knot question - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

hooked · 02-12-2003, 02:30 PM

I was reloading line after cleaning a reel and decided to test the knot holding the braid to the mono backing. It failed way too easy. I've got 50# braid connected to 20# big game by a uni-uni knot.

I cut and retied but I still could cause the knot to fail before the 20# line would snap (but with a lot more effort than with the first try)

Nothing I caught last year took out more than the 150 yards of braid but I'm hoping to change that this year.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a better knot or method?

I was thinking a loop to loop might be better but I'm not sure it would lay down on the spool properly.

Thanks

CowHunter · 02-12-2003, 02:45 PM

Albright knot, or a modified Albright knot...They have a how to on another site.....I'll PM You..

CowHunter · 02-12-2003, 02:52 PM

By the way...I would never just spool up 150yards of braid. Go with at least the 300yard spools. You hook BIG a fish near the end of the cast and you have a problem with 150yards of braid...Better be safe than sorry. I've had may times where I had more than 150+yards out on a fish. Think about it, good cast, 100+ yards out already...Especially if you are fishing current, river mouths, inlets, and such..

CowHunter · 02-12-2003, 02:57 PM

Just found that Cabela's has the 300yd Spiderwire Stealth spools for what I think is a good price: 50lb @ $16.99 / 65lb @ $19.99

Thats the cheapest I've seen alot of braids, Whiplash, Powerpro, etc...

Anyone know of better prices?

Christian · 02-12-2003, 02:57 PM

hooked- did you just use one uni knot? i use the back to back uni and it has never failed me. the uni knot is my favorite for everything.
wonder is thats the reason they call it uni....

hooked · 02-12-2003, 03:20 PM

Got the PM. Thanks.

It was a back to back uni that failed.

I'll use the albright until it's time to respool and the next spool will be 300 yards. You're right about the distance, especially with braid.

Saltheart · 02-12-2003, 03:26 PM

Maybe your mono backing is shot. that should be replaced each year. the braid is good year to year (at least Spectron is) but the mono backing will get weak with time. Try just testing the strength of the backing. may not be your knot at all. BTW , I like the Albright with 20 turns. he uni-uni is a good knot too. also for the 50 LB braid to the 20 lb mono , the diameters are reasonably close so a blood knot should work well too.

CowHunter · 02-12-2003, 03:37 PM

I agree with Saltheart in changing the mono backing, I change it prior to starting every season ....

hooked · 02-12-2003, 05:00 PM

The mono seemed OK. I put both on new in Sept. and only had about a dozen days on it. Mono's cheap enough so I may as well change it anyway (now that you've got me paranoid).

Christian · 02-12-2003, 05:08 PM

i dont know how your breaking that back to back uni. i use it for my cod connections and striper never had it fail. you wetting your knots and pulling slowly?

Mr. Sandman · 02-13-2003, 08:27 AM

Do you guys always use backing? Is there a reason beyond cost that you just don't spool the reel with braid?

Saltheart · 02-13-2003, 08:49 AM

I don't use backing on my conventional (just a few layers of mono against the spool shaft to prevent slippage) . On my 6500 ambassaduer i use about 275 yards of 35 lb Spectron and on the 7000 and 7500 , I use about 290 yards of 50 LB Spectron. I think some of the large spinners hold so much line that with the thin braid, you need some backing.

CowHunter · 02-13-2003, 11:57 AM

I am using either a VS250 or a VS 300. I always put 300yards of 65lb braid on top of mono.
The line capacities are: VS250 450yd/20lb / VS300 450yd/25lb
That is alot of line, you're talking the braid is the Diameter of 15lb test, if I spooled up with just braid you are talking about 600 - 700yards of braid depending on the reel. I do have friends that spool their reels entirely with braid. I just don't. I have 300 yards of braid and over 200 yards of 20-25lb mono...I have been taken down Close to the backing once last year, and quite a few times in the past when I used to fish some serious inlets.

TheSpecialist · 02-13-2003, 12:54 PM

I seem to remember on Cuttyhunk we tested a bunck of differant knots mono to braid, and braid to floro. Also we tested with the lines bone dry. If the lines are wet the knots will break differantly. I don't recall which lines, or knots failed, maybe someone who was there will remember.

Bigcat · 02-13-2003, 01:42 PM

Hooked,
I have been tying a 70 turn Bimini in the braid ( whiplash) and then Albright it to the backing.
So far this set up has worked for me with no problems.

IFG · 02-22-2003, 10:12 PM

When ever changing from braid to mono DO NOT USE A KNOT
it will niether sinch correctly or hold. use swivels depending on your application this will prevent twisting from the differnces in line splines from the different line materials and save frustration on the water

Saltheart · 02-23-2003, 12:21 PM

Can't agree with you there Ifishgibbs. I almost exclusively use a leader knot , not a swivel to join mono leaders to braid.

Smokey · 02-23-2003, 01:10 PM

I use the albright and, too boost my cofidence, a drop of super glue.

macojoe · 02-23-2003, 01:50 PM

On my smaller reels I use no backing but on the larger reels I use a dacron backing. It stays for years and is always stronger then any thing I put on the top of it. Just in case I have to use it. I also never put anything less then 300 yards. If you get hung up with a 150 yards and have to cut it you will have nothing left to fish with.
Macojoe

Young Salt · 02-23-2003, 06:22 PM

I've been tying up some mono fishing leaders over the winter. They've got a doulock snap on one end and a barrel swivel on the other. I'm tying both of these on using a Palomar knot, but I don't know the best knot to use to connect to the other end of the swivel to the main line.....(I've been using a improved clinch)
Also what's the best way to use a dropper using this setup?

Fishpart · 02-23-2003, 08:15 PM

Young Salt, what you are doing will work, saves a knot on the beach. You could just leave a long tail on your polmar knot and tie to that or tie a second short line for your dropper to the swivel with an improved clinch.

Young Salt · 02-23-2003, 08:49 PM

The improved clinch is the knot i'm tring to avoid. Ive read that it isn't the best knot to use. I dont want to end up tying the leader with the weakest knot connected to the main line....so I lose the entire rig.

Last year I used droppers with tied to the swivel, but i still used the clinch knot.

Mike P · 02-23-2003, 09:05 PM

YS---you can Palomar both ends of the leader first, then use a Palomar on your running line to the barrel swivel at the top of your leader. You just have to leave the loop open, and pass the whole leader thru it, before you draw the knot in the running line tight.

If you're using 30# or heavier mono for the leader, and especially flourocarbon, try a simple clinch knot using fewer turns around the standing part. It'll draw up tighter and be less likely to slip than if you use an improved clinch with the standard 5-6 turns. Try 4 turns in 30 or 40 leader, 3 in 50 or higher.