Fg Knot, Some Thoughts

[MickD]

Remember a couple weeks ago all the hype over the FG knot, with the strong advocates, the doubters, those who would never think they could tie one efficiently?  My experience since then has been this:  I finally got a good one tied on my braid to FC setup on a micro (3mm) spinning rod, and have fished the setup 3 days, with that rod being used a lot.  The knot goes through the guides perfectly, better than any other knot I have tried, and today it looks like new.  Since that discussion I've brought a spool of braid and a length of 20 pound mono to my recliner, and have practiced the knot while watching TV.  It keeps getting easier and more reliable with more reps tying the knot.  I'm getting to the point where I think I can tie a good one in the boat quite quickly.

 

Bottom line:  It's a great knot, and with reasonable practice it can be tied efficiently and reliably.  And, there is one thing it can do that I've not found any other knot can do, smoothly and reliably go through 3mm micros and do it time after time without fuss, getting beaten up, or mysteriously coming undone.  I guess that's a number of things.  great knot, worth the time and effort to get it down pat.

[Silas]

I've come to the conclusion that I CAN tie one in my living room but I WONT tie one while fishing.

[Wayne P.]

I can tie it just a quickly or more so as a 6 turn Uni-uni Knot in my den or on the boat.

[Tim Kelly]

You really need to practice your uni knot tying! LOL

[MickD]

I've tied unis for years, no sweat.  The problem with unis is their size, won't go through 3mm micros well.  Unis have FIVE thicknesses of both lines, including  the leader, which is the big one.  The FG has one thickness of the leader.  I don't need practice on unis, I need practice on the FG.

[Wayne P.]

You really need to practice your uni knot tying! LOL

Been using the Uni-uni Knot for 40+ years. I sort of know how to tie it too. Never had a failure.

I use the Uni-knot for terminal tackle and direct lure connection also.

 

Actually I have no issues with the Uni-uni knot using micro guides like the Ducket Micro Magic has.

I use 20# fluorocarbon and 40# superline--6 turns on both sides.

I use the FG knot interchangeably to keep in practice--no issues either way.

 

The only other knot I use is the Palomar for a dropshot hook.

 

If you use the FG knot maybe you need to practice that.

[Further North]

MickD - I agree with your assessments of the FG knot - and wish to highlight the comment about the micro guides...you are spot on.

 

Is the FG an "everything" knot?  Nope.  But leader to braid, I've not found one better.

 

Are they a little harder to tie than some other knots?  Sure...but the day I start settling for the easy way when a little more effort gets me much better results...it's time to park me in a rocking chair.

[papajoe222]

I watched a video on how to tie it today.  The knot looks to be an awesome one for attaching a leader to braid.  It does, however look to have a severe learning curve. He didn't look very comfortable tying it. Then again, he was trying to talk during the demonstration. 

[Tim Kelly]

It's a great knot and I've been using it for a year or so now. My comment above was pointing at the speed you say you can tie it compared to a uni knot. A uni knot is a very quick easy knot, the FG is always going to be a slower knot to tie, though it will last much longer than a uni, especially if the uni is going through the guides.

[SirSnookalot]

I don't see the point of a 3mm guide, so no need for a super thin knot.  I've been casting lures and catching fish for decades with standard guides.  I have a friend with a custom rod with micros, 8' mh and I was going to get one made up, changed my mind. I wound with up a 8' off the rack with standard guides, we both use the same cabo reel with 20# braid, both rods cast and handle the fish about the same, but there is one difference.  He gets windknots and I don't.

I might be crazy but if I'm catching 10-15 and 50# fish with rods and knots I'm already using, why change?

[JLeon77]

I've gotten used to tying the FG at home in the garage, haven't braved it in a boat yet. That being said I had it tied on all my drop shot rigs at Lake Erie last weekend and never had an issue while catching dozens of 3-4 lb smallies and quite a few large drum. It's pretty stout and doesn't have any issue going through the guides.

[einscodek]

Remember a couple weeks ago all the hype over the FG knot, with the strong advocates, the doubters, those who would never think they could tie one efficiently?  My experience since then has been this:  I finally got a good one tied on my braid to FC setup on a micro (3mm) spinning rod, and have fished the setup 3 days, with that rod being used a lot.  The knot goes through the guides perfectly, better than any other knot I have tried, and today it looks like new.  Since that discussion I've brought a spool of braid and a length of 20 pound mono to my recliner, and have practiced the knot while watching TV.  It keeps getting easier and more reliable with more reps tying the knot.  I'm getting to the point where I think I can tie a good one in the boat quite quickly.

 

Bottom line:  It's a great knot, and with reasonable practice it can be tied efficiently and reliably.  And, there is one thing it can do that I've not found any other knot can do, smoothly and reliably go through 3mm micros and do it time after time without fuss, getting beaten up, or mysteriously coming undone.  I guess that's a number of things.  great knot, worth the time and effort to get it down pat.

My FG Knots have not failed yet.. its a great knot for certain applications

[SirSnookalot]

Having to tie a knot at home may render it as a part time knot.  There will be times when a new leader needs to be tied on while your out fishing.

Some where I recall reading where this knot was popular in saltwater, I mainly fish saltwater and never saw or heard of it until it appeared here.  It's nice to catch a 5# fish and battle it for relatively short period of time, I'd like to see how it does with larger fish that may take 10-15 or 30 minutes to land.  If if works well that's great, that said there knots much easier to tie that have already proven the strength issue.

[MickD]

If you haven't seen the FG on salt here, it may because it was developed in Australia.  If you don't like micros, don't use them.  If you like your uni-uni, fine, keep using it.  If you want to know what I think is the easiest way to tie an FG, go to 

.  You don't have to keep tension on the braid or the leader except between sets of weave when you put the leader between your teeth and work the weave into a compact arrangement.  It really is not difficult once you put in a little practice.  Were you an expert caster with your first cast, or did it take a little practice?  Was it worth it?

 

ALL I'm saying is that this knot will do things that I want better than any other knot I've found. That's all.  

 

Just trying to provide some tips for those who might be interested, not trying to change the world.  I will not take your double uni or Albright or Slim Beauty or Alberto from you.  Relax.

[WPCfishing]

I've just started to learn the FG knot. I can wind it alright. I'm having trouble getting the winds to slide down and tighten against each other. Once I become proficient I'll use it for all my leaders.

For now I'll use the blood knot. I like it better than the United because it has tapered ends.

I use the uni for hook ties.

[desmobob]

Learning the FG is on my list of things to do this winter.  I'm very happy with the Alberto knot, but it does eventually get beat up by the guides. The FG looks like it would be a lot more resistant to that.

 

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[MickD]

Have you watched the video?  I think the sliding of the wraps together is key to its success.  I had trouble there, too, until I learned it takes a lot of force (Pulling on both pieces of braid, holding solid tension on the leader, and a lot of patience).  The wraps don't slide into position immediately; you have to patiently "work" them into position with a lot of force.

[Wayne P.]

It's a great knot and I've been using it for a year or so now. My comment above was pointing at the speed you say you can tie it compared to a uni knot. A uni knot is a very quick easy knot, the FG is always going to be a slower knot to tie, though it will last much longer than a uni, especially if the uni is going through the guides.

 

Just timed the FG knot doing it three times. I averaged 32 seconds depending on if I fumbled the leader during the tying. 

I have no issues with sliding the braid loops together, just pull the leader tight on every wrap and keep tension on the braid and it lines up tight.

 

Then I did three 6 turn Uni-uni Knots and averaged 46 seconds. I always do at least 6 turns on both sides. Sometimes I will do 7 or 8 on the braid side to get more taper for the micro-guides.

[Tim Kelly]

How many half hitches are you doing? The weave takes no time at all, I then do at least 4 half hitches before trimming the leader, then another 4 half hitches to smooth out the transition over the leader and finally a double half hitch to lock the whole thing down. The half hitches are the time consuming part.

[WPCfishing]

Have you watched the video? I think the sliding of the wraps together is key to its success. I had trouble there, too, until I learned it takes a lot of force (Pulling on both pieces of braid, holding solid tension on the leader, and a lot of patience). The wraps don't slide into position immediately; you have to patiently "work" them into position with a lot of force.

I'll try using more force. Thx..

[MickD]

Learning the FG is on my list of things to do this winter.  I'm very happy with the Alberto knot, but it does eventually get beat up by the guides. The FG looks like it would be a lot more resistant to that.

 

 

Tight lines,

Bob

I just cut one off that had been used a lot.  Cut it off because the leader was getting too short.  It looked like new.  If it had been a uni, even with much larger guides, it would have been beaten up.  Been there, done that.

[WPCfishing]

The Uni knot did a number on Magnum One rod my tip, it busted the ring out.

Im dropping the rod off to a builder tomorrow. I'm going to have him install a one size larger tip. Hope to have it back Friday.

[FinCulture]

I tried the FG knot once as of writing this and really messed up on it. It was late at night and after playing around with my knot I just said screw it and went to bed, planning to fish it anyway. The knot didn't break until three trip later when I got caught up on a log. Keeping in mind the knot wasn't even done correctly, that's saying something. I absolutely hate the double uni and have zero trust in it, and I would really like to master the FG.

[MickD]

The video of the Aussie tying the knot is excellent, so watch it, study it.  One thing that I didn't notice at first is that the tag end and the line end of the braid always stay on the same side of the leader as when you start.  So if you notice you've got them on the other side all of a sudden, you've probably missed a weave or the leader end slipped out of place (more common with light leaders than heavy stiff ones).  When you arrange the weaves each time, you should keep working them until they are tight and look just like they do on a finished knot, then go on to the next stage.  It seems everyone has their own idea of how many half hitches.  At least two over both lines, then two over the braid, then the 3  tight wraps of the braid over itself followed by the last half hitch, according to the video.

 

What worked for me in learning the knot was to watch this one video over and over and many tries at tying the knot, and little by little it fell into place.  Now a piece of cake, don't give up.

[Tim Kelly]

It's much easier to do the weaving if you weave the leader round the braid.