Tuna Knots

[O.D. Mike]

Hi all,

I have yet to catch a tuna and I need to ask advise on knots. The braid to flouro knot, I'm currently using is a triple surgeons knot. I've read that a lot of people use this knot for braid to mono connections. The knot that the flouro attaches to the lure or hook that I use is a Palomar knot. My question is this a good combination of knots for tuna.

This is also the rig that I use for the canal, when its hung up on the bottom and the tug of war is ended, the triple surgeons knot is the one that breaks first... In case you are wondering 40lb braid to 40lb mono.

Anything will help,
Mike

[Van]

Originally Posted by O.D. Mike

Hi all,

I have yet to catch a tuna and I need to ask advise on knots. The braid to flouro knot, I'm currently using is a triple surgeons knot. I've read that a lot of people use this knot for braid to mono connections. The knot that the flouro attaches to the lure or hook that I use is a Palomar knot. My question is this a good combination of knots for tuna.

This is also the rig that I use for the canal, when its hung up on the bottom and the tug of war is ended, the triple surgeons knot is the one that breaks first... In case you are wondering 40lb braid to 40lb mono.

Anything will help,
Mike

Personally I don't like to tie anything to braid except metal. I think it will eventually cut any soft line. For tuna I use a small spro swivel that will pass through the eyes easily. At 40 lb class it pretty small.

Just my opinion, I'm sure some guys tie those together sucessfully. But that's what I'd rather do.

All that said, palomar on the braid end of the swivel. Your choice on the end you can't use the palomar if the top shot is long.

[fishsmith]

uni to uni 80lb braid to 80lb floro, no slips no faults.

I cringe when the swivel goes thru the eyes, but agree with Van using a small spro swivel, which I'd connect with a double palomar on the braid and single palomar with floro/mono.

For the little tuna <60lbs, I think the 40lb braid would be fine, but I think the bigger school tuna will tear that up.

Good luck.

[Goose]

PR knot(one of a few)... check it out on you tube...360Tuna.com for everything tuna

[Raider Ronnie]

Learn to tie a slim beauty!

[O.D. Mike]

Thanks everyone,

Good info here, we are going to try a couple of these knots soon.

Thanks again,

Mike

[sokinwet]

Haven't put it to the "tuna test" yet but I've been using a mid knot joining 65 lb. braid to 130 leader.

[keeperreaper]

Splice it. 100% strong and safe.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by keeperreaper

Splice it. 100% strong and safe.

I need to learn this.

[O.D. Mike]

Originally Posted by keeperreaper

Splice it. 100% strong and safe.

I went to the SWEdge this year to learn how to splice hollow braid and crimp mono for squid bars and daisey chains. Thanks (Jay). It was very informative and little did I know met a fisherman that enjoys fishing as much as I do... (PRBuzz)

If I step up to 80lb test, I can do the splice method. Do you think that 90lb flouro will fit into 40lb stealth? Recently we went out for tuna and had two rods on board, one with 40b and one with 80lb. Casted the rod with 80lb more than the one with 40lb, the tuna we saw were big!!! Nice needle fish (Slipknot), it casted awesome and made a nice zig zag motion on top when retrieved fast.

Casting the triple surgeons knot made a horrible sound going through the guides, thinking about changing to the slim beauty,(thanks Ronnie)...

I believe that there is less failure points in a knot, than putting a swivel in the mix. I could be wrong in saying this but, you will need to trust two knots and a swivel as opposed to one knot. With "my knot experience", one knot is better than two.

I owe you a swimmer JohnnyD, send me a PM if your around this weekend...

Thanks again everyone,

Mike

[Pete_G]

For the original 40 to 40 question, uni to uni, slim beauty or any knots like those properly tied will be just fine for small tuna. Just learn to tie it clean, properly, and fast, which ever way you go.

For years I just used a uni to uni, doubling the main line with a bimini. Still do on tuna spin rods that don't need leaders over 60# test. Basically a 100% connection when tied properly, but when the leader size and length has to get bigger it's nice (or necessary) to go with something more low profile (wind-on leaders).

You could also just throw a bimini in the main line and loop to loop to a wind-on leader. Very strong and clean. Not as smooth as a splice, but damn close if your main line isn't hollow core and/or splicing isn't an option.

For the terminal end I just use a 4 turn improved clinch to attach to a lure on lighter gear.

Above 60# leader split rings on the lures and a swivel on the leader. Then just use split ring pliers to disconnect the swivel from the split ring to take lures on and off. Who ever came up with that idea definitely had his thinking cap on that day. I crimp the swivel on if the leader is really heavy.

[fishsmith]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Above 60# leader split rings on the lures and a swivel on the leader. Then just use split ring pliers to disconnect the swivel from the split ring to take lures on and off. Who ever came up with that idea definitely had his thinking cap on that day. I crimp the swivel on if the leader is really heavy.

Thinking cap on indeed, that's a great tip!!

[fish4striper]

I've gone spliced this year, loop to loop, profishco grommet crimped on, splitring to lure- no knots at all, flies thru the guides.

[PRBuzz]

Latest issue of Sport Fishing mag had 2 articles on knots, one on the braid-to-mono issue and other was on general "what the pro's use". Didn't see anyone's name I recognized so these must be 2nd rate pros as SF just failed to recognize the quality of Capt's in our area.

Top knot: improved Bristol. Bristol variants were 4 of the top 5 knots. General comment was start all knots with a double line (bimini).

I can't post here due to file size limits (5.2 Mb) but if you don't get the mag and want to a copy of the knot articles send me you e-mail and make sure you can accept >5Mb files.

O.D. your is on the way!

[big jay]

I do the same thing as Pete with the split ring on the lure - it's alot easier to use pliers to switch up lures when there are fish breaking than try to concentrate and tie a decent knot.

The wind-ons seem to be the easiest and strongest connection, but for knots I switched to the PR-Knot last season. There's a really good video on youtube on how to tie it. I'm not about to spend $100 bucks on one of those weighted bobbins, so I just use a 3 oz bank sinker with the braid wrapped around its neck and a rubber band to hold. System works fine. I wouldn't tie it on the boat, but I can at least start the day with it.

[Bigcat]

I use the slim beauty for leader to main line.
All my lures are rigged with split rings with barrel swivels.
When I change a lure I just cut the line and tie a improved clinch knot.
Works for me.