braid to mono knots in the thick of things

[szlartibartfast]

Hi all. I often fish the sand flats wading in the water flicking for flathead. I got busted off recently and had a bastard of a time retying a braid/mono knot in the wind. As much as the FG knot is lovely, some of these more complex ones seem impractical while juggling a backpack in water up to your nutsack (with the nearest sand a 40m slog away and the fish biting). How you do/would solve this dilemma?  

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

You could try learning a slightly simpler knot, like an Albright or Double Uni Knot, I sometimes have this issue too when its rough and normally just try the knot a bit slower. 

[Rebel]

Use Mono instead of braid.

You won't have a problem.

[mzaakir]

35 minutes ago, Rebel said:

Use Mono instead of braid.

You won't have a problem.

braid is defenitly a better option, highly recommending making sure your fg knots is done well so it doesnt slip burning the tags with a lighter can make it a tad bit stronger. Also longer leader will reduce the amount of times to retie leader also in my experience gets me more fish

[Bob9863]

I usexthe double uni on light line and leader, you van tie that while holding the rod under your arm, it should work.

[mangajack]

for ease of tying and probably the fastest in light lines when wading I tie a albright....about 20 seconds and wind is never an issue......hold the tag end in your teeth and roll the leader/line between your thumbs and forefinger like rolling a durrie. Feed the tag end thru the loop and cinch up tight.

[Old Scaley]

I sometimes do FG knots at home but always do Albright on the boat. Very rarely have I had a knot failure and when I do it was likely a mistake in the tiring process. If the leader is 25lb or less, I like to add a half hitch on Rivendell of the knot for extra reassurance. 

[szlartibartfast]

1 hour ago, Old Scaley said:

I sometimes do FG knots at home but always do Albright on the boat. Very rarely have I had a knot failure and when I do it was likely a mistake in the tiring process. If the leader is 25lb or less, I like to add a half hitch on Rivendell of the knot for extra reassurance. 

I like the idea of extra security as my leader is only 12lb. I am probably just paranoid, but I always wonder if the half hitch reduces breaking strain?

[Bretto77]

I am no connoisseur of knots. I only ever learned enough to get by and didn't bother with anything too flash. Allbright or even Alberto knot will do the job in that situation I think.

 

[Junky]

Allbright or double uni in the situation you describe.

 

However, my fg has held on and I have not been required to tie leader in said situation. 

[Bob9863]

Can tie an fg in the water by sticking the rod butt in my pants, and hanging the the rod with my line in my teeth, but I'm pretty sure it looks ridiculous.

[Rebel]

As I said I never had a problem with knots. i have seen to many people with braid problems & I am not going down that track.

The jury is out on longer leaders. Some say short leaders are better.

With Lures I always use clips,better then have to cut the leader or replace it.

There is an interesting article in the November Fishing World Mag. The write up is about not using leaders at all. Interesting.

i still catch fish with a Mono set up, so why change. If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it.

Cheers.

Edited October 31, 2023 by Rebel
Fix post

[mangajack]

4 hours ago, Rebel said:

There is an interesting article in the November Fishing World Mag. The write up is about not using leaders at all. Interesting.

Many years ago when I got my first permit for NPD boating we trolled hard bodies for bass and yellas with braid right to the lure. If the braid was fluro we would hit the first metre or so with a black nikko pen. Braid direct to the lure does not impact there at all....probably because most are either reaction strikes or the fish are hunting and chasing down the baits.

Numbers of fish caught with braid to the lure were remarkably good...so much so the thrill of catching bass died off and I went back to fishing salt water again. Since then i have had one other session out there...last one about 20 years ago when i caught a 61cm bass....my biggest and last impoundment bass.

Braid direct to the lure also tends to slice a bit of the weed up too.

[Junky]

Many years ago fishing out of Waddy Pt I caught my biggest, whole green jobfish on braid tied straight to hook. 

Just over 9kg, and I say whole because I've retrieved parts of the same species that would have been a larger, complete fish. 

 

If memory serves me it was 60lb platyl braid (dark green) or similar, not platypus. 

 I had made the double using a figure 8 knot, then just looped the hook on and a running 8 ball.

Yep, full not giving a toss. 

 

Well, I found out that jobbies that size fight extremely hard.  I was sitting up the bow, with rod butt under my thigh. I was sick of fighting what I thought was a shark. This thing just would not give up. I raised it three times, then I saw it and could not believe that

A, it's not a shark, and

B, the braid held with all my carelessness. 

No leader, full dodge houso style fishing and its still my PB jobbie. 

From the on. I use braid. 

 

Leader, can sometimes be the weak point. 

Every time I loose a big fish, it's leader breaking or hook straightening. Never the braid breaking. 

[Bob9863]

A lot of carp anglers, probably m9st use braid to the hook so the boilie works more freely, I've done it for other species when fishing like that, even used a lot of kevlar line when bait fishing for sharp tooth critters.

But for trout you definitely are better off with a leader so it might really depend on how skittish a fish you are chasing.

[Rebel]

i use a good quality Mono all the time. Sometimes with a leader, sometimes without.

I just like expermenting, because you will never. know.

One of the best lures I have used is the fish trap. They catch fish. I have several fish trap lures.

[Angry51]

23 minutes ago, Rebel said:

 

One of the best lures I have used is the fish trap. They catch fish. 

6" net works too.

[Rebel]

@Angry51Is that the net from your fish pond  ?

[Angry51]

On 02/11/2023 at 8:50 AM, Rebel said:

@Angry51Is that the net from your fish pond  ?

Ssshh, the southsiders will want one too!

Don't you tell anyone.

[Phil712z]

The Albright knot is a seriously good knot but you shouldn't really getting busted off at the leader knot - just use a longer leader to allow for several reties of the terminal tackle or lure.

[Rebel]

@Phil712z According to most experts long leaders do not work.

Why cut your leader when you change your lure ?

There are plenty of good clips on sale to use, instead of cutting your leader.

I use clips all the time. So Easy.

Cheers.

[mangajack]

I used to use clips all the time....these days I tie a loop knot....

To be honest there isn't much difference between a loop and a clip but I couldn't be stuffed digging through another part of the tackle bag to grab a clip....

A loop knot also works well when adding a small sinker in front of a worm hook if needed.

[Rebel]

I use a clip with a swivel. Come in different sizes. Set them up on two rods before I leave home. So easy.

Cheers.