FG Knot 101 Lesson: The Best Method For Beginners

Have you been struggling with tying the FG knot?

What is the best way for beginners to tie the FG knot?

Do not give up!

Learn everything you need to know about the FG knot below!!

FG Knot 101 [VIDEO]

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As with any fishing knot, the key is repetition and getting more comfortable with the knot.

In most cases, difficulty with the FG knot has to do with leader material being too thin and flexible.

To get familiar with the knot, it is best to use a thicker leader, even leader you do not plan on using.

It is easier to practice with the heavier, thicker leader than the lighter leader.

After many knot contests, the FG knot proves time and again to be the thinnest knot as well as the strongest knot.

Tying The Knot

Using the tension method, lean a rod up against a chair or in a rod holder that way it is stable.

You want tension on the mainline.

Take the mainline, and wrap it around your pinky finger several times to tighten the tension on the line so you have control over it.

Next, with the tag end of the leader line, wrap it around the mainline wrapping away from you about 4-inches above your pinky finger.

Then, do the same but wrap the leader around the mainline towards you.

This process is threading the main braided line around the leader line.

It is easier to practice this with the thicker line because as you twist and wrap the lines around each other, the leader line does not bend or tangle up.

Repeat the process as described above 16-20 times.

As long as you use 16 or more twists, the knot will hold.

On the last turn, stop when the leader is pointing away from you and in line with the mainline.

The coils formed during this process make up the FG knot and determine the strength of the knot.

The next step is to pinch your thumb down on the coils to keep them stationary.

With the tag end of the braided line, wrap it around the mainline and the tag end of the leader line and then go back through the hole formed by the tag end.

This is called a half-hitch knot.

Tighten after you feed the tag end through the loop formed around the mainline and leader tag end.

Now, the coils are locked into place.

Repeat this again once more for good measure.

This step is vital and if you miss it, the knot itself can fall apart.

After you repeat the half-hitch knot, reach up the mainline and wrap it around your hand three times.

Be careful and use gloves if preferred because braid can hurt and pierce your skin if you aren’t cautious.

What you want to do next is tighten the knot down and you will see the braided line digging into the leader.

This ultimately determines the strength of the FG knot.

If the braid doesn’t dig into the leader material, it can slide off on a cast.

Then, you can cut the tag end of the leader line very close to the knot itself.

One final step is finishing off the knot with 3-4 more half-hitch knots.

The final step is cutting off the tag end of the braided line about 1/4-inches from the knot.

The FG knot is thin because the leader line doesn’t double over and the strength is in the coils.

Because the knot has many coils, the tension on the line is spread out amongst them.

Conclusion

If you are a beginner with regards to the FG knot, start out with thicker leader material and practice until you are able to use lighter and lighter material that you will end up fishing with.

After some practice and repetition, you will find out the FG knot is fairly easy to tie and holds up to any other fishing knot out there.

Be sure to keep practicing and testing your knot’s strength because that is how you will get better at tying knots!

If you have any questions on fishing knots or tying them, please let me know down in the comments!

And if you know someone who wants to learn more about fishing knots, please TAG or SHARE this with them!

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CAPN' SANTA
2 months ago

GREETINGS,
I AM NEW TO ALL THIS AND I AM WONDERING WHY, WHAT FOR, WHAT IS AN ADVANTAGE OF THE FG KNOT ?
IS THIS FOR BIG SALT WATER FISH, 10-30 POUNDS OR SMALLER SALT WATER, 1-8 POUND SIZE FISH?

John Crumlich
2 months ago

Excellent tutorial for us non-knot tying people(all thumbs). How long of a leader do you typically use?

Harvey Pepper
6 months ago

Thanks for the information. I am working hard on learning the right way to tie the knots.. I have grandchildren who are trying to help me without laughing 😂 Thanks again. Tight Lines !!!

Scott Hadaway
8 months ago

Game Changer! Just tied my first one and now I’m sitting her tying and cutting it off over and over going smaller mono each time. Thank you!

paul collins
10 months ago

will AI be able to play a roll in creating the smallest, strongest knot ?

paul collins
10 months ago
Reply to  paul collins

role *

David Hime
1 year ago

I was having trouble with this with 8 lb braid and 20 lb fluoro, but I finally saw the subtlety that made all the difference. Each time you make a wrap, you pinch the wrap before starting the followup wrap. This maintains the integrity of the twists and doesn’t allow them to collapse onto each other forming a rat’s nest. This may not be necessary when you’re using a big leader, but with the 20 lb fluoro, I was getting a big tangle rather than the sleek, skinny know that Luke gets. Pinching after each wrap made all the difference.

DW Wamsley
1 year ago

Luke
I would like you to test the FG knot vs. the SC knot
I have seen tests where the SC knot will not break but the braid will fail first.
The FG if not tied correctly will fail at the end where the half hitch knots go

John Kutzer
1 year ago

Tied my first FG knot today – took a few attempts, but was easier after I switched to a heavier leader.

This video came up in the YT recommendations about how to tie the FG knot with no tension.
https://youtu.be/qQmUN0L4F6c

In the video he said it was based on this 3 part video series:
Part #1 Shows what is happening with the wraps – good visuals
https://youtu.be/SaERGwDOHAY

Part #2 – Shows tying the wraps with lines – good closeup visuals. Shows good and bad examples of knot.

https://youtu.be/YY8YFj8mGS0
Part #3 – Shoes tying the FG Knot while wearing gloves.
https://youtu.be/YY8YFj8mGS0

Looks like another method to tie the FG knot, and may be easier in situations where it is tough to get tension on the main line.

Also, it looks like it might be easier to tie with smaller leaders. I will know after I try that…

And, there are some ‘fine points’ about tying this knot in the videos.

Check it out.

Jean Long-Thomason
2 years ago

I used the fg knot for our in last fishing trip. I watched this video again and was sure I had tied it properly. I was using 10lb braid and 12lb leader. I brought in 2 nice fish, then on the next hook up l got it close to the boat and my knot failed. All I had was all the coils and no leader. What did I do wrong?

Oliver Clarke
2 years ago

I have had great difficulty tying the FG knot. Apparently I don’t have the dexterity to maintain the right tension in the braid while making the coils. Please take a look at this method I discovered which allows you to hold consistent tension on the braid line by using a split ring (key ring) secured on a string to the front of you, allowing both hands to be free for making the FG knot. This is simpler and more reliable than other methods I’ve tried.
I made an improved video, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh12zmiZ-mk

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