Leader Knot

[Loop_Dad]

What would be your choice of knot to tie 10lb flouro to 30lbs braid? I had three bites today and I missed them all. One of them was because of failure of the knot between leader and braid. I hate thinking a fish with line dangling swimming (hopefully still swiming). I was using Albright. Is uni to uni better?

[webertime]

Alberto (aka modified albright) is the defacto answer but blood and surgeon knots work as well. I'd give the Alberto some time/practice it's great for what you are trying to do.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

Alberto (aka modified albright)

X2 easy to tie. Slimmest strongest knot.

[ww2farmer]

What would be your choice of knot to tie 10lb flouro to 30lbs braid? I had three bites today and I missed them all. One of them was because of failure of the knot between leader and braid. I hate thinking a fish with line dangling swimming (hopefully still swiming). I was using Albright. Is uni to uni better?

What power/action rod were you using, how was your drag set? These are things to consider when using leaders. Even the best tied knot in the world will fail when the main line is 3 times the breaking strength of the leader material, and you don't have any built in " shock protection"  with the rod and/or reels drag. If your fishing a MH powered, fast or x-tra fast action rod rated, for example 14-20 lb line, coupled with zero stretch braid, thats not going to do that 10lb leader any justice.

[Loop_Dad]

What power/action rod were you using, how was your drag set? These are things to consider when using leaders. Even the best tied knot in the world will fail when the main line is 3 times the breaking strength of the leader material, and you don't have any built in " shock protection"  with the rod and/or reels drag. If your fishing a MH powered, fast or x-tra fast action rod rated, for example 14-20 lb line, coupled with zero stretch braid, thats not going to do that 10lb leader any justice.

M/F rated for 8-15lbs. I'm probably guilty of having the drag too tight although I loosened up some compared to when I was using fluorocarbon on the same set up. Yet I expected the weakest point of my set up to be the knot of the hook, not the knot where two lines meet.

 

This brings me to the next question...how much do you loosen up when you are using braid, so that you have enough give yet you get good hooksets? When I am not using braid, I just pull the line with my hand and I set it to where I feel right. (And that was fine.)

[ww2farmer]

Give the alberto knot a try. Maybe back off the lb test braid your using too. It's hard for me to tell you how to set your drag, I do mine by "feel".

[Bluebasser86]

I tie back to back uni knots and haven't had any problems with knots failing.

[SirSnookalot]

30# braid and 10 # floro are pretty close to the same diameter, an alberto should be fine as well as some of the other knots, maybe some practice with the knot.  Your  "chain" is as strong as the weakest link, in your case 10# leader, if I were fishing open water I'd prefer a lighter mainline, if heavily vegetated I'd prefer a stronger leader.

[LgMouthGambler]

Alright style is it for me. Haven't had one break yet.

[Shoalamfishin]

Has anyone ever tied off the tag ends (at the base of the knot) for extra insuranse with say a simple overhand knot or is this really not necessary? It is my understanding that some people tie the knoe this way and that some do not. Just asking because I've considered using it but  have shy'd away due to the "loose" appearance of tagends and general awkwardness of the knot. I do not doubt the strength of the knot at all (I have seen it in action) I am simply not accustom to it and am therefore seeking some advice. I usually use the blood knot and it has held up well I have had few failures with it.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

Has anyone ever tied off the tag ends (at the base of the knot) for extra insuranse with say a simple overhand knot or is this really not necessary? It is my understanding that some people tie the knoe this way and that some do not. Just asking because I've considered using it but  have shy'd away due to the "loose" appearance of tagends and general awkwardness of the knot. I do not doubt the strength of the knot at all (I have seen it in action) I am simply not accustom to it and am therefore seeking some advice. I usually use the blood knot and it has held up well I have had few failures with it.

Are you referring to the alberto? If so no need to tie off tag ends, but there also shouldn't the "loose appearance" as you say. It is really a clean knot well seated tie. I cut my tag ends as close to the body of the knot as I can and no problems.

[papajoe222]

Papa's helpful hint;  when attaching lines of similar diameter, loop the flouro or mono and use the braid to wrap. When connecting lines of different diameters, loop the larger diameter line and wrap with the smaller diameter when using either the Albright or Alberto knots. With either knot, the tag end must pass through the loop in the same direction that it entered.

[Loop_Dad]

Thank you for your reply everyone!

 

Has anyone ever tied off the tag ends (at the base of the knot) for extra insuranse with say a simple overhand knot or is this really not necessary? It is my understanding that some people tie the knoe this way and that some do not. Just asking because I've considered using it but  have shy'd away due to the "loose" appearance of tagends and general awkwardness of the knot. I do not doubt the strength of the knot at all (I have seen it in action) I am simply not accustom to it and am therefore seeking some advice. I usually use the blood knot and it has held up well I have had few failures with it.

 

I was wondering about the same thing. The little booklet comes with PowerPro has this thing called "Lock" which is to "finish the Arbright".

 

30# braid and 10 # floro are pretty close to the same diameter, an alberto should be fine as well as some of the other knots, maybe some practice with the knot.  Your  "chain" is as strong as the weakest link, in your case 10# leader, if I were fishing open water I'd prefer a lighter mainline, if heavily vegetated I'd prefer a stronger leader.

 

I have 30lbs main line basically for summer when I go to heavily vegetated water. I don't bother with leader there. In winter, I fish open water with usually clear water, so I just put some leader to it to make it okay.

[SirSnookalot]

The only thing I will do with tag ends, especially braid as it can be a bit slicker, is to singe the end and put a bead on it, but it's trimmed quite close.  Any well tied fishing knot is more than ample to land any fish without having to over complicate the issue.  The alberto is like a Chinese fingercuff, the more it's pulled the tighter it gets.  I've yet to use a knot for joining lines of any diameters that works better and I only make 10 wraps up, even in saltwater.

[LgMouthGambler]

Papa's helpful hint;  when attaching lines of similar diameter, loop the flouro or mono and use the braid to wrap. When connecting lines of different diameters, loop the larger diameter line and wrap with the smaller diameter when using either the Albright or Alberto knots. With either knot, the tag end must pass through the loop in the same direction that it entered.

Yes, yes, yes

[A-Jay]

I would recommend that when using a braid and flouro / mono set up regardless of what size braid or leader you choose, it's important to fish it on a set up geared toward the breaking strength of your leader. (providing that your mainline is the stronger of the two.)

 

Sometimes anglers forget that even though the size of a particular braid and a leader might be similar there is often a large disparity between the two (like 30lb braid and 10lb flouro) regarding breaking strength. 

 

When the low stretch properties of braid & flouro are combined with the shock of a solid hook, your knot doesn't stand a chance no matter which one it is.  The best knot tied at 100% is still the weakest link and the stronger braid will pop it almost every time.

 

As mentioned, the right rod and / or a properly set drag is just part of "the system".

 

I learned this the hard way, not so much with treble hook baits as I was using a softer rod, but when fishing single hook contact baits, especially on a short line, there was a period there where I was donating way too many baits to the fish gods . . . .

 

A-Jay  

[Mike L]

I've used the uni to uni for years and have never had a problem.

It's a little big for mirco rods, just don't bring it past the tip.

 

Mike

[Shoalamfishin]

Thanks for the information. I'll be sure to give it a try.