TYING THE SC KNOT
It's not often that I have a new knot to report on other than my own creations, and even less often that it is one as strong as this one looks to be. As far as I can establish, it has come to prominence within the last year - 2020.
So what is this knot and what distinguishes it from all the other knots of the same ilk? As an angler, why should I take the trouble to learn this one when I already have a perfectly adequate knot?
This last point applies to any new knot that is laid before us for evaluation, and by setting before you some of the pro's and con's pertinent to this knot, I hope to let you make a more informed decision as to whether you have a need for this knot. For, very few knots are suited to every circumstance. We have our favourites we use most of the time, and speciality knots for those special situations.
Type of Knot
This is a line-to-line knot designed to join slippery braid to a thicker monofilament or fluorocarbon leader.
Type of Classification
To describe this knot's greatest strength and also its greatest weakness, we need to understand how it goes about its business. Consider a regular Nail Knot. Note how the thinner braided line is wrapped multiple times around the end of your thicker leader and how the leader remains 'passive' in the knotting process. As the braided tag end and braided main line are pulled tighter and tighter in opposite directions, so the Nail Knot bites deeper and deeper into the leader material until it can move no more. However, while the knot is being cinched, there is a point where, if you wished, you could slide the Nail Knot off the end of your leader parting the two lines. The knot can be therefore said to be unidirectional rather than bi-directional as with a more conventionally-tied knot.
Why is this important to know? Knots like the Nail Knot, the FG Knot, the PR Bobbin Knot rely for their integrity on the 'bite' of the braid gripping and not slipping. There is not the safety net of a conventionally-tied knot. But, equally, if you are going to be casting a lot and smooth travel of the knot through your rod rings is important, no knot will have as thin a profile as these knots or, if tied correctly, be as strong.
Considerations
Pro's
- Much easier to tie than the FG Knot or PR Bobbin Knot
- As thin as the FG Knot or PR Bobbin Knot
- As strong as the FG Knot or PR Bobbin Knot
- Its formation looks like a Yucatan Knot but during cinching, it follows more the FG Knot, and besides, a true Yucatan Knot uses a Bimini Twist to form the doubled line, meaning that you potentially have more than one knot in play
- Some knots that are perfectly acceptable in fine-to-medium diameters become unmanageable when heavy thick leaders are used, e.g. the ever-popular Double Uni. This type of knot will be much bigger in profile and not cast through the rod rings nearly as well as an SC Knot or FG Knot
- Particularly when using fine braid, some knots have a built-in limitation as to how many wraps can be applied, e.g. the Nail Knot and the Uni Knot. Sometimes, the inability to add more wraps can impact on the overall performance. With the SC Knot, like the FG Knot and PR Bobbin Knot, there is no such inherent restriction allowing the knot to reach its full potential
Con's
- It's nit picking a little, I know, but to guarantee that the braid component will not move off the leader line, a lot of pressure needs to be applied. This means the lines being used must be capable of taking a certain level of poundage to ensure this. I think this is the reason why this type of knot has been described as not particularly suitable for very light lines. That said, Bass fishers manage to tie 15 lbs braid to 10 lbs fluoro or mono with the FG Knot without a problem. Clearly, both lines can take some hard-pulling. But try tying together much lighter lines and it would be much harder to gauge whether you have got enough 'bite' or not without breaking the line first. In these circumstances, I would feel more comfortable using a Double Uni, Surgeons Knot, Alberto Knot or any of these bi-directional-pull type of knots
- Seldom is there a need to join braided line to braided line. But should the need arise, you would not want to be using a knot of this type which is so reliant on putting the 'bite' on the other line for maximum grip when there is going to be very little grip to be had. Most conventional knots, too, will struggle with this task, the exception being some form of a Double Uni or my own Tuna Bend Knot which will be discussed in passing as a good alternative
Tip - Blobbing The Leader Tag
Whether tying a simple Nail Knot, FG Knot, PR Bobbin Knot, or SC Knot, I think you can secure the knot still further by doing the above. Think about it. The half hitches and / or Rizzuto Finish you apply to the braid help maintain the 'bite' and prevent the braid unravelling. If you have not been diligent enough in applying the 'bite', none of these finishes will prevent the braid slipping off the end of your leader.
But cutting off the end of your leader as close to the braid as you can, and then gently applying the leader tag end to the metal part of your lighter below the flame will flare it out like a mushroom patch. This will solidify and make it more difficult for the braid to 'cross the point of no return'.
Video
I looked at a number of tutorials and I think this is the clearest to follow. The key I found was to hold the leader tag end with one hand whilst pulling on the braid in the opposite direction to get it to tighten down.
See what you think:
Alternative - Tuna Bend
No line-to-line knots can match the above type of knot for thinness of profile and few can match them for strength. This knot will not only match them for strength and is just as easy to tie, it is both secure and has a much more all-round ability if required.
The example you see here is 11 lbs b/s braid tied to 20 lbs b/s clear mono. I tied it reasonably carefully, but given that it is constructed along conventional lines, I did not worry overly whether I had enough 'bite' on the leader. Off camera, the mono terminates in a Figure of Eight Loop Knot and the braid is still attached to the line spool. Having inserted the hook of my digital scales inside the loop, a quick pull in opposite directions serves up a reading of 10.8 lbs b/s without breaking.
In the picture, I have added two half hitches to the leader side. I am unsure whether this is strictly necessary and leaves a profile the same as an Albright Special Knot or Alberto Knot - just much much stronger!
An added advantage of this knot is that unlike the majority, it will allow you to securely tie two pieces of braid together. In this situation, you would want to lock off both sides with some kind of locking finish, braid being so slippery.
For the video, please see the following:
For a more detailed step-by-step guide, please see the following link:
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