small swivel?

[remyboy1]

can you use a small swivel instead of a surgeons know to attach tippet to leader? those loops on the surgeons knot are not designed for my fat fingers.

 

[coldfeet]

Never tried it. I'm thinking it might affect your cast and fly drifting as naturally as it could. If you're running the fly deep with a short cast it might be fine although now it would be kind of like pinning? Personally I find the surgeons knot one of the easier knots, easier than the blood or barrel knot. Try it, if it works for you bonus. No one will arrest you for experimenting. hopefully

 

[remyboy1]

i saw the boys on sport fishing on the fly use it whilst fishingwith chronomids....looked real good to not have to do that dreaded sugeons knot...i know i should try it and see just thought someone might have some definitive insight lol blood knot works for me for some reason--sugeon makes me not wanna eat it frustrates me so much--not to mention when the tippet gets to the 5x and thinner its like clear hair...

 

[coldfeet]

Probably fine unless you're casting a 22 on still water.Surgeon- I'm never sure if mine turn out right. They're strong but bulkier than the blood. I like the blood knot too. Small tippet solution- I picked up some granny glasses,cheap reading glasses at walmart and keep them in my vest, good for small flies too. Make me dizzy when I take em off if they've been on a while.Gettin old

 

[remyboy1]

eyes are fine its the breakfast sausages i call fingers that seem to be the problem.

 

[RobH]

Small swivels are very common among steelheaders using indicator rigs...Looks like this: 3 to 5 feet of 30-35lb mono/ barrel swivel/ 5 to 7 feet of 12-15lb mono or fluorocarbon/ barrel swivel (leave the tag end about 3 inches long and tie in an overhand knot. This is where you will place your shot)/ 12 to 18 inches of 6 to 10 lb fluoro and your fly. The swivels facilitate the big jump down in leader diameter and eliminate the long taper of a packaged tapered leader.
This rig get hung up on bottom far less, will usually break at the tippet so you go through far less shot and slices through the water far better than a tapered leader.
We have also used them on sink tips for streamers that tend to spin a lot like Zoo Cougers.

Hope this helps.

 

[torco]

I just read an article the other day on using swivels for nymphing and steelheading. Thanks for posting the formula rob and diagram both make sense.
Not sure why I never thought of this myself since I use to float fish and spin fish for trout and steelhead alot and would use small swivels to ensure I didn't lose my floats.

 

[remyboy1]

guys please do not take this the wrong way at all-i do appreciate all the responses-this is the fly forum--to most a swivel is like bringing a shotgun to a wedding. i wanted to know if its "doable" in a fly line situation. i have used it often with float reel. but fly it would just make life so much easier. again not intended negatively just sayin. if someone with fly expereince can tell me if they have used this i would appreciate it..and thanks again boys much appreciated. us fly guys are just too pretty for swivels i think HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA (joking) please dont send the trollers after me.hah

 

[point defiance]

What are you fishing for? I use it for indicater fishing when going after steelhead. For smaller fish, casting dry flies might not work so well. Swivels do have a little weight to them, could make casting a bit clumsy

 

[Madriverfisher]

Like every one has said it will work for steelhead but not on dry flies it adds weight to the line when you don't want it to for dries

 

[Graham Bristow]

Hey Remyboy1,

A swivel is perfectly OK as long as it doesn't effect your presentation in a negative way. Raven tackle makes an XXXSmall size that I use sometimes. I also know other guides here in Ontario that use 1 or 2 swivels on their steelhead leader setup and it works great for them. You may also want to look into something called a tippet ring which is much smaller then a swivel and can even be used with dry flies. I know they are used by advanced fly anglers and tournament anglers for a quick and easy alternative of a surgeons knot.

 

[remyboy1]

i will for sure---i think grubman uses one of those and he loves it---thanks everyone by the way graham with the list of your supporters in your signature i think i would have tried a anvil to tie my tippets if you suggested it hahaha thanks brother appreciate it alot

 

[remyboy1]

i may be in your guide boat one day trying your suggestions this summer actually now that i think of it...anyone wanna do this with me?

 

[Graham Bristow]

Hey Remyboy1,

The only thing with the tippet rings is it doesn't prevent line twist but if that's not an issue they are nice to use.

It would be good to see you in the boat or on the banks this year.. I'll be out probably most days from now on for steelhead and I hope it's going to be another great season for everyone.

 

[jshannon]

I have a freind that has the same problem. He ties a surgeons loop at the leader end and one at the tippet end and uses a loop to loop connection. Maybe this might help.

tightlines