Bimini, Albright or whatever else?

[coryellk]

Any thoughts folks? Years ago fishing the flats in Florida and Texas, I started using straight spectra on Curados and Calcuttas topped with a few yards of flourocarbon shock leader tied with an albright knot. I can do that knot in my sleep and have never had one break even when I was pulling on pier pilings! I figured several million fly fishermen couldn't be wrong!
Now I'm in a new fishery here in SoCal... hearing/seeing a lot of about bimini/worm knot combinations. Can anyone compare and contrast or just weigh in with what they do?

[FishStalker]

Go with what you know.

[Mr_PeaCH]

Yeah, you tell me. I'm using the Albright for my spectra to mono connections and have been thinking of going the super-short topshot route the way it sounds like you are. Now the Uni-to-Uni is a smaller profile but is recommended for lines of a similar diameter. But for say 50# spectra and 20 or 30# mono or flouro the Albright is recommended. Do you have any issues when casting from a short top shot having the knot going out the guides?

[like whoa]

If the albright knot works for you go with it.

[coryellk]

Paul, No. I haven't had any problems with the knot going through the guides on casts, and flats fishing is all about distance... that whole Pi X r squared thing. I have had no problems with the line leaving my guides. I would mention one caution though. Either make your shock leader less than the length of your rod from the reel seat to the tip or make it longer than your cast. I have never had any problems, but I'm not crazy about my knot casting through a level wind mechanism. If you are using bigger conventional reels with no level wind. This isn't an issue. Hope this helps.
With a bag of various flourocarbon topshots, an Avet SX, MX, or an MXL and a Calcutta 401TE (in my case) can fish lines all the way up to three times the max drag for that reel. ie 30# for the TE and 50# for the MXL. I don't often do that, but you could...
Thanks for the post. Kevin