Thin Braid wind knots - Tips / Suggestions for removing

[n8cas4]

Just curious if anyone had any suggestions / tips for removing / untangling thin braid (I prefer 12 # Sunline Sx1 braid) wind knots.  I don't get them very often, but when I do, I run into trouble.  I usually just pull both sides of the knot to HOPE that it doesn't dig into itself creating a knot / loop or unfishable snarl.  But, I'd say half the time it digs into itself OR snaps the line.  The other half of time, I breath a sigh of relief so I don't have to retie a Fluorocarbon leader on the water (not a fan of doing this).  Anyone have any tips for REMOVING / UNTANGLING a thin braid wind knot?  Thanks.    

[Darren.]

I would say yes, I have tips...but like you, it is a 50/50 crap shoot

if they will work.

 

If I see one in the line as I reel it in, I'll try to work it loose - if 

there's a loop in the line, that makes it easier to try and untie it.

Sometimes I've pulled the ends and poof, it comes loose. Other

times I've had to cut and retie. I've taken a hook and tried to 

loosen it up, sometimes that works.

 

And I'm using 10 and 15# Power Pro braids.

 

I don't think there's a foolproof, works every time tip for wind knots.

[n8cas4]

7 minutes ago, Darren. said:

I would say yes, I have tips...but like you, it is a 50/50 crap shoot

if they will work.

 

If I seen one in the line as I reel it in, I'll try to work it loose - if 

there's a loop in the line, that makes it easier to try and untie it.

Sometimes I've pulled the ends and poof, it comes loose. Other

times I've had to cut and retie. I've taken a hook and tried to 

loosen it up, sometimes that works.

 

And I'm using 10 and 15# Power Pro braids.

 

I don't think there's a foolproof, works every time tip for wind knots.

Thanks!  That's what I figured, but I'd thought I'd throw it out there...

[new2BC4bass]

Wow.  I've got some 5# Windtamer on a BG1500.  Only got to use it for a few casts so far.  In a crosswind.  I am not looking forward to untangling wind knots.    Hopefully this line does tame the wind. 

[Team9nine]

Never pull both sides of the knot unless it's the last option. Most times it's simply twisted line wrapped around itself. Start by looking for the larger loops. These will either be wrapped around each other, or lightly knotted. Lightly pulling on the loops to start, or using a hook to insert into a loop and pulling, will give you an idea of what's going on. Just slowly work with the loops of line, always thinking in terms of untwisting.

 

If the loop is still on the spool, pin the loop to the spool with one finger while slowly pulling the standing line off the spool with the other. I use 3-8# braid 90% of the time, so dealing with 12# should be s piece of cake. Like everything though, the more you have to deal with the knots, the better you'll get at untangling them.

 

@J Francho mentioned in another thread about the twist in braid (from fishing) causing a lot of these issues. What many don't realize is it helps a lot to untwist your braid after every few trips. It's usually restricted to the last 10-15 ft of line, so it's easy to remove with just 5 minutes of effort and will help minimize wind knots. 

[J Francho]

47 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

@J Francho mentioned in another thread about the twist in braid (from fishing) causing a lot of these issues. What many don't realize is it helps a lot to untwist your braid after every few trips. It's usually restricted to the last 10-15 ft of line, so it's easy to remove with just 5 minutes of effort and will help minimize wind knots

Yes, exactly this. 

[Darren.]

44 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Never pull both sides of the knot unless it's the last option. Most times it's simply twisted line wrapped around itself. Start by looking for the larger loops. These will either be wrapped around each other, or lightly knotted. Lightly pulling on the loops to start, or using a hook to insert into a loop and pulling, will give you an idea of what's going on. Just slowly work with the loops of line, always thinking in terms of untwisting.

 

If the loop is still on the spool, pin the loop to the spool with one finger while slowly pulling the standing line off the spool with the other. I use 3-8# braid 90% of the time, so dealing with 12# should be s piece of cake. Like everything though, the more you have to deal with the knots, the better you'll get at untangling them.

 

@J Francho mentioned in another thread about the twist in braid (from fishing) causing a lot of these issues. What many don't realize is it helps a lot to untwist your braid after every few trips. It's usually restricted to the last 10-15 ft of line, so it's easy to remove with just 5 minutes of effort and will help minimize wind knots. 

Agree, solid advice, Brian. Many of the knots I've encountered have been 

after cast has been made, fish in, or snag. Often knot cinched down at that

point. But even then, they're not always impossible to get out.

 

Key for me is patience.

[Beetlebz]

I had this issue from time to time running 20lb PP on a baitcaster. If let's say I was drifting towards my cast and I got a collection of line in front of me not paying attention I could have this happen. Usually I could get the knot out, twice in one season I had to respool because i lost about 20%. Since then i have run YZH. I cant trust myself to pay attention!

[Choporoz]

I have nothing to add about removing them....however, I have learned to be extremely meticulous in trimming the tag ends of leader knots with light braid (and Gliss.)  It doesn't take but about .5mm of tag to catch on something and start your nightmare

[Further North]

I'm trying to get my head wrapped around what caused these knots.

 

Is it line that's really too light for the application?

 

I use nothing but braid (with one, seldom used exception) and I've never experienced the issue...or I've not recognized it as such?

 

I've had plenty of "wind knots" in my fly gear, but the term is a misnomer there: sloppy loops (I've thrown plenty of those) will put the fly under the line and tie a real knot in the line, or in the leader...but I've not seen this with braid on gear rigs.

 

Am I missing something?

[Happybeerbuzz]

I keep a pair of sharp tweezers handy in a cigar tube just for the eventuality of picking out a knot in braid.  I am too chicken to pull both sides of a knot.