Getting ready for a trip of a lifetime, I re-spooled all my fly reels with 70-pound Cortland hollow-core line, which meant choosing how to connect the fly line to the backing. I built an eye splice, literally splicing an eye into the end of the hollow core, and tested it against a Bimini twist to see which loop is stronger. The eye splice maxed out my scale past 53 pounds while the Bimini twist broke at 39, so the spliced eye loop is clearly the stronger connection, though the Bimini is much faster to tie.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
In my test the eye splice was clearly stronger. Working with 70-pound Cortland hollow-core backing, the spliced eye loop maxed out my scale and held past 53 pounds without failing, while the Bimini twist broke at 39 pounds. So if raw strength is what you are after for your fly line to backing connection, the eye splice is the winner. The Bimini still has its place, but it gave up a meaningful amount of strength in this comparison.
You determine which direction you want the loop, then go down the running line and open up the hollow core. Once it is open you work a needle in, push it through slowly, take the loop and pass it through, then leave extra and walk the line down, bunching it up as you go. Run your finger down it a few times to smooth it. I left at least three inches of buried line for a strong, smooth splice. It is a slow process but it makes a very strong, clean loop.
For the Bimini twist you do not need any tools, which is part of its appeal. Take the line around 25 times, then put it on something to hold the twists. Put the tag end in your mouth and pull tight so the wraps roll back over themselves. Then half hitch around the line as many times as you want, and finish with what is basically a uni knot, four wraps, and hold it to seat it. That is the Bimini twist, and it is much faster than splicing.
Because it is much faster and needs no tools. There are times when speed and simplicity matter, and the Bimini is a knot you can tie anywhere without special gear, which is exactly why it is good to know how to do it tool-free. It broke at 39 pounds in my test, which is still plenty for many applications. You are trading some strength for the convenience of a fast, tool-free connection.
Yes, I suggest putting a little super glue on the splice, because it can come out under load if it is not secured. The buried section holds well through friction, but a dab of super glue locks it in place and gives you extra peace of mind on a connection that is going to see big fish. It is a small step that adds insurance to an already strong eye splice, especially when you are heading out on a trip of a lifetime.
I tested both on 70-pound Cortland hollow-core line, which I had just used to re-spool all of my fly reels for a big trip. Hollow-core line is what makes the eye splice possible, since you can open it up and bury the tag inside itself. Testing both the splice and the Bimini on that same 70-pound backing is what let me compare them fairly, with the splice holding past 53 pounds and the Bimini breaking at 39.
When you are re-spooling every reel for a bucket-list trip, the fly-line-to-backing connection is not something you want to guess at. I went with 70-pound Cortland hollow-core line and wanted to know whether a spliced eye loop or a Bimini twist would hold up better when a big fish is on. So I built both and pulled them on the scale. The difference was clear, and it shaped how I rigged for the trip. I show both connections step by step in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The Bimini twist is fast and needs no tools, which is genuinely valuable, you can tie it anywhere. But it broke at 39 pounds while the eye splice held past 53 without even maxing the scale. For a trip where every connection matters, that gap pushed me toward the splice, even though it is slower to build. Knowing the numbers let me choose with confidence. I explain how I made the call in the episode, so press play in the player above and follow along.
Here are the steps I walk through in this How 2 Tuesday. I cover the details in the episode, so press play in the player above and follow along.
I unpack each of these in the episode. Press play in the player above.
For my big trip the eye splice won easily, holding past 53 pounds against the Bimini twist's 39. When the connection has to hold a fish of a lifetime, that is the one I trust.
The Bimini is still worth knowing because it is fast and tool-free, and a dab of super glue on the splice is cheap insurance. Press play in the player above for the full test.
eye splice · Bimini twist · Cortland hollow-core backing · fly line to backing connection · fly reels · loop knots · Seychelles trip · Tom Rowland Podcast · How 2 Tuesday
How 2 Tuesday is my weekly series where I break down one fishing skill at a time, from knots and casting to gear, tactics, and the habits that make you a better angler. Watch and listen to every How 2 Tuesday episode from Tom Rowland.
I'm Tom Rowland, a professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, and the longtime host of the Saltwater Experience television show. On the podcast's How 2 Tuesday series I break down one practical skill or lesson at a time, from fishing technique and gear to the habits that make you a better angler, in short, focused episodes you can put to use right away.
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