Fit To Be Tied

WHETHER YOU’RE NOVICE OR PRO, fishing fundamentals trump luck or skill and the basics begin with knot tying and leader construction. From inshore shallows to offshore depths, whether sight fishing, botom fishing, trolling or live baiting on a drift, leader systems often incorporate a double line tied into the main running line. Though, the knot you choose ultimately influences the overall breaking strength and durability of your entire terminal presentation.

- Captain Steve Dougherty

There are several knots that can be utilized to create a double line, but it is widely accepted that the Bimini twist is the strongest of all. In fact, when tied properly the Bimini twist will retain 100% of the manufacturer’s rated breaking strength of your chosen line.

On a calibrated line-testing machine at Lindgren-Pitman, a Bimini twist I tied in Diamond Hi-Catch 50-lb. monofilament consistently over-tested and broke just above 70 pounds of pulling power.

There’s no other knot that can compare, but that’s the secret. The Bimini twist isn’t really a knot at all. Rather, the friction that is created by the twisting motion holds the knot together with a series of half hitches at the end simply keeping the twist from unraveling.

Whether misled or intimidated of the Bimini to the point where they simply avoid it, many anglers claim that a spider hitch is an adequate means of creating a double line. Although it is fast and easy to tie in the dark on a rocking boat, the spider hitch is an inferior selection that when tied perfectly still reduces the line’s rated breaking strength.