Dealing with big tackle now, what kind of knots you guys using for big braid, big mono?
Right now braid I use improved trilene and mono gets improved clinch. Any reason to switch?
Haven’t snell knotted to hook with braid bc I’ve had couple slip out on larger fish couple years ago on lighter tackle. Is bigger braid, 65# a different animal and need not worry? Have mono material for leader?
Anything to shorten the learning curve again greatly appreciated!
You may want to switch knots when using a braid. A long time ago I had several knots slip when I tied braid with a Trilene knot, and I haven’t used one with braid since. I’m not sure adding the “improved” part with a Trilene knot would do the trick or “knot’ 
.
I use a palomar knot with 80 lb. braid and I have never broken off on a fish that I can remember. You could also try a double palomar. With mono I use a Trilene knot because it’s easier for me to tie. Hope this helps.
Do you Snell your hooks then?
Always thought the consensus was better hookup ratios when snelled? Felt it was better for me at least.
I never snell, even when the hook eye is bent, again Because I’m too worried about slipping with braid and snells are harder for me to tie. Others may have an opinion. My hookup percentage, for the way I fish flatheads, is better with braid. I don’t use heavy mono because its a pain and my hooks seemed to set back into the bait more often with mono. Hard as heck to break off heavy mono because of the stretch. If I remember right it sounds like a .22 when you break off 50 lb Trilene Big Game. Bring a wood dowel with you too break off braid – wrap around 4-5 times and pull – and make sure you have a good anchor grip, seriously.
I never use a mono snell or lighter line on the short end. If I break off the whole deal so be it. I’m rambling….
No rambling at all, appreciate it man.
If I can ask another, where you find 50# big game in stock around here? Went to Cabela’s and fleet farm today with no luck. Ended up with 65# suffix performance braid. Have 30# big game mono leftover from other setup, but couldn’t find the big stuff.
On second thought Walmart I think had the stuff.
I always buy my mono (always solar – nice) online in bigger spools. It’s Too difficult running around wasting time and gas hoping retailers have what I want -especially bigger hooks.
On my channel cat rods, I use braid for the main line and then 40# Mono for the leader. Palomar knots everywhere except I snell my circle hooks.
i had a ost a couple yrs ago to snell or not to snell
i personally do snell my hooks and i use #80 mono ande leader stuff. it is tough to do, leave your self alot of excess tag end helps.
however, with said alot fo my saltwater buds are tired of snellin knots and most of them use unit knots or palomar knots. i’ve been using them more and i do think i might change to uni’s/palomars myself. alot easier to tie and i havent seen a single break off.
not to sound cocky but ive caught and seen 5′ tarpons, big bull reds, big ole snooks, 7′ bulsharks and 8′ stingrays caught on a Uni or palomar knot
best thing about a palomar is u can do it in the dark fairly easy =D
80lb yellow Power Pro to a leader of 50lb Berkley big game. Snell 100% of the time!
Palomar for braid! I didn’t know there was another knot…
Palomar for me as well.
I use a basic overhand loop knot to attach my braid to my swivel as well as my mono leader to my swivel, I think some call it a double surgeon’s loop. Simply make the loop, thread it through and around the swivel and you are done. Takes all of 3 seconds to tie and I have never had a line break at that point. For my hooks I use a Palomar knot if it is a straight eye hook which is how I buy my Gama Big River bait hooks. However if the eye is turned up which is how I like my gama octopus circles then I snell the hook to the shank. The only time I have ever felt that my knot was a weakness was when I used to use an improved clinch knot to attack my hooks, With the large diameter of the mono we use this is just an inferior knot. It is fine for walleye fishing with 6lb test but not 50lb mono or any braid.
I use a palomar knot with 80 lb. braid and I have never broken off on a fish that I can remember. You could also try a double palomar. With mono I use a Trilene knot because it’s easier for me to tie. Hope this helps.
Same here, I have been using 100% power pro and a palomar knot since 05. From 10-80 lb test. Would be foolish of me to try anything else. I have not had a knot break either. Easy to tie in the dark as well.
I use a polamar to the swivel, double surgeon loop on the swivel end of the leader, and snell the hook. I do keep a couple dozen hooks pre snelled in the box so I don’t have to tie at night.
This has caught sturgeon to 67″ and flats to 43″ and never had a snell slip.
…oh yeah 65# or 80# Suffix 832
For channel cats I have recently converted entirely to 25# mono. Palomer knots. Sometimes I Snell.
I switched to mono because I horse too many fish and lose them half way to the boat.
It is common to catch channels in the soft tissue it isn’t that hard to rip the hook out. With mono I have seen my big fish loss ratio plummet! Despite hating mono, for now it’ll stay because I’m landing more fish.
Flathead I run 40-50# mono or 80-100# braid and palomer knots.
I would rather run mono then braid IF the area is relatively snag free. Mono is more forgiving and in my opinion more fun to fish with for Sturgeon and Channels (snag free areas).
I dumped my 30 pound big game mono when I was hung up and when from the back of my 17′ boat all the way to the front. Yes, the anchor held…it’s just a big rubber band! I was a little afraid of that big ol’ 4 ozer coming out of the water and smacking someone in the eye.
I think Bushman might still have a photo of that!
It’s braid for flats.
The improved trilene knot will slip on spiderwire 100% of the time. Not so much with PP, Tug O War, Master Braid or suffix.
If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. 
Family has me chasing scaled creatures this week on vacation, but when I get back, to the river!!
Good stuff fellas, thanks 
dumped my 30 pound big game mono when I was hung up and when from the back of my 17′ boat all the way to the front. Yes, the anchor held…it’s just a big rubber band! I was a little afraid of that big ol’ 4 ozer coming out of the water and smacking someone in the eye.
And that is why I hate mono. But I think I hate losing a trophy channel more…. Until that 4oz weight crushes a $2k depthfinders or my face 
Don’t know that I’d be as comfortable with someone else breaking heavy mono in the boat… And I gotta tell anyone behind me to look out. I’ll probably drive the rod butt into a depthfinders sooner than a weight argh
Actually had a rod fly out of my hands and into the water trying to break from a snag two weeks ago with SharpTailer. Luckily the rod butt smacked me in the chin on the way out and Michael was the only witness lol. I grabbed another rod that was fishing and quickly wrapped line around the sinking rod and saved it.
Michael was the only witness
Dang it! No pictures!!??
And Kieran is still laughing and commenting on it. One second he has the rod held in one hand and then the rod tip slams down, maybe because a large wave lifted the boat up, the rod butt flys up and Andy’s head jerks back and he is left empty handed. We all three looked and expected to see nothing. There it was, that bright red Rippn Lips rod floating and slowly headed down stream. Andy must be heartily commended for quickly identifying and enacting a solution to retrieving his now disappearing rod. Good recovery
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