Tying Myself (Up) in Knots – Part Two

With the Improved Clinch Knot in the memory bank it’s time to line up knot number two – the Trilene Knot.

This knot was developed more than 40 years ago by the Berkley Fishing Tackle Company for use with its monofilament lines. The Trilene Knot is a stronger version of the original Clinch Knot – which had a tendency to slip and fail.

The Trilene Knot can be used with lines of up to 80lb test strength and is also referred to as the Two Turn Clinch Knot. It’s very similar to the imaginatively named Improved Clinch Knot, but with a double wrap of line through the hook eyelet.

Tying Myself (Up) in Knots – Part One

I had the gear to start my new adventure and now I had to find out how to use it. I decided it would be a good idea to learn a few knots so I could attach hooks and lures to the end of the line and make sure they stayed there.

I checked out numerous websites to find what I needed and thought I would share my findings so any other fishing newbies can take this voyage of discovery with me (there’s no charge because I’m kind like that, but please feel free to leave a tip).

Time to let the tie-rade begin whether you’re ready or knot…

Sea Robins and Sunsets

“What shall we do on Saturday?” Kathy asked as the eight-day weather forecast came up on the TV screen. It was Sunday evening (August 2nd) and the NBC Connecticut weather team was promising us temperatures in the low 80s and a light breeze the following weekend. We both knew the answer to the question.

Saturday came around and, sure enough, it was the perfect day for some chilling out, looking and learning and watching the world go by.

What’s In Yer Bag Mate?

I had a good idea what gear I needed to get the party started and Cabela’s website traffic increased considerably as I finalized my shopping list. I’d like to point out that I’ll be supporting local tackle shops in the future, but in this instance Cabela’s was a more convenient option.

As I was trimming down the list, Kathy said the magic words, “Would you like some gear for your birthday and Christmas presents?” I liked the idea very much and we were off to the races.

Looking and Learning

On Saturday, July 25th, the weather forecast was perfect for a trip to the shoreline and another wonderful al fresco meal at the Wharf Restaurant in Madison. From our seats I could see a youngster catching Bunker from the jetty, so when lunch was over Kathy and I took a stroll to investigate, enjoy the breeze and walk off lunch.

The Fact-Finding Mission

Suitably impressed with my interest in fishing, Kathy suggested we take a trip to Cabela’s to do some information gathering and see what gear I needed. I wanted the right gear but didn’t want to spend too much.

The gear I brought from England gave me a good start. I had the following:

Full Circle

We went back to the shoreline on Saturday, July 18th, and after a superb al fresco fish & chips lunch at the Madison Beach Hotel’s Wharf Restaurant we wandered out for a stroll along the jetty.

The weather was overcast, the tide was higher than our previous visit and several anglers were casting out into Long Island Sound from the rocky platforms using a rigs-and-bait approach. While they never caught while we were there, once more I was fascinated.

In The Beginning – Working For David Hall Publishing

With the seeds well and truly planted it occurred to me I was about to go full circle on a journey that began in early 2006…Monday, January 23, 2006 to be precise.

This was the day I started working as a copy editor for David Hall Publishing (DHP) in Daventry, England. DHP published market-leading fishing titles such as Total Sea Fishing, Total Carp, Pole Fishing, Match Fishing and several more.

The “Eureka” Moment

It’s funny how something so seemingly innocent can spark an action with far-reaching consequences for someone’s wellbeing (and wallet).

On Thursday, July 16th, my wife Kathy and I were sitting on a bench near the site of the newly demolished Dock & Dine Restaurant in Old Saybrook watching the Connecticut River blend into the Long Island Sound. As we enjoyed the sunshine and accompanying breeze, it felt like the stresses of life were more than a million miles away as the sea air cleansed us.