Braid to leader issue

[Chughes37]

I just attempted to tie on my first fluro leader to braid, however when I cast or reel in, the knot is getting caught in the guides. I felt like I sinched the knot pretty good but I noticed on the NRX it has more of the smaller guides at the end of the rod.

 

Some of the specs of the equipment I used:

- Shimano Metanium MGL

- G. Loomis NRX 894

- 50 lbs power pro braid

- 20 lbs seagaur red label fluro

the knot I used for the leader was a uni-to-uni knot

 

thanks!

[Backroad Angler]

I would try a albright/aberto knot its smoother and a super strong knot. The knot you did may be too thick.

[Choporoz]

I, too, use Alberto without problems.

 

Maybe too obvious, but double check the tag on the fluoro -- doesn't take more than a mm or so of 20# flouro sticking out from a knot to catch on the guides. 

[mattkenzer]

I always use the Alberto Knot for Leader to Braid.

Hopefully the uni-to-uni knot is the problem and not the diameter of the 50lb braid and 20lb leader combination on your equipment ....... get that knot tight and those tags cut close.

 

I personally do not add a leader to the larger diameter braids ..... 40lbs plus because i use it in heavy cover only.

[Chughes37]

Thanks for the quick replies! I will give the Alberto knot a shot! 

[Backroad Angler]

2 minutes ago, Chughes37 said:

Thanks for the quick replies! I will give the Alberto knot a shot! 

Good luck! you'll like it, its a quick and easy knot to learn

[Glenn]

 

[NHBull]

Learn the FG and it won't matter what line you run

[BrackishBassin]

2 hours ago, NHBull said:

Learn the FG and it won't matter what line you run

Very much the truth. Learned it. Lost a few jig heads (saltwater) getting it right. Haven’t looked back since. 

[Darren.]

That size braid and leader will definitely be a large knot

with uni-to-uni.

 

Alberto will help with knot size. The FG will work at

those sizes, good luck learning it . Smaller braid and

leader and the FG will more easily slip. I use the Uni-x2

on a Legend Tournament spinning rod with micro guides

and it goes through fine using 10 or 15# braid + leader

up to 15#.

 

And I second making sure your tag ends are tight.

[Czorn]

The albright gets my vote also. Trying to learn the FG was the most frustrating afternoon I have ever had.

[Angry John]

The fluorocarbon tag is the killer.  A little extra on the braid seems like no issue.

[Smalls]

8 hours ago, Czorn said:

The albright gets my vote also. Trying to learn the FG was the most frustrating afternoon I have ever had.

I’ve probably mentioned my god-awful knot tying skills before. My giant hands get in the way. 

 

I managed to to tie the FG in like 4 tries... with mono. It took me 4 hours and 3/4 of a spool to figure it out with fluoro. 

[Crestliner2008]

I've been using the Alberto knot for many seasons now and have experienced no problems. However, with this knot (which is actually a braid and not a 'knot' per say) you have to gradually snug it up, with saliva wetting the joint as you go. If you just pull it up tight, friction is built up and you could experience a failure.

[craww]

Alberto tied as crestliner states. And something Ive started to do, which after two uses seems to make a difference is tieing a hitch or two in front of the leader connection to make a ramp of sorts. Not eaxactly scientific, but the "tick" going through the guides seems to be reduced and the guide inserts/knot banging into one another is mitigated some.

[MichaelJ7]

18 hours ago, NHBull said:

Learn the FG and it won't matter what line you run

I agree. I can run the FG through micro guides without issue and it has a higher strength rating than the others. 

[Fried Lemons]

FG is good but inconvenient to retie if it breaks. I’ll do it at home but on the water I’ll tie an Alberto.

[desmobob]

The FG is not (yuk yuk) that difficult to learn.  Look for the Youtube vid by "Tackle Advisors" where he even ties it with heavy leather gloves on.

 

If you can't get the knack of the FG, the Alberto is a great second choice.  The Albright is good, too.  Uni-to-Uni is last choice for me. (And this order is also how the knots usually finish in strength testing.)

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Fishin' Fool]

20 pound Red Label fluorocarbon isn't the skinniest diameter line either. You can find much better.

[MickD]

OK, here is the truth you've been looking for.  All the others are not telling the whole story.  :-)  

 

This post could go on for years without a resolution that works for everyone.  There are a hundred ways to screw up an FG knot, and when people tell you how they are tying it they most likely are not telling you the real secrets of the knot.  Not that they are evil, but they most likely don't understand what they are doing right.  There are simply so many variables in that knot that in spite of tying it for about 3 years now, I still am learning.

 

There are probably fifty ways to screw up an Alberto.  The most obvious is the direction the tag end goes out after doing the wraps.  But the method of doing the wraps and tightening them are important.  Here again, I think people who are doing it right don't even know how to tell us others what the important parts of the technique are.  I for one have trouble making an effective Alberto.  With certain fishing techniques, they often unravel.

 

The double uni is large, but it is reliable.  Unless you have pretty small micros, it should work OK if you trim the leader as has been mentioned.  One other trick is to use UV cure epoxy on it, forming a more streamlined shape to go through the guides.  If you are using small micros, like below about 5 1/2 mm, then it most likely will not work with your heavy line/leader combination.

 

OK, time for everyone to tell me if I just did this one little secrety of theirs. . .