The Slim Beauty and the two-turn blood knot are compact leader knots built to do one thing: connect a light class tippet to a heavy leader without the time and bulk of a Bimini twist. In this How 2 Tuesday I answer a request from listener Chris Travis and test both, joining 15-pound to 50-pound Daiwa fluorocarbon, on my NexTech force tester. I matched these two on purpose, because a fair fight pits a Bimini-free knot against another Bimini-free knot.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
The Slim Beauty won, but it was close. The Slim Beauty broke at 13.7 pounds and the two-turn blood knot at 12.74 pounds, both joining 15-pound to 50-pound fluorocarbon. That is a margin of just under a pound. Both knots actually failed within the knot itself, which is worth noting, so the Slim Beauty takes it by a hair.
Because it is a fair comparison. The Slim Beauty was created specifically to eliminate the Bimini twist from your rigging. So pitting it against a Bimini, or against a Huffnagle that uses a Bimini, would not be apples to apples. The two-turn blood knot is also a compact, Bimini-free knot, so matching those two tells you which quick-rigging option is stronger.
Because you are trading a little strength for a lot of convenience. A knot with a Bimini in it will usually test stronger, but a Bimini takes time to tie. The Slim Beauty and two-turn blood knot are tight, compact knots you can tie quickly right on the boat. I also believe fish do not see these little knots as well as a big, bulky knot like a Huffnagle, which can run two inches long.
You double the class tippet, just bend it over itself with no Bimini, then tie five turns with the doubled line, come back through, and make only two turns with the heavier fluorocarbon. Pull it down like a regular blood knot. In my test I used 15-pound doubled to 50-pound Daiwa fluorocarbon, which is a common connection for me.
You double the line over and pass it through a figure-eight loop, then make six turns up and five turns back, and come back through the loop before pulling it tight. It is another way to join a doubled class tippet to a heavy leader in a compact knot. In this test I tied it in the same 15-pound to 50-pound Daiwa fluorocarbon as the blood knot.
Bump up your class tippet. If you want a true 15-pound breaking strength and these knots are breaking around 12 to 14, tie them in 20-pound instead, and the knot will likely break around 18, getting you the strength you want. Just know that a heavier tippet will not be eligible for a world record, but if you only want easier, faster, stronger rigging, it is a simple fix.
When you want to skip the Bimini and rig fast, here is how I compare and dial in these compact knots.
Chris Travis asked if I had ever tested the Slim Beauty against knots like the Bimini twist, the Houghnagle, or the two-turn blood knot. I have, and I will again, but I wanted to be clear about why I pair certain knots. The Slim Beauty exists to replace the Bimini, so I match it against another replacement knot. I explain that logic in the episode, so press play in the player above.
I used to tie Biminis on both ends of a class tippet and hang dozens of them on a coat hanger in my closet to bring on the boat. As fluorocarbon and mono got better, we found ways to skip all that. These compact knots trade a touch of strength for speed and a low profile the fish do not see as well. I tell that story in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Both the Slim Beauty and the two-turn blood knot failed within the knot itself, which tells you the knot, not the line, is the limit here. That is the trade you accept for convenience. I talk through what the break point means for how you should rig in the episode, so press play in the player above.
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.
Slim Beauty knot · two-turn blood knot · Bimini twist · Huffnagle knot · Chris Travis · Daiwa fluorocarbon · class tippet · NexTech force tester · How 2 Tuesday · Saltwater Experience
I am 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 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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