OK...next question.....joining topshot to high vis mono do you use a SPRO swivel with crimps or do you do a fancy knott tying line to line.....Me...I use crimps...

Same question for connecting Mono to your hook....crimps to knots ?......let's hear it....I use crimps...I feel they are stronger and also prevent any possibility of line twist on the top shot connection...you know....just in case you get a spinning ballyhoo for some reason...although we all know that wouldn't happen on Still Think'n !....yea right....Bob

Bob,

If leader is 100#'s or less, I'll tie a "fancy" knot...Bimini to Bristol knot, or Bimini to Bimini with Cats-Paw(of course assuming main line is less than 100#, too). If greater than 100# than out come the crimps and swivel.

Leader to hooks if making ballyhoo rigs with wire pin, then I crimp. If no pin then I'd do the same as with the leader...100# or less=knot, over 100#=crimp.

First thing I noticed in Costa Rica...Not a single crimp on the boat...everything was tied, even the heavy leader stuff.

Did you get my message about Food Lion?!??!?!

why yes I did Mr. Malkowski...I just checked my Voicemail...ringer was off...thanks for the Intel !....Bob

Mike and I have hooked up a come along and a deer scale to test knot strength vs. crimp strength.... Crimp won everytime! Our findings which were recorded in the beer we were drinking: Knots - the line would break where the knot was tied at or near rated line strength. Crimps - the line would break 6-8" above the crimp and would break above the rated line strength. CRIMPS ALL THE WAY!

Now to be a true scientific test, you're gonna need to repeat the same test while sober.

I would agree that crimps are almost always stronger. My general rule is 80 lbs or over I crimp. Under 80 is a knot.

The sacrifices you guys make in the name of fishing intel just amazes me !...lol...good info Mike and Phil...thanks for drinking and testing knots for us !...lol...Bob

Ahhh Drinking and crimping...a little off topic, but there was a day when 4 guys couldn't fish out of Hatteras due to wind so we started drinking at 8:00am. After a case each, we decided to make some rigs. Assembly line worked well. Then several months later, I'm hooked up to what would be my first blue marlin. After a great first run with leaps and jumps...done...he's off. Reel in the rig to find a seawitch, but no hook and a little tag hanging from the crimp. The tag was supposed to be in the other side of the double crimp. We figured it out later that rig was made in Hatteras during the drunkfest!!

New rule...don't let your friends crimp drunk!!!! Drink after your crimp!!

Now that's funny, I don't care who you are!

Don,
no comment other than I second the motion

Enough said!!!

Sorry Bob for getting off topic

at the hook i always use a crimp. 3 of my rods are spooled with 50# ande ,those three have a uni knot on that side of the swivel,( wind on is 100#momois)on the wind on side i use crimps.my other 3 rods are spooled with 80# with again 100# wind on, those 3 rod are crinped all the way.all my rigs are 15' of 130# momois/jinkai crimped at both ends.and that would complete my super high tech 6 line spread.

"If you have ever been to drunk to fish, you might be a redneck"

Due to all the wind, and lack of fishing, Phil and I have been testing mono to braid connections as well...the results are as follows...

These were all tested with 65lbd Power Pro to 80lbd momoi diamond mono....

Albright knot- broke at 50 lbds at the knot.

Uni-Uni knot- broke at 55 lbds at the knot.

Sebile knot- broke at 70 lbds and this was on the power pro portion that wrapped around the post.

Results- by far the Sebile knot is the best connection that we have found for braid to mono....Other than that, we will use crimps on all other mono's over 80lbds...

Don, those pics are awesome . I barely remember that part of the day. You gotta email those to mike and trey.

Where to go, to see how to tie a Sebile Knot??

It is on SFC videos, Google sebile knot and it should pull up

Wow, I don't remember that picture being taken. Must have been just before the Ferry ride. In my defense, I didn't tie or crimp that day- I just drank and tried to find a charter.
Trey

If the Mono is above 80 lbs I like to use the Double barrel Crimps exact size is important if the crimp is too large they slip.Also the way you crimp is important If you crimp down too hard it actually weakens the connection.A good squeeze with both hands is good enough.Dont press down on a table with all your weight it is too hard that way,I learn these things the hard way trust me on this one.

Jack, here is the link to the Sebile knot. Takes some practice but it works.

http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f74/ri...knot+braid+mono

Thanks for the link Mike. I really like that knot because it seems easy to tie and I am not the smartest guy in the world to be figuring out all that fancy stuff that most folks do.

--Brett

Thank you very much for the link.