HOW TO ATTACH AN ELASTIC CONNECTOR

Which type of connector you use for your pole fishing is very much down to individual choice, as there are several methods at your disposal, all of which work perfectly well.

I’ve tried the lot down the years but cannot see past a Dacron connector for ease of use, neatness and how direct it leaves the line to the connector itself.

A crow’s foot-style of connection is okay but can wear the elastic down behind the knot over time and potentially lead to it breaking, while a standard Stonfo connector works well with light elastic but is murder to use with thicker carp or hollow elastics.

The Dacron can do the lot, from thin No3 solid elastic for roach all the way up to 20-plus grade elastic for big carp. I’ve never had them let me down in all the years I’ve used them.

Dacron connectors are also graded to suit the elastic size you’re using – harder to learn is how to attach them to the elastic safely, but with practice it takes seconds and is 100 per cent safe.

Here’s how – it starts with a tight overhand knot in the elastic...

Open the connector’s braid loop and lay the pole elastic over the top like this. The overhand knot in the elastic is under my thumb.

With the elastic trapped, fold the Dacron braid loop fully over the bell-shaped stopper cone, as shown here.

Holding the elastic, pull the cone away so that the Dacron braid tightens. This is the anchor point for the system.

Wet the elastic with your finger and slide the Dacron braid hard up against the tiny knot you created earlier and pull fully tight.

Push the cone-shaped buffer bead back down the Dacron until it sits snugly over the knot. Perfect!

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