Knots and leaders · 2 min read
Cut the tag short enough to cast
Cut the tag short enough to cast. This bank job is about the tag end of a finished knot. Do it while you can still see what your hands are doing.
Do it in order
The sequence is short. Trim the tag after the wraps have seated. Leave the rest of the kit closed. A second method, started halfway, turns one check into a tangle.
The usual miss
The miss is a long tag that ticks the rod and catches grass. When that shows up, stop and go back to the first step. Do not pile another knot or another lure on a step you skipped.
You are done when the tag does not catch a finger slid along the knot. If that is not true, the fish is not the problem yet.
Next time you set up the tag end of a finished knot, repeat the same sequence instead of improving it from memory. A "Knots and leaders" note stays useful when it is smaller than the tackle box.
A bank note, not a forecast or a rule sheet. Check the local regulations before you fish.