Wind Knots driving me crazy

[MassYak85]

So as the (soft water) season comes to a close for me, I feel like I got pretty dialed in with my gear this year, except for one thing...

 

I can't seem to stop wind knots. I've tried various lines (Smackdown seemed to behave the nicest) but eventually had wind knots with all of them. I really am at a loss for what the issues could be. My current setup is a Dobyns Fury 703 and a Diawa BG 2000 with 15lb Diawa J-Braid and I generally run a leader, but I've had issues with past setups as well. I can't imagine line twist is to blame since I mainly use this setup for bottom contact stuff where I am just taking up slack line (and yes I make sure not to let loops form in the spool). The only thing I can think of is one of three things; my casting motion being too aggressive/snappy, the leader knot momentarily catching and letting loose line build up behind it, or that I am using too light of a lure. I stay within the rod's weight range though, and don't feel I have changed my casting motion all that much over the years, I'm also using light leaders and don't feel the leader knot is really hanging up much if at all. I should also mention actual significant wind had rarely been present for most of my wind knots. Any suggestions? I was honestly so frustrated this year and had my spinning setup out of commission for the day too many times that I'm at the point I'm considering going all baitcasting and trying a BFS setup. I'm done using it for the year anyways but come spring is there an approach I should take to try and narrow down the likely causes?

[LCG]

After the cast try stopping the line with your index finger as the lure lands. Then always close the bail by hand. Then start reeling. Should solve the problem. 

[MassYak85]

10 minutes ago, LCG said:

After the cast try stopping the line with your index finger as the lure lands. Then always close the bail by hand. Then start reeling. Should solve the problem. 

I do all of that diligently, I don't think loose loops in the spool are the issue. 

[Log Catcher]

I use my spinning setups for the same stuff you use. I use 10 pound Sufix Siege mono for my main line. I use a barrel swivel and a 2 to 3 foot leader. I also pull the the line out tight to the reel before I start reeling. I also close the bail by hand. Be careful not to over fill your reel when you put line on it. Hope this helps.

[FrankN209]

Try another line. I switched to Berkley Ultra 8 and haven't had a wind knot since. I was getting them with gliss and power pro. 

[Choporoz]

23 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I'm also using light leaders and don't feel the leader knot is really hanging up much if at all. 

Doesn't take much at all.  15# braid (and less) is always a leader knot risk, especially with any wind.  You have to be anally diligent when trimming your tag ends.

[OkobojiEagle]

For my benefit: are you meaning wind knot (forming at the reel) or tip wrap (knot forming around the rod tip).

 

oe

[Alex from GA]

Use an FG knot for the leader.  If that fails use mono.

[MassYak85]

1 hour ago, FrankN209 said:

Try another line. I switched to Berkley Ultra 8 and haven't had a wind knot since. I was getting them with gliss and power pro. 

I've tried 4-5 lines in the past couple years, including higher end 8 strands. They do help, but it ends up happening still. 

 

1 hour ago, OkobojiEagle said:

For my benefit: are you meaning wind knot (forming at the reel) or tip wrap (knot forming around the rod tip).

 

oe

It seems to me they are forming at one of the lower guides and then make their way out on the cast. Really bad ones will wrap themselves around the 1st or 2nd guide and stop the cast altogether. Almost like the line is coming off too fast and bunches up. 

 

1 hour ago, Alex Weissman said:

Use an FG knot for the leader.  If that fails use mono.

I've used FG, albright, blood knot, and uni. FG and Blood knot being my favorite, but none made a noticeable difference. 

[waymont]

Maybe you are overfilling your reel spool?

[junyer357]

Ive been using power pro slick 8 with no problems for a few years now. I always spoolit with line coming off bottom of spool and close bail by hand, but thats it. 

[MassYak85]

13 hours ago, waymont said:

Maybe you are overfilling your reel spool?

I always hear people say to leave like 1/8th of an inch and I try to do the same, but I also seem to get them when the line has gotten even shorter after cutting a few off. I don't think under-filling would cause them right? 

 

Thank you for the responses so far guys. My suspicion based on everything people have said is the leader knot may be hanging up more than I thought it was. 

[waymont]

3 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I always hear people say to leave like 1/8th of an inch and I try to do the same, but I also seem to get them when the line has gotten even shorter after cutting a few off. I don't think under-filling would cause them right? 

 

Thank you for the responses so far guys. My suspicion based on everything people have said is the leader knot may be hanging up more than I thought it was. 

I have never experienced them using Power Pro 8,10, and 15lb on spinning setups. These are the things I do when loading and casting. Load line from the bottom of the spool, fill to between 1/16 and 1/8", always close the bail by hand, use an FG knot to join leader to braid, make sure there isn't any loose line on your spool with a light tug after each cast, and also important not to cast too hard. 

Hope this helps out.