How to Tie the FG Knot in Under 60 Seconds [Free Cheat Sheet PDF]
- By: Luke Simonds
- on August 25, 2020
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 do this, but the version shown in this post is the fastest method by far that I’ve tested.
I used to recommend using your teeth to keep tension on the line, but this new way is actually quicker and easier.
Check out the video below to see how to tie it this way.
FG Knot Tutorial [VIDEO]
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
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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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
So what’s the second strongest knot for braid to fluorocarbon leader because I can’t get the FG right! My FGs look reasonably good but fall apart. The fluoro is Seaguar Salmon and very hard. I do not think I am getting the braid to dig into the leader sufficiently.
This page has the full ranking of knots… here’s a link to the braid to leader section: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fishing-knots/#braidtoleader
Hey Luke, I wanted to come back to this video and leave a comment. Since watching this new method I started doing it myself and have since tide leaders while on my kayak and while wading with my rod in my belt holder something I never used to do. In fact the only time I would tie FG knots for leaders was the night before a trip. Since seeing this new method I’m confident I can do them anywhere now and fast. Much appreciated!!
I’m so happy to see that this FG knot video helped you get more confident tying it out on the water! Thanks for sharing this nice feedback.
Super Glue:
Would it be beneficial to put a very small dot of super glue on the top coil to insure the knot never slips?
Depends on the type of glue used… it must not be one that cracks because the knot will contract when in use so a glue that cracks can damage the line from sharp glue edges in the knot.
But overall, I do not recommend using glue because it’ll likely leave a negative scent trail in the water, and it won’t do much (if any) good to the knot.
would this work mono to mono? 20 lb mono running line to a 50 lb shock leader? Or is it mono to braid only given how the coils grab the mono.
No, the FG knot is only for braid to mono connections because it requires that the very thin braid line cuts deep groves into the outer layer of the mono/fluoro leader.
Great tutorial, the finger wrap was the final adjustment I needed to tie the FG more consistently. For me, the tension on your pinkie lets me gauge if I’m too tight or to loose to get that little “pop” at the end of each wrap.
So glad to see that this FG knot tutorial was helpful!
Great tutorial.I show your tutorial.After tying my first FG Knot successfully I’ve begun to wonder. Is it good for multiple trips or should I cut it and make a new one every trip? Have you seen the new Table of Contents section on the homepage
Have you tested these knots on larger diameter flouro/braid combos? I’ve been using a modified albright for attaching 50/65lb PP to 80/100# flouro. My albright is different from your videos in that I wrap it 10 times away from the loop then 10 more times back towards the loop before passing the tag back through the loop. Going to learn the FG knot too. My concern would be how well the braid can grip the larger diameter flouro line at higher pulling strengths.
I have have used the FG knot with 50 lb powerpro braid to 80 lb mono leader, and it worked great.
Great improvement! Can’t get the PDF Knot Guide to work.
I’m so sorry to hear that. What happened when you tried to download the PDF? I just tested it out, and it seems to be working fine now.
Great tutorial. Finally a knot that even I can tie.
Luke, thanks for the FG Knot Mistakes video. I have cast my lure off several times using the FG knot especially when I first began using it. I see now I wasn’t tightening the braid into the leader. I remedied it by putting some glue on the knot – same the glue I use to help hold the lure on the jig head. The glue also helped protect the knot from the guides. However, I like your idea and will try tightening down and using maybe 15 wraps instead of the 30 I’ve been using. Thanks again. I always enjoy your videos and I always learn something.
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Delbert!
Love this knot but I’ve heard you say only to use it when the leader strength is greater than the braid. Is that correct? If so, then what knot do you recommend for equal or lighter leaders as compared to the braid.
Yes, that’s true. For equal or lesser strength leaders, I recommend the double uni knot or the alberto knot.
Great tip. I like this knot.
Using your pinky for tension is a great improvement! The FG is my “go to” knot for braid to fluorocarbon leader.
love this…changed all my set ups from double uni knot….haven’t been able to test on large fish yet..but like how it flows thru the eyes.. thanks
When signed in as a paid member, why is it necessary to provide my email address again to get the FG Knot Guide PDF cheat sheet since SaltStrong has it? This seems like click bait.
As an Insider, you have full access to all cheat sheets from this page that’s exclusive for you: https://www.saltstrong.com/fishing-tip/pdf-cheat-sheet-central/
Thanks Luke. A lot of excellent content but getting harder to find since the site has been revamped. When going to “Fishing Tips”, you might consider adding a link as you did here (may be under “Editor’s Picks”) since the only way to find that link is to search the name “PDF Cheat Sheet Central”. I’m sure you’re enjoying your new Pathfinder 2200 TE – a beautiful fishing machine. Hope you post more about it (e.g., optional equipment added; likes/dislikes, etc.).
Thanks for the constructive feedback Rob! Have you seen the new Table of Contents section on the homepage (https://www.saltstrong.com)?
It contains direct links to the most popular sections of the platform. The “Cheat Sheets PDFs” are towards the bottom, but we should probably shift it up higher since they get a good amount of requests.
We will have to wait another couple months before the boat is built because Pathfinder is slammed with new orders. And we ended up going for the 24 TRS so that we can more easily shoot offshore for reef fishing when the conditions are nice. Yes, we’ll be doing many videos about the rigging of it showing the top items and lessons learned.
Thanks again, Luke. I had created a link on my browser that opened to community.saltstrong, and reason for not seeing it. With your tip, I changed it to your home page and now see the “Cheat Sheet PDF”. Very helpful and all the posted insights are much appreciated! I’m also in the process of buying a boat . . . 3 top contenders: Pathfinder 22 TE, Pathfinder 24 TRS or the new Hewes Redfisher 21. Your short wait to get the boat exactly like you want it will means years of enjoyment. Good luck!
Luke, I’ve been finishing mine with a Runzitti. Have you tried that?
I have not bothered going through the added motions at the end for that because the more basic half hitch knots have not failed me yet. The ending is just to keep the coils in place… it does not add strength to the knot.
Two quick questions, that’s 30 lb leader? And is this fairy easy in the wind or on your boat? My eyesight isn’t quite what it used to be!
The knot on the top video was 30 lb braid and 50 lb mono so that it could be seen easier in the video. I most often use a 10 lb braid to a 30 lb leader and it is easy to tie on in the boat or on the paddleboard too after some practice.
Great video, as always! Just a quick question though, do you prefer the FG knot over the double uni when going from braid to mono/fluoro? or are there situations where you prefer to use one or the other? I have sed the double uni knot for years and can pretty much tie it in my sleep, but just wondering if I should switch up my knot given a certain situtation. Thanks in advance dude!
Thanks Lee! Yes, I prefer the FG knot when connecting braid to mono/fluoro over all other knots because it has proven to be significantly stronger than the others (double uni, albright, alberto, surgeon, etc) while being thinner too.
The only time I don’t use the FG knot is if I’m connecting a lighter leader that is weaker than my braid (which is very rare)… for that, I like the double uni.
Hey Luke…man I’ve always loved the method of your 1st video using your teeth with great success…never broke once…but i did add something from another video I learn before the final hitches…when you cut the floro or mono line…i melt the line with a lighter just under the blue part of flame just before its about close to touching the hitch…then tap the clear line with your finger…and gives it extra security from the hitches ever backing out. Maybe its unnecessary to you…but i never had a break off on that knot ever…but this method looks great and takes that salty taste out of my mouth 😄
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment Franklin! Yes, this newer method will help keep our mouths free of salt and any other substance that the line carries with it.
After tying my first FG Knot successfully I’ve begun to wonder. Is it good for multiple trips or should I cut it and make a new one every trip? Thanks
The FG knot should last multiple trips if you’re not casting it through rod guides very often. If you do cast it through guides, then definitely change it every trip.
I can’t seem to keep my leader from slipping when I go to pull the two lines tight….as I attempt to cinch the lines together, prior to tying the two inch knots, the leader just slides out! Am I using too light or small diameter leader?? I was using 30lb braid and a 12lb fluorocarbon leader. Ended up tying a uni to uni. Please help.
The FG knot is best for connecting a braid to a stronger leader. When using a weaker leader like what you described, the braid will have a tougher time effectively digging into the outer layer of the leader. For those two line, I’d use the double uni.
To connect the leader to the rig – barrel swivel, or another knot?
The FG knot is specifically for connecting a braid line to a stronger mono or fluoro leader line. For any other connection needs, use a different knot. Here’s a post that shows the best knots for each line type to see which ones test out best for other connection needs: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fishing-knots/
Great article (and great site)! For those who routinely use longer leaders (and therefore pull line to leader knots through rod guides regularly), do you have an alternate recommendation to the FG knot? Historically I’ve used a J knot, but I’m hoping to find something a little thinner and more streamlined to cut down on friction. Using 6 – 15 lb braid main to 8 – 20 lb flouro leader, would an Alberto knot or Double-Double Uni (or something else) be strongest? Thanks again for all of your informative content.
If you’re going to cast through guides (which I don’t recommend for any knots), make sure to find one that does not have a tag end that sticks out. For that reason, I do not like the double uni knot. The crazy alberto would probably be my knot of choice for that situation.
Just gave this knot a shot on a new rod I received as a gift with “micro” eyes. First attempt was complete fail, but the 2nd came out pretty good and will slide right through those mini-eyes….. I did realize that I was snugging it too tight the first time around when doing the 20-22 hitches, it seems like you just want to pull the leader enough to get that hitch to slide down close to the previous one. I’m sure this is a knot that gets better with time and you’ll get the “feel” of it. But super impressed so far. Just hopefully I don’t lose that lunker tomorrow morning or I’ll be looking for you Mr. Luke! J/k ha-ha, thanks again for sharing.
The FG knot is not designed to go through rod guides on a consistent basis because it’ll be prone to slide off if the bottom coil (closest to the lure) gets losened up by the friction of it hitting the guides during the casts. So I recommend using short enough leader to allow you to cast without reeling the knot up into the guides.
Duly noted, thanks for the update Luke.
What keeps the half hitches from working there way loose?
The friction of the half hitches keeps them in place. If you feel more is needed, all you need to do is just make multiple coils in the half hitch look similar to a uni knot.
How do you prevent the leader end from sliding directly through the knot? Try it.
Once the braid coils dig in, they shouldn’t slide off due to pressure from the end of the leader (the lure side) because that tension just makes it grip harder.
If the coils don’t dig in to begin with, then that’s due to using lines that aren’t condusive for the FG knot. What lines are you using?
The problem is you can side the leader right through the knot from the leader end after the knot is tied.
Have you ever tested the J knot for joining fluoro to braid? I have successfully used it for a few years but never tested it against other knots.
After watching this video a couple of years ago ( when I joined SS) , I have used it exclusively , tying it only before I am on the water as my eyes and fingers don’t work so good anymore. I use the double uni on the water. This not is superior to anything else and I thank you for teaching me the best way to tie it. The only thing I do differently, as my eyes are not focused when holding the braid in my mouth, is I tie the braid to a heavy mug on my desk for the tension. Thanks again, and thanks for Salt Strong. It is well worth the annual dues!
Hi!
Fishing guy here from Sweden! 🙂
Have been reading som of your posts about knots. REALLY interesting and feels good that you have som “facts” with The tests. Not the classical I know the best, use it all the time bla bla..
My Question are know. I am gonna make my own leader now for the northern pike (muskie little brother) and I am not sure what knot to use.
Leader is hard mono and main line braided.
Whould you go the the fg knot? Or the rapala knot that gives your plastic/Rubber bait more free motion? Or the doubble ginner knot that my friend uses. Is The rapala knot weaker then the fg knot?
Best regards Victor
I am having trouble with this knot. Only about 1 out of 10 look like yours .The rest look like the leader has “balled up” on itself. I wonder if I am putting too much tension on the braid or too much tension on the leader. Very few commenters have complained about the ease of tying this knot but I wonder if those like me are just not commenting. I use a double uni for braid to leader and really like the thinner profile of the FG and want to get it to work.
What lines are you using (strength and brand)?
Braid: Suffix 832 40#
Leader: Yo-Zuri Fluoro carbon 15#
Good thought…I just grabbed some “extra” stuff I had. Maybe be I should be using a lighter braid and a heavier flouro
the last knot it used to lock in the wraps seemed to look like a clove hitch to me / killer looking knot / will use it next time
Wonder if this could work to tie on a swordfish wind on of 200-300lb mono with 80-100lb braid.
Can this knot be used to tie leader to a floating flyline or is just for braid???
I spent many years in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, & Explorers (for BS over 18), + 20 yrs in the military, so I’m disappointed in your lack of proper knot terminology!! Many Scouts, military, farmers, boaters & climbers would recognize your so-called ‘Hitch Knots’ as a ‘Half-Hitch’ knots!! Also, the ‘knot’ where you run the leader from one side of the braided line to the other, which, if run back under itself each time, reminds me of the ‘Sheep-Shank’ knot, which I was told was also one of the strongest knots, especially when trying to connect two lines of different diameters, again, essentially what you are doing when connecting that leader to the braided line!!
Richard A. Moors, AQ1 U.S. Navy (Retired) (Life Scout, Explorer, & Corn-fed Buckeye Farm Boy)
Anonymous you are quite the hero. As we all know, knots only work when we use the correct (in your mind) nomenclature. Thank you for setting us straight. Let’s all go over to your very popular website and critique your nomenclature.
I’ll wait.
I bet you have LOTS of friends.
I agree. In the context of people who fish, it’s a freakin’ FG knot. Try your technical jargon in some other forum where appropriate, Moore-on. You obviously don’t know much about communication. The effectiveness of communication is judged by the response that you get. Try going into a fishing shop talking about your “correct” terminology and see what response you get.
Really that’s what you have to say
David Tyson
Since you want to be technical the sheep shank is a knot used to shorten a length of rope. Sheet bend connects 2 lines of different diameter and also has a very different way of tying it. The running the line back over itself is more similar to a whip knot.
I would also like to add that I typically fish hard and fast as long as the conditions agree
I have used both this knot and the double uni. They both are strong and both last about the same amount of time when reeled thru the guides. The solution for either knot is retie every 30 mins or have numerous rods with the same rig you are catching the fish on. Longer fluorocarbon equals more big bites and maximizing fishing time equals more chances at big bites.
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment Beau!
Seagaur knot mono to mono
After struggling with the FG coming out correctly I found a video on You Tube that shows how to tie it on slack line which will work better for me when fishing from the Yak. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQmUN0L4F6c
That is the first way I learned how to tie the FG knot. It of course does work, but I found that the tension method achieved a more consistently strong connection because it ensures that the coils are laying together at the same tension before getting cinched down (plus I can tie the tension method much faster).
Here’s a post showing an adjustment to the tension method that I use when out in a kayak: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/tying-fg-knot-in-kayak/
Hey Luke, do you use a swivel anywhere? if not will the baited hook and lure turn around and around while retrieving?
I only use a swivel if using a lure that is very prone to twisting my line (like a spoon or a trolling skirt). Otherwise, I prefer line to line because that can get a stronger connection and it is one less piece of tackle that I need to worry about having with me:)
Thanks Luke, I can’t wait to try this!
Can this knot be used like a nail knot on fly line?
I have not yet tried to tie the FG knot on fly line before, so I’m not sure. I’ll add it to my list of connections to test out.
Luke – have you tried this knot? I have some trouble with the FG – Thanks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijL8aMkLHKw
I have tried a version of this knot (Slim Beauty), and I did not like it. The strength wasn’t as good as most others, and the threading of the braid through the small loops is something that is tough to do when out on a boat or kayak in windy/rough conditions. The 6 turn surgeon knot is much easier to tie, and it’s stronger too.
Thanks Luke
Why will my knot not lock down?
What lines are you using?
Mine won’t lock either. The leader pulls out
OK it’s great for leader to main line but can I use it for mono backing to main line 80# mono to 80# braid
TKS
I would recommend the crazy alberto knot or the double uni for connecting to the backing.
THANKS MUCHLY
Hi I was wondering if you have tried to snell a hook with a knotless knot. It’s what I use to tie all my hooks and i have never had a problem. It’s the fastest easiest way I have found to snell a hook. I have never tested it though. Thanks
Why don’t you tie the hook to the braided line?
Because it’s not as resistant to abrasion from a fish’s mouth (https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/braid-vs-mono-abrasion-strength-experiment/), and it’s much more visible to fish than clear mono/fluoro line.
For inshore saltwater, the best line combination we’ve found so far is to use light braid for the mainline to maximize casting distance (aka – cover more water in less time), and then tie on a couple of feet of stronger mono/fluoro to beef up the business end.
Can this be used with larger lines like 50# braid and 80-100# leader?
Yes, I use the FG knot for 40 lb braid to 80 lb leader, so I’m sure that the extra step up on both sides should be fine too.
Thank you…really dont wanna lose a Tarpon…lol
Great video. Thanks for showing us how to do this. So now I’m wondering. What if I put some super glue on the knot after it’s finished? Just curious, since when I make a wind on leader, after the serve is done, I was told to glue the serve. Would this make it any better???
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Kevin! Some people do use super glue on the FG knot. I personally do not because I don’t want to have to deal with waiting on the glue to dry. And if it’s a glue that hardens when dried, then it’s at risk of damaging the line because the knot will eventually condense more when under high pressure, and if the glue cracks there could be sharp glue edges that end up comprising the line.
Great article even a year later ???? I’m curious on your sharp edges from glue comment. My understanding of super glues is the powder when failed in the deep small pores of materials. I’m not aware of any shard development
There are a lot of different glues, and I still don’t use any of them because it adds time to rigging up and I have not seen any evidence that it helps get a stronger connection.
Who invented the FG kNOT
I am not sure who invented the FG knot. I’ve heard that it was a fishing guide somewhere in south FL who developed it after drinking a good amount of beers with the idea to recreate a Chinese finger trap premise with fishing line… but I have no idea if that’s true or not.
While there is no proof to the theory posed above – I do know several fishing guides and most do drink a beer or two and a bar is as good a place as any to invent things. I know some of the best ideas I have ever had came to me in a bar. Exception being if Tequila is involved. Not the best idea producing spirit from personal experience.
That was the best instructional vid I’ve seen on tying Flourocarbon to braid, and I’m a old dude.
Will it work with leadcore line?
I have not yet tried the FG knot with leadcore line so I unfortunately can’t say for certain if it works or not. Definitely be sure to test it out before you use it on the water to be safe.
Does fg work on regular mono
Yes, braid to traditional mono works great (that’s what I use most often).
How do you tie a half hitch in the braid when it’s on you’re rod an reel , you had to untie it from the chair ?
The half hitch is done with the tag end of the braid at the end of the FG knot.
Luke – sorry – forgot link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQmUN0L4F6c
Yes, this is the type of tying method that I did when I first learned the FG Knot. I prefer the tension method because it’s faster and it seems to have a more consistently strong hold because the tension is more evenly applied throughout all of the coils.
thanks Luke
Luke- Have you seen this? Start at 5:00 mark of video
Hey mate. Good stuff there. That is a great way to get that fg tied. Couple observations. There is no such thing as a “hitch knot”. It is either a hitch or a knot. So in finishing the fg you are using half hitches to finish the knot. Also, may be good to mention that wrapping braid around your hand to pull and set the knot is a good way to give yourself a helluva cut. I know it works for the demo, but in practice probably not a good method. Thanks for posting. Keep up the good work. Tight lines!
Just joined the Insider Club and sorting all through the great information. My first comment here…
I found the video for the FG knot some time ago and have been using it with success…as long as the knot remains outside the tip guide during casting and using leader material of higher test than the braid.
My question is…if using 12# high vis mono for backing on a Quantum Cabo 400 reel and then 150 yards of 20# Power Pro high vis braid, will the FG knot between the backing and braid likely fail if I catch that once in a lifetime fish that takes me into the backing?
Thanks for all the great info!
Bill
Just re watched the video after watching the video on the three things that can go wrong with the knot.
I learned that its realy important to lock the knot with one half hitch in one direction, pull tight and then another half hitch in the opposite direction. This locks the half hitches. So if your first half hitch starts out over the main and mono you up and through. Then do anotherhalf hitch but go under both lines down through the loop. When you get it right both half hitches line up and the lines are next to eachother exiting in the same direction. Now its locked. Then finish as the video shows.
Another technique i use to start the wrap
Take the main line and wrap it around a button on my fishing shirt. A few wraps, so when i lean the fishing pole away from me I have constant tension on the main line. Now take the mono and hold it in your left hand and hold it at 90 degrees to the main line. Start the wrap by bending the mono behind the main line and then come back to 90. Now bend the main line behind the other side of the main line and come back to 90. This should give you your first wrap. Do a few more and keep the mono at 90. Push the wraps down to the fist wrap as you pull the main line tight around the leader. Continue till you are ready to finish the knot with the half hitch.
Tried alternating it and it still always unravels
An amazing knot! My new favorite. Rivals the Improve Clinch for how often I am using it. I use surgeon knots instead of hitch on the end. Less likely to come undone. Thank you with all my fishing passion!
Started using the FG knot 5 years ago. 30# spiderwire to 50# fluorocarbon leader. As long as you keep it snug when tying. Works great. Use gloves to snug up. Have had line break but never at knot.
Knot is low profile, so will slide through guides easily for longer casts.
This knot cost me a $25 lire I the Cape Cod Canal after casting maybe 5 times the knot unraveled and the mono and my lure launched into the middle on the canal . I will not use it on any situation again .
Sorry to see that the FG knot somehow slipped on you. What lines were you using?
Can the FG knot be used on monofilament line
The FG knot is great for braid to mono connections.
But it does not work for mono to mono.
thats because you did it wrong.
Love this knot – thanks for the easier method.
That FG knot might take a tiny bit longer than the one I’ve been doing,but the one I’ve been doing isn’t reliable. Going to do this for all my rods.
I hope that you enjoy this FG knot as much as we do. Fish On!
Tied my first FG just 5 min ago. Using 15# J-Braid x4 with 30# Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon. Got a cataract in my right eye so I’m blind in one eye and can’t hear out the other…fingers must be losing sensitivity as I could barely feel that thin braid line. No problem with the fluro. Holding the line tight in my teeth I needed to smile a big toothy grin as I almost cut through my lip with that thin line. Got it wrapped up and fumbled a half hitch on it. Let my cramping hands rest just a bit then put the other half hitch on. Cut fluro and threw on 4 more half hitches to help cover the fluro stub. Cut the braid (need better scissors as the stub looks frayed) Seems to be holding but was afraid to pull tighter for fear of slicing through my fingers…yes with the thin braid. Did I mention that the braided line is very thin?
All in all I call it a success and I think it will hold. If it doesn’t, I’ll let you know that it was the biggest fish I ever hooked into and it was his fault.
Just an update. Yesterday I went out for only 45 minutes before heading to my volunteer job. Divito Park is on the way so I stopped there. After a half dozen casts I checked my FG knot. I would have lost my bucktail jig on the next cast. The problem I think was the fluoro tag end kept hitting the final eye on my rod causing it to loosen up. I’ll try again and if no luck, I’ll try one of the competitor knots.
I recommend making a point to not reel or cast the FG knot (or any other knot) through rod guides on a continuous basis because the impact of the continuous hits will weaken it. Here’s a post that explains the details behind that: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot-mistake/
Thanks for the reply and late on a Friday night! I probably saw that post because I remember that being said. And I agree. That is why I will probably switch over to a more rod guide tolerant knot. The reason for that is I watched the video post on leaders. I like the idea of tying on a 3′ to 4′ leader so I only have to tie the “easier” knot every time I have to re-hook due to sharp mouthed fish bites. Until I start getting bites, I will give the FG a few more chances on shorter leaders.
I can’t trust a knot they works by cutting grooves into the leader. Braid – leader Size have to be a match etc…and is a pain to tie…
Alberto Albright and slim beauty all work great.
Of those knots, the Alberto knot tested out best in the tests that I have done.
Yep that’s my go to. Then Albright with a leader 10lb or under.. (Alberto breaks 10lb line) and slim beauty with smaller guides (not because it’s smaller but because the braid rests ahead of the leader knot which protects the knot from catching or taking damage just ahead of the knot on the guides).
I fish offshore and we use 200 yards of 80 to 100lb mono topshot tied to 80 to 100lb braid ..will this knot work with that heavy of mono ?
This FG knot does work for heavy mono, but the braid needs to be lighter to ensure that the grooves are deep enough in the outer layer of the mono to never slip off.
I have a knot that has never broke. The floro will before knot.. however I have no idea the name but I’ll explain kinda how it’s done… take your tag end of floro and make a loop.. then take your tag end of braid and run through the loop.. after it’s through loop, make 5 or 6 wraps down. After your last wrap. Turn around and start wrapping back towards your loop 8 to 10 times.. after u finish wrapping. Take your braid tag end and past it through the loop on the opposite side from where u initially started after u made your loop.. wet your floro n hold tag end in mouth, then sench down.. may need to help braid but once senched down, pull lines tight n cut ends………… only my problem with fg knot is it unravels… Thanks n try out…
It sounds as if you’re referring to the Crazy Albero knot. Here’s an experiment that I did in testing the knot strength of the Crazy Alberto to the FG knot in case you’re interested: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/albright-vs-alberto-vs-fg-knot/
Note: When you say that your FG knot is unraveling, are you using a series of hitch knots? IF so, they def should not come apart (I use a total of 4, and have not yet had any issues with them coming undone).
Why not (pun intended) place a drop of superglue or Pliobond right at your your trimmed end of the locking half hitches?
Have you tested it against the PR knot? They look almost identical after they’re tied but in all the tests I’ve seen the PR always comes out on top
Knot don’t work on 200 pound line
It worked for me
Hi Luke,
I love the info on SaltStrong so keep it coming!
I am going to be doing some freshwater fishing in N. Georgia next week. After doing research, I see that most of the fishermen up there tend to use 4-6lb leaders. I use 10lb braid on all of our reels and I am wondering what knot you would recommend to attach a lighter leader to braid?
We will only be up there for a week and I don’t want to bother respooling any reels.
D
Thanks for the kind words Doug! I recommend the double uni knot for connecting a 10 lb braid to a lighter leader because it does a great job at protecting both lines regardless of strengths/diameters.
Here’s a link to see a review on the Uni knot: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/uni-knot/
luke – have you tested this knot?
https://www.facebook.com/583771745097430/videos/1095175133957086/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDExODkxODM5ODoxMDcyNzI4NDI5NTQyNTE1/
If I have 30lb braid reeled onto my reel, what lb floro should I tie to it?
It mostly depends on what size and species of fish that you’re targeting. What is your plan for that setup?
Luke, I love this knot but today I lost a 34″ cobia at the boat? When I took pressure off the fish and grabbed the leader the knot came undone of the Floro and the thing swam away!!!! Ever have this happen and or what do you think I did wrong? Only thing I could think is the floro stretched and became thinner ??
Hey Eric, sorry to hear about the cobia that got away. The FG knot is totally dependent on the very first coil staying tight and in place. My guess is that it did not dig into the leader far enough so that when your hand slid up the leader, it put enough pressure on that first coil to loosen up which in turn caused the rest of the coils to pull up as well.
Essentially, the FG knot is like one of those Chinese Finger Traps where it is incredibly strong when the force applied to it comes from the rod/reel, but it can be compromised when force comes to it from the lure/hook side while the main line does not have tension on it.
Thanks Luke ! All makes sense now but damn I was smelling cilantro on my ceviche!! Hindsight, I should have used the net………….
Luke – have you ever heard of the RP (Royal Palms) knot?
thanks
I just looked it up, and it appears to be the same thing as the Crazy Albero knot which is popular in FL (no idea which one was created first).
Here’s a strength test I did on the FG knot vs. the Crazy Alberto where you can see how it’s tied: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/albright-vs-alberto-vs-fg-knot/
Will this knot work on regular carbon line??
informative video!! thx
Yes, this FG knot will work for connecting a Yozi Carbon Fluoro leader line to a braid mainline.
Thank you for all your tips and sharing your knowledge with everyone. I have used everything that I’ve learned with much success.
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment on this FG knot video, Manny. Fish On!
Joe, excellent demo. I commend you on your ability to answer so many questions with detail ,and above all, PATIENCE. YOU ARE GOOD. Thanks
Excellent demo!! Thanks!!!!
Can you do this with fly line and leader?
I have not yet tried this FG knot with fly line.
Hmm, not sure you’d want to do that to your expensive fly line. Essentially you’d have to strip the coating off a large section of the line in order to have enough braid to work with. Best connection I have found for this is the Needle Nail knot (optional coating w/Pliobond) which essentially works by a similar squeezing action to prevent slippage. And you couldn’t go with braided leader because you’d end up with a hinging effect and your cast would collapse. Your fly line needs a continuance of pushing motion as it unrolls from your casting loop through the stiff leader butt and on down the tapered mono to the fly in order for the whole cast to lay out.
I don’t use braid I use Fireline. This knot don’t work well with Fireline. Any recommendations?
The double uni knot is a solid choice.
Someone told me a long time ago that to strengthen my knots, to put a drop of super glue on it. I’m sure I’ll get severely chastised for this, but, right or wrong?
I commonly hear about people who use super glue on their knots. I personally do not use it because some glues can do more harm than good because they can crack when the lines continue to constrict while being placed under more and more tension as it approaches its max capacity, and any sharp edges will damage the line.
How about Pliobond?
Great illustration on your part and really made it an easy knot to tie. Heading to Toledo Bend in the morning and will try it.
So glad to see that you enjoyed this FG knot tutorial. I hope you enjoy this knot as much as I do. Fish On!
braid to flouro, how about mono or one of the hybrid/combo line types? Same knot?
Just to be safe, I’d recommend using the Double Uni knot as shown in this post: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/uni-knot/
Double nail knot
Do you have an article on the benefits of using the fluorocarbon leader vs. tying directly to braid?
Nothing formal. But I have noticed a significant different in catching pinfish for bait using hook and line when 20 lb mono or fluoro leader tied to the end of the braid catches a lot more fish than tying directly to 10 lb braid.
Cool. Really nice. Thanks
i know this knot will hole, but are you against using swivels to do this line to line, just asking ….????
I rarely use swivels simply because they are not necessary in most cases and can do more harm than good. Here’s a post that dives into the specifics: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fishing-leader-with-swivel/
Watched the video, tried the knot. I was skeptical and tested the knot using a fish scale. 30 lb braid to 20 lb fluorocarbon. The knot held, the flouro failed as expected, but the break was well away from the knot. Repeated the same test for verification. Same result. I was surprised. I am still curious to know if the characteristics of the braid may allow it to loosen up over time as some have reported. The tiny size, smoothness, and strength of the knot is impressive. The longevity will take some time to test but I will try and give it a fair test.
The FG knot is designed to protect a lighter braid from breaking when tied to a stronger leader. I do not recommend this knot for a 30 lb braid to a 20 lb leader because the leader will get weakened and the knot will be prone to slip off due to the thicker braid not being able to dig the necessary grooves into the outer layer of the leader for permanently locking into place.
If you’re using 20 lb leader often, then I highly recommend switching to a 10 lb or 15 lb braid because you’ll get much better casting performance (https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/casting-distance-experiment-10-vs-20-braid/) without losing much (if any) overall strength of your line assembly.
Mr. Simonds, given that typical 30lb braid is .011 diameter and 20lb fluorocarbon is .016 diameter, please explain what you mean by thicker braid.
The FG knot works better and better as the ratio of the braid’s diameter relative to the leader’s diameter gets smaller and smaller. And its risk of losing its grip increases as the braid’s diameter gets closer to the diameter of the leader. This is because the FG knot is held into place by the braid coils digging small groves into the outer layer of the leader. These groves are easier to be formed with the thinner braid (benefit #1). And the braid coils will be much more protected from getting compromised from the knot getting casting through rod tip guides as the braid diameter continues to get thinner and thinner relative to the leader due to having less exposed braid surface that hits the rod’s guides (huge benefit for those who cast knots through guides… this is the biggest risk to the FG knot failing).
So if targeting a fish that can be caught on a 20 lb leader, I highly recommend bumping down to a 10 lb braid because you’ll still have plenty of power and your casting and feeling of strikes will improve assuming you’re using spinning gear. In testing the breaking strength of my 10 lb braid tied to a 30lb leader with this FG knot, the breaking point was typically in the 20 to 23 lb range… which is more than enough to handle most inshore fish.
Thank you Luke for your for your very detailed response. Excellent explanation!
I’m a long time fisherman and this is the first time I have seen this knot…. and it is awesome! Question I have is if you have tested it to join braid backing to FlyLine?? Curious if there is any chance the braid wraps will pull off the flyline coating?
I have not yet tested the FG knot on flyline. My worry is that it won’t work because the key for it’s ability to never slip off is the thin braid’s ability to dig grooves into the outer layer of the leader… I don’t believe that the thicker flyline will be able to do that.
Luke, I meant tying the braid flyline backing onto the thick fly line instead of a leader . I will test this out and see how it does. Agreed it does not make sense on the flyline to leader connection.
As a new inshore fisherman (Indian River Lagoon) I am using the same knots I use for fly fishing. Surgeon s loop on the braid and on the leader & run one through the other. What potential problems will I have with this system
Assuming that you’re using a light braid to maximize your casting distance and a stronger leader to handle the business end, the surgeon loop on the braid will be the weak point so that should be the main concern. From my testing, the FG knot is the best know because it’s very strong (prob 30%+ compared to the surgeon loop) and it is the thinnest knot I’ve ever used. Here’s a tutorial showing how to tie it: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot/
Tried it, a lil sloppy at first but got my first one done. Stress the tension needed as you do the 20 loops, the first few I did came undone. I think I have it know, great advice.
Well done David! Glad to see that you got it to work. Hope you enjoy this FG knot as much as I have.
Luke – tied my first F G today. A little sloppy, but feels strong. A little tougher to tie than the double uni, but I guess it’s worth it.
Well done. I’ll only get easier from there.
THANKS FOR THE DEMO.
My pleasure!
Thanks for making us understand through a demo.
My pleasure! I’m glad to see that you enjoyed this FG knot video.
I am older and my sight and dexterity is not what it used to be. I use swivels most of the time to attach leader. Is this a problem?
Swivels are ok to use. My preference is without them since they require an extra knot and weight down the line. But placing a swivel in between the main line and the leader is ok.
I’ve had problems with my line breaking, always while casting, the knot is intact and the mono broken right at the Albright. I’ve recently started surf fishing for stripers where I’m casting heavy plugs which seems to make this worse (and quite expensive). How well does this knot hold up with heavy impact going through the eyes of the rod which is where my issue has always been.
The FG knot is at risk of coming apart if it’s casted through that guides on a constant basis.
WHAt is an FG knot? What does FG stand for?
I believe that the FG stands for Fine Grip
Just got back from the ReelAnimals show in Tampa. All the guides are using a bimini twist to a uni to get a doubled braid on the leader. Would like to see a comparison. How much does the bimini twist work as a shock/stretch ?
I tested the FG knot against a bimini twist with a uni on the doubled braid and the FG knot still pulled ahead (while being much faster to tie relative to the two-knot combo).
Here’s a link to see the test results: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot-vs-bimini-twist-knot-strength-test/
I must say a very elegant knot. I do mostly finesse fishing so use very light line. I tried the knot on 6lbs HMPE Braid (it is a silky type of braid) did about 22 twists onto 8lbs fluro but the fluro still pulled out. Increased to 32 twists much better initial hold but it was as if the fluro slowly worked its way out of the knot till it reaches a slipping point.
Any suggestions?
If you’re getting slippage, you’ll need to use less coils because you need more pressure per coil for them to dig into the mono… try 14 ot 16.
And then make sure that the overall knot strength is still stronger than any others you like to tie.
can you use this knot on heavy braided line like 65 or even 100 bl and tie it to 50-75 leader or is just for lighter lines
The FG knot is designed to protect a braid line from breaking when tied to a stronger leader, so I do not recommend using it to connect a 50 lb leader to a 65+ lb braid.
But if it’s a 65 lb braid to a 100+ lb leader, then it should work great.
Hi when I click to get the PDF print out I get error 604
any suggedtiond please
That must have been some sort of glitch. I just tested it out and all appears to be working properly. Please go ahead and try it again.