Top shot connection. solid braid to mono

Some like solid braid over hollow core braid but still need to connect a mono top shot. i.e If you need to cast a top shot, braid to mono knots can be a real pain. If you just hate the idea of tying a knot in the middle of your line heres the option.

I take a 10-12 foot piece of jerry brown hollow core line and use it as the connection sleeve. Depending on the application but for example I will use 130 lb class.

First thing you need is the right tools. 1 hollow inline splicing needle for the size of your line. I like buying a needle bigger then needed... if your splicing 130lb mono the 150lb splicing needle works just fine. http://www.charkbait.com/cs/cshL_Daho.htm to get small spools of hollow core and the needles.

First thing I do is put a tapper on the tag end of the mono you are splicing in.

What this does is make the hollow core have better bite on the mono. The hollow core needs to be pulled tight and the faster it can get small the harder it bites.

Now push the mono up into you splicing needle and insert the mono up in the hollow braid about 5-6 feet.

After you get to the 6 foot mark just push the needle out the side of the hollow braid and work the mono back down so its all inside the braid.

Now for the solid braid. I use a store bought yarn needles for this. I take the solid braid thru the yard needle and double the braid back on itself creating a big loop. It should be about 6 feet long.

now insert the solid braid up in the hollow about 6 feet. You can butt the solid braid right up to the mono, but dont worry if there is space between it wont hurt a thing.

Once the yard needle is out take some snips and clip the end of the needle off so you can get the braid out.

For the last step you need to serve the tag ends of the hollow braid. I use a fly bobbin with wax thread but basic over hand knot or nail knots will work. You only need to do about and inch of the hollow tag, just serve right to the end of the hollow braid. If you serve on the hollow and right over onto the mono it will come undone. I used to serve over the whole connection spot 1inch on the hollow and one inch on the mono or solid braid but... when the mono stretches it gets smaller so it needs to pull back some and you cant stop it. What happens is it separates the serve causing it to come unraveled and weak. Just FYI even with out the severe it will not slip out. The serve is just to hold the tag ends of the braid from coming unraveled and help aid in the splice.

Last step is rub a little bit of glue on the serve to aid in it getting frayed up. This is my favorite glue

I use this connection for small windons on casted gear with 50lb solid braid and 60lb mono. the 130lb hollow works fine and i only use a little 3 foot piece of hollow core.
I use this when making a heavy long windon like adding a section of 2 or 300lb mono on my top shot when fishing where abrasions are killer.
this connection also works on bad spots in your line. i.e. you just spooled a new top shot on your reel but the first drop you did a little section got tore up bad. Cut the bad section out and splice it back together with this.

It works and its strong. You might get nervous when you see it come off the reel but after some time of zero failures you will be 100% confident.