this probably is a stupid question!?!?!

[johnmac]

Here we go... stupid question number two for the week!

I got my Ian Gordon fly line and Rod today..... took me the best part of three hours to get my line onto the reel! I got it tangled up in a huge birds nest then my braided loop kept falling off...... I got Snowbee salmon ones from the local shop.... but the clear sleeve didnt seem long enough?? one disaster after another

I used a dab of glue to make them extra secure.... i've given them a good pull and im hopeful (after them coming off twice!! ....glue probably a bit wet still!)its going to manage to hold a Salmon!!!

Anyway the stupid question of this week is.........
After i'd put my Ian Gordon floater on the reel i notced two blue plastic disc's and a bar that fits inside them??

Looking at them i think that they are a means of feeding the line onto the reel without getting it in a birds nest....like i did.....

am i right....maybe
am i stupid.... definitely!! ;D

[turrifftackle]

The bits fit either side of the spool with the spindle through the middle joining them together.

This allows someone to hold the line spool as a line winder whilst you wind the line on to your reel.
You could of just used a pencil- does the same job- however it is a help if you put the line back on the spool.

As to the braided loops- you fit the sleeve up the loop.
You then put the fly line up inside the braid as much as you wish - you then slide the sleeve back down the braid until it goes over the fly line as far as you want- but not off the braid. A little glue does help.

There are better ways than these loops but they will do for starters.
Remember ring me if you need advice if in a muddle during the day.

Frank

[johnmac]

cheers Frank!! So whats my choice if i dont use a braided loop?? I think i've heard of a few people striping the plastic coating off the tip of the line and making it into a loop?? is that an option?? tell all!

[munro]

johnmac - no need to feel stupid. I have 4 Ian Gordon lines and never yet worked out how these bl**dy plastic things are supposed to work (Ian Gordon -if you're listening a wee diagram would be useful!!)

I know Willie Gunn and others don't trust braided loops (by the way what sort of glue are you using if its still wet?). WG recommends making a loop at the end of the fly line.
Just immerse about an inch and a half of the end of the line in nail varnish remover for about twenty seconds, scrape off the covering, bend back and add a drop of superglue to hold it, nail knot on a piece of 6 lb line to secure (Graham Ritchie stitches the line together with Kevlar thread instead) but I just nail knotted a piece of 6lb line on; whip with tying thread and varnish. You can add some aquasure later to prevent hingeing.
Thats just my way of doing it since I didn't have Kevlar thread or even the slighest idea where to get it. The end result is much neater than a braided loop and according to the experts here a lot safer.
Trust me ,God gave me two thumbs on each hand -if I can do it anybody can.

[woburn]

flyforums.proboards53.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=tackletalk&thread=1139063824&page=1

[johnmac]

cheers for the that folks!! I've been using Bostick extra strong glue..... not Prit-stick...just incase you were wondering! hahaha but i think i've got there now! I'd hate to lose my first Salmon because the braided loop fails! time will tell!

[gavan]

john,
you must always use glue, with a braided loop.
nothing to fear from loops if you do.
i have found, best loops, are made by, roman moser.
not cheap, but the best.
gavan.........

[johnmac]

thanks gavan..will bear that in mind for next time!

[ceilidh]

Perhaps we should start an FAQ thread on this Forum. Loops would probably be one of the top contenders. The only problem is that there would be so much advice upon this point that the unfortunate enquirer would probably end up by being even more confused than before!

Quite seriously though, there are some 'technical' questions ( as opposed to discussion topics) which crop up again and again and it might be helpful if there were to be a ready reference point for these. What do others think?

[wilbert]

Usually I find that if a braided loop pulls off the line when fitting it then the internal diameter of the braid is too big for the fly line. You don't need as much of a secure point as you would think whether it be the tubing provided with glue or a nail knot at either end of the tubing etc as the braid constricts and "bites" harder into the fly line when a pulling force is applied. If the securing point is very poor then the braided loop can slip with a short Sharp pull but the tubing is normally tight enough to stop this happening.
Just remembered don't push your fly line all the way up the braid or you will not get sufficient constriction between the fly line and the loop. I leave about 1" between the end of the fly line and where the braid is pulled through its self to form the loop end. The IG lines are quite fine at the ends so if you are still having problems use a trout sized tube over your salmon braid. This is good tip if you ever buy a WC multi tip as the type 8 is very slim.