Hi all
I have been plagued by break-offs at both hook and tippet to leader joints recently. This has happened with different brands of line, of different weight ratings.
Fished Bewl yesterday, and lost 4 fish to this; had the same problem at Clywedog last year.
Factors - I don't get out very often, and all the tippet spools are last year's. Do they deteriorate with time? The spools are kept in my vest, which is kept in a dark, cool cupboard.
I try to be as careful as possible about tying knots, plenty of lubrication as I draw them up tight.
I use a 2 turn water knot for joining lengths of line, no problem with slippage. I generally use a 4 or 5 turn uni-knot for hook attachment, as I find my blood knots slip, and easier to tie with my eyesight not as good as once was. Tried a tucked blood yesterday, but still broken off.
Wish I could say I was being busted by doubles! These are just run of the mill fish on 5 to 6lb tippet.
I do tend to use coarse fishing lines, as they are fine diameters for the strength, good quality brands, not cheap.
Any ideas?
Cheers
Dan

Hi Dan,
I use Maxima, double blood knot to tie on my hook, and 4 turn water knot to join nylon/make droppers.
And always moisten the knots before tightening down.
Cheers
Richard

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Richard Jackson
Fly fishing instruction and guiding in the heart of Devon
www.devonflyfisher.com

Thanks Richard
I know everyone has their favourite line, and I have tried to buy quality. I slobber all over my knots before applying any sort of pressure, yet I still sometimes get a pig's tail above the hook. I am clearly doing something wrong, but can't figure out what!

ps. My main fishing is WUF waters. How small in terms of line bs would you go when after river brownies? I like to fish light, but would appreciate your expertise?

Well I would say it could well be the knots or your ability to tie them, could need to practice them more. for attaching a fly to the leader a tucked half blood knot is the most practical IMO. (I know you say you have tried this but it could be the knot is not fully tightened). If your getting pigtails then its not the line snapping its the knot sliding resulting in the memory in the end of the tippet material (pigtail).

If you've not had problems with pigtails and breakages in the past with other tippet materials it could be the stuff your using is not fit for its purpose, although I know people that use 4lb course fishing mono for fly fishing with no problems. Maybe get a spool of fulling mill fluoro in 6lb or so (quite cheap and decent stuff) just to try and see if you get the same problems, if it still happens then - get some help with the knot tying!

Cheers

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see "eliteflies" username, for all my products thanks.

what poundage tippet are you using... what kind of line is it copolymer fluoro etc ? are you using a fast actioned rod...

i found that when using my faster rods that i was snapping off alot when striking, i finally fault found it to using fine fluoro and a fast stiff rod, no give in the system... i swapped tippet to something with a bit of stretch and things settled down

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Hi Dan I thought pigtails were caused by heat? try drawing the knots up slower again with lube.
I tend to use Stroft line now because I went through a spell of snapping hook knots when using well know branded co-poly and florocarbon tippet, it can be very frustrating.
Martin....

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I thought I saw the Light at the End of the Tunnel, till I realised it was some @*#@ with a Torch bringing me more work.

you get pig tails if you tighten your knot by holding your hook just pulling your main line to tighten it.to begin tightening if you pull on the tag end of line in one hand rather than the hook and the main line with the other hand with equal force as far as it will go,then when pulling the main line to Finnish the knot,stroke the coils of the knot down with the other hand.if that makes sense. i find this way the main line next to your hook will be totally straight. i tuck my blood knot as well.

Use "The Knot" as recommended by Paul Proctor, esp for fine tippets, but works great right up to salmon strength. You won't get any pigtail problems, it's really quick to tie and it's never failed on me yet with fluoro, maxima or stroft.

…and before anyone suggests it's a Davy Knot, it isn't !

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Most Mono's will deteriorate quite badly over a year,to the point of being unusable.
Why not buy some Drennen Sub surface Green.Cheap,designed for the job,You'll find out if it's your fault.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I find with fluoro less turns is better. E.g. I use a 3 turn uni knot to attach flies with fluorocarbon, but with copolymer I will use 5 turns. I tighten the knot pulling gently on the leader but I also pull back on the tag end lightly just as the knot sits down on the hook eye to make sure its seated correctly. I always test the knot after trimming the tag end by firmly pulling on the hook bend to ensure that there is no slippage.

Likewise with droppers, 2 turn water knot with fluoro, 3/4 turns with anything else.

I use fulling mill fluoro and copoly and have found the above works well.

I've used two kinds of airflo fluoro (sightfree G3 and platinum) using these same knots, and others and had major problems with droppers breaking with both. I won't use it again.