Braid to mono knot breaking

Hi guys,

Relatively new to offshore fishing, having done a lot of fishing inshore.  I have recently changed over to braid (Fireline 30lbs) on my Penn overhead, with a 60lbs Jinkai leader as follows: 

Braid > 2M leader > swivel > rig 

This setup was recommended by a mate - is this pretty common?

 

I've had a number of bust-offs since starting with it, always at the braid>leader knot.  A lot of forums etc have recommended the albright knot which is what I have been using - its pretty simple to tie and goes down the guides well.  Also I cant possibly break it by pulling on it, so wondering why im always breaking off at this knot?    What am I doing wrong?

 

Thanks....

 


milsey's picture

Posts: 1462

Date Joined: 22/08/07

 I would be getting rid of

Tue, 2012-08-21 10:42

 I would be getting rid of the fireline and putting a quality braid on.

A quality braid will be thinner, stronger, and have much better knot strength. Besides for that it sounds like your doing everything right, Albright is good but not the best so maby learn the FG also.

schecky's picture

Posts: 1645

Date Joined: 25/08/08

Fireline isnt the most

Tue, 2012-08-21 16:41

Fireline isnt the most exquisite braid on the market but you couldnt say it isnt strong. Tests a lot higher above its stated rating than some braids that people consider to be premium.

If it isnt frayed then stick with it.

 

As milsey said, FG knot is the shit. A well tied allbright is still a decent knot though.

hlokk's picture

Posts: 4290

Date Joined: 04/04/08

First, are you tying the

Tue, 2012-08-21 10:52

First, are you tying the improved albright or the regular one? The improve one you wrap up then wrap down, the regular one you go straight up and then wrap down only. On the improved one after you've done your down wraps, you can go around the single strand part of mono 2-3 times to "lock" it. You also double your main line (just fold it over, no knots) and use the doubled strand to tie the knot.

The albright when tied correctly is pretty strong. However, I find that the breaking strength can vary a lot depending how well you tie it. Can be quite inconsistent unless you get it right, and difficult to know if you get it right when starting. 

 

For a strong knot, I recommend the GT knot (http://youtu.be/Xe7nG9BBi_o). Although it takes longer to tie than an albright, it is a damn strong knot, and if you tie it with the right leader, you might not have to retie it even after a dozen trips. Only takes 5 minutes incl the bimini which isnt much time at home considering how long it lasts and how strong it is. The advantage of this knot is that if it looks right it is right. Just make sure your bimini is good (do at least 50 turns). A PR/FG/etc knot will be better, but much harder to do reliably if you're a beginner (and you need a bobbin for one and a lot of time for the other).

 

If you tie a GT knot to your leader and a uni to your swivel you should have a strong connection. Its slightly possible if tied right if you snag up you'll snap the swivel knot instead. However, if you downsize the leader to 40-50lb you should have the terminal knot snap first. This is good because it means you get your whole leader and leader knot back and its a simple uni knot to another rig (and you dont loose any braid).

 

Also: see Milsys post :p Saltiga boat braid is good.

kelvintyj's picture

Posts: 91

Date Joined: 02/04/13

^_^

Tue, 2013-10-01 09:32

 +1 for the GT knot~~~

easy knot to tie~~ especially tying on a boat~~~ try tie a FG knot on boat then you will know what im saying~~~muahhhahah~~

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Posts: 908

Date Joined: 06/05/12

No matter what rig you tie,

Tue, 2012-08-21 11:09

No matter what rig you tie, the knot should always be the weakest point,so any bust offs should be at that point. But tieing a good knot will increase the breaking strength. 

spook's picture

Posts: 325

Date Joined: 15/02/10

Mate, had the same problem,

Tue, 2012-08-21 11:35

Mate, had the same problem, bought a PR bobbin for the pr knot for $70, thought it was a bit expensive at the time but had it for a year now and I don't do any other join. It is as strong as, never had a break at the knot since and casts a treat, easy on the eyes of the rods when dropping too. Definitely worth the coin. Oh its pretty easy to do aswell after a couple of knots you decrease the time it takes to tie.

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Haunted by water

Matt T's picture

Posts: 875

Date Joined: 19/11/07

Bimini to GT

Tue, 2012-08-21 12:46

Bimini to GT knot was what I was taught and it's not that hard with a bit of practise. Easier with 2 people though.

MattMiller's picture

Posts: 4171

Date Joined: 15/06/09

Umm...

Tue, 2012-08-21 16:48

2 people? Please explain.

tot's picture

Posts: 1148

Date Joined: 31/01/10

just faster

Tue, 2012-08-21 18:07

one holds the mono spool and weaves in and out the loop as the other twists the braid loop left and right , ala paul g 's crew

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Reverse cycle a/c supply and install - Ducted and wall splits

MattMiller's picture

Posts: 4171

Date Joined: 15/06/09

Righto

Tue, 2012-08-21 18:22

sounds harder to me

tot's picture

Posts: 1148

Date Joined: 31/01/10

knot at all

Tue, 2012-08-21 18:35

lol

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Reverse cycle a/c supply and install - Ducted and wall splits

Vinesh87's picture

Posts: 2751

Date Joined: 02/04/11

Yep bimini to gt, i always

Tue, 2012-08-21 12:57

Yep bimini to gt, i always use to tie improved allright its very strong but tag end faces the wrong way sucks with small guides and gt knot is easy especially with hlokk's video

Lavs's picture

Posts: 174

Date Joined: 30/04/12

This is all very welcome

Tue, 2012-08-21 13:05

This is all very welcome advice guys...  thanks !!

grayzeee's picture

Posts: 2283

Date Joined: 09/07/09

If you're gonna use the

Tue, 2012-08-21 13:08

If you're gonna use the albright , do it exactly as shown in the little yellow almanac booklet.

Do the wraps up the mono double nice and tight , then after passing the braid  tag back down through the mono loop , try and pull all the braid wraps down to the mono loop , closing up the gap, *before*  fully tightening.      leave a long braid tag end too as it can pull through a little (10mm +)

otherwise bimini to gt or fg (then you don't need the bimini)

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If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am. 

Paul H's picture

Posts: 2104

Date Joined: 18/01/07

All of the above suggestions,

Tue, 2012-08-21 19:31

All of the above suggestions, but don't forget to make sure you spit on the knot/line before pulling it tight as friction/heat on mono can cause damage resulting in breakages.  Assuming you are doing this but worth mentioning just in case

 

Cheers

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Youtube Channel  -  FishOnLine Productions

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unhurry's picture

Posts: 236

Date Joined: 23/10/12

slim beauty

Tue, 2012-11-20 16:26

anybody here use the slim beauty knot or the "no name "/ worm knott?

 

 

brayds's picture

Posts: 78

Date Joined: 25/08/12

 i use the slim beauty knot

Sun, 2012-11-25 17:02

 i use the slim beauty knot for leader over 20lb. i love it, its easy to use and have never had it bust off

Leemo's picture

Posts: 3712

Date Joined: 22/02/07

 I use it for everything,

Sun, 2012-11-25 17:05

 I use it for everything, even 6lb. Absolutely brilliant. 

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bludgin' since 94'

unhurry's picture

Posts: 236

Date Joined: 23/10/12

slim beauty

Sun, 2012-11-25 20:30

Cheers Leemo and Brayds, good to hear your confidence vote on this knot.  Sure is an easier (for me) to tie than the GT. 

Leemo's picture

Posts: 3712

Date Joined: 22/02/07

 If i have the time, i will

Sun, 2012-11-25 22:10

 If i have the time, i will tie a bimini to GT, but if the bite is running and I dont have time, the slim beauty gets used. 

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bludgin' since 94'

Posts: 164

Date Joined: 02/10/10

Totally agree on the slim

Mon, 2012-12-10 12:44

Totally agree on the slim beauty.  Went to shark bay last year and on the way out offered to a tie a leader on for a mate.  After doing a slim beauty, I was contemplating a leader knot failure on the fish of a lifetime which would be all my fault.  Then he hooked something massive and I thought that my fears were about to become reality.  They did not because the slim beauty held tight and the fish of a lifetime was just a big ass shark.  But that knot, well tied, is the ducks nuts.  He didn't need to redo his leader for that trip.....

Learn the slim beauty but really practise it.

Also, regarding the post above where the guy says leave 10mm of braid out of the albright, if you pull on the braid tightly for 20 sec until the braid turns translucent, you won't get any slip (I wear a glove for that but a 1 inch smooth dowel would also be OK).  You do need to maintain a very strong pull and it does need to be 20 seconds or so.  You do need to go a bit gently on the lighter braids, because they will snap.  This applies to most braid knots.

Cam

Posts: 74

Date Joined: 14/10/10

GT vs PR

Tue, 2012-11-20 21:17

I used the bimini to gt for a few yrs and have only changed y to pr in last few months, I've broken pr's a few times(maby i wasnt doing it right at first) but atm I stil think the gt is stronger as I have never broken 1, I mostly use pr for casting and stick with gt's for jigging ,plastics and anything that dosn't require long casts. Once u learn either of them you wil never look back!

Posts: 39

Date Joined: 25/07/12

anything wrong with a double

Sun, 2013-01-06 15:57

anything wrong with a double uni?.. I haven't yet had to link braid and leader but in time I will. Have heard/seen a few people saying double uni is good. Think even double blood or imp bloods as well can work?. Am still a beginner to probably way off the mark.

 

Posts: 1084

Date Joined: 21/05/12

Learn the FG knot m8best at

Fri, 2013-08-30 09:22

Learn the FG knot m8

best at the moment IMHO

once u get to know it less than 2 mins to tie

i d be happy to show u my way if u wanna catch up

Posts: 11

Date Joined: 21/12/11

knots

Fri, 2013-09-20 13:36

My vote goes for a bimini to albright for bottom bouncing / jigging for extra security / durability I wipe a small amount of superglue on the knot.

Reckon the albright is troublesome for casting and can lead to wind knots from the braid catching on the mono tag and tag end impact on the guides opening the knot up - so have learned to tie the PR knot for casting - smoothest / smallest profile of any knot I have seen - I also put a tiny amount of superglue on the first few turns of braid furthest up the leader ie impact zone with the guides to increase knot life.

GT knot is strong but you can still hear it rattling / impacting though the guides when cast

Never had any of the above combinations let me down (if tied properly)