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Combi Rig - loop to loop or albrighton?

A

Adam Francis

Senior Member & Supporter
I'm going to use combi rigs this season and I've tied a few up using the albrighton knot with fluorocarbon and soft braid.

I did see a drennan YouTube video where the angler was connecting the two materials loop to loop using a figure of eight knot. This is obviously far simpler, quicker and more convenient, but I was wondering about knot strength?

I'm sure a few on here use the same so wondering what others thoughts are?

Thanks in advance.
 
Thanks Jon. I always use a PVA mesh bag that I thread onto the line with a baiting needle to eliminate tangles.

It would be easier to use loop to loop I wondering if there was much difference on knot strength compared to the albrighton knot?
 
In my lure fishing for Perch and Chub, I always join the braid to the fluorocarbon leader with a back to back grinner knot, which has never let me down.

Last week and in an attempt to see how strong the knot is, I did six turns on each end connecting 15lb Drennan Gravel Braid to 12lb Gardner Hydro Tuff mono. I then attached it to a 14lb cast iron weight, which I lifted from the floor on multiple occasions with the same combi leader.

Next I swapped the mono for some 15lb Shimano fluorocarbon, again connected to the gravel braid with the back to back grinner. On attempting to lift the weight, the fluorocarbon snapped, but not at the join.

So for me the back to back grinner is a 100% reliable knot and is very easy to tie. I’ll now use in my Barbel fishing, but with different fluorocarbon 👍🏻
 
I used to make up combi rigs using back to back grinner knots, always found them reliable. For the last few seasons I haven't bothered, just using straight mono and no difference to catch rate. I do use the Albrighton knot for attaching leaders to braid when lure fishing in Florida.
 
I use an improved Albright for proper combi-rigs.

But the simplest way is to up the thickness of the nylon/Fluoro a bit and then crimp it. Then tie the hook knotless style with a loop of braid and you can add/change hooks at will. See the recent Korda video on ‘combi-rigs’ for more details.
 
Steve Roffey said:
I used to make up combi rigs using back to back grinner knots, always found them reliable. For the last few seasons I haven't bothered, just using straight mono and no difference to catch rate. I do use the Albrighton knot for attaching leaders to braid when lure fishing in Florida.
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I agree Steve, Ive tried combi rigs periodically (including this season) and never found them an improvement.
 
Although not for combi rig, I use loop to loop a lot to connect the braid and mono/fluro. But I use perfect loop instead of figure eight loop, seems the knot is stronger this way
 
Tim Marks said:
I use an improved Albright for proper combi-rigs.

But the simplest way is to up the thickness of the nylon/Fluoro a bit and then crimp it. Then tie the hook knotless style with a loop of braid and you can add/change hooks at will. See the recent Korda video on ‘combi-rigs’ for more details.
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That sounds interesting. I've crimped rigs before for carp. I was thinking 0.5mm crimp to a fluoro of around 0.45.
Will any decent fluro do of that diameter or do you need to buy one of those with the 'carp tax' applied?
 
Another vote for the 4 turn water knot. In the event of a breakage on a snag I have never had one fail. The figure of 8 knot used for the loop to attach the hooklink to a quick change swivel and the main line is where it breaks. Similarly, a double grinner is also very reliable. 👍
 
This has been discussed in a similar thread, but for ease I will repeat what I said there.

I use an Albright knot to join my short braid combi to my hook length, usually 20lb amnesia (I fish the Ribble so loads of rocks and boulders making a heavy durable hook length essential). A couple seasons ago I snagged on a rock or boulder and had to pull for a break. The Albright knot held firm and the hook, a bank tackle size 8 continental, so quite a heavy gauge, snapped in half. That episode convinced me that the Albright knot was strong enough for my barbel fishing.

I am thinking of trying some alternatives this year though, to make it easier to change hooks or lengthen the hook length, by using, for example, loop to loop, some of the korda hook link swivels or even some form of slip d set up.
 
Thanks all - lots of great advice!

I've just made a donation for the server costs - it's exactly this type of help that the members willingly share that makes it all worthwhile!

Once the weather returns to normal I might even get a chance to try some of the options out!
 
Loop to loop for me with figure of eight knot. Haven’t had a single one fail in at least 5 seasons of using combi rigs, and I can’t remember having a figure of 8 knot fail, ever. Main reason for me is that I’m not wasting loads of hooklink material if the hook point goes, I just take the short braid section off and loop another one on. Depending on fish caught/rocks encountered I can get a few sessions out of 1 fluoro section at times.

I do like the idea of the ronnie clips though as mentioned above, and I’ll be giving them a go.
 
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