It is time to get ready for the 2009/2010 long range trips. I hope the COWs show up in big number soon. (The Q-105 got some at the Hurricane and Rooster is heading there right now.) In case some of you are thinking about mono to spectra connections to use on these trip, here is the latest data on my “nub” connection that uses spectra nail knots (see my earlier posting for the concept of my “nub” and nail knot connection.)
I have spent over 6 months developing the strongest way to install the nub on the mono. The final result is that you can put 174# of tension on Izorline 135# First String mono before the nub will start to slip on the mono. This is key to an effective nub and it is also the reason that you can use my connection multiple times.
More testing at Izoline showed me that my nub connection is a 100% connection without the Chinese finger trap. To test this on a real fish, I asked Brian Sims from the Royal Star (April 2009 tagging trip) to test some special connections that had virtually no Chinese finger trap insertion of the mono into the hollow spectra. Brian (and the Royal Star crew) landed 6 tuna in the 100# to 150# class as well as 15 sharks on the same connection. The connection started out with 45 ft of Izorline 135# mono and Brian fished and re-fished it until there was 4 ft of mono left. He had similar results with two other special wind-ons with no Chinese finger trap. This on ocean testing validated to me that my Izorline lab testing results were correct. Bottom line is that I can make a nail knot nub connection that is 100% strong and can be used multiple times without the Chinese finger trap holding mechanism.
Please keep in mind that using my nail knots alone is a very risky situation, as it has no room for error. (Like a flying trapeze act without a safety net.) If any part of the nail knots were not installed exactly right, the connection may slip. If anything damages a critical part of the nail knot while fighting the fish, the connection will probably fail. Knowing how each part of my connection behaves under all conditions is necessary to design a very effective connection system. My design approach is to know what the contribution of each part is and whether it is a primary or secondary contribution.
So what does this mean to my connection? It means that the insertion of the mono into the spectra is for margin of safety. I have previously found that between 6 and 12 inches of insertion (for 135# Izorline mono into 200H Izorline spectra) is a 100% connection. The problem with only inserting 12 inches is that with most other connection techniques, the loading and re-loading of the line will induce a small amount of slippage from each re-loading of the line. This is one reason why you may end up having less than the required 12 inches of insertion and that is why most riggers use between 3ft and 5 ft of insertion. With my “nub”, I preclude all creep type of slippage on re-loading and so if I start out with 12 inches, I end up with 12 inches. Sorry to get carried away with my microscopic observations but this observation was what drove me to come up with the nub. I still recommend that everyone use between 2 ft and 3 ft of insertion to provide 200% to 300% margin of safety.
Right now I am working on how to reduce some of the excess margin of safety so that my connection can be made quicker. Sorry, but this is not just the simple act of shorter insertion length. I am evaluating some faster nail knot installation techniques.
Come join me on one of my long range trips and your can ask questions, ask about my latest findings and try out one of these connection that I can custom make for you. (You tell me how you fish and whether you plan on re-using the connections more than once.) I am running the Accurate Reel sponsored 10.5-day trip on the American Angler (Jan 5, 2010). I am trying to clear my calendar at work so that I can be on December 11, 2009 Izorline Red Rooster 3 trip. Check with the Red Rooster office.
Thanks for reading about the latest on my nail knot nub connection,
Gary Teraoka
10 comments:
Gary,
I'm currently using Gary Sato's crimps and haven't had a failure, twenty or so 200#+ fish on the conections. I am very interested in your nub connection as I read about it in WON. I don't have any experience with the nail knot, but between now and next season(Nov-Feb) I want to be able to rely on my ability to tie the knot. In the WON article, you mentioned a "device-special tool" you are using to tie your nail knots tight. A dowl with some flex-rap. Would you elaborate on that? I fish on the Royal Star as well as thr RP and have done 3 Clipperton trips with Jack. If you wish to email me, my address is Califappraisals@gmail.com. Thanks a bunch.
Dave
Dave
Hi Dave,
Thanks for your interest in my connection. The tool to pull the nail knot tight is simply a rod with friction material (like flex wrap). Anything that you can pull the nail knot spectra tight enough so it changes color will work. This is a simple minded thing that a wide variety of things will work. I have even used a #2 wood pencil (too soft for repeated use). I do all of Jack's personal reels and Gerby, is very familiar with the connection.
Are you planning on attending the Long Beach Fred Hall show? I will be at the Izorline booth in the evenings. If you don't see me at the Izorline booth, check with the Accurate or Calstar folks.
If you are in the Lomita area this Saturday (Feb 20) I am scheduled to be talking to customers at Baja Fish Gear tackle shop sale. The connection is fairly simple. A key is to master your own technique of making nail knots. I can watch how you do it and seeing if I can recommend any enhancements to your handling technique. I do the connection with the material held in my hand. I don't need any clamps or stands.
I run the Accurate sponsored 10.5 day trip on the American Angler every January. Next season I am also considering a trip on the Red Rooster 3 in November 2010 (Accurate trip) or December 2010 (Izorline trip).
Thanks for your interest,
Gary
Hi Gary,
I live in San Diego and regularly go on the Royal Star 10 day trips. I have been building my own top shots for years, and a friend asked me to look at your blog. The method you are using looks interesting but, quite frankly, it appears to be a lot more work than a serve. After the mono is in the spectra, I can do a serve in less than 5 minutes that can be reused more than 10 times. I have reused my serves until there was less than 6" of mono left! Maybe I'm missing something in the translation?
Sincerely,
David L. Green
goliathnet@aol.com
Hi David,
Thanks for looking at my blog and connection. I average about 1 minute a nail knot. I build the connection in my hand and do not need any holders, clamps or bobbins. Depending on the size of mono and hollow spectra, I can get away with 1 to 2 feet of insertion because of the nub. I wasn't trying to make the worlds fastest connection (the crimp is the fastest if you don't push it off the end of the spectra and have to start over) but I was trying to build a very reliable, reusable, clean profile and inexpensive connection. The reliable is due to the nub and the fact that I can see how tight the nail knot is by the change in color of the spectra when I pull it tight. Clean is that it is one spectra thick and inexpensive is that it uses about 36 inches of spectra which is about 10 cents per 3 nail knot connection. It is convenient also, since it does not need any holders, clamps or bobbin, just a small spool of spectra.
Gerby (Brian Sims) is very familiar with my connection. You may want to talk to him when you are on the Star. I plan on being at the Long Beach Fred Hall show (Izorline booth, you can also check with the Accurate and Calstar booths to find out where I am on any given day).
Thanks for commenting,
Gary
I was looking and reading other articles about Nail Knot "Nub" Connection Status, and yours is the one with the most interesting and useful information.
Thanks for sharing and have a nice day.
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Gary,
One thing I like about your nail nub is that the interface can be made very short, i.e. 1-2". This is especially important with large spinning reels. I've come up with another option to the nail nub. However, it is more complicated, time consuming, and is applicable for wind-ons made on shore before a trip. Here's what I've come up with: double wall wind-on with the nail nub on the inner wall of the hollow spectra with the other nail knot on the mono/fluoro. After securing the nail knots, pull the outer sleeve over the nail knots all the way to the end of the inner spectra wall. Then glue. After the glue dries, serve it from 1" above the nail knot on the mono all the way to the end of the spectra. Glue again. Do you see any problem with this? In the past I have lost fish due to faulty home-made wind-ons, so I've got very conservative. Thanks for your help.
Bob
Bob,
I must apologize for not replying earlier. I was on a long business trip and just returned. When I make wind-on loops, I invert the hollow spectra and lock the tag end by weaving it into the center of the main section. I believe that your doubling of the spectra loop will work however you may be doing a lot of extra work that is not necessary. The inverted loop that I use is 100% as I have tested it on the Izorline line testing machine. I wanted to confirm that you are using the "nub" as I designed it. I place the first nail knot on the mono (the nub) and then insert the mono into the hollow spectra so that the nub is inside of the spectra. The 2nd nail knot is placed on the spectra with the mono inside and adjacent to the nub. After that you can double the spectra or serve the end of the spectra as the connection is 100% with just those two nail knots. I hope this lets you know what is important and what is optional or personal preference.
Thanks for reading my blog and responding with comments and questions.
Gary
Thanks Gary. For clarification, the first step in my double wall nail nub is the creation of the double wall. I then create the first nail knot on the fluoro and pull the fluoro up into the spectra. Then I make two nail knots on top of the inner layer or first layer of spectra. After these are pulled up tight, I pull down the outer layer of the double wall spectra over the nail knots and serve. I know it's more work, but I do like the features of the double wall, so for me it's worth it.
Thanks again for your input.
Bob
Bob,
Thanks for the additional description on your connection. I believe that your approach will work fine. Have you considered just using a nail knot in lieu of the serve? I install my last nail knot on the edge of the end of spectra so one end of the nail knot is on the fluorocarbon and the other end of the nail knot is on the spectra. This seals the end of the spectra against the fluorocarbon but is much shorter than a serve. I install my nail knots by holding the line in my hand. I don't need any clamps, holders or bobbins. This could make your connection simpler, but functionally identical.
Thanks for looking at my Blog and commenting,
Gary
Hi Gary,
I have some questions about solid braid to hollow core size limitations. I have 80# Izorline solid on a Newell 533 and want to step splice using your connection to a 40# mono top shot. Can I splice 80# solid to 80# hollow? Or do I have to step up to a larger hollow? Or do I have to drop down to 60# solid on the reel to start?
Ever since you rigged up my Avet JX at the Baja Fish Gear sale back in August! I've been hooked on your nub connections.
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Justin
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