Braid To Fc Knot : Alberto Or Double Uni ?

[ChrisD46]

Between the Alberto or Double Uni knot - which have you had the best success rate for a braid to FC leader connection knot ? ... I just started using a braid to FC leader connection  and can tie both knots  about the same  .

 

I would like to standardize on one though so which do you find better for the following :

- Ease of going through rod guides ?

- Strength ?

- Long Lasting ?

- Shock resistance ?

 

Thanks in advance for replies !

[OkobojiEagle]

I prefer the Alberto

 

 

oe

[MickD]

Check out the long string of posts under "Albright knot fails ?!!"l further down for some good discussion.  To start with , the Alb erto is an improved version of the Albright.  It suffers from the same weakness, if you put the tag end back through the loop wrong it will unravel.  There is a lot of different opinions on this subject, but my conclusion is that you can tie the Alberto correctly and it still can unravel, not by force, but from going through the guides (micros) and getting ticked a lot under essentially no load.  A lot of folks disagree.

 

I have concluded that the knot many are advocating, the FG is the best knot for this.   It takes a little more skill and practice to tie, but I don't think it is as hard to tell if you've done it right.  You can visually inspect it.  If you've screwed up the braiding, it will have bumps where you screwed up.  It is the smallest of the knots, much smaller than the double uni and smaller than the Alberto.  You can view a video on the string of posts I mentioned, but I suggest you do an internet search for "how to tie FG knot video" and you will come to a number of good videos.  The one I like is the one where you don't have to have tension on the braid to tie it.  Maintaining tension on the braid while braiding it is a pain in the butt for me.  Maybe practice will help.  

 

The FG won a contest a group had on the different knots, and it was the strongest.  Until you get good in tying it, you may want to tie it in front of the TV the night before you go onto the water.

 

I believe it is the best for all 4 of the attributes you want to know about.  Not as sure about shock resistance as the other three.  I think shock resistance may have more to do with the braid than the knot.  However, since it will go through the guides, even micros, so smoothly, you won't be tempted to really shorten your leader, and the longer the leader is the more shock resistance you will have.  If you don't believe that, just stretch a length of a foot of FC, then do it again with 3 feet of FC. Good luck!

[Frenchman83]

Between the Alberto and Double Uni I like the Albert. Have not tried the FG.

[ChrisD46]

Check out the long string of posts under "Albright knot fails ?!!"l further down for some good discussion.  To start with , the Alb erto is an improved version of the Albright.  It suffers from the same weakness, if you put the tag end back through the loop wrong it will unravel.  There is a lot of different opinions on this subject, but my conclusion is that you can tie the Alberto correctly and it still can unravel, not by force, but from going through the guides (micros) and getting ticked a lot under essentially no load.  A lot of folks disagree.

 

I have concluded that the knot many are advocating, the FG is the best knot for this.   It takes a little more skill and practice to tie, but I don't think it is as hard to tell if you've done it right.  You can visually inspect it.  If you've screwed up the braiding, it will have bumps where you screwed up.  It is the smallest of the knots, much smaller than the double uni and smaller than the Alberto.  You can view a video on the string of posts I mentioned, but I suggest you do an internet search for "how to tie FG knot video" and you will come to a number of good videos.  The one I like is the one where you don't have to have tension on the braid to tie it.  Maintaining tension on the braid while braiding it is a pain in the butt for me.  Maybe practice will help.  

 

The FG won a contest a group had on the different knots, and it was the strongest.  Until you get good in tying it, you may want to tie it in front of the TV the night before you go onto the water.

 

I believe it is the best for all 4 of the attributes you want to know about.  Not as sure about shock resistance as the other three.  I think shock resistance may have more to do with the braid than the knot.  However, since it will go through the guides, even micros, so smoothly, you won't be tempted to really shorten your leader, and the longer the leader is the more shock resistance you will have.  If you don't believe that, just stretch a length of a foot of FC, then do it again with 3 feet of FC. Good luck!

MickD : Thanks ! ...I researched the FG Knot as the salt water crowd is high on it ... The one turn off to date is the research I have found indicates the FC knot has to have constant tension on it while being tied which makes me think I need a third hand ! ** I need to find that FG knot video which does not require constant tension while being tied - that's a deal changer !

[rippin-lips]

I've been using the Albright knot for years to attach a leader to braid. I honestly can't remember the last time it failed. I've broke off snags that fail at the hook and the joining knot is still intact. Though it's not that often. I use leaders from 6-20lb on braid 10-50lb. It's served me well, and is super easy to tie during tournaments. I adjust the amount of wraps depending on line diameter. #16 sniper and #30 braid I'll use 5 wraps.

[MickD]

Here is the video I mentioned:  

[MickD]

I should mention that one other video says that it is not better to add braids to the knot, that more braids does not make it stronger.  This is because the knot depends on the gripping of the leader by the braid braids/turns, and if you put too many of them on it, they will not be able to tighten, and those loose ones that couldn't tighten could contribute to unravelling.  This video has two sets of 8 (4 from one line, 4 from the other), total of 16.  Other videos have twenty, so they all are close in agreement.  I think the half hitches make sure it doesn't unravel, and believe that if we put a few half hitches on after putting the tag end through on the Alberto, it would be a better knot.

[Silas]

Never had trouble with Alberto.

Lately what I like to do while at home is to put one drop of superglue on the knot, although I've never had one without the glue fail.

Seems to slide through guides easier.

Just watched the video on the FG knot. I CANNOT see me tying that sucker OUT ON THE WATER with the boat bobbing up and down.

Looks like a strictly AT HOME knot. But even then, I'm not convinced that it would be stronger than the Crazy Alberto. AND too many opportunities for an over wrap, thus weakening the knot.

[aprilbass101]

Double Uni....Great knot! Haven't had any issues with it in many years! Practice makes perfect

[Mike L]

I use the uni to uni...Tried the Albright and the Alberto, good knots.

Since I only use a leader on my spinning setup and rarely use that, I stay with what brung me!

Mike

[Frogfather]

FG Knot is the way to go. This video is by far the easiest way to tie it that I've found. Bottom line: it's the strongest knot out there and thinest too. If this knot goes through an eye or two, no biggie! I love it. Just started to tie it this year and I won't be tying any other knot when joining braid to FC or anything else.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjzUb5QRKuk

[zeth]

Double Uni. Never had a problem except the first time I ever tied one my Keitech Model III Jig went flying into Lake Berryessa. 

[Darren.]

I use both Albright (variants) and Uni-to-Uni.

 

Mostly the former. I've spent time on the FG, 

but DANG, I canNOT get that thing right, and

when I do, it is ugly. So maybe it isn't right.

 

Either way, It seems best to use the knots I'm

most familiar with. Tying while on the yak, both

of them are easy.

[SirSnookalot]

No knot is perfect, tie them enough and somewhere down the line it will fail, but it's rare.  I happen to fish saltwater, have never seen anyone use the FG.  Not debating whether it's a good knot, but it's not a practical knot for me.  IMO it would take too much time and effort to tie it in the dark or on a boat being bounced around.  The Albright/Alberto can easily be tied in those conditions.  I don't need the strongest knot, I only need a knot that holds.  My Albright seems to hold tarpon and big jacks just fine, especially for bass fishing the FG would be way over kill for me.

[Bluebasser86]

Double Uni, never had a problem with a knot I tied correctly. 

[MickD]

Never had trouble with Alberto.

Lately what I like to do while at home is to put one drop of superglue on the knot, although I've never had one without the glue fail.

Seems to slide through guides easier.

Just watched the video on the FG knot. I CANNOT see me tying that sucker OUT ON THE WATER with the boat bobbing up and down.

Looks like a strictly AT HOME knot. But even then, I'm not convinced that it would be stronger than the Crazy Alberto. AND too many opportunities for an over wrap, thus weakening the knot.

Re the potential overwrap problem, the one thing that I think this knot has going for it is that if you do mess up the wraps, it's very visible because there will be the bumps from the messed up wraps.  Obviously it is a challenge to tie efficiently, but I'm going to try to master it.  It has just too many advantages not to try.

[OkobojiEagle]

When it's necessary to tie knots to hold "this" knot together I've got to wonder if there aren't more efficient choices...

 

 

oe

[Jaheff]

One trick i use after the alberto failed on me a couple times is snap lock the knot.

instead of a steady pull for the final tightening, is to put both hands on either side of the knot, with slack and jerk the lines apart with a fast jerk.

I only use five wraps up and five back on any pound test i use, hasn't failed since.

[masterbass]

For braid to fluoro/mono I prefer the alberto, but for joining mono to fluoro I use the double uni knot.

[Further North]

Between the Alberto and the uni-to-uni, I'd pick the Alberto.

 

Add the FG to the equation and I'd pick that, especially with heavier leaders.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Double Uni. I have never had one fail and am able to tie it very fast.

[MickD]

Lots of discussion on the various knots in the last week or so, and of course, everyone needs to come to their own conclusions as which knot fits their needs the best.  I have tried them all, have failed most of them at one time or another, and am just learning the FG.  I have found that if you want to use braid/FC or braid/mono with micros and have not tried the FG, you are missing out.  On my spin rod with 3 mm micros I cannot even hear or feel the knot go through the guides (10 braid, 15 mono - don't bother asking why I have my reasons).  While I haven't tried it yet, I'll bet I could get much heavier lines to go through very well.  That cannot be said for the double uni.  Those who can do the Alberto reliably, good for you, but the FG is still about half the diameter of the Alberto, and has smooth ends for easy passage.

 

Yes, it is not as easy to tie, but for my micro rods, it is well worth the effort to learn to tie it efficiently.

[Mattfrom_NJ]

My vote is for alberto. Strong, easy to tie after some practice.

[jitterbug127]

I used the double uni til I started using blood knot. Fast easy strong