Albright Knot Failed On Hookset

[leadslinger]

I was fishing a Texas rig with #30 Power Pro and 10f feet of #15 Invisix Fluoro as a leader using an Albright knot to connect to main line. Got bit, set hook as normal, and it just let loose. All I got back was the braid knot, with no fluoro remaining in the knot from the leader, which seemed like it slipped rather than the fluoro breaking at the albright loop.

Nothing I hate more than leaving a hook and 10 ft of line in a fish!

I had been using a uni-uni knot to join the leader, but that knot was bigger so switched to the albright.

I'm confident the knot was tied well initially, but I honestly didn't inspect the knot over time. Had been using that rig for 5-6 outings, and maybe 20 fish.

Is this a common issue with the Albright? Does the leader to main line need to be retied after some time?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Bill

[WRB]

Time under strain creates a condition known as creep; the polymer compresses, the knot loosens.

FC creeps and does not recover after, one reason knot strength is lower then nylon monofilament. You combine the fact most superb braids are Teflon impregnated to reduce drag and wear, knot failure is. common problem.

Re tie your knots at least 1 time every outing, never leave knots over night. Some coat the knot with super glue, however the keystone in the glue can weaken the FC polymer and doesn't adhere to the Teflon coting on the braid. If you see any shinny spots or flat spots on the FC after tieng. Knot, cut it off and retire. The best knot strength you cn expect ith FC line is about 80%, 75 is about average, after taking a Set for 24 hours the knot strength will drop off to less thn 50%.......so re tie often!

Tom

PS; if FC line didn't have knot strength issues, there wouldn't be so many solutions to resolving knot failures, it's a problem and knots like the Albright take care to tie properly. I would change also change the leader each outing, pro's respool line every night, expensive, but a lost big bass is money!

[thehooligan]

I only use the double uni knot, havent had a knot break yet.

[Crestliner2008]

I agree with has been said about re-tying frequently - at least once each outing. I have at least a 1/2 doz. rigs with braid & fluoro - all connected with the Alberto knot. (This is merely a double Albright.) Either of these "knots" are not really a knot, but rather a friction joint - similar to the ole "Chinese handcuffs" we use to get in cereal boxes as kids, years and years ago! A knot crosses the line over itself, which these friction joints don't really do.

I really can't remember one ever failing on me though, but I suppose anything is possible. Been using these joints for many years too. Sorry to hear about your lost fish. But that's the name of the game.

[SirSnookalot]

I had the same exact failure once with it, I did not tie a new leader on as I normal do for each outing, I did scratch my head and wonder at the time. I just chalked it up to user error and never thought about till now. I have caught some mighty powerful fish with that knot, with no failure, like a 40# amberjack with 20# braid and 30# mono leader.

[slonezp]

Make sure you cinch down the tags ends tight, then the line ends, then the tag ends again. That will prevent any more failures.

[msolorio]

I tie the Alberto and have never ever had a break off on a hook set. If that knot is going to fail, it will fail when you go to cinch it down. I like cinching the knot down tight then giving it a few quick short snaps/pops to make sure its not going to slip. Like stated above you have to retie, especially after 5 or 6 outings to ensure the highest knot strength possible.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

I have never had an Alberto knot fail, and I've pulled some big fish from dense pads, and weeds. I've had leaders break, but NEVER at the knot. My guess is that it was tied incorrectly.

Oh, one more thing... This is the most important part of tying this knot IMO. When finishing the knot you MUST exit through the loop the EXACT same way it entered, or it will slip every time. I can't stress this enough.

[soopd]

How many wraps up and back down do most of you use?

[BASSHUNTER1961]

How many wraps up and back down do most of you use?

7-8

[leadslinger]

How many wraps up and back down do most of you use?

I guess I was using the Improved Albright (Alberto?), I went 10 wraps out, and about 4-5 back towards loop, exiting back through the same direction I started. I gave a few hard tugs after tying, seemed solid. I will take extra care tying this the next time, but I hope it was more a matter of needing to retie after so may outings vs poor knot construction.

Thanks for the input, you guys are a great help.

Thanks Tom for the extra credit work, much appreciated.

[roadwarrior]

I have never had an Alberto knot fail, and I've pulled some big fish from dense pads, and weeds. I've had leaders break, but NEVER at the knot. My guess is that it was tied incorrectly.

Oh, one more thing... This is the most important part of tying this knot IMO. When finishing the knot you MUST exit through the loop the EXACT same way it entered, or it will slip every time. I can't stress this enough.

I have never had a failure either.

[fishking247]

if you must use a leader i recommend you should have retied especially after fishing it 5-6 trips. i recommend ditching the leader and just use straight braid fluoro or mono.

[SirSnookalot]

The previous explanation of this knot being similar to Chinese finger cuffs is right on, the more you pull it, the tighter it gets.

[msolorio]

You have to make the same number of wraps up and down for this knot to be at its strongest.

[rockchalk06]

You have to make the same number of wraps up and down for this knot to be at its strongest.

8 down and 8 up makes for a monster ball of a knot. I go 9 and 3 cause I don't like evens. Never had this knot fail. I use it for backing to main line and main line to leader.

[msolorio]

It actually doesn't. You want the wraps to stack on top of each other neatly not ball up.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

8 down and 8 up makes for a monster ball of a knot. I go 9 and 3 cause I don't like evens. Never had this knot fail. I use it for backing to main line and main line to leader.

7-8 wraps up and back provide one of the smallest knots you can use, much smaller than the double-uni... You must not be tying it correctly.

[fishking247]

You have to make the same number of wraps up and down for this knot to be at its strongest.

not necessarily. i know guys who fish tuna and wrap up 12-15 times and come back down 3-4 times. if it works for tuna it will work for bass lol

[OkobojiEagle]

I think the necessity of increasing the number of wraps either up or down is dependent upon the line diameters you're using... lighter line = more wraps.

Often the explanation of beginning and ending the knot through the loop is confusing... the mainline finishes the knot by traveling through the leader line loop in the opposite direction from which it began. I think of the story often told while teaching a child to tie their own shoes. The rabbit pops up his hole in the morning... runs around doing his thing during the day... then pops back down his hole when he's tired in the evening.

While many counsel to cut the tag ends closely to the knot, The Albright/Alberto knot benefits from leaving a reasonable mainline tag with the knot.

oe

[islandbass]

You might have answered your own question as 5-6 outings without regular/peridically checking is a lot to ask of any line.

The note about exiting the knot the same way is critical. The knot will come undone.

[leadslinger]

You might have answered your own question as 5-6 outings without regular/peridically checking is a lot to ask of any line.

The note about exiting the knot the same way is critical. The knot will come undone.

Yep, in hindsight I suppose regular retying was called for. I frequently retie the knot at the lure, just figured the leader knot would need less maintenance. I think leaving a bit of fluoro tag end showing would help to inspect for any slippage. Several videos showed clipping flush, but I think I'll try leaving a small stub. I'm hoping since it made it through 20+ fish, and several hard hooksets on inanimate objects, it was stressed too much. The braid knot still looked good, just no leader material.

Thanks.

[OkobojiEagle]

Actually since the mainline encapsulates the leader tag, leaving any leader (fluoro) tag isn't benefical... in fact, that tag may catch on guides when cast. The mainline (braid) is the side you might have slip a little and is most beneficial to leave a reasonable tag.

oe

[leadslinger]

Actually since the mainline encapsulates the leader tag, leaving any leader (fluoro) tag isn't benefical... in fact, that tag may catch on guides when cast. The mainline (braid) is the side you might have slip a little and is most beneficial to leave a reasonable tag.

oe

okee doke. will change as you suggest. first season using braid/fc, still learning the ropes.

Thanks much.