Kern River Fly Fishing Forum

Emerger

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Braided loops
Nov 5^th, 2011, 12:22pm

Had a pre-made braided loop come loose recently at Catalina during a bonita battle. It was inch wormed over the end of my full sink line about six inches, with a heat shrunk tube section over the frayed back end. I tested it with some severe pulls and tugs before use. It came free near the boat, losing the fish and the fly rig too. Is there a better way to secure these loops? Saw a youtube video where the loop was additionally secured with a nail knot of 12lb mono. For all that trouble, why not then just tie on a mono loop with a nail knot and avoid the braided loop altogether? Where are braided loops preferred and why? Buy the loops already made or make them from spooled braided line?

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Lee Baermann

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Re: Braided loops
Reply #1 - Nov 10^th, 2011, 6:22pm

I make my own loops using Gudebrod braided mono in 35lb and 50lb. To secure them to the line,I feed the line in, inch worm style, then I use a bobbin loaded with thread and carefully whip it around the braid until the end is covered. Watch you head while doing this, wrap the thread around the bobbin once or twice to make it tight so it doesn't come loose and hit you. LOL

I use crazy glue but you can use anything to coat the wraps. I tried silicone once but it wore of coming through the sand.

Never have I had one come loose or undone in all these years.

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Flyjunkie

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Re: Braided loops
Reply #2 - Nov 10^th, 2011, 10:57pm

exactly what Lee said about securing the Braided loop to the Line with Thread.. thought i use 13 or 15 lb. Mono to do at least two anchor wraps... I coat the Mono wraps with UV Knot sense and have never had one pull off...

The Reason for using the Braided loops with the long sections is that it distributes the pressure during the fight over a larger surface area of the line then a short Nail knot will. I've had Nail knots fall apart years ago, then got into the Braided loops with the 2 anchor points and have never looked back.

The shrink tube and applying super glue to the shrink tube works for Trout, not stronger, harder fighting ocean fish, like those Bonito you were targeting... Wink

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Emerger

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Re: Braided loops
Reply #3 - Nov 11^th, 2011, 11:14am

I used prepared ones by Umpqua and inched the fly line all the way up the braid until it was blocked near the beginning of the loop. Then I saw a Youtube of stopping the fly line about an inch short of that leaving an inch of unoccupied braid. He said it help effectuate the cinching effect of the braided tube on the line, but I wondered about development of a hinge there. Anyhow, one thing I have been using of late instead of knotsense to further secure junctions is a small dab of 3M marine adhesive. This stuff sticks very well to anything and dries flexible. It is designed to secure metal fittings to boat hulls. It does take a while to cure, so not practical for application in action. It is also white so it helps me spot the end of my fly line on retrieve.

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Flyjunkie

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Re: Braided loops
Reply #4 - Nov 11^th, 2011, 9:43pm

Quote from Emerger on Nov 11^th, 2011, 11:14am:

I used prepared ones by Umpqua and inched the fly line all the way up the braid until it was blocked near the beginning of the loop. Then I saw a Youtube of stopping the fly line about an inch short of that leaving an inch of unoccupied braid. He said it help effectuate the cinching effect of the braided tube on the line, but I wondered about development of a hinge there. Anyhow, one thing I have been using of late instead of knotsense to further secure junctions is a small dab of 3M marine adhesive. This stuff sticks very well to anything and dries flexible. It is designed to secure metal fittings to boat hulls. It does take a while to cure, so not practical for application in action. It is also white so it helps me spot the end of my fly line on retrieve.

You're using the Freshwater Loops.. the part you thread onto the flyline is only about 3 inches .. You need to buy the Saltwater ones that are about 12 inches in length. You simply thread them on all the way to the loop. and splice the mono or thread at the back end -2 times... after securing it twice and coating it with UV Knot Sense (or some other adhesive that coats the wraps) you should not be able to pull the loop out or off the fly line.... Wink

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Emerger Member I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 81	Re: Braided loops Reply #5 - Nov 11^th, 2011, 10:12pm Flyjunkie, What exactly do you mean by "splice" the mono or thread at the back end? Wrap down the frayed back end of the braid? What kind of a knot?
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Flyjunkie

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Re: Braided loops
Reply #6 - Nov 11^th, 2011, 10:59pm

Quote from Emerger on Nov 11^th, 2011, 10:12pm:

Flyjunkie,

What exactly do you mean by "splice" the mono or thread at the back end? Wrap down the frayed back end of the braid? What kind of a knot?

Basically this type of Splicing is a ten wrap nail knot with Mono... or multiple Thread wraps.. either at the frayed end up the fly line... yes, you are wrapping down the end of the braided loop tightly into the flyline..

PM me if you want more specifics...

DEAN ~~~

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Emerger Member I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 81	Re: Braided loops Reply #7 - Nov 13^th, 2011, 2:46pm Thanks and I think I get it. Noodling around for Gudebrod indicates that the braided line is no longer available.
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troutinator

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Re: Braided loops
Reply #8 - Nov 13^th, 2011, 3:51pm

What a coinidence. I'm riding shotgun on the way home from Tahoe and we just stopped off at the large outdoor store in Manteca. I stopped to purchase some sinking line foe my 10wt. The manager (a former ff guide) sold me on the braided loops, but also spent the time to attach the loops to the sinking line with two nail knots of 15# mono and a generous dab of flex seal cement. He said many people neglect the cement and lose the line.

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