Thread: Various knots and buried knowledge (long)

So, obviously I’ve posted that I’ve been away for about 12 or 13 years and am coming down on the 26th to rejoin the community. I’m amazed at how much pier knowledge I lost over the years and so a few days ago I determined to regain some of that and perhaps acquire some new knowledge. I have been voraciously reading past posts and I am very pleased at how much so much of that “lost” knowledge is coming back. The last few nights I have been working diligently and, at times quite frustratedly, on 2 knots that I previously had zero skill with. First was the dropper loop rig. For those of you competent with this knot, I’m sure you’re wondering what the big deal is. However, after looking at numerous examples online, most of which made no sense, I set out to figure that rascal out on my own. After about five hours and 150 yards of cheap mono, that rig belongs to me. I can now fairly consistently make a 3 loop rig in which all of the loops are more or less the same size and distance apart with a nice tight equal wrap knot.
In the past, I’ve always bought premade steel leaders, and I decided to tackle the haywire just for the satisfaction of it - and obviously to avoid paying someone else to do what I should be able to do myself. Again, several hours and several needle hole bleeders (one under the fingernail) and I’ve made what to me is a quite acceptable knot with all of the twists, nice and tight, and the barrel rolls actually lined up in a tight little circle. Thanks to.#r’s note about leader size and length for Spaniards and macks, I am well on my way to having a spring and summer stock of single strand rigs. <pat on back>
Thanks to all on here who share their knowledge. I know we click the thanks and like button, but there is a wealth of knowledge on this board equal to any anywhere. Thank you guys.