Braid to fluorocarbon leader

[Jig Man]

Recently I posted about the topic and was going to use uni to uni with 15# braid to 10# fluorocarbon.  I did.  It was a disaster.  Some of you touted the Alberto knot which I used to tie.  After the uni to uni debacle I decided to go with it.  So I have been tying it.  It too is breaking at the knot.  That is a problem when I am a guest and can’t have backup setups in the rod locker.

 

Any tricks or tips on how to keep it from breaking at the knot?

[Glenn]

I don't use leaders.  Problem solved.

[ike8120]

I started using the Red Phillips Knot

 

[MassYak85]

If it's breaking at the leader knot is probably burning a bit when you cinch it down. I do braid to leader 90 percent of the time, either Alberto or Blood knot for bigger lines. If I break off it's the leader to lure connection 100 percent of the time. 

 

I'm also confused why you would need a backup setup? Are you not confident in retying on the water?

[JediAmoeba]

I run braid to leader almost 100% of the time. In 4 years I have had 1 knot fail at the line to line knot. The rest of the time it has broken at the lure. I always tie a blood knot on the water and a fg knot if I am at home. I usually have 10-15' leaders so they are bumping through my guides.

 

Cinch your knot with a lot of water on it and it won't fail. 

[islandbass]

I try to avoid using main line and leader but when I have to, I use the Albright. 

 

What was the nature the break and where exactly did it occur? This would be helpful and with that said, Given how braid can easily cut when it’s taut and 10# being “thin” in diameter, without more information I would speculate that these two traits might not be an ideal situation. Braid cuts into the fc. 
 

There very well could be other factors too. 

[dodgeguy]

3 hours ago, Glenn said:

I don't use leaders.  Problem solved.

This is the best tip Glenn has ever given.

[gim]

I use the double uni knot to tie braid to fluoro on several of my spinning setups.

 

In murky or turbid water, I could probably go straight braid as long as there aren’t any rocks. Fluoro holds up better on rocks, which is often where I’m targeting smallmouth in clearer waters.

 

[padon]

idk there must be an issue with how your tying it.i use the alberto or the fg and run braid to leader on all my spinning setups . i catch hundreds of smallmouth every year and never have have a breaking issue.

[softwateronly]

I use fg and improved alberto on most all set ups.  This link goes through cinching albertos correctly, maybe there's a nugget in there for you.

 

scott

 

 

[Choporoz]

Breaking? 

Or failing?  

What braid and what fluoro?   I ask because if the braid is smooth and smaller diameter, you may have some risk of it pulling through with alberto.  I use alberto all the time, but when I tried really slick, fine braid with thicker fluoro, it can pull through unless I double up the finish.  15 Gliss to 10 Abrazx will not work well. 

 I have also nicked the fluoro turn while trying to trim the braid tag close.  I was reminded by someone here that the braid tag doesn't need quite the same close crop.  No problems since.

[Susky River Rat]

I use a double uni. Most times it breaks at the lure. I also use a heavier leader than I do mainline. I found that works best due to the rocks and current here. I hate using straight fluorocarbon. 
 

If you are breaking off on snags it is what it is. If you are breaking in fish that’s an issue. I think some people feel their hooks line etc should never fail. They shouldn’t  on fish. Snags are completely different in my opinion. I do get most back but, some are keepers and it needs to break somewhere.

[T-Billy]

Try making two extra passes through the loop of the Alberto before cinching down. This will prevent it slipping if the very short tag pulls through. Also cinch it VERY tight. The braid should change color as it finishes cinching. 

This is how I tie it and I've not had one fail. My terminal knot, (trilene) or another spot on the leader always fail first.

[Junk Fisherman]

9 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

This is the best tip Glenn has ever given.

 

Maybe if you don't fish super clear water.  If you are and are not using braid with a fluoro leader then you are not using the most ideal setup.  I've successfully used straight fluoro on spinning but there is no question that the benefits of braid to fluoro is a better setup for castability and sensitivity.

 

To the OP- keep working that Alberto.  It's a great knot.  I'm not good at knots and I've abandoned the FG on 10-15 lb braid due to slippage.  But I have no problem with the Alberto.  9 wraps up and 7-8 coming back.  And I have really tested out the knot with the stray laker and carp on the big water so I know it can handle any bass I catch.  Keep at it.  

[michaelb]

On lighter lines like this, try the lefty kreh leader knot. Very easy to tie, something you can do on the boat if you break off. I use the FG knot for heavier flouro (40-50 lb).

 

 

[MickD]

Finish the Alberto with two overhand knots of the braid tag end.  That prevents any slip of the knot if you have very slippery line or have gone out the wrong way with the braid tag end.  Be sure to wet the knot as you set it, and set it very tightly.  

 

If this does not work I would suggest changing to another leader - might be bad stuff especially if you're using old line for a leader.  I use premium fly tippet for my leaders.  

[bulldog1935]

16 hours ago, islandbass said:

I try to avoid using main line and leader but when I have to, I use the Albright. 

...

what these guys said

 

and this would be the on-topic thread for straight-braid pile-on

 

[A kid from Canada]

I use Mono leaders with braid with good success. 

[dodgeguy]

2 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

 

Maybe if you don't fish super clear water.  If you are and are not using braid with a fluoro leader then you are not using the most ideal setup.  I've successfully used straight fluoro on spinning but there is no question that the benefits of braid to fluoro is a better setup for castability and sensitivity.

 

To the OP- keep working that Alberto.  It's a great knot.  I'm not good at knots and I've abandoned the FG on 10-15 lb braid due to slippage.  But I have no problem with the Alberto.  9 wraps up and 7-8 coming back.  And I have really tested out the knot with the stray laker and carp on the big water so I know it can handle any bass I catch.  Keep at it

Use straight flouro

[Darth-Baiter]

@Glenn response was the opposite of helpful.   almost judgey!!

 

haha..but here, i hope i can help.  i use the Alberto.  i gave up on the FG which i can tie, but suck at finishing.  the Alberto keeps me happy.  (and sane).

 

i assume you know how to go around and around to and fro.  as i start to tighten it all down, i wet it down. i get it to where it is bunching up neatly.  then! i wet my knot down with fishing line glue.  the stuff that hardens with a UV light.  it is greasy almost when it is un-cured.  on my kayak i just use lake water, or my saliva.  then i pull it all tight.  when you clip it, be carefull not to clip beyond the tag end.  i bet you are going in tight and you weakend a loop?  i used to do that all the time.  now i put on my reading glasses, use sharp cutters and get adequate lighting to get the cutting done.  

 

my Alberto's are tiny!  one of my great joys associated with fishing are the darn knots.  i like knowing my knots are reliable.  similar to those guys that find joy in catching fish on homemade lures.  we are just one more step into the process.  weird, i know.  but i love my involment and participation.  

 

 

[Standard]

All my rods are braid to flouro leader, using the Alberto knot.  The only time I have issues with it is when I get sloppy and try to tie one fast.  

 

Make sure the braid enters and exits the flouro loop on the same side.  When tightening, I pull main and tag lines first to get everything cinched down, then pull hard on the main line while making sure the braid is fully seated.

[Mike L]

15 hours ago, Glenn said:

I don't use leaders.  Problem solved.

Ditto!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Chet C]

this works for me, fast i can normally tie braid to mono under 20 seconds or so

 

 

chet

[Junk Fisherman]

1 hour ago, dodgeguy said:

Use straight flouro

 14 lb YGK Sol gives me 20% better casting distance than 7 lb Gamma Touch (this is the best casting straight fluoro I have used).  That is quite significant when throwing light swimbaits and Ned rigs.  Now factor in the sensitivity of braid over fluoro and there's not much of a comparison.  

[king fisher]

The Alberto knot is easy to tie, very strong if tied correctly.  It will come untied if you make some common mistakes.  It doesn't slip ,it simply comes untied because the tag end on the braid works its way back through the knot.  You can stop this from happening by simply tying a couple half hitches above the knot.  This works, but is not necessary if you tie the knot correctly.  Unfortunately those mistakes are made in many instructional videos showing how to tie it.  The Uni to Uni know is bigger, and not as strong, but is more difficult to tie wrong.  If you have trouble with the Alberto, I recommend uni to uni, or you can watch videos until you find one that specifically shows you the common mistakes made.  

       It is very easy on some knots to think you are tying them correctly when you actually are making a big and costly mistake.  I tied the Palomar for years 20 years doing the same mistake without ever realizing I wasn't tying it correctly.  One day a friend and had a knot contest and his knot always beat my Palomar.  I noticed the Palomar was always breaking in the same place.  It was then I realized I was unconsciously making a single twist while bringing the lure back through the loop.  This caused the line to cross over itself at the point of contact.  After correcting my bad habit, the Palomar has lived up to its reputation as one of the strongest knots.  The same is true for the Alberto.   A simple mistake that goes unnoticed can give the knot an undeserved bad reputation.