Braid to Leader

[Rickyh2000]

Running a similar diameter braid to fluoro with an FG knot has me wondering.  I’ve seen some people twist with the braid and some with the fluoro, but I can’t find anything that explains why or what lines are better for either.  The general consensus is it extends the strength of a lighter lb braid down a stronger lb fluoro leader by twisting with the braid (main line).  Is it the opposite twisting with a lighter lb fluoro leader?  We all know braid bites into fluoro so my concern is FG with similar diameters decreasing the leader strength and breaking it at the knot.  Especially over time.  The double uni seems like a better knot for a lighter leader simply because both lines are wrapped.  All thoughts are greatly appreciated.  Look forward to chatting with everyone.

Ricky

[CrankFate]

I’m just going to give my opinion on the FG knot. It’s great for tuna fishing, big game fishing and deep sea fishing. With thick line. Where losing a single fish is losing thousands upon thousand of dollars of invested money. For fishing less than 65 lb braid and less than 50lb fluoro, there’s no need for that type of knot, IMO. It’s a great knot, if you like to use it, knock yourself out. But I never broke off at my leader knot. If I’m fishing 20lb braid or less, to 15lb fluoro or less, a uni/uni or overhand/uni knot works perfectly. IMO, for FW bass fishing the uni knot seems better to me, too.

[Maggiesmaster]

I’ve found the Shin knot is a bit easier to tie than the Alberto knot, and I’ve landed 8 lb bass while using that combo. Haven’t even attempted the FG knot. 

[bulldog1935]

I think the OP's logic is reversed.  It's the single bend at the end of a double-uni where the smaller line will cut through the thicker.  

I've been rolling Albright knots for 40 years, and easy to continue that with braid, plus it's 1/3 the cross section of a double-uni.  

[desmobob]

I only use the FG because I found myself breaking off at the leader knot occasionally and/or wishing for a slimmer profile than the uni-to-uni or Alberto.  I still use one of those two sometimes if I have to tie on the water and I'm in a big hurry or the water is rough.

 

I also get a certain satisfaction from tying a good-looking FG.  I prefer to do it at home though.

 

 

[Rickyh2000]

 

[Bluebasser86]

I tie an Alberto knot. Super easy to tie, very small profile, and very strong if tied correctly. 

[Rickyh2000]

What I’ve been noticing though is the FG has no tags on the cast end..

[king fisher]

I tie hundreds of FG knots every year for salt water fishing.  I see no need for an FG for any bass fishing I do.  I used blood, surgeon, double uni, and Albright knots for years and still use Surgeon, and blood knots for fly leaders.  I tied my last Albright, the first time I saw an Alberto tied.  I can tie an Alberto faster than any other braid to leader knot, including blood knots which I have been tying for over 40 years.  The Alberto is slimmer, and stronger than a double uni, which is my second choice.  Use whatever knot you can tie well, but don't think you can't learn to tie an Alberto quickly.

[NHBull]

FG for micro guides.

 

Uni-uni for spinning  gear.

 

 

[desmobob]

15 minutes ago, NHBull said:

FG for micro guides.

 

Another reason for my FG knot preference... many of my rods are Kistler KLXs purchased during the time micro guides were very popular.

[TnRiver46]

12 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

I think the OP's logic is reversed.  It's the single bend at the end of a double-uni where the smaller line will cut through the thicker.  

I've been rolling Albright knots for 40 years, and easy to continue that with braid, plus it's 1/3 the cross section of a double-uni.  

Albright was the first braid to leader knot I learned, I haven’t found a need for another one 

 

when I first bought braid a few years back, I tried my fly leader knots and they all slipped so I had to look up Albright 

[waymont]

What do you mean by twist? I don't really understand your question.

[Rickyh2000]

By twist I meant wrapping when tying the knot.  Some wrap with the fluoro leader and some wrap with the braded main line

[Bankc]

I wrap with the leader.  I've used 6# fluoro on everything from 6#-40# braid, and used #12 fluoro on everything from 10#-40# braid.  I've never had an FG knot fail.  Between the fact that it has never failed me, and how it goes through micro guides and those Daiwa T-wings with ease, it's pretty much the only leader knot I use.  On rare occasions, I'll use a double uni if I'm out on the water and in a hurry.  I don't find the FG hard to tie, but it does take a while and isn't a lot of fun to mess with in a kayak on rough water.  

[soflabasser]

I use a mono leader with braid and use a uni to uni knot.

[Dye99]

20 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I tie an Alberto knot. Super easy to tie, very small profile, and very strong if tied correctly. 

 This.

[TcRoc]

Uni to uni for me.. I've tried the Fg and failed everytime lol

[Rickyh2000]

I can’t thank you all enough for the feedback. I’m never an internet reseach kind of guy…just go off what I know works after fishing over 40 years for everything in fresh and inshore.  Although bass was my heart growing up I quit the seriousness about it probably 15 years ago maybe.  I was in minor league baseball and just wanted some relief from the competition and south Florida  heat so I fell in love with fishing creeks again like I also did growing up.  Coming home in the offseason and injury days bass was always a competition with my old buddies so I just fell in love with ultralights in the creek and redfish inshore.  The braid/leader knot controversy/experience  isn’t there in those two, and I can tie all of them.  Just wanted to get some experienced input from you all.  My 11 year old son is all about bass and bored with creek fishing….mainly because he gets hung up a lot.  But, I’m patient, and I get him undone.  My lesson to him is “if you learn to hit holes and flip structure in this creek you can cast anywhere”.  It hasn’t decreased his bass fix or his longing for a baitcaster.  Thanks YouTube.  He’s done pretty well with the BlackMax combo I got him last week.  For me though, it was getting info from you guys on the leader knots.  I run 66 lb micro swivels (can’t remember the brand, but they’re litteraly 1/4 the size of another popular brand 30 lb) polamar on braid side and improved clinch on leader side.  Never had an issue.  I don’t and won’t run the micro swivels on bass not so much for the rod guides, but more so for the “catch” on structure like lilypad v’s and slime pick up.  So, again, is why I asked you all.  I really like the strength and quick tie of the alberto, but I can tie an FG with just a minute more maybe, and the thing I love most about it is there are no tags on the cast end.  The vid I posted earlier about tying it with no tension is solid.  Check it out if you haven’t already.

[FishTank]

Alberto knot has been working for me. 

[Taylormade113]

I love knot talk. Honestly. It speaks to the individualistic side of fishing and its awesome. 

 

My take is that I learned the Alberto knot from "one rod/one reel", and have never looked back. I have never had micro guides or run braid to leader on anything other than my spinning set up. In all of my hang ups where I have broken off, I have not once broke my leader knot. I (My sons fishing a ned rig) have broken off a ton! lol. I can tie the knot quickly and cleanly with a combo of 6/8 wraps down and then 4/6 wraps back up. 

 

Just an easy knot and one I will teach my boys when they need it. 

 

[Deleted account]

When the line and leader are the same, or very close in diameter, I go with the uni-uni. For lines of different diameters, I'll go with the modified albright, FG, or other similar knots where the thinner line wraps.

[zeth]

Uni sucks imo. I've had more breaks with the uni/uni than any other.  With Alberto I almost never have an issue other than it is bigger than I like. With the FG I can make my leaders a little too long and they run into the spool and it's doesn't seem to matter much, rods that have micro guides cast better and I believe it's better overall but you need to make sure that you get the braid to dig in or watch your lure or fish go bye bye. Also once you figure it out, to me the FG is very fast and easy to tie. 

[Rickyh2000]

Thanks everybody!  Your info has cut my hands to pieces the last week or so trying different knots in my garage.  So, here’s what I’ve noticed on my own with the Alberto vs the FG.  First, I forgot to mention I only run the micro swivels on heavy spin rigs in saltwater.  Despite what Hank Parker claims they just don’t work for me on freshwather rigs.  Second, please don’t take my findings as the gospel or opinions or facts…they’re simply things I noticed myself.  The rig I tested was with a Lew’s Tournament Pro baitcaster on a 7’ BP Carbonlite rod with standard guides…not the micros.  30# PowerPro with 17# Berkley Vanish.  18 and 20 wraps on the FG, and 7 wraps to and fro on the Alberto.  The Alberto won hands down.  Just pulling with my hands and not a meter, I couldn’t tell a noticeable difference in their break points.  It took well over 17 lbs to break both but not enough to notice.  The biggest difference was the guide pass.  Holding the rod about 45 degrees the FG surprisingly caught on way more guides and had more trouble than the Alberto which passed every guide every time and only barely snagged the last guide sometimes.  Although the FG’s thinner, it’s hardly noticeable on the 30/17 lines vs the Alberto.  What IS noticeable is the FG covers more line length whereas the Alberto is more compact.  I’m not a physics guru, but it stands to reason the FG’s length has a greater chance to catch/drag guides than the more compact Alberto.  A lot more compact.  Next, I’m gonna put the uni/uni and see.  I’ve used the uni/uni before, but I’m loving the chance to test it with the setup I have.  My conclusion so far is find what works best for the rig just like guns perform better with different ammo…it takes time and testing.  The FG probably has no issues on a big guide spincast, but maybe it does on a baitcast?  Maybe not, but it’s worth testing the rig to find out what’s best.  So many times  folks bash things but don’t consider it may be their gear isn’t meant for it, and I really hate that because there are great opinions from seasoned fishermen like yourselves everyone can learn from.   

[the reel ess]

On 8/12/2021 at 5:46 PM, soflabasser said:

I use a mono leader with braid and use a uni to uni knot.

Likewise. I also like the surgeon for when I'm tying the leader with no bait tied on. But I lean to double uni.