Strange...

[MichaelAngelo]

Twice in a recent outing my line broke at the knot, without much pressure applied to it, as I was bumping the spoon off of rocks. I tied 15lb fluoro directly to the spoon. The knots held perfectly well... they just "gave out". I've tied the exact same line with the exact same improved clinch knot countless of other times and never had it fail (the only fail I've had was at the 20lb braid when rubbing a zebra mussel bed).

My explanation

1) I'd be better off tying to a snap because the hole in the front of the spoon isn't perfectly round and thus may be kinking the fluorocarbon and weakening it. Not sure about this because the knots were holding well when tested after tying.

2) Perhaps the knots were bumping up against rock edges and weakening that way. A small bead to cover the knot would then be in order.

Thoughts guys? That's $8 in lures coming unbuttoned at the slightest fraction of my line's breaking strain!!