Page 223 - Randy Penn Everything Knots Book

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THE EVER YTHING KNOTS BOOK

The nature of nylon monofilament is what determines many of
the knots used for fishing. In general, these knots tend to have many
turns with the standing part leading straight through the center of
the turn before becoming a part of it. When a standing part does
this, it is said to have a “good lead.” Knots with a good lead will
have a higher breaking strength than those without. Knots like the
Bowline or the Overhand Knot have lower breaking strengths
because monofilament is somewhat self-cutting in knots with few
turns. Monofilament is also damaged from friction when the knot is
pulled tight, but this is lessened with the use of a lubricant such as
water or saliva. Because fishing lines tend to have a specific strength
limit, it is important not to weaken the line at the knot.

ESSENTIAL

Many fishing knots need to capsize when tightened to their
final form. You can feel the knot doing this as slight pings in the
line as you pull it tight. When not fully tightened, you can
sometimes hear these pings as the knot finishes capsizing when
under the pull of a fish. Because larger lines take more pull to
capsize, fewer loops are sometimes used. A knot that needs to
be capsized when tightened can easily come untied if it isn’t.

Some properties of fishing knots are the result of the small
diameter of the line. Many general-purpose knots must be carefully
and evenly worked down to their final tightened form to be safe
and reliable, but this is difficult with thin fishing line. Fishing knots
can be tied with large loops and crossing turns to accommodate
large hands, and then pulled down to a small size without being
carefully worked into a final shape. Many knots, like the Multiple
Overhand Uni-Knots and the Clinch Knot, change shape as they
are tightened, which is necessary for them to be strong and secure.
Modern science continues to provide us with new kinds of
fishing line, both braided and single strand. For some, you can

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