How to Attach a Braided Loop to a Tenkara Level Line
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 30 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! Importatnt: 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.
Now, you can easily attach and detach your level line!
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About Me
Jason Klass is a former fly fishing guide who now exclusively fishes Tenkara for trout in the streams and lakes of Colorado...Read More Tenkara Summit 2012
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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.