Double Uni Knot

[buzzed bait]

i have been fishing straight braid for a while, but would like to start throwing a leader on there when the situation calls for it.  I'm struggling on finding an easy to tie knot that will work for me.

I'm connecting 30, 40 and 50lb braid to a flouro leader between 8 and 15 pounds.  so far, i've found the double uni to be the easier one to tie and with less failure.  i've also tried the alberto and albright knots, but have had them failing more than working.

is the double uni a dependable knot if i can perfect it and do you have any suggestions on an easier/more reliable knot for connecting the 2 lines?

thanks.

[Catch and Grease]

I've had uni's fail probably because I don't tie them often... I have much more confidence in the modified Albright knot, its really all about how you hold the lines while tieing and once you get comfortable its a breeze!

[buzzed bait]

I've had uni's fail probably because I don't tie them often... I have much more confidence in the modified Albright knot, its really all about how you hold the lines while tieing and once you get comfortable its a breeze!

 

for some reason, i'm just having an abnormally difficult time with the albright.  once i go to start tightening them down, the knot goes all to h**l....  i know practice makes perfect, but i can't even get off the ground with the albright knot.

[Crestliner2008]

I've tried both over many decades of hard use with braid & leaders. The main drawback to the double uni knot is bulk. This bulk seems to "click" through the guides on the cast & retrieve. This "clicking" equates to wear, reduced casting distance and less joint strength - in my opinion.

 

Some of my fishing friends do use double uni successfully however, so it may just be a matter of preference and confidence, more than actual joint strength. In any case I prefer the Alberto. Less bulk, creating a more streamlined knot, which actually isn't a knot at all, but rather a braid. Sort of like the old Chinese handcuffs, or finger cuffs, that you use to get as a prize in Crackerjack boxes.

 

I've never had a failure with a properly tied Alberto. And in the TV series entitled, "Knot Wars" a few years back, the Alberto had superior static knot strength over the double uni. These were under very controlled conditions however and the difference between them was less significant. I don't believe that you can go wrong with either, provided you take the time to tie them correctly. And if you intend to stay with the double uni, I'd advise you to re-tie more often than you think you might need to.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

My guess is you're tying on a really light leader and/or not going back through the loop in the same direction as you came in. If you're sure you're going in and out the loop in the right direction try an Alberto: wrap up ad back down then still through the loop in the right direction. Once you get it you'll have a stronger and slimmer knot. 

[Catch and Grease]

for some reason, i'm just having an abnormally difficult time with the albright. once i go to start tightening them down, the knot goes all to h**l.... i know practice makes perfect, but i can't even get off the ground with the albright knot.

I've never even attempted the regular Albright knot, have you tried the modified version where you go X wraps one way then X wraps back down?

[Felix77]

I have been using a uni-uni knot for 3 years now ... The key to me was 2 things ...

 

1) matching line diameters ... The closer the braid and Fluoro diameters are to one another the better the connection.

2) number of loops.  I do at least 7 wraps on either end.  Some prefer more.  7 has worked for me.

 

My go-to setup for spinning is 15lb Braid (Smackdown) with 6-10lb leader (InvizX)

 

For baitcaster I don't use leaders.

[hatrix]

I tied a double uni for the longest time and it works fine. As for it failing it would happen eventually with any connection knot I would thnk. If you tie on a 6' leader and fish that same leader for a while and catch a ton of fish it is going to weaken it like any knot. Just cause you have 4' of leader left doesn't mean it is still good for another 2' . I have had them break eventually fishing plastics on the bottom and stuff. But that was my fault for not changing it over a long time and rocking hook sets on fish.

Know I like to tie a blood knot a lot. It can be pretty tuff to tie but there is a trick to do it really easy but the only thing is it makes equal amounts of wraps that way. You can just look easy blood knot on you tube. The easy version is so quick and easy to tie and it is the thinnest connection knot I believe.

[J Francho]

Anyone that uses a Uni to Uni over an Alberto just hasn't had a major failure.....yet.

 

If one is working, stick to it. 

[hatrix]

I tied a double uni for the longest time and it works fine. As for it failing it would happen eventually with any connection knot I would thnk. If you tie on a 6' leader and fish that same leader for a while and catch a ton of fish it is going to weaken it like any knot. Just cause you have 4' of leader left doesn't mean it is still good for another 2' . I have had them break eventually fishing plastics on the bottom and stuff. But that was my fault for not changing it over a long time and rocking hook sets on fish.

Know I like to tie a blood knot a lot. It can be pretty tuff to tie but there is a trick to do it really easy but the only thing is it makes equal amounts of wraps that way. You can just look easy blood knot on you tube. The easy version is so quick and easy to tie and it is the thinnest connection knot I believe.

[BassinLou]

When it comes to those two knots practice is your friend. Take 2 old spools of different pound lines and practice joining them. I prefer the alberto knot personally. Its a bit more compact than the double uni. When you tie the lines together make sure you lube with spit before you begin cinching. If your lines still slip then something is not being done correctly. Look at your illustration or video and try again. With 40lb or 50lb braid the minimum pound test I would tie on is 12lb. Remember braid has 0 shock. If your leader is too light you will snap it by the knot if you set the hook too hard.  

[buzzed bait]

well sounds like practice will make perfect here.  i actually like the results on the one or two positive knots i tied on with the improved albright, but couldn't replicate the results with any consistency.

[J Francho]

It's a knot that takes some practice.  I don't even really like tying it on the water.

 

This is the best video I've found for learning the hand movements:

 

[buzzed bait]

It's a knot that takes some practice.  I don't even really like tying it on the water.

 

This is the best video I've found for learning the hand movements:

 

 

thanks J, i'll look into this when i get home.... my work censors everything but BR (thank goodness)

[desmobob]

You don't have to wade through opinions to find the best knot... get out your digital scale and do some testing!  My bet is that the Alberto will win.  

 

I like this quote from hatrix:  "Just cause you have 4' of leader left doesn't mean it is still good for another 2' ."

Re-tying occasionally will help prevent disappointment with any braid-to-leader knot!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Bluebasser86]

I tie back to back uni's and haven't had any issues. 

[hatrix]

Here is the video on how to tie super fast blood knots. Its so easy any one could tie them like a pro but the only downside with doing it this way is you cant really do different amounts of wraps for each line. The fact that the tags both come out of the same side makes no difference in the knot.

 

[conorsixtakc]

I tie uni to uni any time I fish braid with a fluoro leader, which is any time I'm fishing a shakey head, wacky rig, or small jigs. That being said, you're using WAY heavier braid than I ever would. 12 lb braid and 10 lb fluoro has been a nice balance for me. I'd be very concerned about knot failure with the massive difference in break strength between 10 lb fluoro and the heavy braid you're talking about. Probably worth mentioning that I only fish braid/fluoro leader on spinning setups.

That being said, I've never experienced a knot failure when following these rules of thumb: 16-18 wraps on the braid side, 8-9 wraps on the fluoro side. Think of the braid end as the stopper, don't get cheap on wraps. Take your time and wet the knot as you cinch it, making sure it doesn't get bunched up.

I like to use hi vis braid with around 6' of fluoro leader. This will help you with bite detection, and allow for a few break offs without having to tie a new leader while on the water. If you do a good job with your knot it should cast right through the guides.

Good luck!

[S Hovanec]

Anyone that uses a Uni to Uni over an Alberto just hasn't had a major failure.....yet.

If one is working, stick to it.

5 year (could be 6 or 7??) without a uni-Uni knot failure. Even had a couple hooks break on fish with that knot. I do typically retie a new leader every day tho.

[BobP]

The critical thing with the Albright is to make sure the line exits the loop in the same direction that it came in.  If it doesn't, you don't have an actual knot and it will unravel during use.  The Albright is the smallest good knot you can use and that's important.  But a uni-uni seems as strong in practical terms and it doesn't have the little "gotcha" the Albright does while tying it.  You can buy a little Fast Tie tool that makes tying a uni-uni quick and easy if that's the knot you choose.  But using a thin strong Albright makes casting with the typical bass rod using size 6 tip guides much more trouble free.

[hatrix]

I don't get why people don't tie blood knots. You never hear about it but that is what fly fishermen use to the there tipet. It seems like that is the only knot they ever use. I think it might be because it's is a hard knot to tie since you have to hold everything at once.

[J Francho]

 

I don't get why people don't tie blood knots.

 

Because it's not a great knot for lines of differing material and/or diameter.  It's a nice, low profile knot for splicing similar lines together, and I like it for replacing a top shot of line, and not throwing out the backer.  Another rarely used knot, that I use a lot in winter when my hands are numb is a triple surgeon's. Again, it's ok, if the lines are similar size.  It was a that knot that tied up fast in order to snake this smallie off a bed while my buddy retied, lol.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot-bedding-bass.html

[hatrix]

Because it's not a great knot for lines of differing material and/or diameter. It's a nice, low profile knot for splicing similar lines together, and I like it for replacing a top shot of line, and not throwing out the backer. Another rarely used knot, that I use a lot in winter when my hands are numb is a triple surgeon's. Again, it's ok, if the lines are similar size. It was a that knot that tied up fast in order to snake this smallie off a bed while my buddy retied, lol.

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot-bedding-bass.html

If it is not good for different diameter lines then why is it the #1 knot for fly fishing? The difference in diameter in fly line to the leader is massive compared to what would be used for bass fishing. I think it is a great knot and I tie that over the double uni know. It's a super thin knot and that is a big plus I think. If I am tying a leader the lines are generally of simat size any ways. I like to try and use a leader with the most strength to match my braid if possible. For spinning it's usually 6-8# and for casting it is around 12-17. But that depends on the line used really. The diamater is more how I choose it then the marketed breaking strength.

[J Francho]

Do you even fly fish?  Myself, and most guys I know use a nail less knot, not a blood knot to connect fly line to leader.  I'd like to see a blood knot in action, connecting 8 WF fly line to a tapered fluoro leader, lol.  Leaders are furled or tapered.  The blood knot is used to attach a "tippet" or short length of leader to the tapered leader.  Leaders are expensive, tippet (leader material) is not. Tippet is roughly the same size as the small end of the tapered leader.

[Fisher-O-men]

Your experience is just that, you tend to go with that.  I changed to an improved albright connection when my leader was repeatedly failing at the uni/uni connection, and I could tell that it was the FC or mono that had been cut. 

 

I still break off on the hook set ocassionally, but now the break is at the hook, not the leader connection.