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Among the diffrent ways of
connecting the fly line with the backing and the leader the loop connector
are easy and quick to be used, effective and strong if well made.
Building a braided mono loop connector
is easy and a lot less expensive than buying commercial loops. Using a
loop to connect the various line system sections have evident advantages
over a simple knot. It's obvious that the angler can change a leader or
a tippet or a fly line quickly and without the need of tying a single knot.
A very good way to build loops in the
fly line is to double it using two 0,25 mm. nylon mono, tube nail knots.
If not well mounted the connector can fail and probably this will happen
when you fight a large fish.
The trick to be sure of the loop strength
is simple but needed to have a good result.
Never use connectors with only a plastic
leave to hold them, even if one that is treated with heat to hold better.
Don't trust a drop of glue.
You need both building a strong loop and
do the right "serving", binding the braid and the fly line ( 8).
The chinese finger effect is responsible
of most of the holding power of braided connectors but to perform well
you need to bind the braid over the fly line to avoid it open and slip
off.
When the loop is pulled the braid squeeze
the line and hold better.
Many mono knots along the connector are
negative for the chinese finger effect.
The best solution is a single binding
point at the end of the braid.
My preferred serving is done with two
consecutive small tube nail knots.
Another method is to use a fly tying thread,
spinning the spool around the line.
A drop of flexible glue over the knots
is a good finish for smoothness and resistance to abrasion.
To have a better energy transfer without
interruptions you can peel off the fly lime plastic coating to have a short
section of the inner braid exposed.
With a doubled steel wire insert the line
in the connector.
The uncoated section of line must enter
the inner braid of the loop (4).
To build the connector use the same doubled
steel wire.
A good spooled material is the Gudebrod
(35 and 50 lb).
You must pass the braid in itself two
times to have the full strenght (1-2).
Start with the wire going away from the
braid's tag end and insert the standing braided line inside (2 cm.).
Then insert the wire 2 cm below the tag
base in the longer line, exit near the exit point of the first insertion,
thread the short tag end and pull it inside and out.
The intersections can be 2 cm long and
you must leave 7-8 cm of single braid to insert the fly line.
Don't coat all the connection with any
glue.
Only apply a some flexible glue on the
serving and if you like it in a small point of doubled braid near to the
loop.
Don't use super glue over the braid because
the braid can break with the rigid and fragile cured glue.
You can use the loop connectors also for
mono running lines and backing also if it's not really needed. For these
thin lines leave a longer (double) braid section to insert the line.
You can build a bimini twist and then
slip the doubled line inside a loop connector. |
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