The topic below re Black Magic Trace made me think of something... it doesn't happen often.
What are the best knots for heavy mono?
I generally use a uniknot but it isnt always pretty with heavy mono. I generally use BMT so after reading the earlier post maybe i should change.
I used to use Jinkai but BMT was cheaper.
I'm sure someone else has got better knots but I like to use a Thumb knot if I need to tie a knot in heavy mono tight to the hook. It's like a nail knot but you kinda wrap it around your thumb back towards the hook three or four times before threading the tag end through the wraps away from the hook and tighten up. The trick with this one is that you gotta make sure the wraps tighten up neatly one behind the other. One of Geoff Wilsons knot books (dunno which one- sorry) has got a more detailed description.
for a loop knot I use a perfection loop, tight and strong. Normally I'll knot (normally loop knot) from 150 and below and crimp for 200 and above but most of my 150 and lighter leaders are for smaller lures rigged with just a single hook and bait rigs.
cheers dustin
ps. Kerren, interesting you consider 250# to be light leader for your area. I wondered what size leader was popular in N.Z.
On the 'Up' side of the world, some of the more common knots for big game fish are the 'San Diego' knot, the UNI knot, the Perfection Loop/Knot as well as some of the ones mentioned above. It's not uncommon to see the San Diego and the Uni knot doubled for added strength, but they start to get bulky real quick as you go up in line size.
One's favorite knot is always a good one for discussion. I learn something new each time this comes up.
If anyone is interested, here are some links to some knot sites that give diagrams or animation to some of the knots that were mentioned above.
Have fun!
Thumb Knot
http://www.marinews.com/fishing/Knots%20&%20Rigging/fk_thumbkn.htm
Uni Knot
http://www.marinews.com/fishing/Knots%20&%20Rigging/fk_uniknt.htm
Perfection Loop
http://www.marlinnut.com/knots/perfection.shtml
San Diego Knot
http://www.marlinnut.com/knots/sandiego.shtml
http://www.pomoxis.com/graf/sdknot.gif
Nail Knot
http://www.planet-nc.com/nrsfa/knot3.html
Some other knots or good site for knots:
http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page6-1.html
http://www.realknots.com/index.htm
http://www.planet-nc.com/nrsfa/knots.html
http://www.marlinnut.com/knots/
http://www.marinews.com/fishing/fk_main.htm
Regards, Bill
Oops, I just found that the knot I think of as the perfection loop is not the same as the one described on SCMO.
I can't think of a simple way to describe it without diagrams but you kinda tie an overhand knot first (tie it so the tag end comes from behind the overhand rather tha in front), thread the tag end back into the overhand to make your main loop, run the tag end under the standing part and back inside (over) the overhand under the two legs before tightening up. I've had quite a few guys say it resembles a bowline, although it's not.
This one is again found in one of the Geoff Wilson books and i'm pretty sure is labelled as the perfection loop in same, but regardless of name, works good for me. I like the fact you have a stub of tag end projecting at right angles to the leader, as if you tie it so that the stub is on the opposite side to the hook point it serves as a small pin to press into the belly of a skipjack belly strip bait - helps hold the hook in place whilst you stitch up the bait. I haven't tried it with Ballyhoo yet but I think if you kept the stub say 1.5" long, icepicked a hole in the ballyhoo's forehead and carefully manoeuvred the stub through the hole before you started wrapping the head with copper wire, it'd work quite well. Now that's an idea.
cheers dustin
Uni knots are good for up to around 200lb mono i think, over that size, for tying onto swivels and what not, frankly i think a simplegranny knot is enough... i mean, that gives you a good loop, and let's face it you are not going to break it on any kingies, hapuku or anything if using 400lb mono!
Different if trying to tie up marlin traces where hours of pulling are likely.
the perfection loop is good, but it is a pretty weak knot, like only about 60% line strength i think isn't it?I've seen a few break when people have tried to bounce kingies over the side of charter boats.
One knot i do like for tying on heavy trace to hooks or lures is the reverse clinch knot. tightens up nicely and is a very neat knot.
Basically though, if you are going to be using 250lb plus mono trace, it is a lot easier just to crimp the terminal knots.
If tying aroundsomething pretty substantial, like a sinker loop or something, a uni knot is good for pretty much any size, even 400lb, but if the loop has to tighten around something really small like a swivel ring, then they mess up fast.
Well anyhow, that's what i reckon.
Cheers, Stu.
Personally, the Uni knot and it's doubled version is one of my favorites. It's quick to tie, extremely versatile and I've never had a knot pull out. Above 200lb, I'm more apt to crimp (I should say swage) my connections as the line gets too stiff to work with and keep a connection that isn't bulky.
Stu, the reverse clinch knot is what we often refer to as the San Diego knot or I guess if you wanted to impress (or confuse) those around you, the Heiliger Super Knot.
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