40 lb fluoroSALT NIGHT: bridge + rocks, fast landings
50 lb monoBluefish bite section only (6-8")
4-6 lb fluoroLimestone trout (R3)
8-12 lb fluoroSmallmouth / pond (R4)
4X-6X tippetFly wing (R5) — 5X limestone default
KNOT TAGS — EVERY JUNCTION IN THIS BOOK CARRIES ONE
FGBraid > leader — slim, casts cleanp4
DUBraid > leader field backupp5
UNILine to any eye — the defaultp6
PALStrongest simple eye knotp6
NSLLoop knot — lures swing freep7
DLDropper loop — hook off a backbonep7
SNSnell — circles & tog hooksp8
LTLLoop-to-loop — fly line > leaderp9
SRGSurgeon's — leader > tippetp9
CLImproved clinch — tippet > flyp9
RE-TIE DOCTRINE
FG + every terminal knot re-tied nightly. Wet every knot before cinching; test with a hard steady pull at the truck. Cut leaders back 2-3" after big fish, bluefish, and rock sessions. Morning spool check: fuzz = cut it back.
RIG FIELD GUIDE v3.0 · SYSTEM3 / 38
Double-Uni
The 60-second field backup for the same junction.
TAG · DU
Overlap braid & leader 8". Braid tag: loop back, wrap 6-8x around BOTH lines, back through its loop.
Leader tag: mirror it — 5-6 wraps around both lines, through its loop.
Wet it. Pull the standing lines — the two knots slide together and jam. Trim both tags.
LEADER HOUSE STANDARDS
FG for anything cast repeatedly — half the diameter, never ticks the guides. DU for dark / wind / cold hands.
LENGTHS
Salt day: 24-30". Salt night: 30-36" of 40 lb. Trout: 24" of 4-6 lb. Smallmouth/pond: 24" of 8-12 lb. Hi-lo backbones ARE the leader — FG/DU joins braid to the swivel-topped backbone directly.
SPOOL DISCIPLINE
Every leader spool lives in S1 (salt) or F4 (fresh). Any spool under 25% goes on the reorder list — the manifest page for each module states the trigger.
RIG FIELD GUIDE v3.0 · KNOTS5 / 38
Uni · Palomar
The two eye knots — one forgiving, one maximal.
UNIPAL
UNI — LINE TO ANY EYE (THE DEFAULT)
Through the eye, back 6". Fold tag toward eye — loop alongside standing line.
Wrap tag 5-6x around BOTH lines INSIDE the loop. Wet, pull tag, slide to the eye.
Use for: swivels, jig eyes, hook eyes, clips. One knot for 80% of junctions.
PALOMAR — STRONGEST SIMPLE EYE KNOT
Double 6" of line; push the LOOP through the eye. Tie a loose overhand w/ doubled line.
Pass the loop OVER the whole hook, pull both ends — knot seats above the eye.
Use for: clips, swivels, jigheads — anywhere the loop passes over the hardware. Near-100% line strength; needs more line than the uni.
WHICH ONE, WHEN
Palomar when the hardware is small enough to pass the loop over (clips, bare jigheads). Uni when it isn't (rigged plugs, dressed jigs) or when line is short. Both: wet, cinch slow, test hard. A knot that fails at the truck costs nothing; the same knot fails on the fish of the trip.