Leader to Swivel Knot
 

Can I get a suggestion on a knot to tie the fluoro leader to swivel for flyline with 65lb spectra. I first started with the Uni Knot which failed about four times when hooked up :linesnap:(I've tied uni my whole life so I don't think I tied it wrong). I'm now using the Palomar which holds great but is kind of a pain to tie to a swivel that's already tied to spectra since I have to cut off the swivel to get the loop around(unless I make the loop HUGE and wrap it over the entire rod, which would be absurd) I'm guessing San Diego Jam might be best, any suggestions??

Thanks!

Don't use a swivel....Just use a Tony Pena knot from spectra to fluoro....Or double-uni if you are used to tying a straight uni. Advantage of the Pena knot is only one tag end so less to get caught up in the guides.

Thanks Forefrazier. That's a solid vote for the Tony Pena. :the_finger:I've done a bunch of test's on that knot and it holds almost 100% of the time although I did have the overhand knot in the fluoro slip through the coils once so I modified it by starting the knot with the double-uni with the fluoro instead of the overhand and it held perfectly. My only problem is I'm a little gun-shy with any line to line knots until I catch something good in the kayak. After losing all those fish to the uni I'm real sketched out about anything thats not straight to hardware. Plus I just got those micro swivels that are 50lb test which go through the guides nicely. As soon as I get something good I think I'll convert over to Tony Pena to simplify.(I'm getting real close I think:D)

Thanks!!!

I use an albright knot and have never had an isuse connecting the two.

I've never had a uni-knot fail like that. I use 65lb spectra to swivel to flouro to hook, all uni-knot, and have been successful catching larger fish. I would suggest you test some of your knots at home using a scale to see where they break. I like the uni because it is so easy to tie on the water and they don't fail for me.

How many times are you guys going through the loop on your uni knots? Are you doing it the same on the braid, leader and hook?

I use 5 loops on 25lb flouro, 4 loops on 30lb flouro, and 8 loops on 65lb spectra. Lube the knot with spit before you pull it tight.

I use a San Diego, but uni should work just as well. make sure your wraps cinch up cleanly & don't overlap each other when you tighten the knot.

Also lube it before you cinch it so you don't friction burn the line. That advice will carry over to other activities as well.

Ditto on the Tony Pena knot for a spectra/fluoro connection. I started tying Pena knots about 6 months ago and rarely tie uni to uni or albrights now.

With a swivel I go with a San Diego or Uni for the Spectra and a Trilene knot for the fluoro.

San Diego Jam Knot on everything.
5 turns on mono, or floro of 30 lb
12-15 turns on spectra of 80 lb and 65 lb.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/index.php?page=knots

Ditto on the Tony Pena knot for a spectra/fluoro connection. I started tying Pena knots about 6 months ago and rarely tie uni to uni or albrights now.

With a swivel I go with a San Diego or Uni for the Spectra and a Trilene knot for the fluoro.

I've been using the Bob Sands/Tony Pena but will be trying the modified albright next time. http://www.stripersonline.com/Pages/...tos_knot.shtml

Wed. 8/26 PM

I just lost one....from the feel, a real nice one to this exact problem. I had a Uni to the swivel on 25lb flouro....stupid. After a SCREAMING clicker, then a screaming drag, I lost it at the swivel. I had jinxed myself as I had read this thread before heading out the door. Oh yeah, guess who I bumped into right after I lost it.....Bender, the same guy who started this damn thread. We had a nice, LONG paddle back commiserating.

I really appreciate all the "old timers" sharing their thoughts on this one. Right now it is near and dear to my heart.....my little, black, hate filled heart.....stupid Uni.

Ouch , sorry for that. You can hate the uni but it's hard to argue with the fish that I have caught with it, many 30+, several 40+, and one 50+. I haven't lost a single fish to a knot since I started using the uni. I have the same hatred towards the improved clinch knot. It was the only knot I knew when I started and I lost several fish to it.

Knots are funny. I too started with the improved clinch, and have broken off very few fish with it :/ That being said, I rarely fish it anymore. But it has held up to many 100 lb class bat ray and what not. The only knot I tie to swivels, lures, etc is the san diego. Irons, double san diego jam knot, and for connections, a double albright. The Key to the albright with spectra is make sure you wrap the spectra around th emono. 10 turns has always worked for me.

When the palomar is not an option I use the fishinfool knot: http://www.fnflures.com/page10.html

It's like a sexy uni.

I have stopped using albrights as much, as I lost a pretty yeller boatside to a tired albright.
The knot was tired, that's the story I'm stickin to.


Willy

Leader knots
 

Palomar your leader to the swivel first, Then palomar the swivel to the main line. It's easy to pull the leader through the main line loop.

Fishionado,

You cant argue with those fish, but are you using the uni to a swivel with flouro? I was very careful when I tied it but honestly wonder if being pulled on from the other direction may cause slippage. I went out today and bumped up my flouro to 30lb from 25lb. Im thinking I will forgo the swivel (read albright) or palomar the damn thing.

:linesnap:

Sound advice from a wise sage!

I use larger swivels with a fluorescent bead above the swivel so it doesn't go through the rod guides. Spectra with a bead tied to the swivel, then about 4' of 25 or 30lb flouro to the hook. After I tie the knot and loosely cinch it I lube it with spit then pull tight on the tag end, then pull the line, then pull the tag end again to ensure it is tightly cinched. On the flouro you will feel it sort of click in place when pulling tight on the line. I only use Seaguer flouro, it's expensive but I only use 4' at a time so not a big deal. I use the uni for everything including the hook. I can't find fish consistently like Josh does but once they are on my line they usually end up in my belly. :D