Braid to Leader - Blood Knot

[JediAmoeba]

I know there is always a lot of talk about knot to leaders and I didn't start doing it until, I think, 10 years ago or so.  I started out using the Albright and had decent success but started losing a few lures here and there to it failing.  So I started looking for another knot.  The uni to uni knot seemed to work well but tying it in cold weather and out in the water was tough for me and my fat meat claws.  

 

Last year I started using the blood knot which is pretty simple and it has been working well for me - and I can tie it even while out fishing.  Ultimately I know you don't really need a leader but I run braid on just about everything so I am just more confident with a leader I suppose.  

 

I took a picture of a 30# braid to 12# fluoro knot after 12 hours of fishing and 25 fish caught with a jerkbait.  No, I don't catch any big fish so take it for what it's worth.

[garroyo130]

If im retyin on the water its my preferred knot for its simplicity. Although I do put zap a gap over it just for safe measure.

[MassYak85]

Albright and Blood knot is all I use. Albright for thinner lines, blood knot for bigger lines. I even use the blood knot for big swimbaits using 65lb braid to 25lb leader. With the Albright my issue is sometimes the loop formed by the leader can be left open if the braid crosshatches cinch too early and don't slide all the way to the end of the loop. This can leave just enough space for the tag end of the braid to back itself out and cause the knot to unravel. 

 

 

[waymont]

That's a nice photo of a well tied knot. I use the FG knot for all my leaders, and I never mind retying it on the water. If it needs to be done I tie it. It takes about 1 min for me to do it. The blood knots I tried with braid to leader never came out as small and even as your photo.

I use some small diameter lines like 8lb PP braid to 6-8lb fluoro, and for those small lines I love the FG.

 

[Stephen B]

33 minutes ago, waymont said:

That's a nice photo of a well tied knot. I use the FG knot for all my leaders, and I never mind retying it on the water. If it needs to be done I tie it. It takes about 1 min for me to do it. The blood knots I tried with braid to leader never came out as small and even as your photo.

I use some small diameter lines like 8lb PP braid to 6-8lb fluoro, and for those small lines I love the FG.

 

I have never gotten my fg knot to behave correctly. Looks perfect and marveled by the way the weave looks but always seems bigger than I expect. I find other knot quicker and seem to be smaller for me.

[waymont]

15 minutes ago, Stephen B said:

I have never gotten my fg knot to behave correctly. Looks perfect and marveled by the way the weave looks but always seems bigger than I expect. I find other knot quicker and seem to be smaller for me.

It's funny how some people can get some knots, and others get other knots that just seem to come easy to them.

Trying out knots is a kind of fun thing for me to explore. I remember some fluoro knots drove me nuts for a while, until they clicked on how to tie them properly.

I feel like the thing that people don't do when tying the FG is to keep the braid very taught while wraping the leader around it. It makes for perfect over/under line lay, which makes the knot very straight and small. I tie 30lb braid to 15" of 30lb fluoro when the pike are around, and the knot will fly through semi micro guides very easily. When properly tied it's a very small knot.

[Stephen B]

5 minutes ago, waymont said:

It's funny how some people can get some knots, and others get other knots that just seem to come easy to them.

Trying out knots is a kind of fun thing for me to explore. I remember some fluoro knots drove me nuts for a while, until they clicked on how to tie them properly.

I feel like the thing that people don't do when tying the FG is to keep the braid very taught while wraping the leader around it. It makes for perfect over/under line lay, which makes the knot very straight and small. I tie 30lb braid to 15" of 30lb fluoro when the pike are around, and the knot will fly through semi micro guides very easily. When properly tied it's a very small knot.

Exactly! I tie 4 other connection knots and I can't get the fg to behave right. It looks good but seems big. Any advice?

[waymont]

9 minutes ago, Stephen B said:

Exactly! I tie 4 other connection knots and I can't get the fg to behave right. It looks good but seems big. Any advice?

Just what I wrote above. Keep the braid taught and wrap the leader tight but don't strangle it on there.

Pinch it after 20 total wraps, as you do the two half hitches, then pull tight before you cut the tags.

I watched the Salt Strong video as my reference, it was helpful.