THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994 TAG: 9406020174
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 30 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Ford Reid
DATELINE: 940605 LENGTH: Medium
There were a lot of people on the beach and I imagined that they were watching me cast, so I really leaned back and put everything I had into one.
{REST} The technique and the timing felt perfect and the 2 1/2 ounces of metal flew toward the horizon like a tern chasing bait.
It was not until the lure hit the water that I realized something was very, very wrong. It was no longer attached to the line.
When I had sheepishly retrieved the line, praying all the while that no one was really watching me, I saw on the end a squiggle that looked like a tiny pig's tail.
The line had not broken; my knot had failed.
I was terribly embarrassed and I lost a lure that cost nearly five bucks. But it could have been worse. I might have lost a fish.
The angler who ignores his knots does so to his peril. Sooner or later it is going to catch up to you and, just because that is the way things go, it will happen at the worst possible time.
For most surf fishing, you don't need to know a lot of complicated knots. In fact, the only knot you are likely to tie on the spot over and over again is the one that attaches your lure, leader or bottom rig to the running line.
For that either a uniknot or an improved clinch knot works just fine. Any elementary fishing book will show you how to tie them. The key is practice. Pick one of the two and tie it over and over again.
Tie it until you can do it blindfolded, because sooner or later you will have to tie it in the dark.
Tie it until you can tie it without giving it a thought, because sooner or later you will have to tie it while you have better things to think about.
Again, this is not complicated. But there are some tricks, beyond simple care, to making good knots.
First, follow the instructions. If it says to make six turns, don't get lazy and make five.
Wet every knot before you tighten it. Monofilament will dig into itself, which weakens it. It almost creates enormous heat as a knot is pulled tight, which also weakens it. Wetting the knot will guard against both of these things.
Make sure that you pull it tight. Use pliers on the tag end, if necessary. I like to keep the tag in long enough to wrap around a finger to get a good pull.
Don't assume that a tied knot stays tied. Check it after every few casts and always after catching a fish. If you suspect a knot, always err on the side of caution. Cut it off and tie a new one.
The most important thing is to not take knots for granted.
It is such a simple thing, but when it is not done right it can ruin a day of fishing quicker than anything else.
by CNB