ULTIMATE ANGLING - the Ultimate SA Fishing website
General Angling Topics => Knots => Topic started by: REEFMAN on June 26, 2010, 07:33:44 PM
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(http://africanaquatics.co.za/FISHING/Fishing%20stuff/KNOTS/BIMINI.jpg)
A Little History behind the Bimini Twist
In the heyday of big game fishing, back in the 1950's, giant Bluefin Tuna passed by the islands of the Bahamas in huge numbers during their annual migration. At this time the pioneers of our great sport regarded the Bluefin Tuna as the ultimate adversary in the ocean far more powerful and physically demanding than a Marlin of similar size.
Almost every item of tackle and equipment that we now regard as standard equipment in the big game fishing world was first developed to tackle these monster tuna, and by monster we are talking about fish that can top a 1000lb in weight. Bent butt rods, roller guides, lever drag reels, two speed reels, fighting chairs and fighting harnesses all came about because of the desire to catch these massive fish. Even the basic design of the modern big game fishing boat was first evolved in this prolific tuna fishery by such legendary boat builders as Merritt and Rybovich. Here speed and maneuverability were vital to stay in touch with the movements of the fish.
Another small, but incredibly significant, development of this era was a knot that has become known as the Bimini Twist, named after the island of Bimini where much of the history of giant Bluefin Tuna fishing was created. The sheer power of these fish meant that it was essential to eliminate every possible weakness in the tackle and equipment. The knot that was used to join the main reel line to the leader connection was one such weakness and the Bimini Twist was born to help solve this problem.
The Bimini Twist is not a "knot" as such. It cannot be used directly to tie on a swivel, hook or leader and it works by forming a double thickness section at the end of the main reel line. The significant property of the Bimini Twist is that, when correctly tied, the line retains 100% of its original strength. Conventional knots (blood knot, uni knot, Spyker knot, Slim beauty etc.) reduce the line strength quite considerably due to their tendency to "strangle" themselves when put under heavy pressure. The doubled section of line that is created by the Bimini Twist is used to tie onto the swivel, hook (offshore trolling) or the leader in Rock and Surf, and a conventional knot can now be used as double the thickness means double the strength and this more than compensates for the loss of strength within the knot.
This knot was adapted by some wise old men for Surf conditions in South Africa. The original Bimini twist is the "tight " coiled knot as described in the video that follows. Some South African's bastardized the knot with the loose spirals - while this works, it's not the way the original knot was supposed to be made. Both the tight and the loose versions have significant stretch in the Nylon, so there is not much difference in that department. However, the tighter version, by being a much shorter knot, has less chance of contact through the guides when casting, and has much less chance of ever coming undone. Some Cape anglers modified the finishing off of this knot, which now stops any unravelling of the knot completely, and stops burnmarks in the line when tieing... it's now almost bullet-proof!
Remember that if you're doing this knot in Gelspun line (FIRELINE) or BRAID, then you need to make more turns. In Fireline, 40-50 turns... with less turns as the line gets thicker, up to .55 Nylon which needs 20 turns.
THE ULTIMATE BIMINI TWIST VIDEO
See how easy it actually is!
Here is a Video of how to complete a Bimini twist - done the 'proper' way, as the knot was originally designed to be done, with tight wraps. This makes the knot smooth and compact through the guides, rather than the loose Bimini which is a much longer knot with a coarser finish.
The Video also features a unique way of finishing the knot off, as developed by some Cape Town Shark anglers - this stops the knot from ever coming undone and also allows one to finish the tag end off as tight as possible.
And here is the link on YOUTUBE
http://youtu.be/lxJsYIuw9Xw (http://youtu.be/lxJsYIuw9Xw)
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Here is the text version of the Bimini Twist, courtesy of Geoff Wilson
(http://africanaquatics.co.za/FISHING/Fishing%20stuff/KNOTS/BIMINI.jpg)
(http://africanaquatics.co.za/FISHING/Fishing%20stuff/KNOTS/BIMINI%20WHOLE.jpg)
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I love this knot.
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So do I.
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Thx Reefman... Great story... (clap)
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Great post thanks Reefman!
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Tony,
the video you make of the Bimini is phenominal!! It shows all the subtle details which a drawing can never!!
Thank you!
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Perfect post, how it should be done.
history, knot, video the works.
thanks for a great post on a great knot (clap)
P.S. - Good taste on the video intro music "Tell me why" by Jimmy Somerville :sml:
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Gents, did not find any info so excuse if posting again, but when doing a bimini in braid how many turns should one use? I have read less is more i.e. 12 while others do 30 plus? Does it differ between under 50 lb vs. over 50 lb braid? Any thoughts?
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I do 40-50 turns, regardless of the size braid used.
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I noticed that in this topic http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php/topic,73.0.html (http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php/topic,73.0.html) that the braid was doubled but not using a bimini or stitch but "loose" so to speak. Would imagine okay for lighter lbs but not heavier?
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Yup the 7 turn Uni to Fig 8 uses a loosely doubled braid line, no bimini, stitch or spider hitch. This knot was used extensively by Mark de la Hey, on his heavier tackle setups, throughout the ESA shows... :hnthnt: - thro the years they found that any knot in braid substantially weakens the braid, so a wrap-type knot was needed to prevent this. On lighter tackle, they used the Yucatan or what he calls the "French knot".
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Interesting Reefz! So ignore bimini ini braid... 1 less potential weakness in the rigging + quick and easy to tie!
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Ya, basically that would be true... but there are certain instances where a Bimini (or braid stitch) in braid is necessary...
- when joining braid backing to mainline (CatsPaw),
- when joining braid mainline to a wind-on (Modified Cats Paw),
- and when using the Yucatan knot in light tackle braid setups.
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50 turns for the Bimini in Braid. I use the Bimini in braid to connect braid to braid and have more confidence in it than any other i.e back to back uni etc,etc. I then use a single loop to loop which is good if braid to braid. The reason for single is that its easier to get both legs perfectly even which is needed. The twists in the barid theoretically weaken the braid a little but because its evenly spread over two legs still strong.
Still nothing wrong with a bimini well contructed in braid in my view.
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Thanks for the info Gents!
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Thanks for the info UA !! Now I know what the propper name for the knot is !! :happ: _ I did look at the info and it's the same
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yesterday I have followed this tut to perform my first bimini twist...
the hardest step I found was 5a from Geoff Wilson tutorial
I can't make it to have the tag spiralling around the twists too close...so my knot ends up having spacing and not close as it is there
I have applied a lot of pressure on the knot...but have no idea if knot will stay on after a strike and because I don't want to have gear failure (rather have a human failure) when loosing a fish (and gear) my question is
1) will this affect the robustness of the knot?
looking forward for your feedback
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yesterday I have followed this tut to perform my first bimini twist...
the hardest step I found was 5a from Geoff Wilson tutorial
I can't make it to have the tag spiralling around the twists too close...so my knot ends up having spacing and not close as it is there
I have applied a lot of pressure on the knot...but have no idea if knot will stay on after a strike and because I don't want to have gear failure (rather have a human failure) when loosing a fish (and gear) my question is
1) will this affect the robustness of the knot?
looking forward for your feedback
Haha PB... don't stress about not being able to get those twists tight together, it's not critical at all. In fact, the way you have done it with the twists wider apart is the way MOST R/S league anglers do it in SA - the reason being that it is much less harsh on burning the 2 legs of the Bimini. The tight wrap version is quite technique sensitive - if too much pressure is put on spinning those wraps, the line gets burnt easily. So for a quicker, safer version of the Bimini, the SA anglers developed the "loose" Bimini. The loose wraps Bimini has caught thousands upon thousands of huge Sharks off the SA coastline, no problems in it's strength.
Just a word of advice... try finish the Knot off with the way we do it in the Video... it's much stronger and stops the knot from unravelling over time.
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Here's a comparison of the 2 finished results... no problem with either of these knots...
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ufa...
I barely slept thinking of loosing my fish and lures dur to gear failure
regarding the finish I did like you showed...basicaly I folowed all your video (missus was holding the iPhone while I was performing the knot)...except the twists beeing tight together
I will have to work a bit more on the finishing...mines are not as beautiful as yours...but I hope they have the same strenght
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The most important thing with this knot is to lube every step of the way... gob on the knot before each step, the more lube, the less chance of burning the line when tightening up.
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Hello,
I am using 80# JB Solid and tying this knot with 30 twists. Upon testing it with my homemade (2) x 5" dowels (broomstick) covered with a road bike cycling tube for grip. Why, when I pull the mainline and the loop, it just slides like a noose? The knot is still in tact! What is the problem? Any advice is appreciated........Everything is fine until I add some serious pull with my new homemade knot tightener.
Thanks,
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Lance, you're doing something wrong? :dunno:
For large diameter lines, the Aussie plait is a better option: http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=1714.0 (http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=1714.0)
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Ok just could not get this knot right and after Reefz personal training at the last social and some fine tuning have manage to get this knot spot on. Cred to you Reefz :yipee:
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NICE Mike!! (clap) Well done! With the way we do that knot, you can cut the tag end even shorter if you want. I use a nailclipper so that it doesn't touch the rod guides.
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Well done Mike! After many failed attempts I reverted back to Uncle bob and a Uni. Maybe I'm doff but there is no way I can master the bimini.
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NICE Mike!! (clap) Well done! With the way we do that knot, you can cut the tag end even shorter if you want. I use a nailclipper so that it doesn't touch the rod guides.
cut the tag end shorter..... :corrct:
Thanks once again and guys this knot is awesome.
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Hi Lance might be a bit late to help but in Braid I find it's better to do a half hitch around each leg of the loop then a series of alternating half hitches over both legs so that each half hitch locks the previous one in place. you can then do the whip finish as Reefs illustrated at the end of his knot .
Hello,
I am using 80# JB Solid and tying this knot with 30 twists. Upon testing it with my homemade (2) x 5" dowels (broomstick) covered with a road bike cycling tube for grip. Why, when I pull the mainline and the loop, it just slides like a noose? The knot is still in tact! What is the problem? Any advice is appreciated........Everything is fine until I add some serious pull with my new homemade knot tightener.
Thanks,
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Watched the clip, top draw Tony!
:udman:
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My friend Ali is a legend and has done this easy video, legend!!
I have asked him to join us here he could really add some value so fingers crossed he answers my pleas!!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=399852940140246&set=vb.100003466291043&type=2&theater (https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=399852940140246&set=vb.100003466291043&type=2&theater)
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My friend Ali is a legend and has done this easy video, legend!!
I have asked him to join us here he could really add some value so fingers crossed he answers my pleas!!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=399852940140246&set=vb.100003466291043&type=2&theater (https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=399852940140246&set=vb.100003466291043&type=2&theater)
I clicked on the link and got this message:
This content is currently unavailable. The page you requested cannot be displayed right now. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or you may not have permission to view this page.
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My bad, he is sending it directly to me, will repost later.
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My bad, he is sending it directly to me, will repost later.
Cool!
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He did join UA http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?action=profile;u=5850 (http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?action=profile;u=5850)
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http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=15462.0 (http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=15462.0)
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Hi Reefs,or whoever else can help... :crzy I had some braid on my one grinder(10-15pd :dunno: ) that was a bit tired and that has cost me quite a bit of money from lost lures due to wind knots(before I knew that you get braid specifically for spinning :blush: )so I took some off and I replaced it today with some 20 lb braid I had lying around that is more suited to spinning.So the original braid is still there,but more as backing.I then did a search for joining braid to braid and came across your suggestion to someone to join with 2 biminies(1 in mainline and 1 in new casting braid)and then a modified cat's-paw,as the stitch was not an option because the braids are very thin.Everything worked out good(thanks to the awesome vid),but the loop that was formed after the Bimini was done was a bit big...so now my question,how do you get the loop to be smaller?I'm just a bit worried that the loop might catch an eye during the cast?I don't know exactly how much braid was replaced...I think it will pass through fine under pressure,just worried that I cast off all the replaced braid and those loops run through the guides... :dunno: I have already winded these knots onto the grinder,but if you foresee a problem please say so...
Here are some pics to show what I meen...
1st pic:Bimini in orig.braid to Cat's-paw...total loop of around 40cm
2nd pic:Bimini in new braid to Cat's-paw...smaller loop this time of about 15-20cm
3rd pic:the complete knot,the braid coming from the R is the "backing braid",then the huge loop :hehe: and the cat's-paw(top L),then smaller loop to Bimini in new braid...
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Lofty, you need to make the loops smaller... use this method to make a Bimini with loops as small as you want.... http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=15462.0 (http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=15462.0)
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Lofty , and i know you's are going to laugh .. :hyst: ...... i do the biminis round my big toe to reduce the size of the loop when doing the braid mainline to braid leader join works for me ..
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Thanks Reefs,I'll check it out...I think I'll get one of my boys to run down the road with the line to see how much braid was replaced,just so I know.
Lofty , and i know you's are going to laugh .. :hyst: ...... i do the biminis round my big toe to reduce the size of the loop when doing the braid mainline to braid leader join works for me ..
not so.. duh I put the loop of the second(smaller)Bimini around my big toe too... :blush: :hehe:
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Thanks Reefs,I'll check it out...I think I'll get one of my boys to run down the road with the line to see how much braid was replaced,just so I know.Lofty , and i know you's are going to laugh .. :hyst: ...... i do the biminis round my big toe to reduce the size of the loop when doing the braid mainline to braid leader join works for me ..
not so.. duh I put the loop of the second(smaller)Bimini around my big toe too... :blush: :hehe:
Do you ous find that toejam is a fish attractant? (clap)
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:rotfl :rotfl , nah just shrinks the loops a bit more and fades the braid ..... :rotfl :hehe: :hyst: :hyst:
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Hi Reefs,the Captains' loop was even longer than mine ended up being... :cnfzd I think that I'll play around with the "tag-end"as the first one I tied the tag end ended up being a little too short after pulling upwards to form the curls around itself,untill I am satisfied with the size of the loop,I've got another Bimini to do in mono as well because it's started unravelling,I now know how to finish the knot off properly... :tkx:
Thanks Reefs,I'll check it out...I think I'll get one of my boys to run down the road with the line to see how much braid was replaced,just so I know.Lofty , and i know you's are going to laugh .. :hyst: ...... i do the biminis round my big toe to reduce the size of the loop when doing the braid mainline to braid leader join works for me ..
not so.. duh I put the loop of the second(smaller)Bimini around my big toe too... :blush: :hehe:
Do you ous find that toejam is a fish attractant? (clap)
:rotfl :rotfl , nah just shrinks the loops a bit more and fades the braid ..... :rotfl :hehe: :hyst: :hyst:
eish,I was a little scared to get a braid cut under my big toe so I later put the braid around his neighbour too... :blush: 15lb braid is like "garing"(thread),just stronger and cuts like a blade... :cry: :craz:
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Hi Reefs,the Captains' loop was even longer than mine ended up being... :cnfzd
Lofty, before you pinch the knot as in the beginning of Capt Ali's Bimini, just pull the twists down until you have the size of loop you want. Then pinch the knot and do the wrap part...!
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thanks kind sir,I realised that just now when I redid those loops,2 more Questions though...will the modified catspaw knot be the ideal knot for these diameter braids,and will the loop not be too big in the mainline bimini because of the spool having to pass through it to do the catspaw... :dunno: :cnfzd and congrats on your 17oooth post... (clap)
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If you make the one Bimini loop tiny and the other one just large enough to pass the spool through, it will be fine. That's the way I do mine.
The other alternative is to just double the braid both sides and do a Uni to Uni with about 5 or 6 wraps each. I've heard of guys doing it this way. Just give it a good pull test to see? To join backing to mainline braid it should be good enough?
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I ended up making a Bimini in the new braid but then thought that the spool with the new braid on,would be too big to ensure a small enough loop in the modified cats-paw to Bimini in mainline,so I did a search and stumbled upon the Spyker knot...so that's what I went with.It seems strong enough,don't know if it was the right option but it feels as if it will hold... :dunno: only thing is that the Spyker knot,as I understand it,should be from mainline to "new line",but mine is connected other way around... :blush: b.t.w. there's around 85-90m of new braid,that's why I thought to go with one less Bimini(loop)for when the cast is further than 90m and both loops and mod. cats-paw needs to pass through the guides...
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Here's a 30 sec bimini twist on the boat!
http://www.fishtrack.com/how-to/how-to-tie-a-30-second-bimini-twist-knot_77680 (http://www.fishtrack.com/how-to/how-to-tie-a-30-second-bimini-twist-knot_77680)
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Really good demo. I love simple and efficient knots... I know that the PR is a great braid to leader knot, but I'm through with it. An FG is quick and simple and damn near as strong.