On tippet attachment methods: Although I am using different knots to accomplish the same thing, I like the Oni-Long-Loop attachment method because the long loop creates a Transition Doubled Tippet Section of line that gives better accuracy and less hinging of the smaller diameter tippet material to the much larger Line diameter of the T-lines, whether they are Level or Tapered lines. And who among us can compete with Oni’s casting accuracy? Here is a Video showing the knots that Oni Uses:
To keep a constant and consistent line length, I tie Perfection Loops at both ends of the line length I want, using a Girth-Hitch Loop to connect to the lilian on the rod end, and a Loop-To-Loop knot to connect the Tippet to the Line on the fly end. When you need to replace the tippet, you just cut one leg of the tippet loop next to the loop-to-loop knot and pull the old tippet away. The weight and resistance of the double loop and the Loop-to-Loop Knot setup provides a Sea Anchor in the water, the resistance of which helps you to hold more line up and off of the water in your presentations. Give it a try and see what you think.
Another advantage yo using a Perfection Loop at the end of your T-line is that it gives you a very effective release point for doing the Bow-And-Arrow or Sling-Shot Cast. Usually, when doing the Bow-And-Arrow Cast, you are not fishing a very long tippet - usually less than 3 feet. So you just let the tippet and fly safely hang straight down from the Perfection Loop, and when you release the line to make your cast, everything automatically comes up and into line with positive results. Again, try it to see if it is not better than what you have done in the past.
I switched to that knot method as well after being shown it by Oni. I had used a tippet ring previously and I think the cast feels better and more accurate with the loop connection. I have found that loop knot to be the weak point though when I need to break off where with the tippet ring the fly was the weak point.
Hi Chris, I just recently put up a fair amount of knot information in the Line section. There are stronger loop knots out there to use than the one Oni uses, i.e. the Perfection Loop @ 95%. Also I fish dry flies a lot, and the tippet rings introduce a not needed weight/sink point into the line system in my view. And for sure you want a weaker fly-to-tippet joining knot than your tippet-to-line joining knot, unless you do not mind spending the dollars and fishing time it takes to be continually replacing your flies and tippets from breaking off snagged flies or line. Thank you for the reply, I hope this helps you down the line…Karl.
Chris and all, this is the easiest and most foolproof way of tying a Perfection Loop under windy conditions in light weight tippet material that I have found. To tie a Long-Loop Perfection Loop, you just use more tippet material and make the second loop the big one, which you may have to pinch down narrow enough to get it to go through the front loop. Please take a look:
The Clip style hackle pliers used in the following video to tie the Davey and Double Davey Knots will make the tying of the Long-Loop Perfection Loop a lot easier:
I’m very familiar with that particular loop knot. I’ve used it many times for a bounce rig tag. I’ll have to give it a try for the connection to the level line, I hadn’t considered using it for that.
Also the fisherman’s knot tool is a great little tool for tying many of these knots and for the clinch knot for your fly. Of course it’s totally unnecessary, but I enjoy using it.
Hi again Chris, if you do head to head tests with a Surgeon’s Loop tied in one end of the same length of Tippet material (Oni’s loop knot of choice) and the Perfection Loop tied on the other end, you will notice a substantial overall strength differences between the breaking points of those two loop knots. Another thing you will find is that the same knot does not always win each test, so it may be necessary to conduct many tests before a true winner can be determined. Just why that happens is hard to determine objectively but , rest assured that it will happen far more often than any of us would like.
When we watch the machine test videos that Berkley and RIO put out, they are working with Fresh production runs of the newest line materials, not stored under Fluorescent lighting or exposed to the temperature fluctuations that the lines are subjected to during shipping, and the unknown amount of time line spools spend on a peg in a shop before they are bought and we bring them home. Some tippet brands are dated, which gives you an indication of how old they might be. So buy the freshest tippet material you can find. And in all of these things Fluorocarbon line is much more forgiving than Nylon Mono line is. Exposure to sunlight and below freezing temperatures will degrade nylon line considerably if is exposed to the elements over night on a backpacking trip or left in a vehicle. The recommendation to replace your Nylon fishing lines yearly are not just to pad the line makers pockets with money. Some lines really do breakdown much quicker than others do. Most of us do not catch big enough fish for this to be much of a concern. But if and when that big fish finally does come along, we will regret it if we are not adequately prepared for that big fish. When you think about all the things our lines are exposed to in our vests and tackle packs, and the way we carelessly store them, it is pretty amazing that they hold up as well as they do.
