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16E 16F BEST KNOTS FOR SPINNING The biggest single improvement any spin caster can make is to spend just one evening mastering five knots, eight if he wishes to fly fish. By using the correct knot, even the seasoned angler may increase his take-home catch by 25 per cent and improve his chances of landing his trophy fish by 100 per cent! Besides, with his gossamer nylon and platyl lines, it is absolutely essential that the spinman discard his old knots and learn these new ones because the old usually let go under tension. With big fish on, that's heartbreaking. I have tested the knots in Figures 14 to 17 with a Scott thread-testing machine. New knots will save you money: you'll not lose as many lures and you'll not leave so many in big fish, the kind of fish you want to bring home for the wall. Convinced? All right, but first a general observation: To avoid shearing, bring your nylon or platyl knots up slowly and finish-pull them tightly. But if you insist on dry-fly fishing and using gut tippets, as I do, bring your knot up with a jerk to set it. (I'm about to change my mind, though, after seeing the brand new Platyl knotless tapered leaders put out by Charles Garcia & Co., 53 Park Place, New York City 7. A 6x tippet tests approximately 3 lbs!) For the strongest knot possible to tie line to reel, see the loop knot, Figure 14C. For splicing two lines, see the blood knot (Figure 15A).
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