My hands are cut and raw. My wife avoids me. A mouse in the corner of my workshop has a nice new nest made of bits and ends of broken spectra. I’ve worn out and broken my scale and had to buy a new one. My nerves are as frayed as the broken line that litters my basement. I’ve completed THREE full days of testing and breaking braided spectra line. The main objective of my project was to see if I could tweak 30# braid to the same knot breaking strength as my usual 50# braid.

First and foremost, I have succeeded in tweaking 30# braid to the same strength at which I was effectively fishing 50#. It’s all about knots. I tested hundreds and hundreds of knots of every type and description. Previously, I was using the Palomar knot with 50# braid and I was happy with its strength and performance. I was quite surprised to find this knot tests at only 25-30# with 50# line. Time and time again I repeated this with careful attention to drawing down the knot correctly and stressing the knot modestly to simulate casting strains. Knowing now the breaking strength I was happily using, I searched for a way to make the effective strength of 30# line the same. I’ll spare you the hours and hours. Suffice it to say I almost used up a 150-yard spool. Here it is.

The best knot for braid is the five turn UniKnot with doubled line. It takes some skill and experience to tie this knot correctly. Inattention to details will make this knot inconsistent and weak. When done correctly, this knot twirls around itself when drawing up forming a uniform overlaying wrap. It must be drawn up high on the line and then gently slid down to the hook and tightened again. Attention must be given mid-way during tying this knot to the drape of the slack. If you have tried this knot before and discarded it may have been your technique.. Using this knot with 30# braid, I can obtain 25-27# of breaking strength. This is the same strength as when I used 50# braid with a palomar knot!! 

The five turn doubled UniKnot turns 50# braid into a juggernaut. I was able to achieve 35-40# of breaking strength. Why less total strength by percentage than 30#. Not sure but still a substantial gain over the palomar knot.  If you put a spring scale on the end of your line and pretend you are battling a fish, you will find that when using plugging tackle, about 17 pounds of force is near the limit of your pulling force.  The @ 25 pounds of breaking strength with 30# braid and the doubled five turn uni-knot supplies enough reserve strength to land most any fish caught while plugging and I get almost 20 MORE yards of casting distance using 30# braid instead of 50# braid.

The five turn doubled Uniknot requires a little practice but once mastered it is easy to tie.  I have no problem tying it quickly in the wind and the half-dark.  Here is a picture of a single line five turn uniknot.  Doubling the line is an important and significant modification!

Here is my video of tying the doubled line five turn uniknot.  BTW – I know I sound a little like Mr. Rogers here!  It was difficult tying the knot, watching the video screen, thinking, and talking all at the same time!  I’ve decided not to re-do this video because it makes me smile!  Won’t you be my neighbor??!!!