Joining Leader to Spider Hitch

[Star]

Hi guys,is it advisable to join the leader to the spider hitch using a double fig.8 as the hitch has two legs just like the two strand bimini.

[Nemesis.]

Hey Bud, yep you can go Spiders Hitch to double figure of 8.Only times i don't use a Spiders Hitch is when using Braid or main line over 0.55mm in diameter.

[REEFMAN]

Star, have you checked out the Knot's Subforum?

http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?board=18.0

[Star]

@Nemesis: which knot do you use on lines thicker than 0.55mm?


@Reefman:thanks found a demo well done on it.

[Nemesis.]

@Nemesis: which knot do you use on lines thicker than 0.55mm?


@Reefman:thanks found a demo well done on it.

Star i use a 20 turn Bimini Twist, as the body of the Bimini Twist is slimmer than the Spiders Hitch, thus the reason why i use a Bimini in larger diameter lines as it passes through the rod guides easier.

[Star]

I have finally perfected this join and it is damn strong,just curious to know if anyone has cut the loop thus ending up with two separate strands then plaiting these strands before joining the leader.Surely it will give a nice and neat finish,I'm just concerned about weakening the line by doing this.

[REEFMAN]

I tried this a while back, but because you've only got 2 strands crossing each other, it just unwinds from the mainline side! The twists won't hold.

The only way it would work is if you don't cut the tag end of the Bimini, so then you have 3 strands... then you plait them - that way they won't unwind from memory of the line.

[adam]

Just something I found interesting on my last few trips.

Fishing mainly for galjoen, I got stuck a lot.  Was using 0.4 main to 0.7/0.75 leader. 

When I made a spider hitch to fig.8, it mainly snapped just above spider hitch.  Took a little bit of extra time and made a bimini.  This resulted that the most common break-off was on the double lines just above the fig.8.  In other words, the same bimini was used on at least 3 or 4 fig.8 knots with the legs getting shorter and shorter.

My last try was to plait the lines as said above and then the break was just below the fig.8 on the leader.  Took some extra time which is not ideal under these conditions, but factoring in the fact that I only tied the fig.8 after that, I think it was well worth it.