Reading the Leader Turnover and Droppers threads has prompted to ask a question that has puzzled me for a while:-

The universal advice when one gets a wind knot in the leader seems to to be to immediately get rid of it, either by untying it or cutting it off and tying up a new leader because of the dangers of a breakage caused by the wind knot.

Why is it then that tying multiple water knots in a leader is all hunky dory? Shouldn't they create (or even exacerbate) the same problem? Aren't wind knots and water knots basically the same thing i.e. overhand knots?

Puzzled from South Wales.

I see your point - i guess that most people DO regard knots as a weak point in the cast so best to minimise them as much as possible.

A 'properly tied' knot will have minimal impact on the 'posted' leader strenght. Some are better than others in this department. 'Wind knots,' or more properly called 'casting fault knots' will actually cut the 'test' of the leader by as much as 50%! Lighter the leader material, the worse the impact of the knot.
Fred

Water knots are strong because they are composed of turns in two pieces of monofilament, next to each other, pulled tight so the coils don't slip. Pull one until it breaks and look at the pieces. The knot never breaks. It is the line next to the knot that breaks. The elongated shape of the knot spreads the load over a wide surface area so is very strong. A wind knot is an overhand knot of one turn (usually) and in one piece of monofilament only (unless you are really unlucky that day) the knot gets pulled tight by the casting action and that single turn cuts into the monofilament. Pull one of these until it breaks and look at the pieces. The knot has broken inside and you are left with two pieces of monofilament each with a little curly hook on the end. The knot has vanished. Unlike the water knot that will still be on the end of one of the monofilament pieces after the breakage.

richard

A very clear explanation that makes perfect sense.

Thanks Richard. I am puzzled no longer.

When I get wind knots (and I get quite a few...) I normally test their strength and then give the knot attaching my fly to leader a similar pull. If they both survive I carry on fishing.

Andy

The pleasure is all mine Mark.

richard

One of the claimed advantages of Fluorocarbon is that it is not weakened by wind knots, not very scientific I know but in my "give it a tug tests" it seems to be true.

i think this is suitable for post of the year.well done richard.

jim

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

I didn't realise that. It's interesting to know because I often use Fluorocarbon. I think I'll do some of my own knot strength tests over the weekend.