FOR MANY ANGLERS, the process of tying big game leaders means beginning each leader with two bimini twists in either end of the class tippet. While this is still an excellent foundation for leader systems, there is an easier way to achieve strong leader connections, and one that in our experience is more reliable when tying on the water and under what we like to call "more-than-favorable conditions" — being surrounded by fish.

We first started tying an early version of the Slim Beauty back in the early 1990s in the Key West area. The idea for the knot began in the 1970s with a desire to develop a knot similar to the jam knot that was quicker to tie but just as strong as Bimini-to-Huffnagle or Bimini-to-Albright knots. (For more on the history of the knot, see our Slim Beauty History page.)

To learn to tie this knot, view one of our 3-minute videos on tying the Slim Beauty. Or just follow the instructions and photos that follow.

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Steps for Tying the Slim Beauty

1. Tie a double overhand knot about 4 inches from the end of the shock tippet or other larger-diameter material to which you want to connect your class tippet.

2. Gently tighten the double overhand knot, but only until it turns over and forms a figure-eight. This leaves two gaps — one in the top and the other in the bottom of the figure eight — through which you can pass the tippet material.

 

 

3. Create a doubled section of your tippet material that is at least 18 inches long. Putting a sharp angle on the tip of the doubled loop will help it pass through the figure-eight.

4. Pass the doubled tippet line through the top of the figure-eight knot and back out the bottom of the figure-eight knot in the direction that will result in the double line passing straight through the tightened figure-eight. (One way to see the proper direction is to look at the figure eight knot from the side; it forms a "dish" shape, and you want to pass the tippet through from the bottom of the dish first and back out through the hole in the cupped "face.")

 

5. Pull 10-12 inches of double line through the figure-eight.

6. Tighten the figure-eight knot with pliers after lubricating. The "loops" of the knot should begin to flatten together, but they don't have to make total contact.

7. With the thumb and forefinger of one hand, hold a gap open between the tag end of the double line and the shock tippet. Your other hand will wrap the doubled tag end around the shock tippet and then insert it through this gap.

8. Wrap the doubled-line 4 times down then shock, then wrap it back over itself, in the direction of gap, 3 times. Then insert the end of the doubled line through the gap. (Don't pull on the end of the doubled line to attempt to tighten the knot when this is complete.)

 

9. Lubricate the wraps around the shock tippet. Then in one hand hold the standing part of the tippet and the actual tag end of the tippet — the double line that emerges from the top of the tightened figure-eight, not the section of double line that you inserted into the gap. It helps to wrap this double line around your hand once or twice. Grab the other end of the shock tippet (you may find it easier with pliers) with your other hand.

10. With a smooth, fast motion, tighten knot and seat the wraps up against the figure-eight. You may find that without adequate lubrication or when using dissimilar materials that the wraps "hang" and hesitate as you bring them tight. This is not always a problem, but be sure that the finished "barrel" of wraps looks tight and shows little, if any, unevenness.

11. Trim the knot by removing all but 1/16'' of the remaining loop of doubled tippet, the tag end of the shock, and the short strand of doubled line that will not be used to attach your class tippet to the leader butt section.