Merrill "The Canoe man" Chandler Loop-Knot

[Trim-Tab]

This knot is recommended for most DOA Lures. After you have ties it a few dozen times, you ought to be able to tie it in near darkness in a gale-force wind on a rocking boat... Well maybe not gale-force, but it's pretty darn easy!

Sometimes it can be difficult to tie in leaders over 30#

This knot is credited to the late Merrill Chandler, known for his pioneering efforts saltwater canoe fishing in Florida. It is a loop knot for connecting a hook, lure, or jig to the leader. Loop knots allow the bait or lure to move more freely in the water column making them more attractive to fish. This one is super easy and does not use up long lengths of leader each time it is retied. I use this knot as my leader to lure connection most of the time and it has never failed me when properly tied. It has been found to be one of the best used for me on the flats because of it's ease to tie and the tag end of the leader faces rearward there by not catching grass.

The canoe man knot should be wet before being pulled snug. This allows the knot to seat better and be more secure. It also protects the line from heat friction damage during tightening. This is especially important when using fluorocarbon leader material.

The pictures show how to tie the knot. Practice makes perfect and this knot is well worth the time and effort. Master it and it will be a simple and effective addition to your fishing knot arsenal.

First set of pics (from http://www.doalures.com/knots.htm)
Step 1
Run the tag end of the line through the eye of the hook. In the standing line make two backward loops as shown in the drawing. The standing line goes behind the tag end line.

http://www.doalures.com/images/loopknot1.gif

Step 2
The second loop goes through the front of the first loop.

http://www.doalures.com/images/loopknot2.gif

Step 3
The tag end then goes through the front of the second loop and bring the tag end of the line down to the side of the lure.

http://www.doalures.com/images/loopknot3.gif

Step 4
While holding the tag end of the leader and the lure stationary pull on the end of the line going to the rod.

http://www.doalures.com/images/loopknot4.gif

second set of pics: (by Kate McGovern)

http://www.wavewalk.com/1_Canoeman%27s_loop%20.jpg http://www.wavewalk.com/2_Canoeman%27s_loop.jpg http://www.wavewalk.com/3_Canoeman%27s_loop.jpg

http://www.wavewalk.com/4_Canoeman%27s_loop.jpg http://www.wavewalk.com/5_Canoeman%27s_loop.jpg http://www.wavewalk.com/6_Canoeman%27s_loop.jpg
The photos were shot by Kate McGovern

Article Written by Jeff McGovern
More articles by Jeff McGovern:
An All Around Spinning Outfit (http://www.wavewalk.com/kayak_fishing_spinning_reel_article.html)
Fishing Lures: The Beetle Spin (http://www.wavewalk.com/kayak_fishing_with_Jeff.html)
What to Carry on Board (http://www.wavewalk.com/Gear_For_Kayak_Fishing_Article.html)
About The W Kayak (http://www.wavewalk.com/Expert_kayak_fisherman_01.html)
Topwater Fishing (http://www.wavewalk.com/Topwater_fishing_article.html)




My own comments are in italic

[Harry]

Good stuff Trim !!!

Thanks for adding these great knots and helping ou rgreat site grow..... You da man 013

[sportskiff]

Trim,
you are an under-apreciated soul in this world, THANKS FOR THE HELP!!!!!!!!!
Hope you and ol' chum really "pull 'em" out tomorrow!!!!!!!
THANKS MAN!!!!!!
Reggie

[mbi777]

Hey Trim-Tab,

I seen that knot on AF but couldn't follow it on TV. I really like that knot and will be trying it as it does seem pretty easy.

From reading some of your and Chumheads posts I noticed you guys use braided lines with fluoro leaders. I have been using a reverse allbright and it is a pain but good when tied correctly. I just tyed some J-knots and seems simple to tie but don't know if it holds up in the real world yet. What have you guys been using to tie your braid to fluoro leaders? I personally use 10lb power pro with 18lb fluoro leader when fishing the flats for trout and reds.

Any suggestions very welcome.

[Willie]

010 I was shown that knot a couple of weeks ago in a bait shop. The guy tied it up for me and I was not sure how he did it. Thanks for the pictures. He was using it for a floating jig head with a gulp bait on it, tied it to drop loop which he had cut on a flounder rig to be fished in the surf. If that didn't make any sense, i will have to try to draw it up.
Anyway, thanks for posting that knot.....Willie

[Trim-Tab]

Mbi I use a uni-uni splice on my braid to flouro. I'm not sure what chum uses, and he's on vacation this week so we wont hear from him.

I usually use
8lb pp to 10lb flouro
10lb pp to 20 or 30 flouro
40 pp to 40 or 50 flouro (vertical jigging)
on 65lb or 80lb pp to anything i usually use a 100lb billfisher kroc swivel (tiny thing, really) for bottom bumpin.

[largebucket]

perfect timing I was searching for just such a knot.thanks

[FishEater]

I can say I feel the kont is strong. I just caught a 27 inch 13lb gag Grouper with it tied to my Jig. I use this knot almost always now.....Thank you so much for posting it. I learned it here. Thanks again Trim-Tab 013