Australian Plait

The Australian Plait is a doubled-line knot developed by Australian anglers as a practical alternative to the Bimini Twist. It creates a long section of doubled line that retains nearly all of the line’s original breaking strength, making it an excellent choice for building leaders, attaching heavy shock tippets, and rigging for big game species. The key advantage of the Australian Plait is that it can be tied without the awkward leg-bracing technique required by the Bimini Twist, which means you can form it in tight spaces, on a drifting boat, or anywhere the Bimini’s gymnastics would be impractical. Australian anglers have relied on this knot for decades when chasing everything from barramundi to giant trevally.

How to Tie the Australian Plait

1. Double your line to form a loop approximately two to three feet long. Hold the tag end and standing line together in one hand and the end of the loop in the other.
2. Begin plaiting (braiding) the doubled line by alternately crossing the tag end strand over the standing line strand, just like you would braid hair or rope. Start from the tag end side and work toward the loop.
3. Continue making even, consistent crosses for at least fifteen to twenty plaits. Each plait should be snug against the previous one with no gaps or slack.
4. Once you have completed sufficient plaits, hold the braided section firmly and pass the loop end through the final opening to lock the plait.
5. Secure the end by tying two half hitches with the loop around both strands of the braided section.
6. Moisten the entire knot and pull firmly on the standing line and loop to tighten and compress the plaits. Trim any remaining tag end.

When to Use the Australian Plait

• Game fishing from small boats: When deck space is limited and bracing the Bimini Twist against your leg is not feasible, the Australian Plait is the ideal substitute.
• Inshore saltwater rigging: Double your line for chasing hard-fighting inshore species such as trevally, snapper, barramundi, and snook.
• Leader construction: Build doubled line sections as the foundation for connecting heavy leaders using the Albright, Bristol, or Slim Beauty knot.
• Kayak fishing: The plait can be tied entirely with your hands in your lap, making it perfect for the confined space of a kayak cockpit.
• Quick re-rigging: When a fish breaks you off and you need to rebuild your doubled line section quickly without the ceremony of a Bimini Twist.

Pro Tips

• Consistency in the plait is far more important than speed. Each cross should sit at the same angle and tension as the others. Uneven plaits concentrate stress on individual strands and weaken the knot.
• Fifteen to twenty plaits is the sweet spot for most line weights. Going below fifteen reduces security, while going above twenty-five adds unnecessary bulk without meaningful strength gains.
• Practice the braiding motion at home with two different colored pieces of cord. Being able to see which strand crosses over which helps you internalize the pattern before working with clear monofilament.
• Apply a small drop of flexible super glue to the finishing half hitches for extra insurance on critical rigs. This prevents any loosening under repeated shock loads from hard-fighting fish.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Nearly as strong as the Bimini Twist at approximately 95% line strength retention
• Does not require bracing against your leg or foot, making it practical in tight spaces
• Can be tied entirely with your hands, no special body positioning needed
• The braided structure distributes stress evenly across the doubled line section
• Reliable and well-proven across decades of Australian game fishing

Cons:

• Slower to tie than the Spider Hitch due to the individual braiding crosses
• Requires practice to maintain consistent plait tension throughout the knot
• Not as widely known outside of Australia and the South Pacific, making it harder to find instructional resources
• The bulk of the finished plait can interfere with casting on lighter tackle setups
• Not suitable for very light monofilament under eight-pound test, where the braiding weakens the line