Double plait or Bimini twist

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    Posted: 17 Jun 2008 at 12:09pm
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Just been viewing the results on knot testing in the SP section.
 
I havent done any testing on game gear, but interested to hear views on what people think is best. Roddy always told me the Bimini was best. I havent tested anything so wouldnt no. currently I have been using the plait. but thinking maybe the plait could be the go??
 
whats peoples views?? And why??
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Phecda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2008 at 12:17pm
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I believe they're about equal (they didn't test plaits did they?). But I reckon the Bimini is a cinch to tie, perhaps just coz I'm used to it. Maybe a minute?

Interestingly, I saw no real evidence in those tests of longer biminis being weaker (ie only a smidgeon). I never could understand any reason why a longer one would be weaker. [Sam Mossman reported so]

Wish they'd tested cats paws. I've had some of them break, for no reason I can work out. That's on doubled line of course.
 
I use the same Bimini all the way down to 1kg line (cant tie at night of course), and sometimes needing more turns on braid (like 60 for the slippery BM braid). No idea if the plait has the same "range".
 
When I've tested Biminis, and a tester is not needed for this, often the line has broken.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote phantomdeviant Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2008 at 4:17pm
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I use plaits have never used a twist but javen't had an issue with a plait
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote FarNorfOwnage Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2008 at 6:37pm
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Both great knots and believe they test within fractions of a percent of each other, personally prefer the bimini double but will tie a plait accosionally just for the sake of it.  I also use the 'bimini knot' for attaching single line to a ball-bearing swivel, bulletproof out perform any swivel knot.  I always 'taper' the first few rolls lightly (instead of strangling) on the return part of tying the bimini seems to reduce the angle the mainline exits the knot, never had one fail.

out there doing it or STFU
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Jaapie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2008 at 7:53pm
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Originally posted by Phecda Phecda wrote:

Wish they'd tested cats paws. I've had some of them break, for no reason I can work out. That's on doubled line of course.
 
Perhaps I might be able to offer some advice on this knot mate.
 
One of the problems we have noticed when people use this knot is that the twisted legs around the swivel sometimes do not come up even and this is a source of a weak point.
You might like to make sure they are equal.
 
The other thing is when people tighten the cats paw up, they do not lubricate enough and tend to tighten unevenly as well. In my experience when we have used the knot, we really lube it up and make sure the legs are twisted right and then slowly tighten up evenly and consistently without jerking. (I'm sorry if this sounds a bit odd.)
 
I have shifted to using a uni knot now for tying my completed double to the swivel.
 
                                                   ........................................
 
With regards to using a plait versus bimini, personally I feel use what you are comfortable with and which knot you can tie best.
We have had endless discussions in the club house over this and testing on the machine has led to equal results as long as the knots have been tied well.
For the record I use biminis - easy to tie and been doing them for ages.
"Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught,will we realize that we cannot eat money" - 19th Century Indian Creed
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote JoshW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2008 at 8:37pm
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I have always used biminis in anything under 24 or 15kg. Plaits for 24-60kg, biminis just get to bulky in the in heavy tackle
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Blue Asparagus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2008 at 8:54pm
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use plait, easy to tie on your own, strong as and neat and not stress on the line when i tie them, only use bimini if in a hurry to get the gear back in the water, only use 37k my double though is only 2ft long and its only to join the windon to the mainline. dont see the sence in making a double any longer.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote billfish Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2008 at 9:41pm
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As a percentage of total line busts I wonder how many actually occur at the double.  If you are running say 1/3 drag you should never have a problem anyway.   No expert here (for sure) but I don't think I've ever seen a game fish bust line at the double (of course I know it happens and probably you guys have seen plenty).  

Touched boat, bad terminal knots, too much belly in the water, spooled, run over line,  yes to all but never a break right at the double.  Seen lots on snapper and lighter game rigs fail there I guess but usually they are on spider hitch doubles as opposed to bims or plaits and a hook up with terrafirma is often part of that undoing.    

I guess its important that whatever you choose it runs on to the spool ok through the guides.

And yet the ageless, never ending question:  Biminey or Plait?  Bit like the old 'One hook or two', 'close gape or open', 'mono or wire'.

I think the answer to all is:  What works for you - at the moment?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Saltiga Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2008 at 10:39am
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Has anyone had there plaits and binimis test with 24 kg and 37kg?? what were the results
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote krow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2008 at 10:58am
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Originally posted by FarNorfOwnage FarNorfOwnage wrote:

Both great knots and believe they test within fractions of a percent of each other, personally prefer the bimini double but will tie a plait accosionally just for the sake of it.  I also use the 'bimini knot' for attaching single line to a ball-bearing swivel, bulletproof out perform any swivel knot.  I always 'taper' the first few rolls lightly (instead of strangling) on the return part of tying the bimini seems to reduce the angle the mainline exits the knot, never had one fail.

What? Sorry I don't understand. Do you mean you come back quicker or with less pressure? or both. When I do destruction tests on my Knots I find that Sometimes (if the knot is formed and tested straight away) I can get a failure about 10cm from the knot and I assume this is a place at which the twisting has created a weak point. The same failure doesn't seam to be present in the ODD one I've bothered to test at the end of the season after may hours of catching nadda.LOL 
So I am thinking the line recovers a little?
Must test a few more before I cut them off next year.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Saltiga Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2008 at 11:15am
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One thing when tying a double, once you have tied it, a thing to do is to pull the legs of the double apart, if the double is tyed well it wont go wonky if the double goes wonky cut it and start again.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote lance@driveline.co.nz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2008 at 3:45pm
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Plaits for me and Ive got real good and quick at doing a good job with them and work well with the Windons
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Phecda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 7:38am
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On reflection Josh raised a good point. "24+kg line...bimini too bulky".

Currently my 37kg is all dacron and a bimini on dacron is small and neat enough. But earlier this year I was mucking with 37kg Momoi mono (.9mm) and got a bit stressed at the SIZE of the knot. With 4 diameters effectively, the knot must have been about 4mm in diameter. I assume a plait would be wide but flatter?

I take it FarNorfOwnage "taper first few rolls" on return part of Bimini refers to something in Roddy's NZFN article on the subject. Roddy recommended the first few "roll-backs" be "loose" not neatly wound against each other. Looks a bit "rough" but that's what he said. (I roll them up neat right from the top, per all the usual pictures)
 
I believe there is a serious danger (whilst tying a Bimini) of over-stressing the line which will end up a short way above the knot. For example, if the line "slips" even once whilst starting the roll-back, best to chuck it and start again methinks.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Speedy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 7:56am
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Originally posted by Saltiga Saltiga wrote:

One thing when tying a double, once you have tied it, a thing to do is to pull the legs of the double apart, if the double is tyed well it wont go wonky if the double goes wonky cut it and start again.
 
That sounds like whats happening to me - I'm going wonky! LOL - it would be fair to say my knot tying skills are well below par - with the exception of my Uni knot which has served me well for years. As a result of not having done much game fishing, I haven't really tied too many doubles, so I have tried a few and can't tie a decent bimini to save myself. They twist up like a corkscrew after releasing the double - Any ideas what might be going crook? Also, how many turns do you give the double before forming the knot itself?
 
Sorry bout leading the thread slightly off course for a moment here too...
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Peter Pakula Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 8:10am
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Pheda, if you are usiing dacron, you should splice it to form a double. Both the bimini and plait are designed for lines that strech. You'll find there are reasons why 99.99999% of fishermen use a nylon top shot when targetting billfish on dacron, in particuler when using lures, but that's another story.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Phecda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 8:16am
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For me, min 25 turns in all cases. For some slippery braids like BM4kg braid, 60 turns because anything less will slip.
(this conflicts with Sam Mossman advice, that more turns equals less strength, but too bad)
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Phecda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 8:27am
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Thanks PP. The business of no topshot is another issue, as you said.

The bimini is often used in tying braid isn't it? I didn't invent the 60 turns bit. And why would you say it is "designed for lines that stretch" (beyond that probably most knots may have been invented on stretchy line)

Yeah, splicing dacron is an excellent option (and 100%). Got some wrapped around my prop (bottom fishing with gamefishing rigEmbarrassed) cut it to recover the ends and re-splice to 100%! There is only one reason why I use a bimini rather than a spliced loop - it takes me a full lunar cycle to do a splice! (and I have never heard that the bimini is unsuitable on dacron or braid)

-----
Off-Topic: "no topshot" recommended to me by ONE charter skipper. Spoken to many. Aware 99% use topshot or many charter skippers use ALL MONO. Stretch = safer or more forgiving. Still testing all-dacron. This year got either a Blue or a V.Large Stripey to the windon onto the reel before hook pulled. No probs with the all-dacron? NONE! For all I know 99% of fishos may use topshots because they are sheep? There are even discussions (elsewhere, for smaller game not big game), that they put the mono underneath and the braid ON TOP!!!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Peter Pakula Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 9:04am
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Ok Phecda, Dacron has only been around for 70 odd years. Let us know how you go with your testing. Yes the bimini is used in braid, but it's not the best method. If you look through the writing on the bimini, you'll see it often written that the main benefit is it stretches with the line. In braid a uniknot tied with both ends forming a double is actually much faster, easier and stronger. (use about 10 turns) many of the pros finish bimini's off with a form of uni knot)
 
All knots are unsuitable on braid, that's why it was made hollow so it can be spliced. Dacron is one of the earliest synthetic materials made. It was one of the very first synthetic yarns. It has short fibres, no heat resistance, no UV filters. It's still a great material if: you don't expose it to sunlight, abrasion or twisting. If you look after Dacron it can last for years.
 
One of the many reasons it isn't commonly used as a line to the lure is that faults are very difficult to spot or feel. However when pulling lures you are more likely to pull hooks than break Dacron. If you used bait and gut hooked fish or on circles in the jaw you'll find the Dacron will fail enough times to understand why guys use nylon top shots.
 
Of course I understand you're penchant for testing your own theories.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Phecda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 9:24am
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Testing for oneself is part of the great fun of fishing isn't it? (and remember, the idea of no topshot came not from me but ONE of the guys at WS Laurie...)
 
If I was to read just fishing forums, it is usually said that dacron lasts "forever". But I agree with you, it doesn't (or it only does because, with a topshot, it is seldom exposed to sunlight). So, I was pretty shocked to find the 37kg dacron continuously exposed was down to (20kg?) in half a season. Fortunately, the stuff exposed can easily be replaced by splicing (like a dacron top-shot as it were). If I was just to believe the majority opinion I have read in forums, I would believe dacron is "immune".
 
No none of it is "my own theories". I have never invented anything fishing-wise in my life. It is more a matter of taking often-conflicting advice and therefore having to test it myself in conjunction with asking whoever I have access to. It is WELL KNOWN that even the experts disagree, so which advice should I take when several highly-respected skippers disagree?
 
[I want to see for myself what all-dacron is like. So far, no bust-offs none (but a few with mono). Well, I do claim the idiot's prize for the only bust-in-half big-game rod this season, but that was leader wrapped around the rod and nothing to do with the line or the knots]
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Speedy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 9:51am
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Originally posted by Peter Pakula Peter Pakula wrote:

In braid a uniknot tied with both ends forming a double is actually much faster, easier and stronger. (use about 10 turns) many of the pros finish bimini's off with a form of uni knot)  
 
G'day Peter (or someone else), I'm a bit unclear how to create a double using the above method - could you expand on that method if you have a chance?....
 
Cheers, Speedy
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