Michael White fishes lots of different places around the world as a manufacturer’s rep for Simms, Ross and Idylwilde. One of the places he visits every year happens to be Andros South.
On any given day at Andros South, here’s the rig that you’re likely to find Whitey using to chase bonefish.
The Summary
- Ross Essence FW 890-4 Rod
- Ross Momentum LT #4 Reel (but next year I’ll be using a Ross F1)
- Rio Tropical Clouser in an 8 weight
The Detail
- 30 pound Dacron backing attached to the spool with an arbor knot
- Double bimini loop tied by Charlie Craven in the fly line end of the backing
- Double nail knot loop in the back end of the fly line, connected to the backing with loop to loop connection
- 9 foot 15 pound leader tied to the front end of the fly line with a nail knot
- 3 – 5 feet of 12 pound Rio Fluorflex Plus tippet tied to the front end of the fly line with a blood knot
- Idylwilde Morrish’s West Side #4 tied to the tippet with a non-slip mono loop
The Commentary
- “I like the Tropical Clouser because its aggressive taper does a good job turning over longer leaders and bigger flies.”
- “The Tropical Clouser comes with welded loops on both ends, but I cut them off and use a double nail knot loop on the back end of the line, and a nail knot to the leader. That’s just how I’ve always done it.”
- “I use tapered leaders because they allow just one knot in my leader system – between the leader and the tippet. One blood knot instead of a bunch of blood knots in the leader slides through grassy bottoms a lot easier.”
nail knot, really? doesn’t that rio line come with a welded loops on both ends? I am sure it does. Double nail, because that is how you have always done it. That is like tying a few overhands knots to tie on a fly!!! Rio is great but that coating slides right off no matter how many nail knots you tie! The propper loop knot is 98-99% nail knot is like 80% if the coating doesn’t slip!
My $0.02
Matt-wish I would have seen this earlier, so I could have immediately addressed your comments. If you were to re-read my comments above you’d certainly see that I mention the Rio line does, in fact, come with welded loops. And even though I have years of extensive work inside with the folks at Rio, I still choose to remove the rear loop and create my own “very tried and true” loop using double nail knots. This is a system that has never failed no matter where my extensive travels take me. So, I guess I trust my own system much more than their process.
Secondly, there are a few reasons I use a 6-7 turn nail knot for my leader attachment. The first is that I like to have as smooth and direct a connection all the way to my fly. I find that a neatly trimmed, well done, nail knot also slides through the grass easier and comes through the guides easier when landing fish. I also find it’s less bulky and “hinging” than a perfection loop, which is commonly used by the leader manufacturers.
Hope this addresses your concerns.
A guy with solid credentials offers sound tips, and the lone repsondent openly questions his advice? Amusing. Factory loops are convenient and I like them, but White is spot on in saying that a nail knot is slicker through the guides and a proven knot (if tied correctly). Millions of bonefish that have fallen to nail-knotted leaders over scores of decades would agree.