Loop connection vs. knot

JR wrote:
Compared with the time it takes to snip off the old leader, roll it up
and stuff it somewhere safe, search in the vest for another leader,
unroll it, straighten it, etc., the actual connecting time is next to
nothing.

"rw" wrote
At last, someone with some common sense. :-)
rw

Every little bit helps said the lady who peed in the sea.
Ernie

JR wrote:

Compared with the time it takes to snip off the old leader, roll it up
and stuff it somewhere safe, search in the vest for another leader,
unroll it, straighten it, etc., the actual connecting time is next to
nothing.

At last, someone with some common sense. :-)

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

I, too, have switched over to Leader Links in the past couple of years. While
they were on my list of things to try, I believe it was Wolfgang whose pitch
induced me to try them. They have worked exceedingly well for me, and have
become my choice for line/leader connection.
I read now, in this thread, of Ken's esthetic objection, and this worries me to
no end. I think I have come up with a workable solution, however. My first
thought was to merely take artists Acrylic paint and paint my Leader Links to
match my elegant fly line. But, wait!! Why stop there, when I can purchase a
3/0 sable round brush and paint Pointillist landscape scenes in miniature on my
leader links? Thereby, I would have a stylish counterpoint to the elegant fly
line. Further, I could claim the elitist high ground, and be in a position to
declare over rounds of strong drink, that using anything less is for those too
lazy or incompetent to master color mixing and composition. I knew that Fine
Arts minor would come in handy some day, and after 25 years, I have hit on it!!

Tom

Tom Littleton wrote:

... Pointillist landscape scenes in miniature on my
leader links? ...

Bah, you could paint the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper and the entire
friggin' Sistine Chapel ceiling on the goddamn things and they'd
STILL be tacky doodads.

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Tom Littleton" wrote in message
...
But, wait!! Why stop there, when I can purchase a
3/0 sable round brush and paint Pointillist landscape scenes in miniature
on my
leader links? Thereby, I would have a stylish counterpoint to the elegant
fly
line. Further, I could claim the elitist high ground, and be in a position
to
declare over rounds of strong drink, that using anything less is for those
too
lazy or incompetent to master color mixing and composition. I knew that
Fine
Arts minor would come in handy some day, and after 25 years, I have hit on
it!!

Tom

Tom:

I think you've hit on something here, aside from Ken's refusal to recognize
fine art. If people are willing to pay $.33 apiece for plain plastic leader
links, I imagine there would be a huge market at finer fly shops for the TL
version - maybe fetching $.50 apiece. And when they become collectible,
hell, maybe even $.75. I would even offer to buy the first 6 prototypes for
the ungodly sum of $1.00 apiece in order to push the market (and of course,
ultimately to make my stash invaluable). I have plenty of free time -
maybe I could sign on as chief salesman (commission only). I can't think of
anything that would lend class to the typical fly fisherman, standing out in
a stream with a pair of baggy waders (or of Jeffie's case, baggy shorts)
with his logo hat and Gink stained vest, more than a hand painted
masterpiece of a leader link. And so subtle a class marker, that only the
truly elite would recognize it... Wow, sign me up!

--Stan

Tom Littleton wrote:
I, too, have switched over to Leader Links in the past couple of years. While
they were on my list of things to try, I believe it was Wolfgang whose pitch
induced me to try them. They have worked exceedingly well for me, and have
become my choice for line/leader connection.
I read now, in this thread, of Ken's esthetic objection, and this worries me to
no end. I think I have come up with a workable solution, however. My first
thought was to merely take artists Acrylic paint and paint my Leader Links to
match my elegant fly line. But, wait!! Why stop there, when I can purchase a
3/0 sable round brush and paint Pointillist landscape scenes in miniature on my
leader links? Thereby, I would have a stylish counterpoint to the elegant fly
line. Further, I could claim the elitist high ground, and be in a position to
declare over rounds of strong drink, that using anything less is for those too
lazy or incompetent to master color mixing and composition. I knew that Fine
Arts minor would come in handy some day, and after 25 years, I have hit on it!!

Good ideas, but why stop there. How about taking the next step -- bamboo
leader links.

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

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Tom Littleton wrote:


... Pointillist landscape scenes in miniature on my
leader links? ...


Bah, you could paint the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper and the entire
friggin' Sistine Chapel ceiling on the goddamn things and they'd
STILL be tacky doodads.

And just why are they tacky?

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

Stan writes:
I imagine there would be a huge market at finer fly shops for the TL
version - maybe fetching $.50 apiece

Crass commercialism!!! Now, that's tacky!
Ah, artists are so misunderstood.
Tom

rw contributes:
Good ideas, but why stop there. How about taking the next step -- bamboo
leader links.

hmmm, you may be on to something. They would probably only work with silk
lines, but still......Actually, my sense of anti-
elitist thinking would be likely to have me painting them to look like little
trompe l'oiel
Budweiser cans. Now, that would be tacky!
Tom

Tim J. wrote:
... Try the "nail-less nail knot" next time. SUPER easy,
strong, and no tools.

http://www.virtualflyshop.com/skills/jb4knots/

I use a short piece of cocktail straw to tie my nail knots. They're
free and if you ever lose one you can just go into a bar and buy a
drink. I can't tell you how many of those things I lose. ;-)

Anyway, this "nail-less" thing intrigued me. Could it be possible
that there's been a better way all this time and I didn't know
about it ? Nope. I know a nail knot, and that sir, is no nail knot.
Pretty fair facsimile, but it ain't the real thing and I wouldn't
trust it.

--
Ken Fortenberry