Braid "wind knots"

[fishonnelsons]

Fellow up here about to hang himself with power pro. He fishes alot (2 to 3 times a day, 1 to 2 hrs each time, almost everyday), and knows what he's doing, but can't figure this one out. The strange kicker is that the knot consistently appears about 20 ft, plus or minus 2 ft, from the end of his line.

Using a smaller Penn slammer, I think a 360, with an 8 ft rod. He is getting the small looped wind knot maybe once every 1 to 2 days, sometimes it can be easily pulled out, others succumb to the knife.

We've gone over too much line on the spool, tension on the line when starting the retrieve, and the weather, and haven't resolved it yet.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Fisherwoman]

What lb test is he using, that would be my 1st question, he may want to go up 10 lb test to stop the line knots, the other thing he needs to do is close the bail manually when casting, usually this is what causes the loop. I tried 20 lb test on my stella 4000 went to 30 and close the bail manually no problems!!!!

[The Dad Fisherman]

I've been having the same problem w/ the new Big Game braid.....I get about 4-5 knots everytime out so far this season. the stuff is pricey too....$30 for 300 yds. of the 50 lb.

trying to figure out if I put too much on the reel or not....seems that after I cut a few of the knots off its gotten a little better

[RIROCKHOUND]

Gotta snap the bail closed BEFORE the plug hits the water... The plug pulls the line tight, no more knots... I echo using heavier, I use 50lb PP or 30lb spectra with out major issues

[JohnR]

After the cast visually check the top of the spool for a line running across or run your finger around it to see any line across the top. This is the start of many wind knots on subsequent casts. Clear the top...

[reelecstasy]

all of the above. I also use the 50#, I don't have any issues with it. Sometimes the guide closest to the reel is a little under sized and that will make a loop as well...

[Fishpart]

Fishing lures that don't put enough tension on the line when you retrieve. It seems that if you have too much slack in the line like when you fish an unweighted jerk bait the combination of twist and slack line can throw a knot in.

A quality swivel should help the situation.

[Slick Moedee]

Also in regards to light lures, you can't muscle them during the cast. Also if possible, if you can get out on a boat let all the line out as you are under way and reel back in with tension on the line. Seems to help in the long run.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Slick Moedee

Also in regards to light lures, you can't muscle them during the cast. Also if possible, if you can get out on a boat let all the line out as you are under way and reel back in with tension on the line. Seems to help in the long run.

Or every now and then tie the line to your mailbox and walk it down to the backing and have a nice walk back to the mailbox

(do not attempt this at home if your home is on Main St)

[fishonnelsons]

Thanks guys , all great input and I will show him all of it. I forgot about the close the bail manually one, that might help him.

[Pete F.]

Here's my uneducated guess.
There is enough tension on the line when it is laying on/in the water as he reels in, but when he gets within 20 feet of his rod: 1) the line is in the air and 2) the lure is affected by breaking waves.
Therefore he ends up with no tension on the line and a loop forms.
Heavier line might work, I don't use less then 30# stealth on a spinner myself.

[backbeach]

Fishon.. Even better than visually checking the top of the spool is to get in the habit of sweeping your finger across the top as you manually close the bail. This also prevents the line tangling under the roller instead of lying across it. That way even in the dark you should be ok,especially when a bass slurps down an eel right at touchdown!!!( not that I ever lost a fish like that) BTW is this Rich from the shop?

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Or every now and then tie the line to your mailbox and walk it down to the backing and have a nice walk back to the mailbox

(do not attempt this at home if your home is on Main St)

Remember to put your dog in the house too.
Mine cost me 100 yards.

[tynan19]

Sometimes it is the first guide on the rod. If it is not large enough for the line to spin through it will slow the line down causing it to overrun itself. Also the pen reels are not designed for braid. MikeCC suggested I switch to a Stradic 8000 from a Penn and I have not had a problem yet. I also use 30 lb PP.

[riarcher]

Strange!
Last year I decided to try braid this year,,, after reading about all the "knot" issues,,, I've finally decided "not" is the way to go.
Liking to fish,,, I'm not into engineering marvels that complicate the intended purpose.
Mono is fine thank you.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by riarcher

Strange!
Last year I decided to try braid this year,,, after reading about all the "knot" issues,,, I've finally decided "not" is the way to go.
Liking to fish,,, I'm not into engineering marvels that complicate the intended purpose.
Mono is fine thank you.

I'll never go back, all the braid stuff is automatic now and the difference in feel is incredible. I don't have wind knots hardly ever (never say never), cast further with no more effort, and can feel the slightest bump.
If you get some twist in your line it does'nt twist up like mono, the UV does'nt eat it up, on and on.

[basswipe]

Another possibility is to much line on the spool.

[Backbeach Jake]

A lot depends on the reel, line and lure balance. My 704z w/ 65#pp never ever windknots. I throw big lures with it. My 710z w/30# pp sometimes windknots if the lure is light, under 1oz. my 712z with 20#pp will windknot if I throw something lighter than say a Bomber. You've probably noticed that I use 700 Z series reels. Thats because SS series are windknot machines. It should be pronounced wyndknot, wind has nuttin to do with it. Oh, and keep your bail roller lubed. Good question, Rich. Many answers and angles to this one.

[Megabyte]

Or every now and then tie the line to your mailbox and walk it down to the backing and have a nice walk back to the mailbox

(do not attempt this at home if your home is on Main St)


Or when the mailman is coming

[Pete_G]

What pound test Power Pro? I haven't tried lighter Power Pro in a few years but the last time I did I hated it. Power Pro under 30# test on small reels has always caused knots for me.

I'm a big fan of 14# Fireline on smaller reels like a 360. I work Jumpin Minnows on a VS100 in a headwind without issues with 14# as long as the spool isn't overfilled.

Ignore the 14# rating as well, it seems more like 25 or 30.

[ragfly]

I use 20, 30 and 50lb power pro. I had two knots all season last year and I fish alot. Like john and others said manually flip your bail, but then give the line a pull, so if there is a loop over the spool you wil pull it out, especially at night. I've tried most of the braids and they all seem to loop over the top of the spool. I do like power pro and have it on most of my reels (nautils, sustains, taurus, etc)

[Bronko]

Originally Posted by ragfly

I use 20, 30 and 50lb power pro. I had two knots all season last year and I fish alot. Like john and others said manually flip your bail, but then give the line a pull, so if there is a loop over the spool you wil pull it out, especially at night. I've tried most of the braids and they all seem to loop over the top of the spool. I do like power pro and have it on most of my reels (nautils, sustains, taurus, etc)

I agree Ragfly. Its automatic for me now. wind, rain, day or night, I always pull a quick length off the reel, then run my hand quickly over the spool to make sure its clear and then manually flip the bail. It is quick, easy and cuts down on "wind knots" almost totally for me. I maybe have one a year on my spinning set ups. I also think the Shimano Spheros 8000 series is extremely braid friendly.

[gone fishin]

power Pro is the best braid that I have used. I have found that the lower pound test will give more problems than the higher test. I agree with most of the above, but found that using a long shock leader will smooth out a cast. It also will allow a longer cast with a light lure into the wind without the problems of wind knots. Most problems that occur are because of a erratic and not smooth cast.

[PaulS]

I always pull a quick length off the reel, then run my hand quickly over the spool to make sure its clear and then manually flip the bail. It is quick, easy and cuts down on "wind knots" almost totally for me. [/QUOTE]

I do that and I get maybe 1 windknot a year & that's when I'm tring to throw a very light lure into the wind.