St Croix is known the world over for producing some of the highest quality rods on Earth. Most people associate this claim with spin and conventional rods but did you know that they also produce some of the best fly rods?
I recently fished with a 9 foot 9 weight that really caught my interest. The St Croix Sole is a unique idea in fly rods. It is a 2 piece fly rod, but the breakdown is unusual. The tip section is where the rod breaks down and the rest of the rod remains a one piece. This is a cool concept for the fisherman that fishes both fly and spin because when you break down the rod, the one piece portion is the same length as all the spinning rods. It is easily transported along with all the other rods.
Most breakage occurs with fly rods in the tip section. St Croix realizes this and provides an extra tip in case of breakage which is genius. These features make this the most versatile fly rod for Florida Keys fishing, in my opinion.
The rod performs very well. I recently fished the 9 foot 9 weight Sole in the Keys for Blacktip sharks and baby tarpon. The rod casts very nicely and fought a fish extremely well. Check out these videos of the rod in action.
Visit St Croix’s website to learn more about the Sole and all the other rods they offer. The don’t call them the Best on Earth for nothing!
I hope that helps! Send us a picture of the big fish you catch!
-Tom Rowland
To properly cinch down 80 pound mono, you are definitely going to need pliers. I really dont know if I could cinch down an 80 pound 4 turn uni with my bare hands and would probably not get it quite right with gloves on either.
The Bimini Twist one of the more difficult knots, but is commonly over complicated by many anglers. Hopefully this video will help you learn how to tie it...
The J Knot was taught to me by Dave Justice and has been a standby in my fishing ever since. It is a simple knot, really, that combines the best of 2 knots to create a strong, reliable and quick knot for fluorocarbon to braid...
Tom Rowland give step by step instructions for tying the Non Slip Mono Loop Knot. Watch and learn..
The three knots are the Bowline (click here for video) , Trucker's Hitch and Half Hitch. With these knots you can secure anything for transport in a way that creates a mechanical advantage and truly secures your boat, cooler, bed, couch or whatever you are moving...
We go after a lot of fish with teeth down here in the Keys. So it's important to use wire so you don't get cut off. Here's how to tie the Haywire Twist using simple wire.
Need a simple loop knot for heavy leaders? The Homer Rhode is a great choice for this application.
I also use the Home Rhode as a loop knot for braided, coated wire...
![How To Tie The Bimini Twist [VIDEO]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/547dd399e4b036ff1df2f4b0/1450122545708-D911L7ZKAGN7BBLH45ON/image-asset.png)
Tom Rowland gives step by step instructions for tying the Bimini Twist, which is designed to double the line over so that another knot can be tied with two strands of line rather than with just one.
![How To Tie The Sheet Bend Knot [VIDEO]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/547dd399e4b036ff1df2f4b0/1482254636781-VGFT7BXYJQ6N0LYHZNTO/Screen+Shot+2016-12-20+at+12.23.32+PM.png)
Whether it is towing, or simply needing to tie 2 lines together, the Sheet Bend is an excellentknot to be able to handle significant stress but also be able to untie after the load has been put on the lines.
The Palomar knot is an excellent knot to attach a hook, swivel or lure to the end of the line. Bass fishermen have used this knot for a very long time and saltwater fishermen have also taken note...
![How To Tie The TR Knot for Braid to Fluorocarbon [VIDEO]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/547dd399e4b036ff1df2f4b0/1447344936181-HCZD31CQI6RKGGTPTZ61/image-asset.jpeg)
The TR knot is a hybrid knot that takes the best qualities of the FG/Sebile/Delph knot and combines them with the Uni Knot. I came up with this knot because I really liked the FG/Sebile/Delph knot, but it would not work well with some brands of braid combined with some brands of fluorocarbon. When the FG knot is able to grab, it is the strongest connection, in my opinion, but I experienced some frustration with a few brands and finishes.
The Haywire can be tied to the hook and also at the top of the leader to a swivel if your fishing situation requires it. I often use a swivel when shark fishing with dead bait because it sometimes spins in the current...
However, there is one knot that can take you from Bluegill to Blue Marlin and handle just about every situation easily....
To catch the most tarpon it is important to pay attention to the details. Having a knot that makes the fly swim unnaturally can result in less bites and getting fewer tarpon to the boat. Let's take a look at three of the most commonly used loop knots for tarpon.
I really use about 6 knots to attach braid to either Fluorocarbon or Monofiliment leaders. Here are my favorites:
#1 The J Knot- This is my Go-To knot for most quick leader ties. I have a lot of confidence in this one.
Here are my top 3 braided line to fluorocarbon or monofiliment knots. They are all easily tied and you can learn them in just a couple of minutes.
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The Clinch knot is definitely a knot you need to know. I know a lot of knots and still find myself tying a good, old fashioned Clinch Knot in many situations. The real key to making sure you tie it correctly is to inspect it and make sure that the barrels are stacked, not hopping over one another.