Haywire Twist

Single-strand wire held by its own permanent set, not by friction.

• !Strands crossed too shallow, so one wire wraps a straight one and pulls out
• !Too few symmetrical crossings before the barrel wraps start
• !Tag cut instead of broken, leaving a spur that finds hands and leader
• !Kinked wire reused — single strand fails at a kink with no warning

• !One strand runs straight with the other coiled around it, so the coil can slide off and pull out under load
• !Fewer than three and a half twists were made before the barrel wraps
• !The barrel wraps are gapped or spread out, leaving the twists free to unwind
• !The wire is kinked, from tying or from an earlier fish. Kinked single-strand wire is weak at the kink.

• One strand wrapped around a straight one

  Pulls straight under load and the leader is gone with no warning

  A haywire holds because both strands spiral about a common centre. A wrap around a straight strand has nothing gripping it and simply unwinds. · step 02

• Fewer than three and a half symmetrical twists

  Not enough shared spiral to carry the load into the barrel wraps

  The symmetrical section, not the barrel wraps, is what takes the strain. · step 02

• Gapped or loose barrel wraps

  The tag can work back and the twist can open

  The barrel wraps close the twist; gaps let it breathe under cyclic load. · step 03

• Cut tag leaving a spur

  Catches hands, nets and leader; a reliable source of cuts

  Rocking the tag until it fatigues parts the wire flush; cutters cannot. · step 04

• Kink in the wire

  Single-strand wire fails at a kink without warning

  A kink is a permanent stress riser; the wire has already been damaged there.

• One wire is straight and the other is wound around it

  Check

  • ?Look down the twist — both strands should spiral around a common centre
  • ?A straight strand running through the middle means it is not a haywire

  Then

  • →Cut the section off and rebuild; a wrapped haywire pulls straight under load
  • →Start with the strands crossed at well over a right angle

• A sharp spur of wire stands proud at the end of the barrel wraps

  Check

  • ?Run the connection through a cloth — a spur will catch

  Then

  • →Break the tag by rocking it so it parts flush
  • →If already cut, rebuild rather than trying to dress the spur

• The leader has a kink or a tight bend near the twist

  Check

  • ?Sight along the wire for any bend that does not fair out

  Then

  • →Discard the leader — single-strand wire fails at a kink and gives no warning

• Only barrel wraps present—no true haywire twists.

  Check

  • ?Look for: Only barrel wraps present—no true haywire twists.

  Then

  • →Retie with true twists before barrel wraps.

• Cut tag leaves a sharp wire point.

  Check

  • ?Look for: Cut tag leaves a sharp wire point.

  Then

  • →Barrel-wrap the tag and finish without a spear.

• Twists are open and do not lock.

  Check

  • ?Look for: Twists are open and do not lock.

  Then

  • →Add true twists under even tension.

• Wire work-hardens and snaps at the twist.

  Check

  • ?Look for: Wire work-hardens and snaps at the twist.

  Then

  • →Retie fresh wire; do not rework a fatigued twist.

• Finished check failed — only barrel wraps are formed

  Check

  • ?true haywire twists precede barrel wraps
  • ?wire strands rotate around each other rather than one strand merely wrapping the other
  • ?tag is fatigue-broken cleanly rather than cut into a sharp burr

  Then

  • →Retie. wire fatigue, connection failure, or handling injury.

• One strand wrapped around a straight one

  Check

  • ?Pulls straight under load and the leader is gone with no warning
  • ?Inspect step 02

  Then

  • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

• Fewer than three and a half symmetrical twists

  Check

  • ?Not enough shared spiral to carry the load into the barrel wraps
  • ?Inspect step 02

  Then

  • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

• Gapped or loose barrel wraps

  Check

  • ?The tag can work back and the twist can open
  • ?Inspect step 03

  Then

  • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.