I've been having problems tying knots this year, the actual act of tying, I suspect the problem is I'm getting older. Started using fluorocarbon for leaders to thwart the pickerel as opposed to straight braid in years past. I'm having problems seeing and manipulating it, I wear progressives, and the fingers are losing dexterity. I tie Palomar and Improved Clinch knots depending on the lure I'm using, both are pretty simple and I've used them for years, the use of leaders is new.

 

There's not much I can do about the joints getting older but maybe I can improve seeing the leader. In general I'm finding braid and green mono are much easier to tie. I hate to give up the transparency but I think being able to tie good knots has to come first. Has anyone tried colored FC? I'm also thinking of going to a colored mono on my "finesse" reel as opposed to the clear 6 lb.

 

Comments appreciated.

for a great colored mono, try Sufix Siege in Smoke Green color. its amazing 

Try the Pitzen Knot. It's a great knot and easy to tie:

 

 

2 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Try the Pitzen Knot. It's a great knot and easy to tie:

 

 

I'll have to mess around more with this one, the few times I just tried it it slipped on mono when I tugged on the hook. I'll try it later on braid but I don't have issues working with that. Tried the San Diego which is almost the same, no slips, yet. I'll use/try them both tomorrow when I'm on the water and see how it goes.

 

I noticed how the guy in the video hooked the hook onto the tackle box when tying, I just tryed that on mine and something so simple helped a lot. I'm sitting in a canoe where the box is right in front of me anyway.

Just put your soft plastic on the hook for weight and that keeps the line tight.

If you are tying on a lure the weight of the bait works for you.

Uni is pretty straight forward

FC line is problematic regarding knot strength, so many FC knots it’s impossible to list them all. 

Get yourself a pair of reading glasses. CVS will let you try on several different powers. I use 1.5 to tie knots.

Maxima Ultra green is a light translucent green color Copolymer line. I use 5 lb UG no leader. The Palomar knot is easy to in hooks or snaps and San Diego jam knot is easy to tie on lures with. Use the lure weight to wrap the line around the loop, the tag end goes through the bottom loop like a clinch knot the back up the the upper loop like improved clinch knot. If you continue to use FC line the SD jam knot is a good choice for FC, Mono, Copoly line.

Leader knots are a pain in the arsh to tie. The Uni to Uni or the old Blood Knot ( back to back clinch knot) are easier to tie then most others.

Tom

 

 

I learned something from that video.

I've been using a double pitzen for FC for about 3 years now but had no idea what it was called until I watched that video. It has been absolutely great for me, no mystery breakoffs and none on fish that I can remember. When I have to break it off intentionally, I'm always impressed by how much force it takes to actually fail the knot.

I'm 75 years young.  I never wore glasses except to read until about ten years ago.  When I was younger I could tie knots by feel in the dark, so tying them half blind hasn't been that bad.  Last year my ten year old glasses were scratched up and I decided to get a new pair.  I went to one of the fancy eye stores and after testing my eyes they gave me a new prescription.  They wanted $650 for their glasses and I thought that was too much for black wire frames and two pieces of glass.  I was not trying to look like Elvis, I just wanted to see better.  I went to Walmart's Eye Center and handed them my prescription.  The people were nice and very helpful.  A week later, I picked up my new top-of-the-line progressive glasses for $250.  I couldn't believe the difference.  It's amazing what I can see now compared to what I couldn't before.   Bad vision tends to sneak up on you.  New glasses won't help your fingers work better, but you will see what you are doing.  If anyone over 60 is on this forum with ten year old glasses, get a new pair. 

Dump the fluorocarbon leaders. Take the suggestions about new glasses. And take your own suggestion about the green or smoke colored mono to make it easier to see. And quit worrying about the fish being able to see your line. Enjoy your fishing & remember all the big fish are the older fish & maybe their eye sight diminishes with age just like us humans.

Try a dark back ground, like black plastic place mat. It helps alot when dealing with FC and small diameter lines.

I use a San Diego Jam Knot because I find it quick and easy to tie. 

 

Ditch the leader and look at darker colored line. I used the red line for years and caught all kinds of fish. I honestly don't think fish care about line color. 

Yeah I wouldn’t use leader either, if you have problem trying one knot why add one more knot to be a cumbersome. Bass doesn’t mind a little bit of color here and there and if you don’t have confidence just sharpie a few feet.

I caught fish in yellow braid and chartreuse mono.

Thanks all for the info. Used the SD knot yesterday without any problems, I just use more line tying it. So the only thing is I need to use a longer leader as I retie a few times a day. I use a double uni now, going to have to find something that's a little smaller, I can feel the knots ticking thru a few of the guides.

 

I use 15lb FC leader for the pickerel that inhabit 2 of the better ponds I frequent, works well stopping bite offs.

Alberto. 

Think I'm going to try the FG, I like the lack of a tag on the leader, to me that's what catches both the guides and weeds.

 

If I can see to tie it.

17 minutes ago, padlin said:

Think I'm going to try the FG, I like the lack of a tag on the leader, to me that's what catches both the guides and weeds.

 

If I can see to tie it.

Rest In Peace ?

I tried progressive lenses and couldn't get used to them. That may be part of your problem.

 

I don't think line color makes a whole lot of difference. I tied black braid directly to the lure once and it didn't seem to hurt. I've used fluorescent yellow line for trout in a clear stream for visibility because the clear was hard to track the location of the lure in the current and I caught fish.

 

I have the same problem with arthritis and a few times I resorted to just a simple overhand knot done 3 times. It's not fancy but it works,