Sorry, but another knot question

I must say that I'm a little more than worried about my knot tying abilities when it come to real big fish. My dilemma is  what knot do I use to tie my hook onto my line (leader)?   I normally use a palomar knot, but I don't know if it will cut the mustard in SoCal. I can tie a bait loop knot (like I use for steelhead) in a jiffy. It looks like a good knot and I have never had a bait loop knot break.

Anyone....? 

I use a Palomar knot all of the time on my annual tuna trips. I've never lost a fish yet because of the knot, but sometimes due to being sawed off by other guys at the rail who don't follow their lines.

Dan, The Palomar is good if tied right, the loops must not cross when tightened.The San Diego jam knot is also very popular,as well as the Trilene. An important part is tightening the knot with lubrication(spit) till its seated good.I tested knots by tying them together and pulling to see which held better. Whatever strong knot you can tie well, and fast is the best in the heat of battle.

Thanks Mark! But what do you think about the egg loop or bait loop?

I use a Double San Diego Knot for big Tuna. Asked a deckhand to show you this knot.  Easy knot to tie.  Once you seen it a few times.  But, you need something to pulled on...to get this knot to work.  If I am in a hurry (Hot Bite) a Snell for a circle hook or reg. j-hook or a Uni or double Uni for a ringed hook.

Buy or make some ringed hooks.  I am lazy...I buy them.  Lets the bait swim better.

Ken kickfish

mahi,
can you find a link on the web to the bait loop knot so we can see what it looks like?

I don't tie that one.

J

Here you go John    http://www.sandysteelheaders.org/eggloop.html

WOW that cool!  Learn something new everyday on this site. Thank Mick for link

For live bait I like the ringed hooks for bigger baits or I tie a non-slip loop knot or a perfection knot on the small stuff.http://www.flyfisherman.com/skills/lkknots/index1.html

Mickfish, thanks. nice to learn something new.

that egg loop is a snell variant, so not good for a live bait hook
is my guess. probably nice on a baitholder or octopus hook.

mahi, I think you are going to have to learn to tie a new knot...  .

J

mahi, I think you are going to have to learn to tie a new knot...  .

J

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I just did a little knot test in my backyard. I used Berkley Big Game 15lb mono for the test, with a 2/0 hook and my digital Berkley fish scale.

I first tied a bait/egg loop on the hook. I then made a double uni to join the line to another piece of Berkley Big Game 15lb mono. I tied a palomar knot on the end to work as a loop for the scale. I hooked the hook onto a chair and the loop onto the scale and applied slow pressure. At 14 pounds and a couple of ounces the line failed at the uni.

The next test was another bait/egg loop knot onto the hook and a palomar knot on the tag end for the scale. I applied slow pressure and at 14 pounds and a couple of ounces the line failed near the hook.

Next I just tied a palomar knot on the hook and another palomar on the tag in as a loop. I applied slow pressure and again the line failed near the hook at 14 pounds and a couple of ounces.

So, I think I'm just going to go with the palomar for the hooks and lures and uni to uni for the spectra to mono.

Unless anyone has anything to add.......I'm done.

CHEERS!

So, I think I'm just going to go with the palomar for the hooks and lures and uni to uni for the spectra to mono.

......that's how I roll 

SWEET!

How about testing a San Diego Jam knot?  Pretty easy to tie.

Check out http://www.netknots.com/html/fishing_knots.html

-- Dave