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Definitive knot test

Started by scotty9, October 14, 2009, 12:04:42 AM

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scotty9

How good are your knots? Or how good do you think they are? I carried out a short test tonight, mainly for my own benefit but the results were quite interesting so i'm posting them here.

Knots tested:

Half blood knot (or whatever it's called, the common one!) http://www.animatedknots.com/improvedclinch/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com
Uni knot http://www.animatedknots.com/uniknot/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com
Davy knot http://www.itinerantangler.com/casting/davyknot.wmv
Grinner knot http://www.dorkingas.co.uk/Knots/Grinner%20Knot/grinner_knot.htm

The test line was 3.0kg stroft, that's 6.6lb or 4x tippet. I used this line mainly cause it was a bit thicker and since i was tying some of these for the first times i needed to be able to use it easily. My rig was a 2ft piece of line tied using one knot to a fly at one end and a different knot to an identical fly at the other. The flies were pulled apart in a dead straight line using forceps.

First up

Half blood knot vs Uni knot

And the Uni knot is the winner

Second up

Half blood knot vs Davy knot

And the Davy knot is the winner

Third up

Half blood knot vs Grinner knot

And the Grinner knot is the winner

Fourth up

Uni knot vs Davy knot

And the Davy knot is the winner

Fifth up

Uni knot vs Grinner knot

And the Grinner knot is the winner

Sixth and final test

Davy knot vs Grinner knot

And the Grinner knot is the winner


Results Table:



   
Wins
Losses

Half blood knot
0
3
Uni knot
1
2
Davy knot
2
1
Grinner knot
3
0

Conclusion:

I also used a newton meter to measure the breaking strain of the line and the failure point of the knot. I can't remember the exact figures but the half blood knot was around 50% breaking strain and the others averaged around 75-80%.

The davy knot was tied using three tucks as opposed to one shown in most step by steps. You first pass the tag end through the loop, then you will wrap it around the opposite side of the loop (tucks) to create the figure of eight. I had been using two but feel more comfortable with three. The Grinner knot is exactly the same as the Uni knot apart from the line is passed through the hook eye twice, this could be impossible with small eyes depending on line diameter.

I'm definitely going to be using the Grinner knot now for most of my flies, and probably use the Davy knot still for when speed is of the essence or when using very small flies. I think the snap I had last week must have been down to my tying.

haresear

Very interesting Scott. I must say I was surprised that the Davy beat the Uni.

Alex
Protect the edge.

scotty9

Alex - me too! The grinner seems very strong. Interestingly, when i tied a davy knot at both ends, the line broke before the knots did!

Fachan - seems fair :D I recognise that quote from somewhere  :makefun

Pointy Shadow

Interesting research Scott. Thanks for sharing the results. I take it there was no injuries then?  :lol:

Any chance of retrying the test with different types of leader material (mono,flouro coated, 100% flouro etc) and post the results here please?

I am a great believer in the double Davy Knot as you know. Its so easy to tie even I can do it when shaking with the cold!

Thanks

Wildfisher

I stopped using the  half blood months ago after one failure too many. It is easy to tie on short droppers,  but that's about all it's got going for it.  I am sure knots that are soundly tied  and tested start to slip as the nylon absorbs water. Not really a problem for 99% of the fish  we normally  catch in Scotland but when the big one comes along as they sometime do........a good fish  lost on the Don in August was the last straw for me............................. :(

Fishtales

Half Blood Losses 3

Doesn't that just mean you can't tie a half blood  :crap

Four turn water knot and tucked half blood is what I use on my casts.
Don't worry, be happy.
Sandy
Carried it in full, then carry it out empty.
http://www.ftscotland.co.uk/

Looking for a webhost? Try http://www.1and1.co.uk/?k_id=2966019

Wildfisher

It's great work Scott and thanks for taking the time and making the effort. I'd like to see some tests done on various leader materials comparing and quantifying steady pull breaking strains, shock breaking strains and knot performance. This something I have been meaning to do for years, but have never quite got round to it.

Clan Ford

I use a 3 or 4 turn water knot for my droppers and a half blood knot - not tucked - to my hooks.  I went back to using the half blood knot after failures with all sorts of other knots...  but I reckon that was because I was pants at tying them :(

Norm

Clan Ford

I meant to say....

Do you have picture of your set up?  I could maybe rig something up at the school (if my work ever gets quieter) and give it a bash myself, in fact it might make a good project for advanced higher  - knot strength and different materials - might set up some sixth year with that thought :think2

Norm

Guddler

You always hear that the half blood knot is just about the poorest knot to secure your gear with and this seems to prove it - but I still keep going back to it.
I've sat with a spool of line and taught myself other knots but when its getting dark and my fingers are cold I can knock out half blood knot with relative ease. Must try harder this winter!

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