FG knot issues with light line

[Firstoutfisher]

Finally got around to learning the FG knot and I can't get it to work for the life of me. I'm using 10lb seaguar smackdown braid with 8lb seaguar red label fluoro. After completing my 16-20 wraps for the FG knot and tying the 2 half hitches to lock it in place. Whenever I go to cinch the knot down by pulling on the leader+main line the fluoro just slips through the knots/wraps. Am I doing something wrong or is it because of the line I am using?

[bulldog1935]

Here's my improved Allbright, YGK PE#1 - same diameter as your braid - to 10-lb Seaguar Grand Max

That's the smallest microguide size on a BFS rod. 

Don't know about FG knot, but when tightening this knot, I'm holding both standing and tag ends of the fluoro together, and rolling the braid wraps while tightening the braid tag end (usually have the braid tag end in my teeth) - and not pulling hard, just shortening the wraps and taking up slack. 

Before final tightening, I take up fluoro on its tag end. 

This is a slippery knot, and rock-solid. 

 

Sounds like you should be holding the fluoro tag end together with the standing braid until all slack is out of the braid wraps. 

 

Tag ends are the parts of both lines that you trim away when done.

Standing line is the long part you're going to keep. 

[DogBone_384]

I learned the FG knot recently too, and experienced the same problem.

 

I found that I wasn’t cinching the wraps tight enough while building the knot.

 

Keep practicing. At first I’d get only one of four or five right. After a lot of practice, I got it down pretty good.

 

Good luck and keep practicing.

[FryDog62]

The key is to lock in and listen for it to click into place early on in the alternating wraps. Otherwise it can pull loose. Watch this video - especially at the 3:20 mark:

 

 

That being said, I have switched back to the Alberto knot - but with the 3 hitch finish. Faster, just as strong with the added hitch knots, and small thru the guides. 
 

Video
 

 

[Kdizzle]

I think the FG is just a bit too much overkill for anything below a 12 lb leader.  Just pulling the knot tight can cause a lot of damage to lighter line.  The Albright or Uni to Uni are really more of a fit for that type of leader connection.

[Darren.]

Sometimes simplest is best, IMHO. Mod'd Albright,

or just the uni-to-uni. That's my go to, no problemos.

[RDB]

54 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

The key is to lock in and listen for it to click into place early on in the alternating wraps. Otherwise it can pull loose. Watch this video - especially at the 3:20 mark:

 

 

That being said, I have switched back to the Alberto knot - but with the 3 hitch finish. Faster, just as strong with the added hitch knots, and small thru the guides. 
 

Video
 

 

 

^^^THIS^^^

The FG is my go to knot for braid to fluoro.  The only difference for me is if I put the main line in my mouth, I go cross eyed.  I make 3-4 wraps of the main line around my pinky finger going toward me to keep tension.  Then just wrap with your thumb and index finger and tighten your pinky to ensure it sets.

 

[Buzzbaiter]

Are you wrapping the fluoro around the braid? If so, that’s your problem. The braid goes around the fluoro.

 

personally, I opt for an Alberto knot. It’s easier and just as effective (for my purposes, at least)

[MickD]

3 hours ago, Firstoutfisher said:

completing my 16-20 wraps for the FG knot and tying the 2 half hitche

The knot works by the weaves tightening down onto the leader and actually deforming the leader.  When you use this many weaves it defeats the way the knot works.  Also, it doesn't work that well on lighter leaders.  It was designed for heavy salt leaders that have a lot of "meat" to deform, but the lighter leaders seem to just bend and don't provide the mechanical interlock that the heavy ones provide.  Try tying it with 12 weaves, and do one with really heavy leader, like 40 pound test, then one with your  8 pound flouro.  Then take the knots apart with a razor blade and see the difference in how the leader has reacted to the tightening of the weaves.  

 

I think you are trying to apply the wrong knot to your setup.  Some maybe can make it work.  Most of us cannot.  Try the Alberto, but add two  tightly set half hitches of the tag end of braid back onto the braid to keep it from unravelling.

[Bankc]

3 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

I learned the FG knot recently too, and experienced the same problem.

 

I found that I wasn’t cinching the wraps tight enough while building the knot.

 

Keep practicing. At first I’d get only one of four or five right. After a lot of practice, I got it down pretty good.

 

Good luck and keep practicing.

That's what I do.  I pinch it to keep it tight as I'm typing it, and I'll cinch it down every other wrap.  I use it with 6# fluoro on 10# braid and never have problems.  Most videos show you waiting until you've tied the overhand knots to cinch it down.  That never works for me.  

[txchaser]

If I recall correctly that specific braid is pretty slick, and slick braid is tough on an FG knot. Three things have worked for me - try them independently: 

 

1) Try wetting the braid before you cinch it down. Seems counterintuitive but it has helped. 

2) Instead of pulling on the cinch, try a light popping motion. It'll be really obvious when the knot starts to catch. Something about getting it started I guess. 

3) Are you cinching the first two half-hitches down really tight? 

 

Bonus: I think the japanese style hitting the end of the leader with a lighter to get a tiny mushroom on it -after- the cinch is a decent idea. I still do it because I can't see a reason not to. 

 

Bonus 2: six-turn surgeon is really fast, and since the line is small the knot won't get in the guides much anyway. Worth a shot. 

[FryDog62]

2 hours ago, RDB said:

 

^^^THIS^^^

The FG is my go to knot for braid to fluoro.  The only difference for me is if I put the main line in my mouth, I go cross eyed.  I make 3-4 wraps of the main line around my pinky finger going toward me to keep tension.  Then just wrap with your thumb and index finger and tighten your pinky to ensure it sets.

 

Yup, I either tie to my belt loop or reel handle. You hit a certain age whether you need bifocals or not that holding the line in your teeth becomes impractical/impossible! 

[txchaser]

If I recall correctly that specific braid is pretty slick, and slick braid is tough on an FG knot. Four things have worked for me - try them independently: 

 

1) Try wetting the braid before you cinch it down. Seems counterintuitive but it has helped. 

2) Instead of pulling on the cinch, try a light popping motion. It'll be really obvious when the knot starts to catch. Something about getting it started I guess. 

3) Are you cinching the first two half-hitches down really tight? 

4) Scrape the braid with your fingernail. I don't think this particular braid is waxy, but if it is, try it. 

Bonus: I think the japanese style hitting the end of the leader with a lighter to get a tiny mushroom on it -after- the cinch is a decent idea. I still do it because I can't see a reason not to. 

 

Bonus 2: six-turn surgeon is really fast, and since the line is small the knot won't get in the guides much anyway. Worth a shot. 

 

Bonus 3: STOP HOLDING THE LINE IN YOUR MOUTH. Can't see a dang thing. Tie it to a belt loop or a shirt hole so you can see what you are doing. 

 

[ATA]

3 hours ago, Kdizzle said:

I think the FG is just a bit too much overkill for anything below a 12 lb leader.  Just pulling the knot tight can cause a lot of damage to lighter line.  The Albright or Uni to Uni are really more of a fit for that type of leader connection.

I cant say I am agree with you, I have my 15lb test to 6lb and sometimes 4lb test fluorocarbon for my spinning setup and the reason I am doing FG knot on it because it is going through the guides as smooth as can be.

I never had problem with it and I do 24 wraps and my closing is with rizzuto knot always.

[islandbass]

3 hours ago, Darren. said:

Sometimes simplest is best, IMHO. Mod'd Albright,

or just the uni-to-uni. That's my go to, no problemos.

Alright, you got me. I use the Albright. What would the modified Albright be? My curiosity has been piqued, lol. 
 

That FG knot always makes me think in my head, “Fahget about it,” lol. I get a headache just watching how it’s tied. 

[newapti5]

There are plenty of discussion here, and on the Internet, about how to tie the FG knot. I recommend the method from Tackle Advisor on Youtube - I don't want to put anything in my mouth, I don't want to pull out some specific tool to tie it, and I especially don't want to put a flame anywhere near my line. His bare-handed method works pretty well for me, and 10lb smackdown on a 8lb leader should be no problem after some practice as I used that setup all the time, with some extra wraps of course. In the last several years after learning the FG knot, it only failed me once, and that was because I tied it in a hurry.  

 

My personal experience: 

1. stop and check at the beginning, especially with light lines, to make sure all the wraps are neat and tight, nothing loose or twisted. 

2. I usually do 20 wraps, but 25 if the line is thin and slippery like the 10# smackdown. 

3. I don't tighten the 2 half hitches too hard, as I want later all the wraps cinch into the leader really well. 

4. before I pull hard to cinch, I wet the knot thoroughly. 

5. At home, I usually wear plastic gloves to pull really hard; while outside, I will just pull as hard as I can bare-handed. But either way, I make sure the transparent fluoro leader turns dark, as that means it successfully cinches down. 

6. after that, I tie another two half hitches on braided line only, cut the tag ends It's good to go.

 

 

[Functional]

I know i usually spam these FG knot threads with this link but its by far the easiest way and I use it pretty much only for my lighter finesse lines (10lb braid to 6 and 8lb floro). I've bent ned hooks before this knot has failed me getting snagged on dock supports. Easy to adjust the tension to the needed amount, might need some playing around with but usually I'll keep it tight enough where the braid wants to bend the floro, after 2-4 wraps ill pull straight the floro and it cinches up the braid wraps.

 

 

[MickD]

When wanting to hold the braid by tieing to a belt loop to get it farther from the eyes and to save the teeth when tying the FG, those little rubber twist tie thingies work well for this.  Just wrap the braid around it a few times and its soft sticky surface holds it well.

[Darren.]

12 hours ago, islandbass said:

Alright, you got me. I use the Albright. What would the modified Albright be? My curiosity has been piqued, lol. 
 

That FG knot always makes me think in my head, “Fahget about it,” lol. I get a headache just watching how it’s tied. 

 

Simply put, depending on your line thickness, you go up 8-10 wraps

(or more for thinner lines), then wrap back down in between each

wrap the same number of wraps up. Moisten, cinch down.

 

Now there are plenty of variations. I've had real success going up

8-10-15, then back down half the wraps instead of matching the

number I wrapped up. If that makes sense.

[Firstoutfisher]

Wow I did not expect so many replies. Lots of good information here. I appreciate everyone's input. I'm going to practice some different knots and do some testing whenever I get time. 

[PressuredFishing]

On 10/19/2021 at 2:46 PM, Firstoutfisher said:

Finally got around to learning the FG knot and I can't get it to work for the life of me. I'm using 10lb seaguar smackdown braid with 8lb seaguar red label fluoro. After completing my 16-20 wraps for the FG knot and tying the 2 half hitches to lock it in place. Whenever I go to cinch the knot down by pulling on the leader+main line the fluoro just slips through the knots/wraps. Am I doing something wrong or is it because of the line I am using?

Some guys are saying you aren't tying it right, personally I'm not wanting to be a perfectionist in knot tying, and take the extra 10 minutes to make the knot perfect when I could be fishing. I want to tie a lure on with a simple clinch not and get my line in the water. Go copolymer or floro and leave braid in the dust. Use it for flipping and pitching, or frogs, but it's more or a hassle for me

[uglyasheck]

I use the exact setup line and # test. Make more raps and when you finish your raps and make that first knot make sure to pull it tight. I normally do about 25 raps. The more you do it the better you will get at it. FG is the way to go so don't be discouraged.

[desmobob]

The FG is my favorite but I struggle to tie it in really light lines.  I often give up and use an Alberto; my second-favorite braid-to-leader knot.