Making a secure loop in Braided Backing/Rio Slickshooter By Justin Duggan
This is a method of putting a loop to loop connector in 30 and 50 pound Rio Slickshooter or for putting a loop in braided backing. I have personally tested these connections on an IGFA line testing machine and they are 100% connections.
You will need: -Braided Mono; 50 pound -wet and dry sandpaper -Loctite 406 adhesive -Pliobond, Tarzans grip or similar flexible adhesive -Approx 40 cm piece of doubled over 50 pound single strand wire -Bobbin and thread (flat waxed or Kevlar) -Scissors -threading needle (if using braid or dacron backing)
Take a piece of braided mono approx 50-60cm long. If using Rio slickshooter or Cortland cobra running line then scuff the section to be looped with wet and dry sandpaper to remove the slick finish.Thread the backing/shooting line up the full length until it just protrudes from the end. If using braided backing then tie it to a small needle and thread it up the hollow braid.
Take the doubled over wire and insert it into the hollow braid approximately 1/3rd of the way up. Insert the wire in about 5-10cm(1-2inches) and then poke it back out of the braid.
Take the braided mono and insert it into the protruding wire. Now pull the wire back through to form a loop in the braided mono. You may need to gently massage the braid over the wire to encourage it to intially pull through.
Now take the doubled piece of wire and insert it into the Hollow braid,starting from the bottom. Run the wire beside the already inserted running line/braided backing.
After the wire is inserted a short distance the trick is to hold the running line as you insert the wire. If you hold the braided mono it is hard to insert the wire. Now poke the wire a few cm outside the braided mono, just below where the braided mono tag is protruding.
Slide the tag of the braided mono through the protruding wire and pull the wire back through from whence it came. You may need to gently manipulate the braided mono over the wire to get it to initially start. Pull the wire and tag through but be sure to not pull the whole loop closed.
Once finished you should end up with a neat loop and a tag of backing/shooting line at the bottom. Trim the braided mono back from the tag end to expose a few cm of braid/running line. If using braided backing I like to tie a rizutto finish in the braided backing tag. You could alternatively secure the tag with a uni knot, keeping the knot close to the end of the braided loop.
Using Loctite 406 bond a small section of the backing/running line tag to the main line, just below the braided mono. Trim any escess tag. Place 1 or 2 drops to the loop join as well as the section where the braided mono is weaved in and out.
Whip the frayed end of the Loop and continue along the entire running line that has been fused with loctite. Also place a small whipped finish at the junction of the loop. Coat the Whipped finish with Pliobond or similar and allow to dry.
Your running line is now ready to be connected to your shooting head via a loop to loop system.
The finished Loop, whip finished and coated with pliobond.
HINT Mono shooting lines are one of my favourites but they must be properly prepared. A small amount of time and effort will ensure your line is tangle free and a pleasure to use. Cobra and slickshooter are supplied on tiny spools and as a result have terrible memory straight from the package. Wind your line onto a larger spool such as a handline spool. Place the spool in boiling water for a number of hours to soften the line. Take the wet line outside and tie it between 2 trees very, very tightly so as to stretch all the kinks from it, preferably leave the line overnight. Your line is now ready to place on the reel. The night before fishing I like to wind the line back onto handline spool and soak it overnight. In the morning I simply wind it back onto my fishing reel and head out the door. Soaking the line is not essential but it sure makes it supple and easier to fish with. Make sure you give the line a damn good stretch before fishing it. I like to stretch it at the boat ramp between 2 people and then strip the line into my Lowy’s tangle tub. A small amount of fresh water in the bottom keeps the line slick. In place of a tangle tub some people use garbage bins or plastic tubs. Enjoy your shooting head fishing!!!
