line

[j.s.smith]

I also play'd around with braid to mono leader knots and this is what i have found without using a scale I simply roll the 2 lines onto 2 pieces of broomstics and break it between my two knees to see what line breaks first or if at the knot? I am talking light spinning here not trying to say that fg knot  or bemini etc. doesnt work.
I have tried this knot on all the spinning setups i have from 4lb berkley crystal to 80lb sunline.
Not to run down the pros like Tommo- 2 or 3 times fig 8 with 7x uni knot on braid.
Take a needle and splice 20lb good quality braid like power pro or 832 through itself 15x and end with 6 turn uni.Tie this with a 8 turn reverse twist knot [modified albright] with 0.45 mono and try to break it with your knees.The 20lb braid beaks all the .45 mono i have.

[Haroldg]

Hi Johny - I'm trying to figure out this setup you're using.... Are you creating a loop with the splice or just doubling up the 20lb braid? A rough sketch would be great? In all the testing you've done have you found this to be stronger than the FG "knot"? I really struggle to splice 20lb Jigman braid so you're obviously doing something right here. Are you using this join/knot inside or outside the top guide?

[Trevour]

I have also done a lot of mono to braid experiments. Braid and breaking strains is not an exact science, many break above their said breaking strain. To test one knot vs another, tie the knot to mono that will definately not break before the braid does eg 30lbs braid to 60lbs mono. I then cut the braid off the spool leaving it long enough to tie the same or a different knot on the other side, once again to the heavy mono. This means your end product has mono joined to braid, and the joined to mono again on the other end. If you tie the same knot on both ends, and the braid parts regularly outside the knots (more that 1cm outside), this suggests a 100% knot. Alternatively tie different knots on either end. The knot that parts is obviously the weakest. Of the well known knots pr is for me strongest, and fg 2nd. I tie a combo of the two. I also dont use a bobbin, but attach the braid to a sinker to do the spinning turns. The strongest join Ive found is a slightly different version of a bimini which is way to complicated to try explain. but this is more a backing than a leader connection. Ive been meaning to do a post on this, soon perhaps.

[j.s.smith]

I haven't tried the pr or fg knots as this is for heavier spinning applications as I have read. I was looking for something stronger than all the others including those in Geff Wilson's book of knots. All the knots I tried breaks at the knot and I don't believe I'm doing them wrong. It seems as if the braid cuts the mono. Using a knot that doesn't break at the knot but rather in the line gives me more confidence knowing that I don't have a weak spot somewhere when using light braid. The knot I use is a bit time consuming and won't be easy to do on a rocking boat. You can splice thin braid with a thin, sharp needle. I splice the braid through itself about 15 times to make a small loop of double line not longer than 3cm. I finish this off with a 4 turn almost like a uni knot but reversed where I use a home made tool simply a looped piece of thin wire to pull the end through the loops to make sure the splice can't slip. The mono gets joined to the braid loop with a modified albright knot about 4 turns up and 4 down depending on the thickness of the mono you will quickly see if the mono pulls up tight if not use less turns. I burn the tag end with a lighter and push it flush with the knot. I have tested this with for example 20lb power pro braid on rod and reel and 30lb double x on spool clamped in a vice and it consistently breaks the mono halve-way between the knot and spool. I mostly use the knot outside of the rod eyes for spinning but it seems to cast well through the guides as well.     

[Haroldg]

Thanks for clearing this up Johny. Makes sense now.... The reason I left out the PR knot in the discussion is due to the use of a bobbin but the sinker idea is quite clever. The FG knot works great even on light tackle - try this out sometime.

[j.s.smith]

Just for interest sake I knew I had to look for a knot that will create a double in the braid without creating a weak spot to be able to have a stronger braid to leader knot. The bemini twist doesn't work as a 100% knot to create a double line in braid like in mono and does't have that shock absorbent effect in fact it creates a weak spot. My next thought after I have found that the braid splice retained nearly 100% of the braids breaking strain was to connect a small stainless steel power swivel like centro 80lb with a cats paw in the braid as the cats paw knot retains nearly 100% breaking strain in mono. Then I could connect any mono leader I wanted to on the other side of the swivel with a strong mono knot. Not so with braid in fact another weak spot created with the cats paw in the braid. Then I tried every other braid to leader knot all of them cuts the mono line. I ended up using the modified albright knot on the doubled braided line regardless of claimed lost breaking strains of 40% or whatever but that is in mono to mono line must be I think. Fact is this is the first knot I came across where the braid doesn't cut the mono line like a knife.   

[Haroldg]

Very interesting result with the modified albright knot. I was under the impression that the criss-crossing of the braid would in fact cut the mono or braid loop.... Just shows - one needs to test everything. I have to admit I'm also a skeptic and like to verify everything.