Braid to fluorocarbon leader

[AdrianLP]

I've tried braid main line to fluorocarbon leader several times. I've tried various knots (fg, Alberto, double uni). I'm no expert, but I can get some small decent looking knots. My braid is usually 8 lb or 15. I think my fluorocarbon leader was 12 lb.

 

My leader was about 6', which means it goes through my spinning rod's guides.

 

I've never tied a braid to fluoro knot that didn't break on the first or second cast.

 

How do you guys tie your braid to fluoro leaders that don't break when you cast? I wet the line when trying the knot so it sinches well and doesn't burn the line. I pull the knot tight.

 

I've also tried with 12 lb mono as a leader with the same result.

[PaulVE64]

If its breaking with both mono and fluoro leaders then I'm guessing that the problem is you.

 

Sorry to be blunt but it's almost surely your knot tying. I use an fg knot and I've tied it a thousand times.

 

[MN Fisher]

Are you making sure to wet the knot before cinching it down? Makes all the difference.

 

10# 832 -> 6# InvizX

20# Smackdown -> 10# InvizX

40# 832 -> 15# BasiX

50# 832 -> 17# Trilene XL

 

FG knot when setting up before a trip, Alberto in the boat if I have a break-off or lure-changes make the leader too short for my taste. Rarely break at the knot if I do break off.

[AdrianLP]

2 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

If its breaking with both mono and fluoro leaders then I'm guessing that the problem is you.

 

Sorry to be blunt but it's almost surely your knot tying. I use an fg knot and I've tied it a thousand times.

 

 

It happens as it passes through the final guide it seems. But if I tie the knot, and grab the line a foot or two at either side of the knot I can put it under considerable stress without it breaking (including jerking the knot under pressure).

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Are you making sure to wet the knot before cinching it down? 

 

For all my knots, yes. I mentioned that in the first post.

[Susky River Rat]

I use the double uni. 6-8 wraps. I almost never wet before I clinch down. I rarely have issues with that knot failing. If it does it’s me trying to get a snag out. 

[PaulVE64]

If its catching the last guide then try smaller knots.

There are many good knots, I think the FG is the best but find the best one for you

[AdrianLP]

2 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

If its catching the last guide then try smaller knots.

There are many good knots, I think the FG is the best but find the best one for you

 

I'm not using a crazy expensive rod (I might have spent $80 cad on it), I wonder if the guide material is causing the problem (maybe it's not very frictionless or something).

 

 

[NorthernBasser]

Curious what you're throwing on this setup. For that diameter braid, 12# fluoro/mono is bigger than most would use. Not saying that's the issue, just saying. Tho using 6-8# leader would make a thinner knot.

 

You don't have a nick in any of your guides, do you? 

[AdrianLP]

5 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

Curious what you're throwing on this setup. For that diameter braid, 12# fluoro/mono is bigger than most would use. Not saying that's the issue, just saying. Tho using 6-8# leader would make a thinner knot.

 

You don't have a nick in any of your guides, do you? 

 

I don't think I've any nicks, I've looked before but wasn't super thorough in checking. I've no breakage issues when using straight braid.

 

I usually use my spinning combo for unweighted and weighted plastics. Perhaps exclusively so.

[PaulVE64]

Hahaha,

Running braid thru cheap guides could leave you with a burr or knick.

Swirl a cotton swab thru that guide and see if anything is catching. 

[AdrianLP]

23 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

Hahaha,

Running braid thru cheap guides could leave you with a burr or knick.

Swirl a cotton swab thru that guide and see if anything is catching. 

 

I shall have to try that.

[papajoe222]

Try wrapping the braid around the mono, or fluoro. Doing it this way eliminates stressing the leader when tightening down the knot. I've yet to have that knot break since I began doing it this way.

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

Try wrapping the braid around the mono, or fluoro.

I thought that was the only way to do it. Braid being the more supple line makes it much easier to tie this way - wrapping the Mono/FC around the braid seems counter-intuitive.

[AdrianLP]

7 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

Try wrapping the braid around the mono, or fluoro. Doing it this way eliminates stressing the leader when tightening down the knot. I've yet to have that knot break since I began doing it this way.

 

You mean when tying the knot? Because the end result of the fg knot is that the braid (mainline) is wrapped around the leader (and not vice versa).

 

7 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I thought that was the only way to do it. Braid being the more supple line makes it much easier to tie this way - wrapping the Mono/FC around the braid seems counter-intuitive.

 

I usually do it this way, which is how everyone on YouTube sends to teach it:

 

 

[you]

A couple things could be causing problems with the last guide (besides guide damage).

 

1) How long are your tags? Using an albright knot for braid-FC, I've noticed leaving the tag even 0.5mm too long can cause more guide interaction and knot damage when casting.

 

2) How long are your knots? Longer knots will get hung up on or bend around smaller guides. With an FG knot, there's a trade-off with knot diameter, but too many wraps on other knots can cause this issue.

 

[AdrianLP]

10 hours ago, AdrianLP said:

 

You mean when tying the knot? Because the end result of the fg knot is that the braid (mainline) is wrapped around the leader (and not vice versa).

 

 

I usually do it this way, which is how everyone on YouTube sends to teach it:

 

 

 

Ya, that's what I use. When tying the knot he's moving the leader (not the mainline).

 

 

8 hours ago, you said:

A couple things could be causing problems with the last guide (besides guide damage).

 

1) How long are your tags? 

 

2) How long are your knots? 

 

 

Here's the knot I used today:

 

It's typical of my knots. It didn't break today, but I didn't do any crazy hard casts either.

 

This is 12 lb braid to 10 lb mono.

 

 

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, AdrianLP said:

Ya, that's what I use. When tying the knot he's moving the leader (not the mainline).

Ya - but it's still the braid wrapping around the leader...and yes, I use Luke's method to tie the FG as well.

[Big Swimbait]

This knot has never failed me.

[FishTank]

13 minutes ago, Big Swimbait said:

This knot has never failed me.

That's cool. I got to try it. 

[optimator]

2 hours ago, Big Swimbait said:

This knot has never failed me.

I love that knot! 

[you]

12 hours ago, AdrianLP said:

Here's the knot I used today:

 

 

Looks good to me. Hopefully the breaks are a thing of the past!

 

I've also had most of my leader knot issues after repeated, very hard casts, usually hucking swimbaits and popping cork rigs for distance on saltwater flats. For these apps, I now avoid FC and just use nylon. Seems to have helped.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

If that knot isnt lasting more then a couple casts, somethings very wrong with the knot.  I doubt its a cracked insert as you wouldn't be able to load the rod without cutting the line, and the failure point wouldn't be the knot.  

If you dont seat an Alberto completely and cut the tag, the knot is likely to slip and fail.  Unless the line is nearly worm out, you will see the color saturation of the line will brighten if its properly seated.  

18 hours ago, AdrianLP said:

 

As far as I can tell this FG looks pretty good from this distance.  I prefer Albertos the majority of the time.  To me the slight increase in knot strength doesn't warrant the extra time and effort, especially in the dark or windy conditions, but thats just me.  The best knot to use is the one you can confidently tie well.  tight lines.