If you are a regular victim of a broken fishing line, it’s time you hone your knot crafting skills before your next fishing adventure.
The Bimini twist fishing knot is one of the most popular knots and best knots to help recreational anglers land bigger-sized fish, more regularly.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to the Bimini twist knot. Learn and practice until you can tie it with your eyes closed:
Here's What's In Store For You...
How To Tie A Bimini Twist Knot Fast
Bimini Twist Knot
The Bimini twist knot is one of the oldest and most useful knots for offshore fishing.
The knot results in a double line and a strong loop at the end. So strong that it is considered a 100% knot with a 100%, line strength.
This loop at the end of the knot is then used for a loop-to-loop connection.
One of the most successful and common uses of this knot is to make a double-line leader.
Some Important Terms to Know
To tie a strong and secure knot, there are a few terms and methods you’d need to familiarize yourself with.
1) Hitch
A hitch is a knot used to bind the rope to an object.
The hitch depends on the other object to maintain its structure.
In fishing knots, a hitch is usually used to tie a loose end of a fishing line against the main knot.
2) Half Hitch
A half hitch is a knot where the end of the rope is passed around its standing part and then passed through the newly formed loop.
3) Tag End
The tag end is often referred to as the working end.
This is the end of the fishing line that is used to tie the knot.
It is recommended to always leave a portion of the tag end to finish off the knots and tie them securely.
4) Twist
A twist is a term often used in fishing knots when the looped end of a rope is rotated several times.
How to Tie A Bimini Twist Knot
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you along:
- Grab both ends of the line with one hand, put your other hand in the loop, and give it at least twenty twists with complete turns.
- Slip this initial loop end over your knee or a door knob. Use both knees or any immoveable round object with a larger circumference for a bigger loop.
- Keep a firm hold of the ends and pull them towards yourself to create tension in the line.
- While maintaining the tension, pull the ends apart so that the twists begin to compress towards the loop.
- Keep compressing by pulling both ends apart until the tag end begins to wind tightly around the twist.
- Once the tag end is wounded around the twists, hold this knot, and secure it with a half hitch closer to the twists to tie everything neatly.
- Proceed to make the knot even more secure with multi-loop hitches against the base of the knot.
- Tighten up all the half hitches and looped hitches, by pulling the tag end.
- Trim the leftover tag end to about ¼ inch for a neater appearance.
Uses of a Bimini Twist Knot
This is one of the most basic knots in fishing and has numerous uses. They include:
- For big game fishing, the Bimini knot is used to join backing to the fly line due to its loop-to-loop connecting ability.
- Swivels such as snap, barrel, crane, ball bearing, etc., can be joined with the fishing line using the Bimini twist knot.
- The Bimini twist knot increases the success rate for anglers chasing tuna, sailfish, marlin, and wahoos, by doubling the main line into a secure loop and serving as a strong anchor for a leader.
When To Use A Bimini Twist Knot
We already discussed all the uses of the Bimini Twist knot, but when is the best time to use it?
An angler needs to master this knot before they head off to offshore fishing.
This knot comes in handy when you need to double up the main line and increase its strength for big games.
It also serves as an excellent loop-to-loop connection for heavy leaders.
You simply cannot go trolling offshore without learning the Bimini Twist, because it is one of the few fishing knots that retains 100% strength of the original main line when tied the right way.
The Breaking Strain of Bimini Twist
The Bimini Twist is highly preferred by anglers because it preserves 100% of the fishing line’s breaking strain. It is one of the few knots that do so.
The knot is sturdy enough that many anglers trust it with big tuna, marlin, and sharks, especially when these fishes are too close to the boat.
When tied the right way, even sudden lunges made by powerful fish won’t break the Bimini twist.
However, the knot isn’t entirely foolproof, and there are some conditions where its weakness is exposed.
For instance, sudden jerks made on a dry Bimini twist can cause friction and heating, leading to breakage on the spot.
A sudden jerk by a heavyweight fish of about 80 lb. or more on a dry Bimini Twist can break the fishing line.
Even if the Bimini knot is made with 70 twists.
Therefore, make sure your fishing line and the Bimini twist are wet before you go hunting for big game fish.
How to Ensure A Stronger knot
The greatest reason behind the loss of fish is knot failure. Knots fail when they slip under the heavy weight of the fish.
They also fail when there are tied poorly in the first place.
The reason behind a Bimini twist failure always comes down to its poor construction.
A sturdy Bimini knot will always have a sufficient number of twists, at least 20.
The more you twist, the better. The complete turns create good resistance and prevent slippage.
These twists also spread the weight evenly, preventing the line from breaking under heavy or sudden load.
For the same reasons, when a big fish makes a sudden lunge, the twist and turns absorb the shocks, keeping the line strong.
When done right, a Bimini twist acts as a shock absorber.
It also stays clear of any single strand crossing over others and affecting the knot when it is under peak strain.
One way to master your Bimini twist knot and pick out your weak spots is by observing it closely when it’s under load.
As soon as the line is attached to heavy weight, you can observe the knot slipping, tightening, and stretching.
A well-tied knot will only do so marginally, but a poorly constructed Bimini Knot will elongate before entirely slipping away.
That is when it will let go of the weight. Which underwater would result in your hard-earned fish escaping.
You’d know your Bimini Twist will survive even the most vicious sharks if it changes only minimally under a heavy weight.
To Conclude
Bimini twist is an extremely useful knot for angling and almost a necessity for offshore trolling.
The Bimini twist’s biggest advantage is its loop-to-loop connection and its 100% knot strength.
Tying the Bimini twist fishing knot itself is easy. Follow our step-by-step guide and you’d achieve the knot on your first try.
The Bimini twist fishing knot helps retain the strength of the line it is tied to, therefore preventing fishing lines from breaking when a big fish is on the line.
All veteran anglers agree that the Bimini twist knot is one of the most used and most reliable knots for seawater fishing.