Fishing Knots

[Donna G]

Lot's of great suggestions. Thanks a bunch. I haven't heard of the double uni. I'll definitely check that one out. Still think I'm just not tying the double surgeon right. Need a personal demo from Babler.

[Dutch]

Learn the Alberto's knot and be done.

[rps]

Alberto +1

Now we are done.

[Bill Babler]

Alberto's knot is pretty much a modified Albright. Either one is great. I have never when tied properly had either a double or triple surgons knot fail. It is also less than half the profile of either the Alberto, or the Albright. All three being very good knots for joining line.

[Donna G]

Alberto's knot is pretty much a modified Albright. Either one is great. I have never when tied properly had either a double or triple surgons knot fail. It is also less than half the profile of either the Alberto, or the Albright. All three being very good knots for joining line.

Wow! I didn't know there were so many choices. I told Champ188 the next time we see you I'm getting some one-on-one instruction. I really want to start using the braid, but I don't trust that I'm tying the double surgeon right.

[Bill Babler]

I use a triple surgeons...probably not the strongest knot out there, but its quick & easy...Lots of guys use it in the salt. Cheers.

http://www.doalures.com/uploads/Docs/9102_DOA_10.28__Knot_Page.pdf

Gavin,

I was fishing the salt out of Kodiak Ak. last year. The first mate joined a 30-pound mono. leader of about 12 feet, to a very heavy round type of braid.

This braided line was as big around as a pencil lead. It was round and had a very slick coating on it. Wished I would have asked a few more questions.

He joined the braid and the heavy mono with a triple surgons knot. Took him all of, I'm going to say 15 seconds to draw it tight. It was a thing of beauty. Very clean.

He then ran the mono to a 3 way swivel and hung a big circle hook off of it on a 6"--30 pound leader. It stuck straight out from the main line. He attached another 8 ft. of 30 pound mono, on the bottom of the 3way and put a 1/4 pound round ball weight. Very, Very similar to a drop shot rig.

Only difference is we put the swivel above the 1st. hook. He put it at the hook.

We caught fish after fish up to a huge 90 pound halibut. All his knots were first rate and A1. Nary a line or knot failure.

I asked him how come the 30 pound was that not pretty light for the Halibut?

He said they needed it to break when it was hung on the bottom or caught on something, so it would not spool the entire rigs full of Braid.

Boy did I feel Stupid. I should have known that.

We broke off at least a dozen of these rigs, hanging up on the bottom, never once at the knot, most often between the swivel and the weight ball. The weight would hang in the rocks, and then the tide, and current would saw off the mono, on the sharp rocks. We usually would just loose the weight.

He said if it was just on a fish 30 pound in an open ocean, with the drag set properly, would hold anything that swam in Alaska. If not, they still wanted it to break, as not to spool them.

I am going to guess a rig like that with Lord Knows how much braid would cost several hundred dollars, just to fill the spool, with that super expensive braid.

I have never seen line like that, and wish I would have asked what it was.

Interesting you knew about the Salt. Have you seen the same thing?

Thanks Bill

[Gavin]

Bill, I havent seen it first hand, because I got the tip from my buddy Fred, who owns U.S. Reel. He convinced me it was strong enough when when he showed me the pictures of the all the tarpon he caught last year on bass sized spinning equipment, light braid, and a shock tippet attached with a triple surgeons knot. I still break the line leader knot occassionally but I think its because the 6lb Suffix braid that I use is stronger than the 8lb flouro leader.. Cheers.

[Stump bumper]

I am all about simple and sitting in the house I can tie just about any knot but on the water looking for my hooks, worms, drop shot weights and working the trolling motor against the wind I want simple and fast or I will drop the drop shot rod and pick up a baitcaster.

For this time the J knot wins out, one loop, three wraps and pull tight. It isn't the smallest but it works and is fast and easy. I used to tie a blood knot or double uni but I would stop on about the third breakoff and go to swivel to save time, but I think this J knot will be the answer.

After looking at the surgens knot though I can't tell the difference, so maybe I have been using the surgens knot?

[Bill Babler]

Gavin, I believe like that guide in Alaska, that you always want that mono to break first. It is not a big deal with us here as it would be with a salt guide, fearing to get spooled, but you sure don't want to lose a bunch in the water, with a break off.

I really am late getting into the stuff. I burned two trolling motors up, just picking it up in the hubs, without ever using it or knowing where it came from. Kind of soured me on it for the last few years.

We need to keep this stuff out of the lake, it is bad news, on lower units and trolling motor hubs.

I am a bit of a newby, and am enjoying this thread, as you long time users are way ahead of me.

I have a question, what is the life expectancy of braid for a guy like me with the rods on the deck 300 plus days a year? As you know, I am changing mono. on a reel or two every other day it seems to keep it fresh. Do you think it will last a year? I have about a 50 rod-reel rotation, for bass and about a 30 rod-reel rotation, for trout. I buy mono in 3000 to 5000 yrd. spools.

Stump: That J knot, is almost like a double or triple surgon, only you just start with a loop with the surgons and an overhand knot for the J Knot. Looks good to me. I believe it would be easy for us more experenced fishermen with not quite as good an eye or as steady a hand. Good Luck

If you guys are doing UNI'S or Blood knots, you are wasting your valuable fishing time and adding way to many curse words to the atmosphere.

Thanks so much for the fun info. here.

[denjac]

I use a blood not everyday, but not for fishing. When changing thread out on commericial sewing machines and sergers. The knot goes through several tension buttons and through the needle hole. It keeps me from having to rethread the whole machine. I very seldom have a knot failure and most of the time it goes right threw the needle eye. Guess I need to try it on mono and see what happens. Was going to tell you about my famouse frazzled leader tie, but I am a frayed knot!