Okay here is the deal. While plulling plugs today we had a halicious take down after three hard jerks my buddy gave a swift tug to drive her home only to have the bloodknot break. We got a look at the big toad with cannon ball deltoids which was easy 18-20 lbs swim of with my hotshot. I was using brand new 12lb sufix hi vis tritanium plus bloodknoted to 12lb new green izorline. I had made a total of 10 wraps, wetted the lines and cinched them down.Damn I was pissed. So the rest of the day we ran the hi vis line straight to the plugs with a polamar knot. I don't feel real confident in running hi vis lines straight to the plugs. Has this happend to any of you guys? What do you think about a barrel swivel
with a trilene knot on both ends? I did not have this problem with izor hi vis, maybe the tritanium plus does not tie a good bloodknot?
Thanks
Chrome

I run hi vis line right to my plugs with a swivel on top of the clip and that seems to produce a good number of fish. By the way where were you fishin?

I always blood knot a 5'-6' leader from the main line to the plug. Hmmmm, Maybe try less wraps on the knot...I usually go 5 or 6 wraps in opposing directions. My line of choice is 12# Pink Fibre Glow and 10# Ultra Green. I Have had no mishaps with this combo, other then a few Crackerisms from my buddies

I like a barrel swivel to make that connection. I don't like blood knotting dissimilar lines.... best if material is the same and no more than 25% difference in strength. If very dissimilar in strength, then double over the lighter test before tying the blood knot.

The other advantage of the swivel is it gives the novice a reference point for when to stop reeling in when fighting a fish, especially a big one. I adjust leader length based on the length and action of the rod above the grip. Too long a leader, and you may not have enough rod to lift a fish to the surface for a net job.

I know a pretty good guide who runs the hi-vis maxima all the way to the plugs. He doesn't think it matters. I bloodknot leader onto the line. I like to use enough leader so that when the fish is close to the boat, I have a few turns of the leader around the spool of the reel - so that's probably 12-15 feet of leader.

Not to rub it in, but it sounds like you could use testing your knots. Also, too many turns on the knot will make it weaker. I wouldn't use any more than 6 turns on each side, and 5 is probably better for 12 lb line.

Chrome, suffix and izor are stronger than sh!t but they are slick lines as far as knots are concerend. Maxima UG blodknots absolutely frickin' awesome and even with that rope I still retie the bloodknots often. I use barrel swivels with heavy lines and big plugs (kwikfish). I rarely use the high vis stuff anymore, but if I did it would be fiberglow all the way!

K.I.S.S.

Direct to plug (Hi-Vis or clear makes no difference):
UNI-KNOT

Hi-Vis to Clear or shock tippet:
You guessed it.......... DOUBLE UNI-KNOT.

By the way, that last "S" stands for Sir or Steelheader, which ever you prefer.

I use 30lb power pro(not high vis) and tie direct. If I did use a leader,it would be with a barrel swivel

I agree with the Fishin Doc. I prefer to use a swivel simply because lines cinching on each other especially dissimilar lines (I'm referring to mono or copolymer types not fly line) has greater potential for failure. You know the cinching of your line isn't going to affect the swivel whereas it may affect the other line. Sufix Tritanium plus is a very strong and abrasion resistant line with very hard outercoating and maybe this could make it not knot compatible with many other lines or maybe even more brittle (because it is a little stiffer than some other lines). I have used it quite a bit for mainline and leader but always used a swivel or just attached directly to the spoon, plug or spinner with no problems. I do however use the Centauri knot for attaching line to swivels or lures. It retains about 96% of its strength and I have yet to loose a fish because of the knot.

We have been having good luck with power pro straight to a high quality ball bearing swivel. Then just clip on the plug, and change plugs as often as you like with no hassels. If you must use a leader, main line to barrel swivel, leader, then ball bearing swivel for same effect. 6 ft is enough leader.

I had been using 12lb Andes hi-vis with a blood not to 12lb Andes clear line the last couple of years with no problems. I just switched to clear Izor line and though I like it, the Hi-vis really helps to see if your plugs are working and where they are at.

I have been giving the 30lb power pro, moss color a try. I run it straight to the plugs with no mono leader.

Results are still out on my boat but Skydriftin has taken a fish or 80 doing this without missing a single hook-up.

Thanks for the replies-
I did some bloodknot tests last night and yes
the sufix and izor are not very compatible. Justins right they are both real slick lines. I think I will try my luck with the polamer knot tied direct to the plugs. By the way when yer e-mail works kid I want to talk to you bout somthin.
Chrome

We have been using a double uni- knot, power pro to a 12# flurocarbon leader of about 10 feet. To the business end is tyed a snap clip with a Rivers Inlet knot. Haven't busted one off. Yet.

Personally I would use a uni knot, but more importantly heavier line. Especially if you know there are big fish around.

Uni knots. If it works on braid it'll be just fine with mono. Besides I could never tie a good blood knot anyway in the field.

I used to do the blood knot between the Fiber Glow and UG, but now I've been doing the double uni-knot. I either run 12/12 or 15/15.

If one knot is better than the other, why?

I kind alike the double uni-knot. I personally think it is stronger over the blood knot.

I don't do the barrel swivel thing. Way to easy to pull the swivel in past the first rod eyelet. Once that happens, that's the quickest way I know to either destroy your rod, or snap your line off when the swivel catches on the eye.

Which ever knot you use, leave a good tag end on each line end, as if there is any give to the knot, the tag end should catch that.

Anyone else use these knots? I 've used them both and haven't had either of them fail yet, knock on wood.

http://www.stren.com/knot10.htm

http://www.stren.com/knot11.htm

Thanks for the links Keta.

I've used the second one, but never knew about the J knot.

Kris

That second one is the Uni Knot.