Awww, cute. My first FG knot. !!

[Darth-Baiter]

You all read my 20lb braid thread.  It’s the knot (Alberto) giving me fits.  It huge!   I buckled down and tried the FG knot using the rod flex as the tensioner.  Boom!   What  a tiny knot!  Very cool knot.  I feel li,d I accomplished something.  And I’m buzzed!   
 

cant wait to try it this weekend. 

[PaulVE64]

it took me 4 months to be able to consistently tie a bullet proof fj knot.

so worth it

[Darth-Baiter]

It’s nuts!   Super slender knot. 

[islandbass]

You should feel accomplished. I remember when I first investigated it. After seeing what had to be done, I said, “Screw that. Too much work/trouble,” lol. I use the Albright knot when I need to join lines. Works well, has never failed and it doesn’t get caught in the guides much if at all. 

[SC53]

Just tied my first few myself. 
I found a video that showed wrapping the leader instead of the braid. Much easier. In it he kept the tension on the braid by wrapping it around his pinky finger. I tried that and my old hands wouldn’t do it. So I took a small pair of vice grips, locked them to the braid and wrapped around my leg once leaving the grip hanging keeping tension on the braid. It left both hands to tie it. Easy peasy. 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, SC53 said:

Just tied my first few myself. 
I found a video that showed wrapping the leader instead of the braid. Much easier. In it he kept the tension on the braid by wrapping it around his pinky finger. I tried that and my old hands wouldn’t do it. So I took a small pair of vice grips, locked them to the braid and wrapped around my leg once leaving the grip hanging keeping tension on the braid. It left both hands to tie it. Easy peasy. 

If you're talking the vid from Salt Strong where Luke shows the pinky-finger method - ya, that's the one I use now for my FG tying.

 

What ever way you find to get the tension on the braid, go ahead...it's a great main-leader knot and works on everything from my 50# PP/15# AbrazX to my 10# 832/6# InvizX

[SC53]

Yep that’s the one MN. Just couldn’t make it work without using the pinky. 

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, SC53 said:

Yep that’s the one MN. Just couldn’t make it work without using the pinky. 

Vise-grips and around the leg works for you, so it works. Long as you have tension it's fine...you could even just sit on the grips if need be..

[LrgmouthShad]

I have pretty much only used the FG knot for leaders. Many times it outlasts the knot I tie to my lure. 

32 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Vise-grips and around the leg works for you, so it works. Long as you have tension it's fine...you could even just sit on the grips if need be..

I lean the rod away from me and hold line with my teeth and tighten drag all the way. 
 

edit: another thing I’ll add.... you can do this on a kayak with a rod 7’ and under. It is not terribly difficult to do. Sure FG knot is a little more labor intensive but it gives me total confidence that I can aggressively fight a fish when needed. Not addressing this specifically to you MN Fisher, just anybody

[MN Fisher]

4 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I lean the rod away from me and hold line with my teeth

I got bad teeth - I don't trust them that much.

 

I do the 'around the pinky' method Luke showed in the Salt Strong vid - works fine for me.

[SC53]

On 5/22/2021 at 11:58 AM, MN Fisher said:

I got bad teeth - I don't trust them that much.

 

I do the 'around the pinky' method Luke showed in the Salt Strong vid - works fine for me.

Not using my teeth for holding anything or cutting mono anymore. Used to hold a piece of a cast net in my mouth when throwing until one of the line got behind a tooth and lost it on the throw?. $5K later for an implant. No thanks. 

[txchaser]

Here's I finally settled on for me: Tie it to a belt loop or a button on your shirt and lean the rod out for tension. Arbor knot works great. Far enough away from your face to see it, don't need to hunt for gadgets or tools. 

[ChrisD46]

#20 lb. braid + #10 lb. FC / Co-Poly leader using a double uni - knot :  For a quick , essentially secure , easy to tie  connection that goes through my guides easily - it's a tough to beat ... I never use more than a 5' ~ 6' leader length and don't reel the knot up into the reel , so it works for me ... Nothing against the FG knot though - if you can tie it fast on the water with wind and waves - then have at it !

[Bankc]

On 5/22/2021 at 6:35 AM, LrgmouthShad said:

I have pretty much only used the FG knot for leaders. Many times it outlasts the knot I tie to my lure. 

I lean the rod away from me and hold line with my teeth and tighten drag all the way. 
 

edit: another thing I’ll add.... you can do this on a kayak with a rod 7’ and under. It is not terribly difficult to do. Sure FG knot is a little more labor intensive but it gives me total confidence that I can aggressively fight a fish when needed. Not addressing this specifically to you MN Fisher, just anybody

That's what I do.  Only on the kayak, I tend to go with a double uni, should I need it.  I have tied the FG on my kayak before, but it takes a while, and I'm usually in a hurry.  With the double uni, I can tie it in seconds.  With the FG, I have to drop the anchor so I don't get washed up into something.