Done with the alberto

[Bdnoble84]

I’m done with the Alberto. It likes to break just in front of the knot. I lost a crankbait and jerkbait snagged in rocks the other night that i should have been able to pull out. Its worth the extra time for me to tie the fg. Since i got it down it never fails. 

[Bankc]

I never tried the Alberto, but the FG has never failed me either.  So I'm sticking with it.  Except when I'm on the water and in a hurry and don't have the time or room to mess with an FG.  That's when I rely on the double uni.  

 

Though, I think sometimes a knot will just leave a bad taste in our mouths, when in reality, it's a good knot that is just the victim of bad luck/poor craftsmanship.  Like I know the Palomar is highly regarded in most circles, but that knot has failed me so many times, I've abandoned it for most everything outside of dropshots.  

[Darth-Baiter]

I have equal success with both knots.  But I’m 75% Alberto these days. 
 

my FG is my garage, standing in flip flops, time on my hands knot. 

[MN Fisher]

I'm with DB - FG is my 'night before prep' knot...when I have time and I'm standing on a stable surface. If I have to re-tie a leader on the water, it's an Alberto.

[Bdnoble84]

50 minutes ago, Bankc said:

I never tried the Alberto, but the FG has never failed me either.  So I'm sticking with it.  Except when I'm on the water and in a hurry and don't have the time or room to mess with an FG.  That's when I rely on the double uni.  

 

Though, I think sometimes a knot will just leave a bad taste in our mouths, when in reality, it's a good knot that is just the victim of bad luck/poor craftsmanship.  Like I know the Palomar is highly regarded in most circles, but that knot has failed me so many times, I've abandoned it for most everything outside of dropshots.  

This is my approach as well. The alberto is my on the water, palms too sweaty, too windy for lighter to melt tag end knot. But countless times i have had it break right in front of the knot. It really doesn't take me long to tie an fg these days, its just the conditions i mentioned.

 

im kinda the same way with the palomar as well. It hasnt ever failed me. I just struggle getting the loop through itself and it seems to waste alit of line.

[FishTank]

How about the carrot knot? I have been using it this year and so far, so good.

 

https://youtu.be/HEgHWuKlGa4

[Bdnoble84]

14 minutes ago, FishTank said:

How about the carrot knot? I have been using it this year and so far, so good.

 

https://youtu.be/HEgHWuKlGa4

Basically looks like the alberto i tie just wrapping the mono over the braid instead. I used to do that, but the mono would slip out. 

[MickD]

I don't know why an Alberto would break "just in front of the knot."  Or any knot.  If it's breaking there then it's not a knot problem.  How do you know the break is "just in front of the knot" if the knot is gone?  It could be an inch or two or more.  The leader must be somehow getting damaged if it's truly breaking.  Are you sure it's not unraveling?  

 

To make the Alberto reliable so that it cannot unravel tie the braid tag end into two tightly set half hitches after setting the Alberto tightly.  Bullet proof.  

[FishTank]

7 minutes ago, Bdnoble84 said:

Basically looks like the alberto i tie just wrapping the mono over the braid instead. I used to do that, but the mono would slip out. 

I have been using it on BFS gear with 6lb FC leader to #1.0  PE and it has held up pretty well. I do retie almost every other trip now. It's brought in some big ones like the one below.

 

[Pogues2300]

I think the fg’s reputation for being hard to tie is overblown. I re-tie it in my kayak so on a boat even easier. 

[Bdnoble84]

7 minutes ago, Pogues2300 said:

I think the fg’s reputation for being hard to tie is overblown. I re-tie it in my kayak so on a boat even easier. 

I agree. There is just more of a learning curve and you need to finish it right so it doesnt unravel.

[Cbump]

I don’t believe for a second the Alberto knot is your problem. I’ve caught 20lb jack crevalles on 20lb Braid to 10lb fc with Alberto. I’ve caught reds, Bonita, grouper, mangrove snapper. Used It for 15 years. That knot is solid. 

[FryDog62]

If there is even a slight "curly cue" where the line is breaking then it's the knot breaking and/or slipping out. If slipping out, the key on the Alberto is to go through the final loop at the end twice before cinching down. Much faster than the FG and just as strong. 

[Bdnoble84]

6 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

If there is even a slight "curly cue" where the line is breaking then it's the knot breaking and/or slipping out. If slipping out, the key on the Alberto is to go through the final loop at the end twice before cinching down. Much faster than the FG and just as strong. 

The line isnt slipping out from what i have seen. Its a straight break. That being said, i will give the double wrap a try.

[Fishin Dad]

I tie the FG 90% of the time.  I agree that it is not as hard to tie as people make it out to be.  I am far from a knot expert, and it is just a good consistent and reliable knot.  I can’t remember ever having one fail.  
the Alberto is also a great knot.  I use it once in a while now if I am in a big hurry.  It is a little faster.   

[Bdnoble84]

15 minutes ago, Cbump said:

I don’t believe for a second the Alberto knot is your problem. I’ve caught 20lb jack crevalles on 20lb Braid to 10lb fc with Alberto. I’ve caught reds, Bonita, grouper, mangrove snapper. Used It for 15 years. That knot is solid. 

Ive never broken it on a fish. I fish rock strewn rivers and snags are inevitable. I admit that i am putting excessive stress on the knot/line trying to get them out, but i have never had an fg fail. Its the same reason i went from a regular triline knot to the super triline. 

[Cbump]

You’ve never had an Alberto knot fail either if it’s breaking in front of the knot. 

[OkobojiEagle]

6 hours ago, Bdnoble84 said:

lost a crankbait and jerkbait snagged in rocks 

might be your expectations are a little high...

[Bdnoble84]

13 minutes ago, Cbump said:

You’ve never had an Alberto knot fail either if it’s breaking in front of the knot. 

Its the very front, no tag end sticking out. It only happens with the alberto. I do wet the knot before i cinch.

6 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

might be your expectations are a little high...

Maybe but ive never had the fg do this.

[Bird]

The Alberto knot is the only leader knot I've ever tied and every break off has been at the hook.

7 up 7 back and finish with line opposite of how it entered.

 

For reference I use 15# PP braid to 8# Sunline Snyper.

 

[T-Billy]

59 minutes ago, Bird said:

The Alberto knot is the only leader knot I've ever tied and every break off has been at the hook.

7 up 7 back and finish with line opposite of how it entered.

 

For reference I use 15# PP braid to 8# Sunline Snyper.

 

I do the same but finish by wrapping the tag through the loop twice before cinching. Never had one fail. 

[ska4fun]

8 hours ago, Bdnoble84 said:

I’m done with the Alberto. It likes to break just in front of the knot. I lost a crankbait and jerkbait snagged in rocks the other night that i should have been able to pull out. Its worth the extra time for me to tie the fg. Since i got it down it never fails. 

Never had any problem with it. I used the modified version, fishing with two passes in the mono line eyelet, since the common Albert tends to untie under extreme jerking.

[Darth-Baiter]

FG is easy. Finishing it is my issue. 

[BrianMDTX]

Lefty Kreh is easy-peasy. 30 second easy. Very strong. Not very big either. 

[Lmbasshunter]

I’ve never had the Alberto fail on a fish but have had it fail casting and when cinching the knot it would fail occasionally right above the knot like the OP said. I’m not a fan of connection knots in general but continue to use the Alberto on spinning gear due to how easy it is to tie. 7 wraps up 7 wraps down