If you’re like me, you dig level fluorocarbon lines for Tenkara fishing but miss the convenience of the girth hitch knot that the traditional furled lines offer. Luckily, there’s a simple technique you can use to get all the benefits of fishing a level line with the convenience of the braided loop connection. Here’s how…
Step 1
Grab the tag end of your level line and gently singe it with a lighter to form a small “ball” at the end. Be careful not to burn it too much.
What you’re doing in this step is creating a “stopper” that will butt up against the braided loop you’ll form later to keep it from slipping off the end of the line (you’ll see in a minute). It doesn’t have to be big. Even a very small stopper is enough to be effective:
Step 2
Next, cut off a piece of 12 lb. or 20 lb. Dacron backing and make a 1 1/2″ – 2″ loop by doubling it over itself and tying a simple overhand knot at the tag end. You can tie a Surgeon’s loop knot but it will be bulkier and is unnecessary. Leave a tag end of about 1/4″ or so because you will use that to detach the line and it’s easier if you have more line to grab.
Step 3
Lightly singe the tag ends of the Dacron with your lighter just so it won’t fray:
Step 4
Now, attach the Dacron loop to your level line behind the stopper knot using a Lark’s Head knot. It should look like this before you cinch it up:
Step 5
Now, tighten the Dacron so it wraps around the level line:
Step 6
Finally, just slide the Dacron so that it butts up against the stopper “ball” you created in the level line and you’re done! Important: add a small drop of superglue to the connection. This is not for strength but simply to prevent the Lark’s Head knot from slipping back and detaching from the line accidentally.
Nice job Jason my way was a little more complicated then that so will give your way a try.
cheers
Charlie
Charlie,
Just out of curiosity, which technique were you using to attach the braid?
Nice! I’ve been using a double surgeon’s knot to make a small loop, then add the dacron loop.
Thanks Jason, so do you just make a loop in the dacron and slide the lilian into the loop to tighten, or do you make the loop with the dacron over the fluro of the level line.
Hi Andy,
You attach it the same way you attach a traditional furled line. This video demonstrates it.
Thanks Jason, As you can probably tell I’m just getting into Tenkara, my IWANA 11foot Series II rod (alnog with 2 level lines and a couple of line holders) arrives tomorrow….looking foward to this new adventure.
where do you get your dacron from
Hey Fred,
I just happen to have a bunch of spools left over from my my saltwater fly fishing days but you can get dacron at most fly shops. The 30 lb. works best and if you can’t find it locally, then you can order it online from Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Orvis, or even eBay. Should be pretty easy to find. Let me know if you can’t.
I’m using this method on my level ines and it works a treat. Leaving the tags a little longer on the loop knot gives an easy tup place to loosen the knot.
Hello Jason,
Nice trick, but while doing it I was wondering, why burn the fluoro and not doing a stopper knot like a figure eight ?
I did a figure eight, I’m worried that the burn reduce the quality of the fluoro
You certainly could do a figure 8 knot. I’m not sure burning the fluorocarbon compromises it’s strength. I’ve never had it break (yet).
LOL you are so right.
I tried tonight ..
The 6x tippet broke free before ..
Sorry for that, feel free to erase
Joe S
New to Tenkara. Rod is on its way. Is this the “best” way of tying the level line to the lilian. Or is this just the most convenient for exchanging lines. Do you notice aby significant castability because you are extending the lilian?
Thx
Hi Joe,
I think the term “best” is subjective. Some might find this method easier to connect–especially with a short lilian. I typically use the traditional connection advocated by Tenkara USA, but just thought I’d put this idea out there as an alternative for people who find it difficult to wrap the lilian around the slip knot. But both methods make it pretty easy to switch lines.
Man these instructions literally could not clearer or easier! I did it perfectly on the first try and I’m a completely noob. Great job with this! Thank you for all of your great posts as well!
Thanks man. I appreciate it and am glad I could help. Always feel free to contact me if you have any questions.