Updated 21 June 2024
When it comes to the best mono to mono fishing knot, there are a few to consider.
But my favourite is the double blood knot.
I learned to tie this as a young fella and it’s still as relevant today.
Because it’s easy to tie, has tags that don’t stick out and catch on guides, and strong enough to hold a metre plus barramundi.
So… why connect mono to mono?
When targeting big fish it’s important to always have a full spool of line. you never know when the “big one” is going to slam your bait or lure and head for the hills.
This is especially true for shore based anglers because they can’t chase down running fish with the boat.
But with the costs of fishing through the roof, you don’t want to rip off and throw away good line just because the spool is running low. Nor do you want to buy twice as much to top it up.
Whenever my spool gets down to two thirds or so, I top up the spool with a top shot of similar diameter and join the lines together with a double blood knot.
This saves replacing all the line and throwing perfectly good line away. It’s not good for the environment and not good for my wallet!
A mono to mono fishing knot is best for live baiting.
Why?
Because mono has more give which suits live baiting techniques whereas braid can be a little too direct.
We cover the best live bait for barramundi in this related post.
BUT – don’t discount braid. Braid is great for luring because it’s so sensitive.
Even if you’re not targeting big fish you never know what could grab your line.
But if you don’t have enough line you’ll get spooled before the fish starts to tire.
The reason I catch so many big fish consistently is I never leave things like this to chance.
Preparation is key!
So watch the video below and learn how to tie the best mono to mono fishing knot that I know; the double blood knot.
the DOUBLE BLOOD KNOT is best for joining Mono-to-mono fishing line
As we mentioned before, the double blood knot is a strong, reliable knot used for joining two sections of monofilament fishing line or leader of similar dimensions.
When we say similar dimensions we mean within 2-3 line classes of each other e.g. 20lb to 30lb (2 line classes) or 80lb to 20lb (3 line classes).
Anything outside of this and the wraps of the smaller diameter line may not tighten down properly against the larger line, weakening the knot. In these instances, a surgeons knot is a better choice.
Knot Strength:
The symmetrical, interlocking nature of the double blood knot is extremely strong, retaining a high percentage of the original line strength.
As a charter guide for decades, I have landed plenty of trophy fish after this knot has left the spool which is why it is my go to mono to mono knot. So far it has never failed me.
TIP 1: Back the drag off a bit when the knot leaves your reel.
TIP 2: Be sure and lubricate the knot well when pulling tight. This will reduce friction and allow the knot to be cinched down more tightly (also providing a more streamlined shape and size).
Shape and Size:
The double blood knot is a beautiful knot. It has a lovely slim profile to reduce casting resistance (especially when pulled down tight using saliva), with minimal impact on casting distance.
It will shoot smoothly through the guides and create minimal resistance and is a favourite of fly fishers.
Mistakes to Avoid when tying the double blood knot.
- Not moistening before tightening. The moisture helps the lines bed properly.
- Uneven wraps – please take note of the tying sequence in the video to ensure the wraps mirror each other.
- Incorrect number of wraps – 5-7 is optimum. Too few weakens the knot and too many makes it bulky.
- Trimming the tag ends too short- you can nick the main line. Close but no too close (see video).
- Dissimilar diameters. This knot is only for similar line classes.
Ease of tying:
Admittedly, some people prefer other knots as they claim this is more difficult to tie. However all knot tying comes down to practice and a system!
The video shows clearly how to hold your hands to tie the knot quickly and cleanly.
I always experiment with ways to tie knots as the quicker you can tie the knot and get your line back in the water, the more fish you’ll catch!
I even prefer lesser strength knots at times as this can be alleviated by setting your drag correctly and maintenance keeping your drag super smooth. Â in favour of a faster tying speed.
I also utilise other ways to tie knots to make it faster. For example the bimini twist is my go to leader knot and use a special trick to tie it fast.
For those of you that love live baiting, watch our “clean way to throw a cast net” video on YouTube. It has had over 1.6 million views now and I’m sure you’ll find it helpful.
Related posts:
Perfection loop vs snap swivel for attaching lures
Gear and tackle cheat sheet for tropical species
So in closing, there are a few mono to mono fishing knots that can do the job, but I prefer the double blood knot because it’s easy to tie, the tags are streamlined to run through your guides and it’s strong enough to hold if the fish runs past the top shot.
Related Fishing Tip
Be sure and back off your drag when you get down to the top shot!
Because when your line gets down, your spool diameter is smaller which increases the drag tension.
In other words, as a fish peels lots of line, your drag increases by itself.
So it pays to back of your drag a bit as your line gets down.
I have a previous blog on drag tension to assist the beginners.
News:
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