change leaders?

I don't change leaders that much, but when I need to during a fishing
day it isn't planned and doesn't always come at a convenient time, so
I like to be able to do it quickly. I use braided loops on everything
from 2wt to 11wt and haven't had any problems with them. I don't use
the little shrink tubing, though, I wrap the end with tying thread and
put a thin coat of Aquaseal over it.
--
Charlie...

I caught that. But I use them on light tackle also. Reasons, poly leaders
turn flies over better, and it is easier to fine turn tippet size to
situation. Poly leaders work better with braided loops.

"rw" wrote in message
m...
Sierra fisher wrote:
I use poly leaders and change them a lot. Especially for steelhead
fishing
with a 9' rod or 15' spey rod.

My claim was only that loop-to-loop connections suck on "light tackle."

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.



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The ones I have are called "Cast Connectors" They come in Fl Orange and clear.
Here's how they work. They are barrel shaped with an axial hole and a 180
degree radial hole at the mid point. Put the line in an axial hole and out the
radial hole. Tie a knot, trm, and put knot back into the barrel. Put the
thick part of the leader in the other axial hole and out the radial hole . Tie
a knot trim, and put the knot back in the barrel.. Also; they make it easier
to land fish (on the rare occasion I catch one). They slide through the guides
smoothly. I used to reel in to a point where my line was still extending out
the tip top. Now I reel into the point where the leader length extending out
from the tip top is the optimum for using the net.

Hmm, sounds like Eagle Claw's patent has expired and some one is making
Leader Links under a different name. Who is the Company Lat705?
Ernie

"Lat705" wrote in message
...
The ones I have are called "Cast Connectors" They come in Fl Orange and
clear.
Here's how they work. They are barrel shaped with an axial hole and a
180
degree radial hole at the mid point. Put the line in an axial hole and
out the
radial hole. Tie a knot, trm, and put knot back into the barrel. Put the
thick part of the leader in the other axial hole and out the radial hole .
Tie
a knot trim, and put the knot back in the barrel.. Also; they make it
easier
to land fish (on the rare occasion I catch one). They slide through the
guides
smoothly. I used to reel in to a point where my line was still extending
out
the tip top. Now I reel into the point where the leader length extending
out
from the tip top is the optimum for using the net.

"Wolfgang" wrote in message ...

Leader links.....for every situation, every day.

While tying flies for my recent trip to the San Juan I
came across a pack of leader links I had added to a
Cabela's order on a whim. I rigged one up on the rod
I was using, and really loved it. Sooo smooth coming
through the tip-top that I didn't have to worry at all
about bringing in the end of the 10' leader into the
guides with an 18" bow on the end of 6x. The fish would
do their one last run and that leader link would glide
through the guides smooth as silk...

Jon.

"Jonathan Cook" wrote in message
m...
"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...

Leader links.....for every situation, every day.

While tying flies for my recent trip to the San Juan I
came across a pack of leader links I had added to a
Cabela's order on a whim. I rigged one up on the rod
I was using, and really loved it. Sooo smooth coming
through the tip-top that I didn't have to worry at all
about bringing in the end of the 10' leader into the
guides with an 18" bow on the end of 6x. The fish would
do their one last run and that leader link would glide
through the guides smooth as silk...

Jon.

The closest thing to a problem I've had with them is that the knots in
the thicker sections of a knotted leader will not pass through the
link, thus making it necessary to cut the stopper knot on the butt in
order to change leaders. As I change leaders infrequently and
snipping and retying the end knot is insignificant, it isn't much
trouble.....considerably less bothersome than most other methods.

Wolfgang

Jonathan Cook wrote:
"Wolfgang" wrote:

Leader links.....for every situation, every day.

... really loved it. ...

Leader links are tacky little doodads for those who are
too lazy or incompetent to tie good knots.

You wouldn't hang a velvet Elvis in the Louvre, why put
tacky **** on your flyline ?

--
Ken Fortenberry