Leader knot question

[Chughes37]

I’m becoming a braid type of guy but I’m still a rookie when tying leader knots. My rod arsenal is mainly consists of the NRX and I noticed the eyelets are tiny. I use the Alberto knot and every time I cast I’m hearing the knot kind of make a ticking noise as it goes through the eyelets and I can feel it in the rod. It’s not getting caught but I’m worried that I’m hurting the rod. Is it normal to hear the knot go through the eyelets? I can tell that it’s kind of effecting my casting distance. Any advice would be appreciated! I’m sure the more I tie knots the more efficient it will eventually get

[Darren.]

28 minutes ago, Chughes37 said:

I’m becoming a braid type of guy but I’m still a rookie when tying leader knots. My rod arsenal is mainly consists of the NRX and I noticed the eyelids are tiny. I use the Alberto knot and every time I cast I’m hearing the knot kind of make a ticking noise as it goes through the eyelids and I can feel it in the rod. It’s not getting caught but I’m worried that I’m hurting the rod. Is it normal to hear the knot go through the eyelids? I can tell that it’s kind of effecting my casting distance. Any advice would be appreciated! I’m sure the more I tie knots the more efficient it will eventually get

What size braid, and what size leader(s)?

 

My St. Croix Legend Tournament (spinning) has micro

guides, and the larger the leader, the bigger the knot,

(All Hail Master of the Obvious!!  ) , and the more

contact it will make going through the tip.

 

I've never worried about it striking the eyelet in terms 

of damage.

 

Another thing that'll catch it is tag ends that are a tad

too long.

 

Oh, and while I use the Alberto, more often I'm using

the uni-to-uni. With 10 or 15# PowerPro and 6-8# test

leader I'm not having much issue with micro guides.

10# and the tick on the cast is a little more prominent.

 

You'll get people suggesting the FG knot, but since you

are just getting into leaders, it is probably not best for

you, tho it is the thinnest knot, it's also the longest for

bass fishing. There are YouTube how-to vids for it....

[Hook2Jaw]

Here comes the FG knot train.

 

You don't need to hold the knot all fancy with a fancy FG knot tool, just get that braid in your back set of toothers and hold a wee bit of tension on it by letting the rod fall away from you.  Wrap that fluoro toward you, then the other way on the opposite side.  Wrap that sumbitch 21 times, because 21 is blackjack and that's lucky as hell.  You're gonna need that luck.  Once you've got blackjack, take your braid tag and overhand it to secure your wraps about, eh, two to three daggum times.  Cinch that puppy down until your braid starts to discolor, and then nip the tag of fluoro.  Stick two to three more overhands at your clipped fluoro.

 

It's the best braid to fluoro knot.  Tied properly, it is stronger than the braid and fluoro individually.  Learn it, live it, love it.  It's thin, and the thicker end of the knot is towards your reel.  No more bamming and framming through the guides on the cast.

[Boomstick]

I always use the double uni knot because it's fairly easy to tie, and I have never broke off at the joint. The FG knot is stronger, but people make do with the alberto knot which is weaker as well, so I'm not too terribly concerned with this.

[Chughes37]

I appreciate the replies. My main setups are 40lbs sufix 832 braid to 15lbs seaguar red label fluro. I’ll checkout the FG knot. I’ve been trying to learn the blood knot and for some reason it fails when I pull it tight. 

[Mjmj]

I have a NRX 853. I have tried the Alberto, it's to thick. rattled the guides on every cast.  I tie the FG knot now. it takes a little practice. once you learn it, you'll love it. like Hook2jaw said, the important part is at the end (it's funny, I do 21 too) when you tie your hitch knot make it as tight as possible. the FG does not effect my casting at all. 

[MickD]

I've been everywhere mentioned above, and here is my opinion.  MOst of the time, regardless of what knot you use, you will "detect" it going through the guides.  A little click is OK.  If you start feeling it, you may damage the guides, but more likely the knot will not last very long.  No knot lasts forever, but the less disturbance you feel, the less damage is being done to the knot.

 

Your rig looks to me like it's too heavy to pass through micro guides unless you use the FG.  As stated above, if you're using lighter braids with less than 10 pound leaders, uni to uni is easy, reliable to tie, and will work with a minimum disturbance with almost any guide train.

 

This video, if followed exactly, will produce a reliable FG knot.  Not a great knot to be tying in the boat while the fish are biting, which is why I use a lot of rods in the boat-break a line or leader, just stow it and pick up another.  I tie the FG's at home.  But this video, IMHO, give the easiest, most reliable, FG.  

 

 

[Happybeerbuzz]

I use an FG knot tied at home.  I ret-tie with an improved Alberto knot on the water if needed because of ease.  

 

If you are going to tie fancy shamancy FG knot and use the rizutto finish, great.  If you are going to use hitch knots to finish it, the smallest amount of super glue on the hitches only will keep them from unraveling but it is mostly causmetic.  Otherwise you can get a little fuzzy tag if one of you hitches unravels.  Do not apply super glue to the FG knot itself.  You want it to continue to constrict on your leader as you use it.

[Chughes37]

Thanks everyone!

[bunz559]

I just started using braid for bass fishing as well. Prior, I have always used the double uni knot for surf fishing. Mostly using the drop rig with a 2oz bait at the end. The double uni is relatively simple to learn quick and can be pretty strong. I too, have noticed the slight ticks as the knot passes through on my bait cast rods. 

 

I tried tying the FG using the video above and it's relatively simple up till the hitch knots. I got a little lost. But practice makes prefect so keep trying! 

[NHBull]

Spinning gets the uni to uni

 

everything else gets FG

 

.........get a spring loaded clamp and attach the end of braid to your shirt and lean the pole away.  Having 2 hands allows you to tension and tie it in a minute.

......get 2 wood dowls and wrap with tape.....take a couple wraps to help tighten.

 

imho 40 lb is a little overkill unless you are in the slop and in that case, no leader is  nessessary 

[soflabasser]

I use the uni knot for lures, hooks, other terminal tackle and uni to uni knot for leaders.

 

[snake95]

Darn, just posted about my newfound appreciation for the FG knot on an old thread, then came upon this one.

 

I think the FG is remarkably easy to tie, and don't think you should feel intimidated by it.  It's way harder to explain than to do, I think that is the issue.

 

And yes, I hear the knot clicking against guides as it goes through.

 

I think that is normal, and just retie periodically.

 

The rule of thumb I've heard is to prevent the knot from passing the eye closest to the reel.  Not sure if that is true, but I stick to that and have not had a problem.