@Spuds1 wrote:

Guys ,

I need some enlightenment as to what you guys use to connect your elastic to your main line ,

I have and will continue to use a Stonfo unless you guys can tell me a btter way ?

This will all be for holow elastics

What do you guys use and why please ?

Dacron all the way mate much better and tangle free.

Dacron. It’s easy and neat,

dacron for me, helps to reduce tangles with short line to the float

spuds ive been using future connectors forever, never let me down, its either follow the sheep, or stick to what you know.

I always said I would never pack in with connectors and I think the turning point was I put new white hydro in 2 topkits in sept and I was sold 2 bright flourescent pink connectors they were terrible connectors the sleves kept sliding up the elastic whilst I was playing fish then the inevitable happened it cost me a 7lber the rig and everything. I mentioned it to lads in the shop and I bought some fox dacron connectors and I got on with them really well there very neat and tidy

@maker wrote:

spuds ive been using future connectors forever, never let me down, its either follow the sheep, or stick to what you know.

Or could you be dyed in the wool maker?
Now, I like dyed in the wool, and I like follow the sheep. But which one is best?
There’s only one way to find out……

I used to use Stonfos for say 6-8 laccy and below and crows foot for anything above that.

I decided 2 years ago to try dacron for my heavy elastics and never looked back, so I changed all my light elastics to dacron as well.

Either a crowsfoot or one of Nick Larkins Connectadjusts.

The crowsfoot connection is neater than dacron, simple and effective.

The connectadjust is brilliant if like me you do not want to be spend your whole life remaking rigs. Nothing worse than having to chop rigs down or add metre lengths of line as the rigs you have are the wrong length. They look heavy and cumbersome but they are not, no worse than an ordinary stonfo really. Depending upon the line diameter you can get up to 2 metres of line on the connectadjust. That covers most depths that you are likely to encounter or want to fish.

If the wind gets up you can let a little line off and back shot. The same if the fish back off a little. If you are fishing the margin but want to fish long UIW you can wind a little off the winder.

Brilliant invention but with one little flaw that is easily remedied. It comes with a plastic sleeve to trap the line on the tiny winder. Change that for a piece of float rubber and it works much better. Also if you lose it on the bank you always have another piece with you.

I too thought I would use connecters all the time but I have since swapped to Dacron and think there lot better Preston sell thm prettied so for a few quid why not try thm it’s the best way to find out … Thts what I did

Is it important that the cover, bead thing goes over the elastic knot as I’m struggling!?

Ive used dacron ever since browning brought them out maybe 15-20 years ago. I started making my own and have done ever since. I have never had a tangle around the pole tip using dacron. Its light, its cheap, it cant damage the pole on a break. But as a match angler the most important thing is the anti tangle properties of dacron.

Yes nathan or the knot can get caught in the bush. You will feel it catch on the strike as it releases. Use the helicoptor beads on medium elastics but for big elastics use a tail rubber.

What’s a tail rubber and where do you get them?

Sounds like someones taking the micky

I use the large tail rubbers/heli sleeves on heavy laccies and small ones on light ones.

Nathan, try these links:

http://www.korda.co.uk/products/view.php?id=158

http://www.foxint.com/catalogues-products.php?lang=e&product=2065&catalogue=1&section=1

nisa connectadjust ~clap

Thanks, they look a bit small though like the 1s I’v got. Always used stonfos but going to try dacron in my new pole.

Nathan,

I make my own, much cheaper than buying them.

Put a search into google images for ‘dacron connector’

Thats how I started to make my own.

Steve

@Stevie H wrote:

Nathan,

I make my own, much cheaper than buying them.

Put a search into google images for ‘dacron connector’

Thats how I started to make my own.

Steve

I got some FREE from a very kind man on here called Dan Jones, made by Avalon but for lighter elastic than I normally use! Was thinking of getting some different, bigger things to go over knot?

@Martin25664 wrote:

A couple of things worry me about dacron connectors.
1. Most people connect the rig using the two loop system. That’s one loop/knot more than with a stonfo. Knots equal weak points in the rig, therefore the rig must be weaker the more knots you tie!
2. The upper loop used for removing the rig can get caught on brambles etc and release the rig. If you cut the loop then the line can easily catch around the tags and cause tangles.

How have people overcome these problems as I can not see a good reason to change from a stonfo?

Heard people just use 1 loop but I do worry it will be difficult to remove the rig.

[/quote]I got some FREE from a very kind man on here called Dan Jones, made by Avalon but for lighter elastic than I normally use! Was thinking of getting some different, bigger things to go over knot?[/quote]

Not like you to get free stuff 😛

I use them with red hydro Nathan, so what I would do is if you don’t want to get the heli sleeves or something like that is just to attach the dacron to the elastic and then pull a piece of catty laccy or ‘old’ wider hollow over the knot where the dacron meets the elastic and bobs your uncle. Easy as.

@Martin25664 wrote:

A couple of things worry me about dacron connectors.
1. Most people connect the rig using the two loop system. That’s one loop/knot more than with a stonfo. Knots equal weak points in the rig, therefore the rig must be weaker the more knots you tie!
2. The upper loop used for removing the rig can get caught on brambles etc and release the rig. If you cut the loop then the line can easily catch around the tags and cause tangles.

How have people overcome these problems as I can not see a good reason to change from a stonfo?

1. I do hear what you say about the extra weak spot, but personally i have never had a problem with it. I have used the double loop over here in Belgium fishing for big twenty pound carp(landed a 31!) and never had one go on me……that is using .21 powerline with red hydro on a tourney pro, but these fish scream off.

2. How can the loop catch on anything if it has been snipped?

@Martin25664 wrote:

Not difficult with a stonfo Nathan.

Do people use dacron on very light elastics like a No2 – No4 as surely it must droop out of the end of the pole?

You just don’t use as much dacron or rubber/silicon etc so that it doesn’t droop.

I wouldn’t go back to stonfos or crows feet now!!

@Martin25664 wrote:

A couple of things worry me about dacron connectors.
1. Most people connect the rig using the two loop system. That’s one loop/knot more than with a stonfo. Knots equal weak points in the rig, therefore the rig must be weaker the more knots you tie!
2. The upper loop used for removing the rig can get caught on brambles etc and release the rig. If you cut the loop then the line can easily catch around the tags and cause tangles.

How have people overcome these problems as I can not see a good reason to change from a stonfo?

I use a single loop when attaching my rigs. I have used dacrons for a good 4 years now, after going from stonfo’s to crows foot to dacron. Wont ever change back

@welshmagic wrote:

@Martin25664 wrote:

A couple of things worry me about dacron connectors.
1. Most people connect the rig using the two loop system. That’s one loop/knot more than with a stonfo. Knots equal weak points in the rig, therefore the rig must be weaker the more knots you tie!
2. The upper loop used for removing the rig can get caught on brambles etc and release the rig. If you cut the loop then the line can easily catch around the tags and cause tangles.

How have people overcome these problems as I can not see a good reason to change from a stonfo?

I use a single loop when attaching my rigs. I have used dacrons for a good 4 years now, after going from stonfo’s to crows foot to dacron. Wont ever change back

Do you not struggle to remove rigs? And what brand and strength of dacron do I want if I’m going to make some of my own?

Ebay item number 17059960247

Dacron connectors for smaller elastics.~clap

I use dacrons exclusively now as i found more pro’s than cons i.e.

By using a short length of dacron,it is stiff enough to keep the line further away from the pole tip,thus reducing wrap arounds.

On recoil,i have had quite a few broken stonfo’s before,and even damaged a top kit with one,neither of which can occur with dacron and rubber.

What’s wrong with a Crowsfoot ?

Have used them on all my laccys for years,only once have i had problem & that was when i managed to get the crowsfoot itself tangled in some overhanging brambles.
If you are worried about heavy line cutting through it tie a piece of braid or cotton into the knot when forming it.
Wouldn’t consider changing for anything,probably the one bit of my set up that hasn’t changed in twenty odd years!

@NathanWatson wrote:

@welshmagic wrote:

@Martin25664 wrote:

Do you not struggle to remove rigs? And what brand and strength of dacron do I want if I’m going to make some of my own?

Nathan 30lb fly line backing is ideal.You only need a yard to make a load, so it’s a shame to buy a spool if you san cadge a bit from a mate. If you tie a twisted loop you won’t get any droop!
Two loops on the rig aren’t a problem and it’s far quicker to remove if you’re saving a rig to use again.

@scarf wrote:

Nathan 30lb fly line backing is ideal.You only need a yard to make a load, so it’s a shame to buy a spool if you can cadge a bit from a mate.

Nathan cadge of a mate – shock, horror, ring the papers!!

He wouldn’t dream of doing anything else!

99% of the replies here say that “they tried it and wouldn’t go back to a crows foot or whatever. Having reread this whole thread again, I think one person has said why Dacron is best.

The rest just say it is wonderful then go on about, dacron and B/S, beads, tail rubbers, how you only need spend 1/2 hour making up 5 or so, how cheap they are, where you can get them on ebay, etc etc.

KISS – Keep it Simple Stupid – and stick with the crows foot.

@scarf wrote:

@NathanWatson wrote:

@welshmagic wrote:

@Martin25664 wrote:

Do you not struggle to remove rigs? And what brand and strength of dacron do I want if I’m going to make some of my own?

Nathan 30lb fly line backing is ideal.You only need a yard to make a load, so it’s a shame to buy a spool if you san cadge a bit from a mate. If you tie a twisted loop you won’t get any droop!
Two loops on the rig aren’t a problem and it’s far quicker to remove if you’re saving a rig to use again.

You got any spare then mate?~clap

I use dacron connectors as explained by a certain Mr S Ringer some time ago with the Nash TT beads over the elastic.

I use a spool of Greys Fly line backing (bright pink) and tie a double overhand knot in the end so I have a loop, then add a drop of Zap glue to the knot for extra security. Double Preston slip elastic and thread on the TT bead with a latch needle of some sorts, loop to loop effectively the dacron to the laccy and slide over the bead to neaten it up and stop the elastic retracting down the top kit.

Because I make the ‘dacron’ bit approx 1″ long the rig (I use one loop) slides up to the knot and sits securely as it does on a crows foot. To remove the rig just slide up the loop and seperate the two strands of dacron and the loop opens and can be slipped off…

Hope that makes sense?

~think

i’ve used the same way of connection as alan scotthorne for a good while now.
he uses 25lb kryston snakeskin instead of dacron for the loop (i tie all my loops with a sensas loop tyer as you can get the loop very small for uitw fishing)
the snakeskin is a plastic coated braid which is super tough and slightly stiff meaning it is very very easy to use just one loop on your rig (costs around £15 and you can make 100s of loops with it)
when you have done fishing for the day you simply wiggle the rig against the stiffness of the braid for a couple of seconds and the rig comes off easily.
i use the nash tapered bore bead (same as steve ringer i think?)
as a very neat elastic to braid connector it sits flush and slightly into the end of the pole so no water goes inside too.
in my experience this set up is the best especially up in the water fishing when turning the rig over etc when a crows foot is more likely to spangle your rig up.

@dirkdiggler wrote:

i’ve used the same way of connection as alan scotthorne for a good while now.
he uses 25lb kryston snakeskin instead of dacron for the loop (i tie all my loops with a sensas loop tyer as you can get the loop very small for uitw fishing)
the snakeskin is a plastic coated braid which is super tough and slightly stiff meaning it is very very easy to use just one loop on your rig (costs around £15 and you can make 100s of loops with it)
when you have done fishing for the day you simply wiggle the rig against the stiffness of the braid for a couple of seconds and the rig comes off easily.
i use the nash tapered bore bead (same as steve ringer i think?)
as a very neat elastic to braid connector it sits flush and slightly into the end of the pole so no water goes inside too.
in my experience this set up is the best especially up in the water fishing when turning the rig over etc when a crows foot is more likely to spangle your rig up.

I take it the thick end of the bead goes next to the bush?

@NathanWatson wrote:

@dirkdiggler wrote:

i’ve used the same way of connection as alan scotthorne for a good while now.
he uses 25lb kryston snakeskin instead of dacron for the loop (i tie all my loops with a sensas loop tyer as you can get the loop very small for uitw fishing)
the snakeskin is a plastic coated braid which is super tough and slightly stiff meaning it is very very easy to use just one loop on your rig (costs around £15 and you can make 100s of loops with it)
when you have done fishing for the day you simply wiggle the rig against the stiffness of the braid for a couple of seconds and the rig comes off easily.
i use the nash tapered bore bead (same as steve ringer i think?)
as a very neat elastic to braid connector it sits flush and slightly into the end of the pole so no water goes inside too.
in my experience this set up is the best especially up in the water fishing when turning the rig over etc when a crows foot is more likely to spangle your rig up.

I take it the thick end of the bead goes next to the bush?

yes thats right.
they are made of a fairly hard rubber but due to the taper bore the end of the elastic sits inside the bore of the bead like it was made for the job.

I stick with the crowsfoot on heavier lakkys, what could be a neater way of attaching line to elastic than having nothing extra between them!

I can hand on heart say I’ve never had any trouble with the knot or loops catching in any vegeatation, and if your bothered about having two loops on your rig having a single loop is easy enough to remove when your using heavier diameter lines for carp.

I have tried crowsfoot and dacron but have returned to stonflos as life is to short for all that faffing about. The way I figure it there are a lot more things to worry about that are a lot more important. This is probably not even a 1% issue in the big scheme of things. I would worry more about tension and type of elastic, strength of line etc. lets face it just fish the rod and line then you have taken the whole issue and binned it. Most on here, excepting Nathen of course are just not good enough for it to really matter.
Now lets get back to threads that matter like what type of hook for gudgeon (a small one is my normal choice).