OTI DEPTHFINDER LINE

[HUNTER II]

I'm having serious difficulty in joining the OTI Depthfinder line (60 lb test) to a flourocarbon leader (80 lb test). I have tried a Yucatan knot, a double surgeons knot, a double uni-knot, a slim beauty, and an offshore knot and I get the same result each time the 60lb braid breaks at 35 - 40 lbs. The only way I can get even close to the rated line strength is a bimini to bimini loop with the braided end catspawed around the fluorocarbon. That arrangement breaks at 55 lbs. The double bimini is a major pain to tie and it doesn't run throught the guides very well.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[ksong]

I thought every jigging and popping fishermen use Mid Knot or PRknot.
Don't believe knot testing results and believe your confidence.

[gman]

Originally Posted by HUNTER II

I'm having serious difficulty in joining the OTI Depthfinder line (60 lb test) to a flourocarbon leader (80 lb test). I have tried a Yucatan knot, a double surgeons knot, a double uni-knot, a slim beauty, and an offshore knot and I get the same result each time the 60lb braid breaks at 35 - 40 lbs. The only way I can get even close to the rated line strength is a bimini to bimini loop with the braided end catspawed around the fluorocarbon. That arrangement breaks at 55 lbs. The double bimini is a major pain to tie and it does run throught the guides very well.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Are you telling me your depthfinder line is breaking at 35#'s instead of 60

[Uncle Russ]

I would in no way question Kil on the knots he mentions--he is much more experienced in that area than I am, but I just happen to be unable to tie them well However, using very similar line (YKG jigman), I have had excellent results tying a small loop in the braid using either a 40 turn Bimini or a 7-turn surgeons loop, and joining that to a short fluoro leader with the regular (not reverse) Albright. I have tested numerous examples of this combination (using 80 pound braid and 80 pound fluoro) to a 64 pound straight pull without breakage. I don't go any further than that because that is 80 percent strength, and I don't want to end up with a Chatillon scale and super mutu hook up my...but you get the picture.

Admittedly, this would not work as well with a long leader that you want to cast through the guides.

Russ

[ksong]

Uncle,
many guys have problems to tie Mid Knot because they pull mono and braided line apart without any angle as shown in diagram #10.
It you pull them apart without any angle, it get slipped before getting bite.
Pull them apart with 120 - 150 degree, then you invariably get bite.

[HUNTER II]

yes - that's correct the OTI 60 lb line is breaking at 35 - 40 lbs as measured on a drag scale - I actually stumbled on to the problem when I was showing a friend how to join fluoro to OTI braid - I tied up my favorite Yucatan knot and we put a scale on it to demo how strong the knot was and to my surprise it broke at 35 lbs - I subsequently tried the other knots listed with the same results

[ksong]

Originally Posted by HUNTER II

yes - that's correct the OTI 60 lb line is breaking at 35 - 40 lbs as measured on a drag scale - I actually stumbled on to the problem when I was showing a friend how to join fluoro to OTI braid - I tied up my favorite Yucatan knot and we put a scale on it to demo how strong the knot was and to my surprise it broke at 35 lbs - I subsequently tried the other knots listed with the same results

I suggest to put some glue on the knot and test again. You'll see the different results. Most knot get slipped on heavy drag and it causes the breakage. That is exactly what happened when I tested knot strength with Basil. Since the test, I always apply glues on the knots.

[gman]

I use depthfinder exclusively on 6 reels and I have never had any issues with it breaking at all, if anything it has consistantly broken at a higher rating. Is it breaking above the knot at the knot???

[lite-liner]

Originally Posted by gman

I use depthfinder exclusively on 6 reels and I have never had any issues with it breaking at all, if anything it has consistantly broken at a higher rating. Is it breaking above the knot at the knot???

I concur. most all my knots are breaking between 55-75# on the OTI
60# stuff. I'm sure I would get a better percentage if I tied them better

just my opinion, but if a bimini works for you, then use it. I can see it being
a bit longer to tie one, though.
personally, a 20-wrap albright is my go-to. relatively easy to tie on a
pitching boat, and normally tests right around 90-100% when tied right &
glued. not really bad going thru the guides, either. course, I run shorter leaders, too.
tight lines
-Brian

[TBaker]

Originally Posted by ksong

Uncle,
many guys have problems to tie Mid Knot because they pull mono and braided line apart without any angle as shown in diagram #10.
It you pull them apart without any angle, it get slipped before getting bite.
Pull them apart with 120 - 150 degree, then you invariably get bite.

So that's the secret!! It was driving me nuts cause I couldn't get it to bite. Gonna get right on it. Thanks, Kil!!