Greetings All,

I typically use a doubled Uni knot for my ultra lite, 4 pound mono, terminal connections with great success. That knot has demonstrated some impressive performance and helpful virtues to me in my many years of recreational angling. However, when I'm using a fish whip, fly rod, I use the Davy knot. Mainly because in creating the Davy knot I am able to minimize or eliminate line waste. The Davy Knot allows a proficient fabricator to tie the complete knot without the need to trim an excessive remaining tag end. Here in SE AZ I'm not typically expecting very sizeable fish when I'm using a fish whip, so the Davy knot is appropriate for the application and is quick, easy on me, and doesn't consume much leader material to tie. I have also used the Davy and double Davy on traditional spinning reel applications for UL bass, panfish, and trout applications too with good success for low tension load applications.

 

I recently did a more focused investigation of the Davy knot using it on different sizes of mono and braid. I would like to share some of the findings. The Davy knot did reasonably well on the different types of mono I tried. Casually comparing the holding strength between the Davy and my typical doubled Uni showed the better holding power of the doubled line advantage.

 

The Davy is not recommended for use with braid. However, using the double Davy the braid results are positive. I did not experience any knot slips when employing the double Davy with braid. There are plenty of internet references on how to properly tie a double Davy knot. It is simply an additional line wrap step to encircle, cinching, the other line aspect of the Davy which prevents knot slip with braid.

 

I realized I should consider examining the doubled double Davy on mono both for the slip resistance and also the doubled line terminal connection qualities. My initial results have been encouraging. My interpretation of the doubled double Davy knot is simply an initial doubling of the main line through your terminal connection, then simply use that doubled main line to fabricate a double Davy knot. Hence the doubled double Davy knot. The doubled double Davy had similar strength compared to the doubled Uni knot and was faster and easier to fabricate. Also a favorable quality is the ability to gracefully cinch the knot minimizing line friction until the knot properly collapses together. Again just sharing my initial findings. I hope to put this information through actual field use. Just another excuse to make time to go fishing / catching!

 

My hope is to confirm both the holding strength along with the shock load ability for a good comparison of the doubled Uni and the doubled double Davy. It was both the holding strength with high shock load resistance that compelled me to use the doubled Uni over other popular knots. Hopefully later on this year I'll be able to share additional findings.

 

Best fishes and Cheers!

Greetings All,

I have an update now that I've gathered some field testing over the weekend. I have found the shock load capability of the doubled double Davy to be less than that of the doubled Uni knot. Over the weekend I was out taunting fish of different species and sizes while using weedless soft plastic baits one rig was secured using the doubled double Davy and the other using the doubled Uni. Throughout the day I was catching fish all along the shoreline using both rigs interchange frequently. I managed to connect with something sizeable and added tension when I responded to a fish swimming with the soft plastic bait. I didn't have an exceptional amount of tension but the connection broke and it was on the line using the doubled double Davy knot. Not an encouraging experience, still a data point. I intend to continue to test the knot but it does appear to have limitations below what I had hoped for.

 

BTW, I did post a photo in the recent catches thread showing the four pound large mouth bass caught on the other rig just after breaking off. Seeing the performance of the doubled Uni with the four pound mono filament is impressive considering what that four pound bass put me through to get it to the net. 

 

Best fishes all, Cheers!

 

 

is this a direct connection knot? or is it a knot to connect a mainline to a leader?

 

I use a palomar knot when tying direct for my UL rig, I use sufix Siege in either 4 or 6 pound test depending on what my local tackle store has available. 

 

its surprisingly strong with the palomar knot 

11 minutes ago, Hulkster said:

is this a direct connection knot? or is it a knot to connect a mainline to a leader?

 

I use a palomar knot when tying direct for my UL rig, I use sufix Siege in either 4 or 6 pound test depending on what my local tackle store has available. 

 

its surprisingly strong with the palomar knot 

 

I use the palomar and trilene exclusively for bass. For ultralight, I've gone to the Orvis knot. After I read this article, I questioned the hype, but the Orvis knot does indeed perform better for me with 4lb test and under. 

 

https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/pro-tips-the-only-two-terminal-knots-you-really-need

Greetings All,

I have been exploring it as a direct connection, or as I know it as a terminal connection, attaching line to lure (bait). While it has holding strength = slow pull, gradual tension increase. It does not appear to deal with shock loading = rapid tension spike.

 

This is the similar issue I explored with the palomar knot too. I found it great for holding strength, not so good with shock loading. Note this is through years of using the knot with mono filament from 2 - 10 pound range. Especially when jig fishing you'd set the hook and pop, sadness.

 

Through additional testing and field use this is why currently the doubled Uni knot is my preferred knot. < The doubled Uni is a direct line to bait connection.> Basically a Uni knot with line doubled through the eye of the hook. In my case I found that using a minimum of three wraps is usually good enough.

 

It is my understanding that the "double" uni is what is known as a line to line connection. I hope that clarifies the labels / naming.

 

My supporting evidence from this past weekend's use of the doubled Uni knot to secure a soft plastic bait. A four pound large mouth bass on an ultra lite rig with four pound mono. I really appreciate field testing. Cheers!