How to Tie the FG Knot (Fastest Method & Free Cheat Sheet PDF)
- By: Luke Simonds
- on June 30, 2021
This post will show you the absolute fastest and easiest way to tie the “FG knot”, and we even have a free PDF guide for you to download too.
The FG knot is a relatively new braid to mono (or fluoro) knot that has proven to be stronger and thinner than all other braid to leader knots we’ve tested.
I have been a huge fan of the FG knot ever since it shocked me in my first braid to leader knot contest because it proved to be over 30% stronger than all of my prior favorite knots including:
- Double Uni
- Crazy Alberto
- Albright
- Bimini Twist with Bristol finish
And it also happens much thinner than all of the other braid to leader knots because the thicker leader line never doubles over like it does for traditional fishing knots.
But the most common complaint against the FG knot that I’ve heard is that it takes to long to tie…
And I’ll completely agree with that concern if it is being tied the traditional way by manually wrapping the braid around the mono.
However, there is a much faster and better way to tie the FG knot that allows it all to be completed in under 60 seconds (video proof below).
How To Tie The FG Knot [Quickly]
The absolute best and fastest way to tie the FG knot is to thread the leader onto the braid while the braid is under tension.
There are several ways to tie the FG with tension, and the first two versions shown below in this post are the fastest and easiest methods I’ve used so far: Teeth Tension & Pinky Tension.
Check out the videos below to see how to these methods work.
FG Knot Tutorial [Teeth Tension]
Free FG Knot Guide [PDF]
Click here to get a single-page cheat sheet PDF guide showing the core steps of the FG knot so you can always have it on hand if you need it… it’s 100% FREE!
And click here to see the results of all of our knot tests so you can make sure you’re using the best knot in every situation.
Option 2 – The Pinky Method
Free FG Knot Guide [PDF]
Click here to get a single-page cheat sheet PDF guide showing the core steps of the FG knot so you can always have it on hand if you need it… it’s 100% FREE!
And click here to see the results of all of our knot tests so you can make sure you’re using the best knot in every situation.
FG Knot Steps [Must Do All 7]
Here is a list describing the essential steps to tie the FG Knot:
Step 1: Wrap the line around your pinky or hold in your teeth
This will allow you to keep tension on the line while still having nine other fingers to tie the knot.
Step 2: Wrap the leader around the braid
Place the leader above the braid and then wrap it over and around the braid while keeping tension on the line.
After you’ve made a wrap over the braid, then make a wrap under the braid.
Keep alternating until you’ve made 16 wraps (I used to recommend 20-22, but 16 has worked very well for me).
After you’ve made 16 wraps, it should look like this:
Step 3: Tie two half-hitch knots to lock the coils in place
Hold the coils with your fingers to keep them in place and be sure that you’re getting both the leader and the mainline in these knots above the coils.
Step 4: Apply tension to the knot so that the braid digs into the leader
This knot is only effective if the braid digs into the leader, so once the coils are in place, wrap the braid around your hand a few times and pull on the knot to let it really sink in.
As you’re pulling on the lines, you should see that each of the coils are tightening down on the braid and staying evenly spaced out.
The first coil is the most important, so definitely be sure that that one has tightened up, otherwise you risk this knot coming undone, especially if you’re casting through guides.
Step 5: Cut the tag end of the leader off
You can cut the tag end off really close to the knot because once it’s locked in, it’s not going anywhere.
However, be sure that you cut the tag end off AFTER you’ve put tension on the knot.
When you put tension on the knot, the coils will typically slide up a bit, so you don’t want to cut the tag end off before that.
Step 6: Tie two more half-hitch knots
The purpose of this step is to create a smoother top of the knot so that the hard edge of the leader’s tag end doesn’t snag onto anything (floated debris, rod guides, etc.).
Step 7: Cut off the braid tag end and start fishing!
Free FG Knot Guide [PDF]
Click here to get a single page cheat sheet PDF guide showing these core steps of the FG knot so you can always have it on hand if you need it… it’s 100% FREE!
FG Knot Mistakes
If you follow the instructions listed out earlier in this post, you’ll be able to tie the FG knot like a pro.
However, I have noticed that there are three mistakes that commonly pop up that will cause this knot to fail.
To make sure you know what these mistakes are and how to avoid them, check out the video below.
Click here to see the best knots for every situation and download the Ultimate Knot Guide PDF
As long as you only use this knot when connecting braided line to stronger monofilament or fluorocarbon and don’t cast it through the guides, this knot will serve you well.
The FG Knot In Less Than 60 Seconds
As I mentioned above, the most common reason we’ve heard from those who watched the video above in YouTube was that it takes too long to tie.
But the tying was of course done slowly in order to explain the various steps.
So we thought it would be fun to make a video showing me tying the FG Knot without taking the time to walk through each step. And the result was an FG knot in less than 60 seconds… here is the video:
Note: this is done using the old way of putting tension on the line with your teeth… the way described above is even faster and easier!
Conclusion
Learning how to tie the FG knot in under 60 seconds is not difficult… it just requires knowing the quick method explained in this video.
And the most important part to remember is the tightening of the braid coils on the leader before cutting off the leader’s tag because that is what locks the coils in place for good.
Best of all, it will result in a knot that has tested out to be more than 20% stronger than many very popular knots for connecting a braided line to a mono/fluoro leader.
Note: The breaking test results change depending on line types used, so I highly recommend trying it out on your favorite gear and seeing if it has a higher breaking point than whichever knot you’re using to see if it’s worth the switch.
P.S. – If you think your angler friends or fishing networks would like to see this, please TAG them or SHARE this with them. It would mean a lot to me.
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Step 3. needs clarification. Are the half hitches supposed to go over both lines or just the leader? You need greater detail (a better close-up photo) for the Step 3 image. A smaller but higher resolution pic would help.
Great question… the half hitches needs to go around both lines in step 3.
I hope you can help. I want to tie a 4 lb. Flouorcarbon Leader (.006) to 10 lb. Nanofil (.007) line. In your troubleshooting video you mention that the FG should have a larger diameter leader than the braid. Every attempt to tie the FG to the leader fails in the knot.
Can you suggest a knot for the above that will maintain 100% line strength?
BTW, your articles and videos are always outstanding…
Thanks for taking the time to help.
Dan Ayo
Thanks for posting the nice commend Dan! The FG knot is designed to protect a weaker braid when connected to a stronger leader, so I would not recommend it for the lines you’re using… for those, I’d go with a double uni using at least 7 turns per side.
I do 16 wraps regardless of size from 10lb braid to 16lb mono and larger braid to 125lb mono. Always with a 5 turn rizzuto to finish instead of half hitches. The rizzuto acts as a jam knot pulling opposite direction of the FG. Then I cut the tag just a hair long and mushroom it with a small waterproof plasma torch. This is a key since it gives extra safety for the nut to pull against. I have never once had an FG fail by this method over the past 6 years and I have zero issues casting through the guides as much as I want. Tight lines!
Thanks for making time to post the helpful info on how you tie the FG knot.
Excellent, looks great for tying on a mono shock leader to the main line for shock absorption, which I’ve found to greatly reduce the percentage of fish that throw the hook or tear off. It seems using an overhand knot instead of a hitch for the very last knot would pass through guides just a little better, and catch more debris, which could be a plus or minus well ahead of the lure.
Thanks for posting the helpful comment.
Luke, great job on the guides, tutorials and testing; a super resource. Starting to fish again after retirement and am new to braid. You express that the FG knot is used for ‘braid to stronger mono’ connections. – Question: Is the selection criteria greater line strength or greater line diameter? – Thanks to all.
Thanks John! When I refer to stronger mono, I’m referring to the rated strength… the FG knot holds more securely as the diameter of the braid gets smaller relative to the diameter of the mono. The FG knot would likely not hold well at all if the diameters were the same because it wouldn’t be able to dig groves in the outer layer of the mono to enable it to lock into place.
So, mono diameter something like min. 2X that of the braid diameter? (ex.: 10# PP @ .006” on 10# YoZuri Hybrid @ .012” ). I suspect mono diameters much less will begin to be affected by the strength reduction of the mono at the knot crush point. – sorry to belabor the issue…, thirty-two years of construction and engineering…
I don’t trust the FG knot on 10 lb mono because it is so thin… instead, I go with a Crazy Alberto knot to be safe and since the strength is likely going to be very similar in this case since it’ll be the mono that’s the weak point (the design of the FG knot protects the braid, so it’s not as much of a benefit in that case).
Heading to Little Gasparilla mid-weeks I’m prepping rods. I’ve put off learning this until today. Wow, that’s easier to tie than I expected. Hopefully I can remember when I need it on the water. Keep your fingers crossed that we catch some fish!
I am jealous of your upcoming trip. Glad to see that you mastered this knot quickly. Hope you have a great time at LGI.
Do you find that 20 coils and the 2 hitch knots are sufficient as opposed to more coils and more half hitches and the Rizutto finish? Thanks
Yes. I still do the 2 half hitches before locking in the FG coils. And then two more after locking in the FG coils. Many people feel more comfortable going the extra mile with the rizutto finish… I just haven’t found the need to do that.
Luke, great tutorial. I like tying this to the double uni, and the strength seems better. I have a question. I just saw a report regarding the GT knot, and the report indicated that the FG knot tested at 76% knot strength and the GT knot tested at 100% knot strength. The tests were performed by the IGFA in 2018. This knot looks very easy to tie as well. Wondering if yiu had any experience with it, or could offer some testing versus the FG knot. Thank you, Bruce
Thanks Bruce! The “GT knot” that you likely saw in YouTube is much different than the GT knot from the IGFA test. The IGFA first requires a Bimini twist to be tied with the braid before doing some difficult wraps with the leader (it is definitely not an easy knot to tie). Also, it only scored better than the FG knot for thicker/stronger lines. Here’s a list I made on it a while back: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/gt-knot/
Thanks Luke. The post I saw was from the Fisherman Magazine in from New England. The know definitely did not include a bimini twist. It was a simple figure 8 knot on one side with the second line fed thru the centers of the figure 8, and then a uni with the end that went through the 8. I will stick with the FG which I can now tie thanks to your tutorials. Thanks again to Salt Strong for all the great content.
Thanks Luke! After the 50th attempt, I can tie a nice FG knot. I have reset all of my rods and feel more confident about not losing a fish or lure.
Salt Strong! Thomas
Great work Thomas!
Have you tried Doubling up the Braid line and if it would dig in the mono forming a stronger knot ?
I have been motivated by your recommendation on the 10LB Braid, but I keep breaking the braid when applying tension on the 33LB leader and usually wasn’t successful on getting proper digging on thicker lines, so now I am using a 15LB Leader and since I switched to the 10LB Braid and 15LB Leader.
I noticed a significant improvement on the bite ratio while inshore flats fishing to the extent that people fishing next to me started asking about my lure / gear … just to figure out the lucky charm haha.
However, I’m very worried when hooking on a 2kg+ Kingfish and keep my drag very loose to avoid loosing a good fish. Too loose that my Jig pulls drag everytime I lift my rod =(
Keep the good work, I truly appreciate your content.
I have tried the FG knot on a doubled line created by a bimini twist, and the strength did go up slightly. However, the doubled line increased the odds that the braid can slip off (I assume due to the line not having full contact with the leader when twists occur in the doubled line), so I don’t recommend it for that reason.
When you broke the braid when tied to the 33 lb leader, did you measure the breaking point? I have to imagine that the breaking point was higher than what you get with the 10 lb to 15 lb line.