bird i use a palomar knot, sounds like what your tying, on some braids they have a coating, some do not, power pro does itand makes knot tying easier, don't remember right off the others that coat or don't coat, the palomar knot is supposed to retain 80%+ line strenght, and it pretty much my favorite, plus its quick and easy

huntnbud, thanks for the heads up on the vanish, i'm kind of partial to berkley but i did not care for the gorilla braid they had[:@], but as far as tough mono, big game is bad news