FG knot comment

[MickD]

Lots of comments in the past about not wanting to tie an FG on the water.  I was looking at my tackle yesterday and I have 3 outfits that have FG's and they have been used extensively all season.  The knots look like new.  One thing about a well-tied FG is that it seems to last almost forever, which means not needing to retie very often.  I used to used double uni's and they required retying after a few days on the water because they seemed to get beaten up by the guides.  Even fairly large guides.  The FG, especially in this day of smaller guides, is well worth learning to tie correctly.  Remember, most of us didn't learn to ride a bike successfully the first few tries, either.  But it was worth it to stick with it.

[A-Jay]

While I'd definitely agree that a well tied knot is important, fishing several trips in a row without re-tying the leader connection is never something I'd advocate; regardless of the type of knot used.   I have been using a Uni to Uni connection knot quite successfully for a while.

I am a firm believer of regularly & routinely re-tying main line to leader connection knots.  Not because it fails but simply to keep it fresh.

A leader knot that is repeatedly being launched through multiple tiny little guides, at warp speed and then wound back through them again, sometimes under the load of a spirited bass, is going to incur some type of damage, however minute.  That process, cast, after cast, after cast, can't help but degrade & weaken the integrity of any knot. 

Before a trip I'm re-tying, on multiple rigs, and depending on the fishing, it may be a few times per trip.   Uni-knot fits the bill here for me.         FG does not, especially at night.

I'll take a new / fresh connection over an older / beaten & battered one every time.  Prefer to eliminate as many possible weak link variables as I can.

Disclaimer ~ If one's leader length is such that it never passes through any guides, much of the above text may not applicable.

A-Jay

 

[MassYak85]

I've gone months without retying an FG knot, well worth the little extra time to tie IMO. I've never had one break either, which I can't say about the Uni to Uni, although I do use that one also. 

[A-Jay]

Not a Fan.

A-Jay

 

[WRB]

I agree the FG knot is a good knot or more like a  chinese finger gripper that holds without deforming the weaker leader material. The reason I don't use it is because I can't tie this knot effectively on the water and is where I do most of my knot tying. 

I don't leave any knot tied longer than 24 to 48 hours because time under tension weakens every type of single strand line. The reason is I have tested every knot that I use 24 hours after being tied and they fail at less than 75% of a properly tied fresh tied knot.

You may get away with the FC knot being tied for several outings, the FC or mono knot needs to be re tied after each outing or sooner!

Tom

[aquaholik]

That all depends on which one is the weak link, the braid or the mono. If your mono is stronger than your braid then you should retie every trip because your braid strength will drop 10 to 20 % after it's worn. But if you are not pushing your drag anywhere near 1/3 of the knot breaking strength then you will never need to retie.

If your braid is MUCH stronger than your mono/fluro leader, then there's hardly any need to retie since a 20% drop in your braid strength will still make it the strongest link in your braid/mono setup.

 

[MickD]

All I can tell you is that it works.  And retying regularly is a waste of time.  The leader is under no stress from kinking, as with other knots, since it is not bent.  I've had other knots that have tight bends in the FC that have mysteriously failed, and a forum contributor attributes that to kinking the FC.  We all know how fragile FC is if you dig out a backlash improperly, and I think it's the same with knots that "kink" it, like the Albright and its derivatives.  I've had plenty of them fail myteriously, and I think the kinking is the reason.  Also, keep in mind that all FC is not created equal, and some of them may be very sensitive to kinking.  The FG does not kink them.

[WRB]

When I fish straight FC, mono including coploy' I retie several times each day because of damaged to the line within 3' of my lures due to abrasion from structure, stress catching bass and simply getting snagged. When I retie this usually means cutting off about 3' of line.

When I use braid I rarely use a leader. If I do use a leader cutting off 3' of leader = 2 X 3' is 6' of leader or nearly all of the leader, then retie the FG knot to add another leader. I don't know how anyone could bass with replacing the leader often.

Tom

[mcipinkie]

I don't understand any of this.  My bread and butter rig is my flipping stick, 50# braid, 25# FC.  Used to tie the double uni knot.  Pulled stumps out of the lake.  If I got hung and couldn't get loose, had to tie the line to a cleat and break it with the TM.  Never broke knots.

Now use an Alberto knot.  It's easier to tie for me than the double uni.  Same thing.  I've pulled whole trees up with that rig.  Never had any trouble at all.  I believe I could tow my Silverado with that line leader. 

I'm sure the FG is a good knot.  I've tried it a few times just to see how it looks.  Looks great.  Ain't got the time to tie it on the water. I can retie every rod in the boat with an Alberto in less time. 

I will say this speaking for me only.  I retie my leaders at least every day, sometimes during the day.  My leaders start out about five feet long.  During a day's fishing, I'll cut off and retie often.  At the end of the day, my leaders will be no more than a couple feet long.  Tie me up another and go again. 

If it works for any of you, use it, but I can't comprehend using the same knot and leader for months, at  least not fresh water fishing.

Remember fellow, it's about catching fish.  Don't lose site of the goal. 

 

 

 

[Darren.]

The FG knot is a great knot for those who enjoy
the tie. I don not see it as a necessity, merely
an option in the myriad of line-to-leader knots
we have to tie.

More power to those who think it is best.

For the rest of us, Uni-to-Uni or Albright 
variants are sufficient and we aren't losing
any sleep over the matter.

To each his/her own. Tie what you want and 
don't slight the rest of us who tie differently.  

[MassYak85]

12 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Not a Fan.

A-Jay

 

Fair enough, and by no means am I recommending anyone go that long without retying one. But I have done it before. IMO it is less susceptible to wear and tear than other leaders knots do to the natures of it (thinner so it bounces off guides less, fluoro isn't kinked or bent at all, which is the case in other knots). I'm also not fishing nearly as much as some of the guys on here. Going a month without retying might mean 5-6 fishing trips of actual use with it. I just keep an eye on it and if it looks worn then it gets retied, but that hasn't happened to me yet since the leader usually gets too short before the actual knot becomes an issue for me. I also fish purely for fun. Tournament fishing I would definitely retie it often.