What is the ratio of knot strength to knotless strength in a hairtail net?
Publish Time: 2025-12-08
In the fishing tackle manufacturing industry, nylon monofilament fishing nets are widely used in various fishing and aquaculture scenarios due to their high transparency, strong tensile strength, and good flexibility. "Hairtail net," as a common structural design, typically refers to an extension at the end of the main net body used to connect buoys, sinkers, ropes, or haul-in devices, improving operational convenience and efficiency. However, no matter how ingenious the design, the ability of a fishing net to withstand the struggles of fish, the impact of water currents, and repeated hauling and unhauling in actual use depends crucially on the strength of its weakest point—the knots. Therefore, understanding the ratio of "knot strength" to "knotless strength" is essential for assessing the overall reliability of a fishing net.
"Knotless strength" refers to the tensile strength of a nylon monofilament in its unknotted, continuous fiber state. In this state, the entire monofilament is evenly stressed, and the molecular chains are tightly aligned axially, fully utilizing the material's inherent mechanical potential. "Knot strength," on the other hand, refers to the maximum tensile force that a single monofilament can withstand after being knotted. Because knotting forces fibers to bend sharply, compress locally, and even cause micro-damage, stress concentrates near the knot, making this area the most vulnerable to breakage in the entire net. Generally, the effective strength of any fiber, after knotting, is significantly lower than its original state, and nylon monofilament is no exception.
For nylon monofilament, its high elasticity and smooth surface help reduce frictional loss, but also mean that knots are prone to slipping or loosening. Improper knot selection or loose binding further exacerbates strength loss. Common fishing net knots (such as single knots, double knots, and braided knots) have varying effects on strength retention. Compact knots with even stress distribution can alleviate stress concentration to some extent, thus retaining higher knot strength; while loose knots or knots with excessively sharp angles may cause the monofilament to break due to localized shearing upon stress.
It is worth noting that the tail end of a "hairtail net" often bears the main traction force of the entire net—whether it's the drag during net hauling or the current-resistant pulling after anchoring, the force ultimately converges at the tail connection point. If knotting is used for fixing the net at this point, rather than heat fusion, mechanical pressing, or integrated weaving, then knot strength becomes a critical bottleneck determining the lifespan of the fishing net. If the knot strength is too low, "tail breakage" accidents are highly likely during high-intensity operations, leading not only to catch losses but also potentially resulting in abandoned nets and posing a threat to the marine ecosystem.
To compensate for this inherent weakness, high-quality hairtail nets often employ multiple strategies: first, selecting high-toughness, high-resilience nylon raw materials to improve the bending resistance of the monofilament; second, optimizing the tail structure to minimize knotting, instead using heat fusion or specialized metal/plastic connectors to achieve a "knotless" transition; and third, where knotting is necessary, using professional fisherman's knotting techniques and stabilizing the knot shape through post-treatment heat setting to maximize strength retention.
Furthermore, users should also pay attention during use: avoid applying sudden impact loads to the tail net knots, regularly check for wear and loosening of the knots, and promptly replace aging or deformed connections.
In conclusion, while the ratio of knot strength to knotless strength in hairtail nets cannot reach the ideal 1:1, this gap can be significantly reduced through material selection, structural optimization, and process upgrades. A truly reliable fishing net depends not only on the strength of the line but also on the strength of its knots. In turbulent working environments, that seemingly tiny knot is often the last line of defense protecting the entire net.
