 Light-tackle
anglers should always seek out the strongest and least
obtrusive connections when building their
terminal-tackle (line, leader, sinker, hook or lure)
system. While a swivel is a good option for connecting
line to leader, especially where line twist is a
concern, it may not be small enough to pass cleanly
through the rod guides. This can prevent you from
reeling the bait or lure to the rod tip, and may also
inhibit casting accuracy. The longer the leader, the
more problematic a swivel becomes.
The other option is to use a knot. There are several
knots for joining the main line to a heavier leader. The
more popular ones include the Albright knot and the
surgeon‚s knot, both of which are useful for
connecting lines of greatly varying diameters. These
knots result in terminal connections that are strong,
reliable and compact enough to pass through most rod
guides. Being able to wind a lure or bait to the rod tip
greatly enhances casting accuracy and often helps in
landing a fish. Furthermore, the lack of a swivel should
make the leader system less visible and reduce the risk
of a cut-off caused by another fish that mistook the
swivel for a snack!
My favorite light-tackle, line-to-leader connection for
casting, free-lining baits and (sometimes) jigging is
the Bimini twist/Bristol knot combination. Here's how it
works: I first tie a Bimini in the end of my line to
create a section of double line that‚s roughly two
feet long. I'm not interested in a super-long double
line that can be wound onto the reel, one that enables
me to apply extra pressure on a fish near the boat.
That's an advantage reserved for double lines in
big-game trolling. Instead, I'm seeking knot strength,
and the Bimini retains nearly 100 percent of the line's
rated breaking strength.
I'm also a big fan of the
Bristol knot, which I use to join the Bimini loop to the
leader, because it's smaller than most knots and easily
passes through the rod guides. When trimmed closely, the
tag end is not likely to snag any weeds.
Although
I use the Bristol knot with leaders as short as
two feet, the connection really shines in creating
long wind-on leaders for spinning and baitcasting
tackle. For example, when casting live baits and
jigs to dolphin, I generally use a 12- and
20-pound-class spinning outfit rigged with 15 feet
of 40- or 50-pound-test fluorocarbon leader.
Thanks to the Bimini-Bristol connection, I can
reel the jig or bait to the rod tip for long and
accurate casts without the knot hanging up in the
guides. The "smoothness" factor also
helps prevent natural baits from flying off the
hook during a cast. And, since the connection
passes freely through the rod guides and onto the
reel, it's not likely to interfere with fighting a
fish.
I prefer long
leaders in the situation described above to prevent the
lighter fishing line from making contact with a big
dolphin during a fight. Also, after landing a fish, I
can simply clip off the damaged section of leader before
retying the lure or hook. This beats having to tie on a
whole new leader when the fishing's hot!
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Tying
the Bristol Knot
1 Pass the
leader through the Bimini loop. 2 Keeping
your index finger hooked around the leader, wrap
the leader five to seven times around the doubled
line. 3 Pass the leader back through the
loop formed by your index finger. Bring the end
out six inches. 4 Cinch down the knot very
tightly by moistening it and pulling down on both
the leader and double line. Trim the tag end,
which should protrude at a 90-degree angle.
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Although you might be
reading about the Bristol knot for the first time, it
isn't new. In fact, I first learned how to tie it in the
late 1970s from Bob Colvin, one of my early fishing
mentors. As the story goes, the knot was developed by an
angler from Bristol, Tennessee, who fished for fresh
water striped bass, hence the name "Bristol."
Back in the '70s, only a
handful of South Florida anglers used the knot, and the
lack of publicity over the years preserved its
obscurity. Then, seven years ago, legendary skipper Skip
Smith and I were having lunch when the subject of
wind-on leaders for big game came up. Smith proceeded to
show me a nameless wind-on connection for spinning
tackle, which I quickly recognized as the Bristol knot I
had become familiar with years ago. Like others who used
this knot, Smith confirmed that it was a great
light-tackle, line-to-leader connection. I eventually
wrote about the knot in SWS, as well as in my Seminar
Series textbook.
Since I frequently refer
to the Bimini-Bristol connection at my seminars, I'm
often asked how it's tied. Therefore, we thought it
would be useful to go over both knots again. Whether you
prefer baitcasting or spinning gear, live baits or
lures, the Bimini-Bristol combination is definitely a
connection that belongs in your arsenal
Tying
the Bimini Twist
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1 Measure a
little more than twice the length you'll want for
the section of double line. Bring the tag end back
over the standing line and firmly hold the two
strands together with one hand. With your other
hand, make approximately 18 to 20 twists by
rotating the end of the loop. 2 Maintaining
tension on the fishing line, spread the loop and
place it over your knee, then pull the tag end out
at a 90-degree angle to the twists. This will
tighten and draw the twists toward your knee.
Note: To tie this part of the knot, I often place
the rod in a holder behind me, with the line
running over my shoulder. I use a bucket or cooler
to elevate my knee, which helps prevent the loop
from slipping off. I can also tuck the line
underneath my arm to apply more tension if needed.
3 Place your index finger inside the loop
and pull it upward against the twists. At the same
time, gradually ease tension on the tag end so
that it begins to roll down and over the column of
twists. 4 Keep your index finger pressed
tightly against the base of the wraps and maintain
tension on the standing line to hold everything in
place. Now take the tag end and make a half-hitch
around one leg of the loop, which will secure the
wraps. At this point, tension is no longer needed
to hold the wraps in place. 5&6 Finish
with a locking hitch (uni knot) around both legs
of the loop. 7 Trim the tag end close to
the knot. |
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