Double Uni or Alberto Knot for Leader Knot ?

[ChrisD46]

I am faster tying and more comfortable tying a double Uni (versus Alberto) knot for braid to FC leader at this time . I had an Alberto knot slip on me before but never the double Uni knot . Curious if one is proven to be stronger than the other ? If thd Albrrto knot is stronger then I will practice tying it more and give it another try … Your thoughts and experiences between the double Uni and the Alberto knots ? 

[flatcreek]

Double uni works well for me so I stick with it 

[Skunkmaster-k]

I use a version of the uni knot for everything. 

[Bird]

Pretty good video on YouTube testing leader knots.

I started with the Alberto and never had a reason to change.

Each time I snag the knot at the hook is always the weakest link leaving behind leader to retie.

[NorthernBasser]

I use the Alberto. Never had an issue as far as I can recall. 

[casts_by_fly]

I've had a double uni break on me too many times when tying them.  I'll tie it at home and really test it and its too inconsistent.  I'll use it for a backing knot, but not a leader knot.  The Alberto is stronger, just as easy to tie on the water, and 100% consistent for me.  Its also a smaller knot if you're going to pass it through your guides, especially with heavier lines.

[gim]

I've struggled to tie line-to-line knots in the past.

 

I've tried both but I don't have enough experience with either one to say whether one is stronger or better than the other.

 

I've mostly been using the Alberto since I've found it easier to tie.

[Texas Flood]

I use a double uni but that's because I haven't tried the Alberto. I might try that knot this weekend on the lake.

[Team9nine]

Alberto is stronger, and is one I use regularly. Not a fan of the double uni, but some really good sticks use it and catch really big fish ( @A-Jay , among others) so if you can tie it well and like it - use it. I’m fairly convinced that if you have your drag set properly, the connecting knot used is largely irrelevant, because pressure never builds up enough for it to come into play.

[MN Fisher]

If I'm re-tying leaders on the water it's an Alberto as it's skinnier than a Double-Uni and not really any harder to tie.

 

When I'm prepping the night before a trip - FG.

[gim]

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

If I'm re-tying leaders on the water

 

This is when I REALLY struggle.  I have a hard enough time tying them at home in the garage.  On the water is like pulling teeth for this guy.

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, gimruis said:

This is when I REALLY struggle. 

You're way younger than me, and probably have twice the eyesight I do (I'm missing one...remember)....you just need to Practice-Practice-Practice.

[gim]

5 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

you just need to Practice-Practice-Practice.

 

I know it.

 

I'd rather be fishing than tying knots though.  Haha

[A-Jay]

Thanks @Team9nine

And I agree with the premise that the connection knot choice almost doesn't matter as long as it's tied correctly. 

The uni to uni connection knots works for me and my style of fishing.  I use straight FC on casting gear so no leader there.

Spinning gear gets either a FC or mono leader.  I will also say that I do use a fairly light drag setting whenever I can.  So after an effective hook set, I back off the drag.

IMO, this does at least two important things.  Protects all the connection knots a bit plus helps keep big fish pinned.

I try to be as smooth through the fight and net job as I can. Always includes a stick and gear ratio that supports all of that. An Extra Fast stick with an 8 speed reel, skiing the fish 50 ft across open water to my rig for a Bassmaster Boat Flip is not for me.  

YMMV

😎

A-Jay

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I know it.

 

I'd rather be fishing than tying knots though.  Haha

Those are the days you convince yourself that straight braid is just fine. The fish don’t mind…

[WRB]

Learn to tie the Lefty Kreh Leader knot.
Important to make sure the initial loop is sway from you. Very simple and compact easy knot to tie.

Tom 

[MN Fisher]

15 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I know it.

 

I'd rather be fishing than tying knots though.  Haha

Got a rocking chair at home? Sit in that, rock and practice tying your knots some evenings when you got free time.

[king fisher]

Uni to Uni knot is strong and easy to tie. I used it for 25 years. Alberto is better and what I use now for leader under 50 pound test. Alberto is easy and quick to tie, but takes practice to tie correctly. It will come untied if not tie properly. Both knots as well as many others are excellent knots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RAM3139]

The best know to use is the one you tie the best.  So if that's a double uni, no need to change.  Any theoretical "X knot is stronger by Y%" is fun trivia, but doesn't really matter if the knot is tied correctly.  Both are more than strong enough for even fully buttoned down drag.

 

I've used both and think the alberto goes through the guides a bit better, so I stick with that.  In case it helps, putting the tag end of the braid back through the loop from the wrong direction is easy to do and will make a knot that opens up after a while and slips.

[nso123]

I use the double uni without any issues.  It’s easy to tie and has held up for me. I always wet the knot before I cinch it down. It seems to help keep the line from breaking at the knot. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

There is some nuance, but the better knot is whichever one you can tie better.  Uni Uni is an easier knot and is plenty strong when tied correctly.  The Alberto is stronger for braid to leader and slimmer.  While mechanically the Alberto is easy to tie, the cinch determines its effectiveness and too many instructional videos get it wrong.  The Alberto needs to evenly and seated firmly (to where the braid takes a slightly darker color) to avoid slipping and have full knot strength.  The leader tag should also be trimmed nearly flush to the knot, that reduces the overall size and more importantly makes it impossible for the mainline to snag the tag.  It may sound like alot, but if you sit down and take some time to tie it repeatedly you become really fast and efficient with the Alberto fairly quick.          

[BrianMDTX]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Learn to tie the Lefty Kreh Leader knot.
Important to make sure the initial loop is sway from you. Very simple and compact easy knot to tie.

Tom 

Tom, I’m glad to hear that someone that most on BR look up to recommend this leader knot! It is so simple to tie (30 seconds?), it’s not big, and it’s very strong. It’s the only leader knot I use. I’ve only had one fail and that one was on me (I told myself to retie it but didn’t). 
 

I’ve used it as a braid-to-mono leader knot on 20 up to 50 lb. braid and 6, 8 to 12 lb. leaders. Lefty was a fantastic angler (and a great guy) and his leader and loop knots are genuinely top-notch. 

[ChrisD46]

For my spinning set ups I’m going to have to learn to trustthe Alberto for braid + FC leader . A smaller knot going through the guides is an advantage for casting. 

[flatcreek]

Tying an Alberto with 10# braid to a fluorocarbon leader with my arthritic fingers is like driving a nail with a paint brush.y’all can have it

[Bankc]

When it comes to knot strength, usually the one the holds the best is the one that you tie the best. 

 

Like a lot of people on this site and elsewhere love the Palomar.  But I keep getting it twisted and have had a ton of failures with that knot.  So I avoid using it if I can.  It's not that it's a bad knot.  It's just that I'm bad a tying it. 

 

Same thing with leader knots.  Theoretically, one can be stronger than another.  But realistically, usually whichever one you tie with the least twisting and the most consistent tension is the one that holds the best.  Which for me, in the case of a leader knot, is actually going to be the FG, followed by the double uni.