Leader Knots & Bait Knots - Fresh vs Old

[DEPS_250]

Should you tie leader knots the day of fishing so its as fresh as possible for the most strength/effectiveness? I used to tie leader knots in the morning right before I went out fishing. But lately I have been feeling a little lazy in the mornings and I now tie my leader knots ahead of time the night before a planned trip.

 

There has even been a couple times where I tied a leader and did not get to fish it a few days later but still fished it anyways since I felt a little lazy. Therefore it got me thinking, how old is too old for a leader knot or any knot for that matter, to lose its effectiveness/100% strength and therefore could cause a potential failure? I should be good as long as its not a few days and is less than 24 hours right? A few days definitely feels a little too old. Knots on baits should definitely be as fresh as possible right? 

[Lmbasshunter]

You are overthinking things. I’ve left leaders tied on for months with no issues.

[BrianMDTX]

I never retie leader knots unless I’m cutting off and adding new leaders. 

[Team9nine]

Fresh is obviously good, arguably best, but as above, once I’ve tied and tested a leader (via fishing), I keep running the same leader until it gets too short, or it incurs some type of obvious damage. This could be several days later, or even a week or two later, before being replaced. If my career depended on it, or I was chasing the world record, I might have a different outlook, but… ?

[Catt]

I have 5 setups with lures tied on & ready to roll. Now I fish 3-4 times a week so I'm constantly checking knots & line.

[WRB]

It depends on the line and knot force applied to the connection knot. 

Mono, FC and Copoly lines are all plastic that cold forms under pressure weakening the line were it’s deformed.

Deformation occurs mostly with knots tied into a hard solid component like hooks. 

If you tie a knot that deforms the line time over pressure will weaken the knot.

I don’t like a leader for the reason 2 knots to fail. When I do use a leader a fresh knot gives me more confident it will not fail easily. Always checking for line abrasions or any “shinny flatten Spots” and re tie often.

Tom

[GetFishorDieTryin]

When I tie a leader on, its on until the leader is damaged or too short.  With longer leaders that are constantly going through guides every cast I imagine it takes a toll on the knot, its just hard to say how much the knot is weakened if at all.  I use 12' or longer leaders all the time, and I only retie when the line damaged too close to the connection knot or I run out of leader.  Ive never experienced a knot failure that I could attribute to damage from guides.  I have heard of guys that fish the flats using glue to help protect 6 and 8lb blue label because they need that line to be 100% if the run into a bigger bass.  

[bulldog1935]

I fish my leaders for as long as possible, tie perfection loops on the business end so I can loop on terminal tackle (e.g., paper clip) - leaders may get changed twice/year.  (Because of line v. point contact, loop connection is stronger than any single-bend knot.)

I could make this knot on the water, but it comes out this nice under my Ott lamp and magnifier at home.  (yes, this knot is wetted with pink-label Zap CA+)

If I need a leader in a pinch on the water, it's quicker to loop-to-loop, and fix the permanent leader connection later at home.  

I replaced all my leaders after February Arroyo trip.  Good thing.  In May, I caught my lifetime speckled trout, 28".  It was pure pandemonium, and you wouldn't see this photo if I wasn't out with a new leader.