Not The Right Knot!

Hi all,

I love talking knots. I wouldnt call myself a knotologist (can't believe they made a knot tyer an ologist of some description - funny stuff)but i would refer myself as an anal knot tyer. I enjoy tying good knots and get a degree of satisfaction out of tying a good looking knot.

There are some knots that i reckon are unsurpassable i certain situations and reckon that, if you dont alredy use them, you should try and learn. So i will try and lay it all out for you. Now knots are a personal preference so if your more comfortable tying other knots and feel more confident, chances are you will tie them more successfully anyway...so stick with em. These are purely my personal observations and if they help...all the better.

1) Main Line to Leader - Usually in lure fishing the main line is usually braid and the leader usually fluro or mono. The diameter differences make tying good slim knots that dont get caught on the guides problematic. There are 2 knots that are mainly used, the double uni or the improved albright. I use the improved albright 100% of the time. The double uni is harder to tie, takes longer and is a bulkier knot. Admittedly the knot strength is better with the double uni but i feel it still is a second choice. The albright can be tied in low light, is extremely slim and can be tied with lines of vastly different diameters. As i said the knot strength is not as good but with a light drags on spider web braids it makes little difference. In the heavier line classes the knots bites well and knot strength is improved. However really thin braid can cut into the leader at times.

2) Leader to Lure - In most situations the leader knot to a lure is usually a loop knot. A loop knot allows the lure maximum movement without being restricted by a direct knot. Lures that benefit from a loop are soft plastics and diving hard bodies. This makes up about 95% of the fishing i do. My favourite loop knots are lefty's loop knot or the perfection loop. Either are great knots and are nearly similar. Both have great knot strength too.

As i suggested, there are some leader to lure scenarios where a direct knot is preferable. These include using top water lures like poppers and walkers. Other lures include spinnerbaits and techniques like dropshotting. The best direct knot is either a blood knot or a uni knot. Both are easy to tie and retain nearly 100% strength.

3) Doubles - When fishing for the big stuff connecting single strands of line will not provide enuf security. This may be cause of shock to the line from a surge of a powerful fish or for abrasion resistence as two strands gives that extra security to land a fish in tiger country like fishing for big barra in the sticks. Normally folding over the last foot of main line creates a double strand of line. This is then connected to a single strand of normally very heavy leader. There a few double knots that can be used but my preference is the famous bimini twist. Once the twist is completed and the double is created in the main line, i attach this double to the heavy leader using a standard albright knot not the improved version.

There are literally hundrerds of variations to the knots i suggested. And trying to describe how these knots are tied would be difficult in print. So i suggest if you are interested to learn these knots either ask your local tackle store of buy Geoff wilson's book of knots. Geoff is a master of tying knots and his illustrated books are well written and easy to follow.

Hope tis helps a little.

ALBRIGHT KNOT


BIMINI TWIST