Homer Rhodes Knot

[donrik]

Someone in the last post suggested tying this loop knot to the fly. I've read, as I'm sure a lot of you have, that the loop imparts more lifelike action to the fly. Unfortunately I learned firsthand how weak this knot is. When I lost my first ten+lb. bonefish, my guide inquired about the knot I tied. When I responded "It's a Homer Rhodes Knot", I thought I was going to have to administer CPR. I've never had a problem with an improved clinch knot, a friend of mine likes the Palomer knot. I haven't lost a bone to a knot since, stupidity, that's another story! l

[Quicksilver]

I think one reason a lot of anglers up here use a loop knot is because they are also using beefy tippets. I usually use #20 flourocarbon. I hear some guys use a leader of 4-5 feet of #30 flourocarbon. Another consideration is one can really make a clouser dance with a loop knot. The loop knot breaks at, (I think) 65%, so using it with 20 -30 pound test leader tippet is pretty safe. I don't think the angler needs to impart much action to a fly for bonefish. Most of the success in bonefishing comes from spoting fish and putting the fly where they can eat it. I use an improved clinch knot for bonefish, but one of the last times I was in the Keys I broke off two nice fish while fishing out of a kayak. Bonefish are so fast the if you are tight on them when they scream off it's pretty easy to lose them.

[rockfisherman]

I suggested the Homer Rhode knot. I only use it on multi-strand heavy test wire where the breaking strength is not a consideration in comparison with the rest of the leader.

I use a Palomar on all my standard tippets...and an improved clinch if I have to because I don't have much tippet end to work with.

[gsmith]

An alternate to the Homer Rhode loop is a non-slip loop knot. This will increase the break strength to over 90%.