Question for you knot gurus

[TwoBear]

I am trying to attach 8lb fluorocarbon leader (BassPro XPS) to 8 lb Power Pro (Yellow) main line. I have tried a double uni knot, stren knot, and J-knot. Most are breaking at about 6 lbs. The J-knot seems the best, but only 1 out 4 knots is over the 6 lb breaking level.

How do you guys connect a fluoro leader to superbraid? Also, has anyone tried using red permanent ink marker to color the last 8-10 ft of line to "hide" it in the water?

Thanks for the info and help.

TwoBear

[Superduty]

8lb powerpro is very thin. That might be part of the problem. Try using a braid with similar diameter as the flouro. Personally, I havn't found a knot that I fully trust when trying to tie a leader to braid. I've broke fish off that surely wouldn't have broke off on straight braid. Whether or not the fish would have bit without the leader is the real question. I also like to use the yellow powerpro for its visibility. I just can't see a moss green braid when fishing any type of stained water. I normally use a permanent marker and color the last 5 feet and fish straight braid.

[ssaamm]

I swear I have tied the same knots, and sometimes they work like a charm and other times no such luck. I finally have started using a small barrel swivel of some sort. I don't know if that defeats the purpose of the stealth of the fluorocarbon leader. It's more dependable for me though. Good luck.

[fishfearme]

I tie the uni to uni on 20# power pro to 10# gamma flouro and have never had a problem. I'd agree and say the power pro is too thin. Also make sure the flouro is wet when you tie it. It weakens dramaticaly if not wet when tied.

[bronzeback01]

I use 50# Suffix braid on most of my rods and 12-17# floro as leaders. I use the double uni knot and have had pretty good luck. Any time you use a knot you are loosing line strength, especially when leadering. I'd say 90 percent of my breakoffs are at the union knot, but thats the price you pay for using a leader. I use braid because it is more sensitive than mono and lasts forever, and florocarbon has too much memory for me to spool my whole reel with it.

I believe the double uni knot is about a 95 percent knot so with 123 test you still have about 11lbs and 17 you get a little over 15# which is enough for me. You just need to fish like you are fishing florocarbon and forget you even have braid on.

[slipperybob]

Of all fishing lines, fluoros have the weakest knot strength.

[RK]

Hiya -

Have you tried doubling over the Powe Pro? Tie a spider hitch in the power pro, then use back to back uni-knots. It's what I generally do when I'm attaching a fluoro leader to #10 fireline and it works ok.

The other thing you can do, if worst comes to worst, is get some #12 Spro crane swivels. Spro swivels a tiny tiny tiny, and still 35# test. When I fish jerk shads and the like I usually have one 4' up or so to cut down on the line twist a little...

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Pherris]

Have you tried using fishing glue on the knot? I use the swivel method to reduce line twist and personally am very sold on how well it works. Keep experimenting and you will come up with a solution that works best for you.

[ikeslayer]

here are a couple of knot websites. my favorite knot when connecting two lines is the surgeons knot. I don't think it is used in the medical world so don't know where it got is name but i think it is one of the 2 sites

Animated knots 1

My second favorite is the blood knot i learned this for fly fishing

Animated knots 2

[tearin' lips]

Back to back uni knots or a blood knot are the ones that I have found to be the best. I am like superduty and have recently went to straight up fireline, and tying a polymer knot to the lure. This works where I am from 'cause the water is stained, in clear water the direct tie with most braids could cause a problem with the fish being able to see it. But I am not sure as I don't fish clear water enough. And when I do I tie a leader as mentioned.

[bronzeback01]

Even in stained water I think the fish can see braid. I've fished side by side with guys fishing mono when I was using braid, both fishing the same bait and they killed me. Maybe that was just a coincedence, but I don't think so. I guess I'm just confident in clear lines and that is why I leader.

I don't think it's a big issue when the fish are not pressured, but lets face it, where are fish not pressured any more?