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Knots for Nickel-Titanium Leaders

The four-turn clinch and modified figure-8 fishing knots work well to secure both braided and single-strand nickel-titanium leader

The two knots described here are among the best to use to retain the strength of nickel-titanium leaders. The four-turn clinch and modified figure-8 knots work well to secure both braided and single-strand nickel-titanium leader to hooks, according to testing on the Q-TEST tensile testing machine.

Four-Turn Clinch Knot

1. Pass the end of the line through the eye of thehook, then wrap the tag end around the standing part of the linefour times.

2. Pass the tag end through the loop formed by thefirst turn around the standing part.

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3. The completed four-turn clinch knot.

Modified Figure-8 Knot

David Justice, National Sales Manager for Sufix USA,first started tying the traditional figure-8 knot when he was12 and fishing for snook with braided, nylon-coated wire (Steelon) for the first time. He learned that knot’s weakness – it slipped- when he first tried it with 80-pound mono. Justice’s modified figure-8 knot is quick to tie, gives a nice, small knot that won’tslip – even when the tag-end is clipped close, perfect for situations calling for hard-to-see leaders – and tested very well with mono as well as nickel-titanium leader.

1. Pass the end of the leader through the eye ofthe hook and around the standing part of the leader.

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2. Bring the tag end through the original loop (nearestthe eye of the hook) then back through the second loop (formedwhen the tag went around the standing part).

3. The completed modified figure-8 knot.

Basic Knots & Rigs

The knots, rigs and instructions in this column are featured in Bob McNally’s Fisherman’s Knots, Fishing Rigs, and How to Use Them, a comprehensive 304-page book with 700 illustrations covering nearly 200 fishing knots and rigs. It can be ordered via the internet at Clicksmart.com. Autographed copies are available for $16.95 each from McNally Outdoor Productions, 1716 Bayside Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32259.

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