Chapstick for lubricating knots

[MexicanGulf]

I read an article in a well-known fishing magazine where it is recommended to lubricate the knots with chapstick, natural without chemicals, to lubricate the knots. Has anyone already tried? feedback for this system?

[MarkT]

I use saliva but then I'm not a fly fisherman!

[jurelometer]

I use saliva but then I'm not a fly fisherman!

Hey! Only ethically sourced natural spring water in recyclable glass containers for us real^tm fly fishermen.  But some of the old timers still use lip balm made from 100% organic bees wax produced by union bees.

But seriously, the only credible studies that I have seen are from the medical side for sutures.  Studies find that the monofilament and braided line knots surgeons use will slip more readily when lubricated with water or other substances.

AFAIK,  the fishing literature on lubricating knots is all unsupported assertions or "tests" that contradict each other but do show that we all probably have a high variance in breaking strength when repeatedly tying the same fishing knot.

If you want to lubricate to help cinch down a type of knot that tends to slip, water is not a bad idea.  It is a reasonable lubricant, and the line is going to be wet anyways. You won't be making things any worse.

I am fighting the urge to go down yet another science based rathole, this time on knot theory.  There is a thread that discussesd this recently somewhere on this site.

-J