braid main to mono leader rigging
i just got myself some 6lb fireline and wanna attach a 12lb mono leader to it for breaming and flatty hunting in the river. being new to braid im curious to know how to best attach the two together
first way is the traditional way using a knot, in which case which knot would be the best to use here?
second way is something ive been doing on my current rod with mono mainline: using a small speed clip so i can change leader weight classes on a whim. but this will only work if the clip remains outside the runners, thus limiting the length of my leader to a maximum of 50cm if i wanna cast with any degree of accuracy and comfort. good idea or am i better off knotting it up to allow a longer leader to be used?
and on the leader itself, i know that leaders should be as light as possible for bream but fairly heavy for flathead. is 12lbs good compromise for the two species? i really don't feel like retying knots everytime i want to target either of the two species (or i'll eat through my precious mainline. it's also why i currently attach my leaders to a speed clip)
what's everyone's thoughts?
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
i use a bimini to
i use a bimini to albright
(make sure the albright is cinched all the way down then pull tight , and leave a good tag)
check this site , i sat and tied , and re tied till i got it.
http://videofishingknots.com/
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
Simon C
Posts: 801
Date Joined: 01/05/07
double uni
Mate, there is no flattie or bream in the river that is going to snap it i fyou are using 12lb. I used to use 6kg fluro with 6lb fireline when I lived in Brisbane and my best flattie went 98cm on the above combo. I was very patient with her though. certainly not a worry snapping off, never snapped a double uni. IF bream fishing around pylons it is a risk, but much heavier will put off shy fish.
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
I agree with Simon
But I have found that if I double my braid over and then tie the double uni knot it is even better.
Moderator. Proud member of the Fishwrecked "Old Farts". Make sure your subscribed to Fishwrecked Reeltime http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17861
Date Joined: 11/03/08
bamini twist then the
bamini twist then the albright,they can take a bit of practice to get them right but once you have it your set.using this method of joining your mono leader you can have the leader at any length, just make sure you moisten the knots when pulling them tight
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
forget the bimini
you aren't bottom bashing so it isn't need and a double uni is the best knot for the fishing you are doing. Learn it, live it, love it.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
H.S. Chan
Posts: 587
Date Joined: 04/01/09
DOUBLE UNI! Thats all you
DOUBLE UNI! Thats all you need for breaming and anything under 5kg. Anymore than go bimini twist to albright. Since you're using fireline, you dont even have to do that because its quite stiff. An albright alone will hold fine.
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
If you want a heavier leader
If you want a heavier leader occasionally, you can still run a rod length of the lighter leader, then if you want a bit heavier when chasing fish you can attach a small length of bite leader (maybe 10-20cm at the most, and could clip it). Depending on what lure you're using, you may not get flatties chaffing the main line anyways (so could go a little lighter). Fireline is pretty tough, so you'd more want the leader for a bit of stretch and to make it invisible to the fish.
I really cant stand albrights (I did the improved version, not the standard version) as they seem to catch a lot more than other knots with their tag facing down the line. Occasionally with some lines they'll bit into the main line if you dont tie them properly and snap really easily. One time I did 5 albrights in a row on 8lb leader and I could snap them off by hand without any issue each time. Tie them properly and they're strong, but in light line its too easy to do it incorrectly (and without knowing unless you test it). I use a bimini and a GT knot. It sounds 'overkill', but if you already have a bimini, a GT knot is faster and stronger and casts better (the knot is quite compact, and the tag is inline with the line and faces up the line). Theres no reason its only a knot to be used for bigger fish only (and again, quicker to tie than an albright if you have a bimini). As for uni-uni knots, sure, you're not chasing massive fish, but if you're using 4lb line, then halfing your line strength doesnt really appeal to me (taking time for a decent knot lasts ages anyways, heaps of sessions usually). Depends how you set your drag and how much you push your gear though. I'd rather not loose a $20 bream lure to a snag because I reduced my line capacity.
Of course, its up to the angler what they want to trade off for in a knot.
Fireline is usually double or more over its stated breaking strain though, so in 6lb fireline, a back to back uni will still take more than 6lb to break (providing you do enough loops and cinch properly).
Blake.T.
Posts: 680
Date Joined: 12/12/07
i agree with matt, i have
i agree with matt, i have tried the double uni and the albright, but found that when i get snagged the line snaps at the leader knot, making you waste more time tying a whole new leader on.
i switched over to bimini to gt knot, even though it sounds overkill, and i havent looked back. you can barely feel it go through the guides when casting and whenever you bust off on a snag i always get my leader back.
it might take a little longer than tying a straight double uni, but do it when your at home before you leave, you probably wont have to replace it the whole trip, which means more fishing time.
tie it once and tie it properly
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Hi Blake Did you double the braid over when you
tied the Double Unis. Since I started doing that I have never had a knot slip or snap.
Moderator. Proud member of the Fishwrecked "Old Farts". Make sure your subscribed to Fishwrecked Reeltime http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
Blake.T.
Posts: 680
Date Joined: 12/12/07
yeah i have done it straight
yeah i have done it straight through and also doubled from the bimini, having it doubled did help but i still like the bimini to gt, i suppose it what im comfortable with, goes through the guides alot easier
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
My bad
silly me is too busy catching fish and not getting snagged. Maybe thats where I am getting it wrong?
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Blake.T.
Posts: 680
Date Joined: 12/12/07
you cant call those 10cm
you cant call those 10cm redfin you were getting a fish, more like bait
Ashenfall
Posts: 60
Date Joined: 06/01/10
how many wraps of the braid
how many wraps of the braid would u recommend for the double uni knot?
Ashenfall
Posts: 60
Date Joined: 06/01/10
what about this one?
http://www.marinews.com/Twisted-Leader-Knot-788.php
i also have a book that says the twisted leader knot is quite a good knot to use for this purpose
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Ashenfall I tend to match the wraps with the weight of braid and
the thickness of the mono leader if that makes sense.
Moderator. Proud member of the Fishwrecked "Old Farts". Make sure your subscribed to Fishwrecked Reeltime http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
Leader to Braid
I agree with Mat as well, GT roll knot to a bimini double, super easy to tie,(maybe not the bimini) and would certainly to the job. Another knot I use is one from Geoff Wilson's Rigging braid, dacron & gelspun lines book, is Ted Donelan's leader connection, again easy to tie, and slides through rod guides no problems whatsoever. The irony here is that I would not use either knots for serious GT fishing, the albright would be ahead of these but I still don't use it. All above mentioned knots will over-suffice for what you want it to do, so do some research and find the one that you can tie the easiest and run with it.
Ashenfall
Posts: 60
Date Joined: 06/01/10
what about leader length?
is there a general guideline for this sort of light fishing? alot of people and mags say 'rod length' but i reckon that a bit overkill...then again im a newbie