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Clinch Becomes a Cinch

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Tightly cinching a clinch knot in heavy monofilament (over 30-pound test) can be difficult yet critically important. A loose knot will slip at the most inopportune times. Tying the knot properly and tightly becomes much simpler if you lubricate the line with a diluted soap solution. I use a rinsed-out pump-spray bottle (an old window-cleaner bottle works great). I fill the 22-ounce bottle with water and add three or four drops of liquid dish detergent – the exact concentration is not important. Spray the line liberally before tying the knot, and the knot will glide smoothly into place with far less effort than line treated with saliva or plain water. The soapy solution also comes in handy when you need to rinse salt spray off your sunglasses.

—Capt. Brion Babbitt, Dennisville, New Jersey

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