The spider hitch and the Bimini twist are the two go-to double-line knots in saltwater fishing, and doubling your line is how you build a connection stronger than the line itself. In this How 2 Tuesday I tie both in 20-pound Daiwa fluorocarbon and break each on my NexTech force tester. The Bimini looks intimidating and the spider hitch looks easy, but the real question is which one holds up, and the answer flipped what I expected going in.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
In my test the spider hitch won. The spider hitch broke at 24.14 pounds and the Bimini twist at 21.89 pounds, both tied in 20-pound fluorocarbon. The spider hitch came out about three pounds higher, which honestly surprised me. The most important thing, though, is that both knots broke above the line strength, meaning each one effectively doubled the line without losing any strength.
Yes, and that is what really counts. Both the spider hitch and the Bimini twist broke above 20 pounds on 20-pound line, and both failed just above the knot rather than at the knot. That tells you the connection itself is not the weak point. When a double-line knot tests stronger than the line you tied it in, it is doing its job.
The spider hitch had seven turns and the Bimini twist had twenty-one turns, which is what I typically use. I finish my Bimini with half hitches at the end, a very standard tie. So a seven-turn spider hitch beat a twenty-one-turn Bimini by about three pounds in this particular test, which is part of what made the result interesting.
Doubling the line lets you create a connection that is stronger than a single strand. If you tie a knot with two strands of line instead of one, that doubled section is theoretically stronger than the single line above it. We use it to build leaders, and you can even tie a doubled line straight to a hook, which I used to do for permit all the time so there were two strands going to the fish.
It looks much easier, and for a lot of people it is. I personally prefer the Bimini twist because I have better control over the exact loop size I am making, simply because I tie it more often. People who tie the spider hitch all the time can dial in any loop size they want. If the Bimini intimidates you and you cannot get it to work, the spider hitch is a very strong alternative.
If you are tying a knot in 20-pound line and it breaks around 15, something is off. You may need a few more turns, or you may need to go back and make sure you are seating it correctly. As long as your knot tests stronger than the line you tied it with, you are doing well. Use the scale to catch a bad tie before a fish does.
Here is the approach I use to find out whether a double-line knot is actually doubling your line.
For saltwater anglers, being able to double the line without losing strength is a foundational skill. It lets you build a connection stronger than the line, and you can even run a doubled line straight to the hook for fish like permit. I get into why this connection is less critical in freshwater but essential in salt in the episode, so press play in the player above.
I went in thinking the Bimini would edge out the spider hitch, and instead the seven-turn spider hitch beat my twenty-one-turn Bimini by about three pounds. Both broke above the line, both broke above the knot, so both passed. But the spider hitch winning was a genuine surprise. I react to it in real time in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Both of these broke just above the knot, which is exactly what you want to see. If your double-line knot is testing well below the line strength, you are probably under-wrapping or not seating it right. I explain how I use the break point to diagnose a knot 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.
spider hitch · Bimini twist · double line knot · half hitches · Daiwa fluorocarbon · NexTech force tester · permit · ICAST · 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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