Alberto Knot Braid To Fluorocarbon "wearing Out?"

[tentimesover]

I lost a very good fish today from a failure of the knot tying my braid main line to fluorocarbon leader.  I have used the Alberto knot for this purpose for several years now and have not previously had a failure in the leader connection.  Today I hung a very good fish and had him on the way to the boat when all went slack.  What I found was that the braid still had the remnants of the knot; however, there was no trace of the fluorocarbon.  I did some internet checking and found a claim that the Alberto knot "wears out" over time getting weaker due to the application of pulling force.

 

What do you think? Should the leader to braid connection be retied every week or so?  Is there an better knot for this application?  I really like the ease of tying the Alberto, but, it doesn't always go through my last guide so well.  Please, no complicated knots.

 

Thanks in advance. 

[Catch and Grease]

Alberto/modified Albright is best for braid to flourocarbon... But I use uni-uni for small lines like 10lb braid.

I re-tie my leaders after a couple trips but know plenty who will tie on a long leader and don't re-tie until it gets too short. Whatever gives you confidence, if you lose confidence in a knot then you need to re-tie. You shouldn't have to think "I hope this fish doesn't break my knot" while fishing.

[ABW]

I've never had my alberto knot break. It has always been a nick in the fluorocarbon. I remember the first time I tried to use the alberto knot, I lost my bait because I didn't tie the knot correctly lol

[Tim Kelly]

Kd knot is much better and 100% strength, but there's a bit of a knack to tying it. There's a film on you tube with a savage gear guy tying it the easiest way, but I haven't been able to find it again since seeing it originally.

All knots will wear out eventually I expect, just as your line needs cutting back occasionally.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

Wet your knot before you tighten it down. If you don't, it will harm your line that is under the loops in the Alberto knot, which will lower your knot strength.

[gulfcaptain]

Just like any other knot, need to check it and if it looks worn or it's been a while retie.   We do it to hooks and lures all the time.  If I have a really good day on the water, typically when I get home I replace the topshot.  But then I only normally fish a 6-10ft piece of FC or mono.

[rippin-lips]

If you've been using it for several years and this is your first failure then you are doing everything just fine. Get in the habit of checking your knot/line every couple of fish and you'll be good.

[Jaheff]

I must be in the minority I guess, I put a new leader on every time I go out no matter what species I'm chasing.

[SirSnookalot]

I've kept my leader with an alberto for many days before needing to put a fresh leader, it's never failed in freshwater.  In saltwater a fresh leader and knot for every outing, very few failures in salt, it's a darn good knot.

[Josh Smith]

I used to use an Albright or Alberto.  I found that it works best if the mono is tied to the braid so that the braid is wrapped by the mono, and not vice-verse.  The braid can cut the mono otherwise.

 

I've gone to a Seagur knot since, though.  It's much simpler to tie and though I have no idea of its strength, I find it's plenty strong. 

 

Josh

[shanksmare]

I usually use an Albright Knot for tying mono to braid for saltwater fishing. I usually keep the leader fairly short ( 24 - 30") so I don't have to reel the knot into the guides. With this arrangement, I rarely have any issues with the knot.

 

However, on those occasions when I feel it necessary to use a longer leader which goes into the guides, I have found it prudent to retie the knot periodically. It seems as though the knot takes a beating going through the guides from casting. Retieing every couple of hours or so seems to solve the issue.

 

I wouldn't make the leader so long that it winds up on the reel spool. This seems to create even more problems.

 

I'm sure others have had different experiences. These are mine for what they are worth.

[BassinLou]

I lost a very good fish today from a failure of the knot tying my braid main line to fluorocarbon leader.  I have used the Alberto knot for this purpose for several years now and have not previously had a failure in the leader connection.  Today I hung a very good fish and had him on the way to the boat when all went slack.  What I found was that the braid still had the remnants of the knot; however, there was no trace of the fluorocarbon.  I did some internet checking and found a claim that the Alberto knot "wears out" over time getting weaker due to the application of pulling force.

 

What do you think? Should the leader to braid connection be retied every week or so?  Is there an better knot for this application?  I really like the ease of tying the Alberto, but, it doesn't always go through my last guide so well.  Please, no complicated knots.

 

Thanks in advance. 

I actually believe the info you have provided. I recently used 100% fluro as a leader material, and on 2 occasions my leaders broke off for no reason. However when using Yozuri hybrid as leader material, I have yet have a leader break off for no apparent reason. I used the alberto knot for both lines, tied with the same amount of wraps, lubed well with spit, used on the same rod and no, none of the eyes have knicks. Needless to say I will not be using fluro for leaders anymore. Yozuri has proved a winner yet again for me. 

[Team9nine]

Sounds like angler error in this case. Many good suggestions already. Always check your leader knot before a trip, and even at times during a trip. Knots are not forever - they all wear out eventually for a variety of reasons. Best advice though is to simply replace with a fresh leader and knot before every trip, or at least every other trip. Cheap insurance, IMO.

 

-T9

[Felix77]

Regardless of what knot you use I tend to retie it before every tournament.  If I am fun fishing I tend to get more relaxed about it.  I use a uni to uni knot as well.  15lb Braid to 8-10lb FC.

[Hattrick7]

Modified Albright is my go to joining the two. I wouldn't say it failed me but one time when I was snagged the connection broke rather than the knot which never happened. It was always the knot that broke. But I has that connection for at least several weeks.

Ever since then I check my line for nicks and I only use about an 8' leader and I fish almost everyday so I change out my leader about every week now. At 200 yards it'll take me a while to get through that and the peace of mind of a fresh leader is worth it.

[tentimesover]

THANKS! for all the good advice.

 

Josh Smith posted above that he likes to wrap the braid with the mono/fluro rather than wraping the mono/fluro with the braid.  I have never thought of doing it that way because the braid is so easy to wrap compared with the stiffer fluoro.  

 

Are others doing the wrap with the fluoro? Do you think it has an advantage?

[MichBassMan]

THANKS! for all the good advice.

 

Josh Smith posted above that he likes to wrap the braid with the mono/fluro rather than wraping the mono/fluro with the braid.  I have never thought of doing it that way because the braid is so easy to wrap compared with the stiffer fluoro.  

 

Are others doing the wrap with the fluoro? Do you think it has an advantage?

For many years I used the alberto knot and the double uni knot for connecting leader material. I found the uni knot was to bulky and sometimes the alberto would "wear out" For the last few years I've been using the "Yucatan knot" and find it both smaller and stronger than any previous leader to main line knot. When you tie it you double the braid and wrap the braid around the leader but when it's drawn tight the mono or flouro will actually be wrapped around the braid embracing it.

[SirSnookalot]

If it wasn't for BR I would probably not have known about the alberto, using a bimini twist is time consuming.  I think the alberto and albright are great knots, I do think there is a limit on how strong they need to be.  If I have a large fish on the line my drag is going to allow pressure off the knot, the fish can be landed.  In the event of a snag or very large fish that could be exhausted from a long fight sometimes you gotta break it off yourself.

[Tim Kelly]

Kd knot is much better and 100% strength, but there's a bit of a knack to tying it. There's a film on you tube with a savage gear guy tying it the easiest way, but I haven't been able to find it again since seeing it originally.

All knots will wear out eventually I expect, just as your line needs cutting back occasionally.

 

 

Here's the film for tying the knot the easy way. It's still a bit long winded, but your line won't break at the knot again!