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Fastest Way To Tie The Amazing FG Knot [Free PDF Guide Included]
Published by Luke Simonds under
Fishing Knots, Fishing Tips
Last updated on: July 20, 2017
Why the FG Knot shocked the heck out of my brother and I…
Since launching Salt Strong earlier this year, I have performed several fishing knot strength analysis experiments to make sure that the knots I recommend truly are the best of the best out there in terms of true tension strength… not just angler hype.
Like most anglers, I’ve used the same fishing knots for years just having zero doubt that they were the best out there. In fact, when starting the knot testing, I never thought that I’d find anything new… just that I’d simply be generating proof of the ‘fact’ that the knots I’ve relied of for years would be the strongest.
More specifically, I was eager to prove the dominance of my favorite knot (a unique combo of the perfection loop and a uni knot) in the most important category… braided line to leader connection.
The reason this connection is the most important is because it’s the weakest link in the system for anglers who use light braided line (for maximizing casting distance) to heavier fluorocarbon leader (to withstand the biggest, baddest, and saltiest of fish out there).
For instance, a 50% knot tied on the lure end of a 30 lb leader is stronger than a 100% line-to-line knot one the other end given that it’s to a 10 lb main line… so I was excited to prove to the fishing world that my unique method of connecting my braided line to leader was the best…
The FG Knot Surprise
When I first saw the FG knot, I just knew my favorite line-to-line knot at the time was going to demolish it.
Why?
Well, the FG knot only consisted of a series of braided line wraps squeezing the end of fluorocarbon leader… it didn’t even double-back the leader line like all the others… at first I thought it was laughable!
My theory about this tiny knot being weak was so fixed in my mind that I truly did believe I made an error tying my favorite knot when the FG knot beat mine on the first test (the test consisted of me tying them both to a single strand of line and then pulling on it until the weaker knot busted).
However, this incredibly thin FG knot completely humbled me that day as I re-tested it multiple times before realizing that my “unbeatable” knot wasn’t quite as good as I thought.
It then went on to win the line-to-line knot contest I held in January by a significant margin (over 30% as shown in the final four pic below), so I was quick to adopt it as my new favorite.
And this FG knot has done nothing but completely impress me ever since. In fact, I’ve even tested it against every knot recommendation that has come in since posting the FG knot video shown below that somehow went viral on YouTube, and it has continually held its spot at the top… even against very popular knots like the Crazy Alberto, Surgeon, and double line knots like the bimini twist to a bristol.
How to Tie the FG Knot
There are several ways to tie the FG knot. The first way I learned to tie the FG knot was extremely time-consuming, so I was against even recommending this knot given how long it took to tie.
However, I then learned this short-cut method shown that has allowed me to now be able to tie it in under 1 minute, so I now recommend the FG knot for anglers who uses braided fishing line given that it’s both the strongest and thinnest knot that I’ve ever tested, and it can be tied fast if you do it using the method shown below.
Here’s a video showing the short-cut method to quickest and easiest way to tie the FG knot… just click on the image below to watch the video.
FG Knot 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!
Conclusion
As anglers, our fishing knots are the only thing we have 100% control over when it comes to landing the biggest fish of the day, so we might as well make sure we use the strongest ones out there for each connection… and we must pay special attention to the connection involving the lighter/weaker line since the overall line system is only as strong as its weakest link.
Although tying the FG knot can take a bit longer than many others (especially when first learning it), it is worth using in my opinion because it has consistently been proving to outperform the others… even while being the thinnest option out there.
Please know that I’m by no means saying it’s the strongest knot known to man… just that it’s the strongest of the many I’ve tested it against for directly connecting braid to fluorocarbon.
Note: If you have a line-to-line knot that you’d like me to try it against, just leave a comment below (or send an email to fish@saltstrong.com) and I’ll be sure to include it in the next round of knot strength analysis.
Related Posts: The #1 Mistake Anglers Make With The FG Knot
P.S. – Be sure to share this post with any of your fishing friends who use braided line because they may not yet know about this very strong and thin braid to leader knot.
Don’t let the biggest fish of the day get off with your lure/hook!
Check out the post linked below which shows the rankings of the best knots of all time.
Best Fishing Knots Of All Time (Ranked Strongest To Weakest)
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229 Comments on "Fastest Way To Tie The Amazing FG Knot [Free PDF Guide Included]"
When I go after big fish, and I have braid to mono, I always tie a double polymar. Takes a little time but super strong and knot is not that big
This is by far the best knot for braid to mono or braid to fluoro. I have never lost a fish at that knot. As a matter of fact I caught a 250# swordfish and many tuna and mahi with it. It s easiest, strongest and thinnest knot on tie
Glad to see that you’re enjoying the FG knot too. Fish On!
OMG you just cut my offshore prep time by hours! Having to make leaders and swivels, and baits…. TYVM!!!!
Yep! The FG knot is a game-changer (and massive time saver)
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MY son recently brought a 100 pound plus tarpon and a 175 pound plus bull shark to boat on braid/ fluorocarbon joined with the FG . Great knot thanks for the “how to’.I add a tiny touch of super glue to lock in the tag end of the braid after it is trimmed
How awesome! Glad to see that you’re enjoying the FG knot. Fish On!
This knot can be such a pain great job simplifying it
Our pleasure Chris. Glad to see that you enjoyed this FG knot video. Fish On!
I’ve been tying this knot since watching your video, I’m a believer! My knots are tight and strong, now my buddies are asking me to teach them how to tie the knot.
Hey Leonard, I’m glad to see that you’re enjoying the FG knot. Thanks for teaching it to others as well. Fish On!
Been doing this knot with 50# Braid and 65# Mono leader material. No matter what I do the braid will not grip into the mono leader. It finishes great and looks fantastic for running through guides, but after a pull test it simply slides off.
Thinner lines (20# Braid & 40# mono) works great and holds.
Something I’m doing wrong or is this knot used only for certain poundage or leader material?
It works great for me when using 30 lb braid to 50 lb to 100 lb leader, so I’m guessing that the thicker braid relative to the leader is having a tough time digging its groves into the outer layer of the leader. My suggestion would be to use less coils so that the ones you make dig in with more force (try 14 to 16 coils vs. the 18 to 20 mentioned in the video).
I will use this for tying on the boat line connections. Have you compared this knot with using hollow core connection that would be done before going fishing?
I have not tried the FG knot using hollow core connection. Let me know if you find that it works. Fish On!
We don’t like it. You waste to much line and expensive leader materials. Besides that where’s your swivel gonna go?
I’m confused about the comment about wasting too much leader… there should not be any more unused tag end with the FG knot compared to most other knots (I’ll typically just have to cut off an inch and a half).
This line to line knot can be used in place of a swivel to connect two lines… it saves time in not having to tie two knots on each end of the swivel and its connection is equally as strong.
Sounds like he’s just a troll mate… considering he thinks to ad a swivel… (what a joke)
Its obvious that the waste on an FG knot is absolute minimal compared to almost all others.
The ease of watching your video and how well the instructions were conveyed, made me watch your others…
Thumbs up from New Zealand!
Thanks for the support Garry. Glad to see that you enjoyed our FG knot video. Fish On!
Can you use an fg knot to tie a leader to a fresh water fly line
I have not yet tried the FG knot on fly line. Please let us know if it works.
Thanks for sharing this FG knot I guess I’ll be practicing that tomorrow at work.
Your site is great. Would this knot be good for tying Rio’s Wire Bite tippet 20# to 40# braid?
For that matter, what”s the best knot for tying 20# Wire Bite to 20# fluoro?
After watching the video many time I tried to tie the FG knot. 25# Yozuri mono leader. I could not get the tension in the mono to lay flat on the braid. Is the leader too heavy ?
There is no such thing as a leader that’s too heavy for the FG knot… it gets easier to tie as the leader increases relative to the size of the braid. And it gets tougher to tie as the strength of the leader is closer to the strength of the braid…. especially if the rated braid strength is heavier than the leader. If you’re using a braided line that’s over 25# with that leader, I recommend switching over to the 6 turn surgeon’s knot.
luv ya work buddy
Awesome knot. Thanks for sharing. TJ
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment. Glad to see that you enjoyed this FG knot tutorial. Tight Lines!
nice!
I’ve tried the Nanofil and the only thing I did different is that I made 26 wraps instead of the twenty. Seems to be holding great. We’ll see when it’s tested on the water though.
Have you tried the FG with Nanofil?
Not yet. I’ll be sure to pick up some Nanofil to give it a shot next chance I get. Tight Lines!
Can this be used on mono to mono with close to same size?
The FG knot is not good for mono to mono connections. Here’s a link to a strength test done on mono to mono lines: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/strongest-line-to-line-knot/
Very interesting knot…I will try it for sure
Great thanks
Going to go try to tie the knot now. Looks like a great skinny knot. Get back with you later
Wish I knew what I was doing wrong on the FG knot. I tied it several times and loved it, but the past 4-5 attempts have let go. I set it until I almost cut myself with the braid before clipping mono tag end. Even started leaving a little extra tag on mono. Reviewed video 20 times & pretty sure I’m not missing anything. Next step might be to wear gloves when setting knot.
Sounds like you’re tying it right… what lines are you using? The FG knot is designed specifically for protecting a light braid that’s connected to a stronger leader, so my assumption is that you’re either using a heavy braid tied to a lighter leader or whichever lines you’re using are not meshing well with this knot.
Tying 30lb PowerPro to either 40lb or 50lb mono. Don’t see much I can screw up on doing the wraps. Even gone back and made sure I’m initiating the wraps away from me with mono over braid, wrapping mono under braid and pulling tight. Don’t feel like it’s really digging in when I cinch it down, but again, I’m putting enough pressure that I’m afraid to cut my hands with the mono. I’m wondering if I have too much tension on the braid when making the wraps. I’ve not been lubricating the wraps when I go to set it. Not sure if that would make any difference. Also wondering if the wraps are too close together before cinching, which could possibly interfere with the “finger trap” effect.
The FG knot should def work with those lines.
You may be right about having too much pressure on the braid when making the wraps… there needs to be some space to allow room for the braid coils to dig groves into the outer layer of the mono. Try a bit less tension and see if that works (I tie mine while standing and just have the rod leaning away at a ~45 degree angle… which creates just enough tension to keep the coils organized).
The more I think about it the more I’m convinced that’s the problem. Even after making the wraps I seem to remember they were very close together, not spread out along the leader. I think what’s happening is that they cinch just the last few wraps, but not along the entire series of wraps.
That 45 degree thing doesn’t work so well with a 12′ surf rod with 7000 Ambassador reel. I’ve been putting one end in my mouth and pulling directly against the reel, with the rod/reel laying across my lap. Guess I’m going to have to start carrying a spare TV remote in my tackle box! 🙂
Haha… yep, the tv remote worked well in the demo.
With a long rod like that you can stand it up and then wrap the line around a rod eye that is about head level before leaning it away from you (I do that when tying it in a kayak… it lessens the pressure and keeps the line right in front of your face making it easy to see).
Correction: ……cut my hands with the “braid”.
Have you seen this FG mistake video? This is the most common reason for FG knot slippage: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot-mistake/
Si
Love it! Great demonstration. Great knot. Thank you!
Love the FG knot! Could I use it tie my filler (or backing) line to my mainline to spool my baitcaster? Thanks!
Yes, the FG knot can be used to connect a braided line to a mono/fluoro as a backing connection or a leader connection.
Do I treat Fireline as a braid or Mono? I understand that since it is fused, it doesn’t have the braid effect and is much more smooth. Does this hinder the FG knot effectiveness? If so, what knot should I use to connect 20# fireline to Mono or Flouro? Thanks
I have never used Fireline so am not sure how it will react with the FG knot. If it has a smoother surface than braid, then it probably won’t work with the FG knot.
To be safe, I’d recommend the 6 turn surgeon’s knot because it’s one of the strongest knots I’ve tested and works for all types of lines and is also very quick and easy to tie… here’s a link to learn more about it: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/surgeons-knot/
I’d be interested in the answer to the Fireline question. I just tried to tie a couple of FG knots using #20 Fireline Crystal and 80LB mono. It would not grip the mono and just slipped off. I pulled as hard as I could before clipping the tag end of mono.
I have never used Fireline so am not sure how it will react with the FG knot. If it has a smoother surface than braid, then it probably won’t work with the FG knot.
To be safe, I’d recommend the 6 turn surgeon’s knot because it’s one of the strongest knots I’ve tested and works for all types of lines and is also very quick and easy to tie… here’s a link to learn more about it: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/surgeons-knot/
Thanks for the video. I just tied the fg knot with help from your video and it was successful for the first time for me. Kudos
I’m glad to see that this FG knot video helped you tie it correctly on the first try. Hope that you catch some monster fish while using it soon… Fish On!
Hey Luke! really appreciate the knot videos, so easy to watch, understand and learn. You guys are doing a great job, both of you. Livin the dream yes? lol Fish on! Thanks again
I use this knot quite a lot on the beach fishing for tailor, Jew and Mackerel but I’m unable to ever bring in the Spanish mackerel. When they hit they hit fast and I’ve got my drag on very light but for some reason the braid gives up because when I bring in the line I don’t have any leader or the knot just a frayed braid on the end. I’m using 30ld braid with 60lb leader
Luke, Thanks for the info. I’ve been using a double bobber stopper knot. Basically you lay the 2 lines side by side, tie a bobber stopper knot with the braid then tie a bobber stopper knot with the flouro , lubricate and pull the 2 knots together. Could you strength test it. It is slightly thicker, but is easy to tie. I’m tying 10lb flouro to 15lb braid and I haven’t had any issues.
Iam using power pro to mono. The knot keeps slipping down the mono.
Hey Bruce, make sure to cinch the knot down with a lot of force before cutting off the tag end of the leader. If the knot somehow won’t cinch down, then please let me know what brand leader you’re using as well as the listed breaking strengths for the braid and mono and I’ll try to help troubleshoot the issue.
I’m definitely going to try this knot looks good
Will this work with 12lb fluoro to 10lb braid ? If so do I need more wraps?
The FG knot should work with 10 lb braid to 12 lb flouro, but it’s getting close to the edge since the 12 lb flouro is so thin.
I’d use 18 wraps, and pull it very tight before cutting off the tag end of the leader.
Note: Make sure the full line of braid coils dig into the leader… they all should slightly change colors as they dig into their groves.
And to be extra safe, I’d purposely break it by securing the other end of the leader to something stable and then pulling on the braid until it breaks. If it’s a clean break, then the knot works… if the end of the braid has lose coils on it, then the lines don’t work with the FG knot.
Thanks 18 wraps is less then the video ….is that better then 20 for this purpose?
When the lines are closer in diameter, it is better to do less wraps because the coils will need more force on each one to dig the necessary groves into the outer layer of the leader… so a lower amount of coils will get more force on each one when tightening the knot since the same force is spread between few coils.
You’re welcome to use more, but just make sure that all of the FG coils (especially the last one closest to the lure) digs in… you can tell be it changing colors as it cinches down.
Thanks for your help and video on the fg knot tied it today using 10lb braid to 12lb fluoro and landed the biggest rainbow of my life!
Congrats on your rainbow catch! Those sure are an awesome fish… great fighters and sure to look awesome.
Love the FG knot…fought a 40+ pound yellowtail with a 600 pound sea lion playing tug of war with me and my fish for over an hour and a half, while I kept buttoning down the drag. Probably had 25-30 pounds of drag at the ended of the fight (65# braid to 50# fluorocarbon leader). The hook finally pulled out. That knot is the bomb and bullet proof!!! My go to knot – now. I used to use the Bob Sands knot, which I never had a failure either, however a slightly more bulky finished knot, than the FG. My Albright knots would almost always fail.
I tied the knot 4 different times and with a micro guide rod it broke the knot of when casting … lost a couple good lures but continued to believe it was my fault. Reverted back to the Albright Special and haven’t had to retie it in a long time. I’m not sure what it was about the FG knot that caused it to break off when casting but it seemed to run smoothly through the guides when I tested it by pulling line out manually. Stinks cause it took me a while to perfect the knot before I actually started to use it and that time was well wasted.
Hey Jeremy, thanks for the feedback. I had the same issue until my brother Luke watched me tie the knot and told me about this one critical error I was making (that quite a few other anglers have done as well)
Check out the most common mistake here: http://v2.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot-mistake/
I will have to give it a try again to make sure I don’t cut the tag end too soon. It’s been so long since I tried it that I can’t even remember if I actually made that mistake or not. This time I’ll make a cast with a weight on the end instead of one of my good lures haha.
Hahaha. I know what you mean. I threw off a $25 topwater lure while tarpon fishing right before I realized my issue. Definitely bond it together really well before cutting off the tag ends. It makes all the difference in the knot.
Not sure why but now when I’m pulling the two main lines tight my fluoro is breaking off … lol
Had to give up my hands are killing me … 4 tries 3 out of 4 the leader broke last try the leader pulled out of it. Next time I try I’ll try and thicker leader line and see if that’s been the problem the whole time.
So I tied an Albright real quick with the same fluoro and it broke off … I think the fluoro is bad or too light.
Wow! Sounds like you may have a bad spool of fluoro. What lb test is it? And what lb braid are you using?
20lb braid on 8lb fluoro …
Ah, well the fluoro is breaking because it is so much weaker than the braid. Since braid has a higher breaking strength relative to its listed amount compared to mono, I always recommend using a lighter braid than whatever leader is used because you’ll get better casting performance without losing any strength in the overall line system.
Note: The likely cause of the FG knot slipping is because the thicker braid is having a hard time digging notches in the outer layer of the fluoro.
Here’s the setup that I most often use when inshore fishing in case interested: http://v2.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-tie-a-fishing-leader-for-snook-redfish-seatrout/
Thanks for the help. I was trying to use the knot on a finesse setup for smaller species so maybe I’ll not use it for that but at least now I know the leader needs to be a thicker higher lb test than the braid.
Thanks for everything.
Sorry that my earlier comment wasn’t clear… the FG knot works great on light lines too (the problems only arise when the leader is lighter than the braid). It’s all about relativity… doesn’t matter if it’s light line or big game line.
If that particular rod/reel is for smaller species, then I recommend going down to an 8 lb braid (or less) because you’ll be able to cast further, you’ll save money on line, and you won’t lose any overall line strength because the weak point will be the knot that is tied to the lure/hook.
And going to lighter line doesn’t mean you can only catch small fish… here’s a video of a decent sized tarpon caught on 10 lb braid (tied to 30 lb leader using the FG knot): https://youtu.be/K9cJeyjxeFk.
Ok I see now.
I’ve always been taught to use a lighter leader than the main line. I’ve never thought of going the other way.
Can you do the same with carbon to mono?
If you’re referring to fluorocarbon to normal mono, then I do not recommend the FG knot (it’s only for braid to mono/fluoro).
Here’s a knot contest for mono to mono: http://v2.saltstrong.com/articles/strongest-line-to-line-knot/
Note: Fluorocarbon is a type of monofilament line.
Brilliant, I just ordered 2 sets of micro guides from the states for a travel rod I’m building for a trip to new Zealand, was concerned about slim beauty, Albright, or double uni catching on these guides that I haven’t used before. This knot looks way smoother than any knot I’ve used and to be rated as stronger what can I say! Thanks for the demo, Aussie fish on down under
Mate – great video and super easy method for this knot. It took me a while to get the bimini/bristol combo right but was just a few runs through the video and a few dry runs and I am away laughing. Heading out on Sunday to try it out. Cheers!
Badass
Hi Luke – Great way of tying the FG Knot, have been using it successfully on our local Yellowtail Kingfish in Nelson, New Zealand, they are great fighters and so far I have landed fish up to about 30lb – but there are much bigger ones out there!!. Had a beer last night and as everyone knows beer improves your brainpower and after the beer a question popped into my head, should I be wetting the line before I tie the knot as I know that with other knots you should wet the line first??
Hey Daniel, I have not seen a difference in wetting the FG knot before cinching it down or not, so I don’t bother with it.
What if using braided line in bottom on reel and mano on to of reel can this knot still be used
Hey Daryl, the FG knot should work for that connection inside the spool… I use it to connect my mono filler at the bottom of my reels to the braid main line which is essentially that same thing. Just be sure to give it a good test to make sure it holds if the breaking strengths of both lines are similar (the FG knot works best to connect a light braid to a heavy mono/fluoro leader).
I have used the FG not successfully on regular powered and similar lines for about 8 months, but I have had a problem recently with a “braid” that is not my normal brand. I have used it with 6lb Berkly fire line crystal and have had multiple failures where the flourocarbon leader is pulling through the knot. It is a very slick line that is fused, not braided/twisted. Any issues with using similar lines (like power pro slick 8)? I have tied it in some old slick 8 without and issue, but it is so old that it is no longer very “slick”.
What is the heaviest braid and fluoro limitation. Use 75 braid and 60 fluorocarbon.
I have not heard of a max limit for this knot… I typically use 10 to 30 lb briad to connect to 25 to 80 lb mono/fluoro, but I’ve heard from others who use it to catch big tuna on heavy tackle.
My only recommendation is to always use a braid that is of a lower strength rating because the diameter of the braid needs to be much smaller than that of the mono in order to dig the proper groves into the leader for it to lock in place… I’d be careful when using 75 braid to a 60 lb leader… test it out be intentionally breaking it off on something before putting it to use.
This is by far the easiest way to tie the FG knot. I learned to tie this three different ways. this is the best yet!
thanks
Thanks to Luke for simplifying it for all of us! The FG Knot is all I use after watching him tie this a few times. Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment Jim.
Do you always tie a couple feet of fluoro onto your braided lines?
Yes, the fluoro leader allows for beefing up the line strength to protect from getting broken off by a fighting fish while at the same time being less visible to them.
Will the FG knot work with mono as it does with fluorocarbon?
This FG knot is specifically for braided line… I’ve done some testing with mono to mono, and I’ve never been able to get it to dig in like it does with braid.
Here’s a test I did with 4 of the strongest mono to mono knots I found after some preliminary testing in case interested: http://v2.saltstrong.com/articles/strongest-line-to-line-knot/.
Thanks for the great video showing how to tie the FG knot, I have been using this knot for several months and really like it.
I was thinking of trying this knot on my game reel , I will be useing 100lb power pro onto 130lb mono to take place some of the shock into the line . What do you think is this a worth while knot to use ?
LIKE THAT KNOT! I LIVE IN VIRGINIA AND FISH IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY,MAINLY OFF BUCKROE PIER IN HAMPTON VA ,I FISH FOR COBIA, SPEC’S ,PUPPY DRUM ,RED DRUM ,FLOUNDER, AND WHAT EVER ELSE THAT WANTS TO PLAY!THAT KNOT SHOULD DO GREAT FOR.ALL.ESPECIALLY FOR MY SIGHT CASTING RIG. THANKS
what about line twist? theres no swivel
Very nice instructions. I’ll use that with my fly rod as its so small. thanks.
I’ve heard mixed reviews about the FG knot to connect fly line to backing… apparently some fly lines have a thick out covering around its core that will slide off when a lot of force is applied. I definitely recommend testing its strength out before relying on it for connecting backing to fly line.
Thanks for making the video. I’ll try it today.
My pleasure Ray. Let me know if you run into any issues tying it.
Landed 2 Tarpon thanks for the fg knot. They were juvenile but i was fighting them with 10 lb braid and 30 lb flouroleader. The first tarpon i hookup up to wrapped himself in the mangroves and the knot (Orvis knot) on the leader gave out before the FG. I then proceeded to land two more tarpon on the same knot and leader. Amazing knot! Thank you for the easy to understand and follow along video!
Awesome news Adrian! Glad to see that you’re enjoying the knot and catching some good fish with it.
Keep up the great work. And make sure to join the Strong Angler Challenge series so you can win prizes for your catches… here’s a link to the current Challenge dashboard: http://v2.saltstrong.com/strong-angler.
Thanks guys very much. Havent been using braid for long and all the knots I was shown were terrible through the rod guides. Especially when using very light gear. The Alberto was the best but had it come loose too many times lost good lures. This knot is fantastic! Thanks a bunch!
I’m glad to see that you’re enjoying the FG knot. Although it is very slim, I highly recommend against casting it (or any knot) through the guides on a frequent basis because the friction of hitting the guides at a high rate will continually weaken the knot to a point of potentially casting off lures.
Yeah, I have had knots catch the rod guides and break them, as well as knots catch on the guides and tangle.
Beats me how the GT popper guys use two rod lengths of 150lb mono to 100lb braid!!
What are these guys? Magicians?
Yeah found that out yesterday on a $25 lure. Back to the drawing board. Is there a slim knot for fine braid that will run through the guides and stays attached?
I use what was taught to me as the “no name” knot which gives you the same diameter finished product with close to 100% line strength and is much quicker to tie
Great knot. I was using the Alberto knot but the FG is much better. I fish for Spanish Mackerel off the rocks here in Western Australia..can’t tell you how impressed my mates were when I showed them this knot.
I tried to tie the G\FG know with 100/100 mono to braid. After several tries I gave up. Later tried with 20/30 braid to mono w/o a problem. Is there a trick to using this know for heavy lines?
Hey Rico, I’ve heard similar stories from others who tried the FG knot on lines of equal strength ratings… so it appears as if the FG knot requires the braid to be much thinner than the mono/fluoro in order to dig in its groves in the outer layer.
Since braid is so much stronger than its listed strength compared to mono/fluoro, I always recommend using a braid that is at least 20% lighter than the leader. Using the lighter braid compared to leader allows for much better casting performance (much less water drag for bottom fishing) without sacrificing any overall line system strength…
For example, I use 30 lb braid with 50 lb fluoro leader when bottom fishing for grouper… and when I get snagged on the bottom, the knot going to the hook breaks before the FG knot does… so a heavier braid wouldn’t do add any extra strength because the weak link is the fluoro.
I hope this helps. Fish On!
Hey Luke and Joe, I live in Florida over by the Mosquito Lagoon area (Titusville) and I have recently joined your group. Outstanding how you two have worked as brothers together! I have a brother whom owns a fly shop in northern Wisconsin and he and I worked together for many years until I screwed everything up and got married!?? Oh well, that’s life getting in the way again, my fault. Anyway, I’m a fly fisherman and I’d love to see a little more on any fly-fishing/fly-tying technics you may have. I also worked in the fly fishing world for a fly-tying and rod manufacturer out west after I was married so if you need and/or are willing for any ideas I’d be willing to help, although there are a ton of fly fishing legends here in Florida whom are way more qualified then I to add to this forum.
P.S. I’m just a regular guy and I KNOW that I DON’T know it all by a long shot, but I’m willing to share the little bit that I do know with anybody. I’m also always looking for people to go fishing with and “Tie one on”
I’m just getting into using braid to flourocarbon leaders, having success so far. 1 question I have is what is the difference between flourocarbon fishing line and flourocarbon leader material? Thanks, keep up the great work on your website and Youtube channel!
Hey Brett, I’m actually not sure if there is much of a difference between fluoro line made for the main line and than made for leader… I highly recommend sticking with braid main line given the added casting performance and increased feel it provides in relation to mono/fluoro.
I just got back from Costa Rica offshore fishing and seen this knot for first time. They tied it between there fingers but it is the same knot, I am learning it to use,
Hey Stan, thanks so much for making time to leave a comment. How cool to see that it’s being used over in Costa Rica too… I’ve seen that finger style before, and had trouble trying it that way so I continue using the line in mouth method. Fish On!
Great video, much easier than how I’ve tied the FG in the past. Thanks.
Loved the Video Excellent leader knot Thank you so much , now I can make my own leaders and not have to tie lures directly to my main line and save my main line from hang ups , Fabulous info to know and use . I can’t thank you enough. Ha
Hey Jack, thanks so much for making time to leave a nice comment. I’m thrilled to see that you’re enjoying this FG knot and wish you the very best next time you’re out on the water… Fish On!
Just a suggestion for a refinement. After I cut the FC tag end, I found that by taking a lighter and slightly melting the end of the FC to form a shape similar to a nail head (basically, briefly [like maybe half a second] touch the flame, or bring the FC close to the flame and flattening the melted end), you can create an additional “safety catch” for the braid to catch on to. After that you can add the extra hitch knots to cover the FC so as not to get hung up on the rod tip. So pretty much, even if the knot slips, which it shouldn’t, it won’t come completely off.
It probably goes without saying that you should take care not to burn the braid!!
I’ve been trying to learn the FG knot for months and this video is the best I’ve seen. I can’t wait to try it out!
Hey Allan, thanks for the helpful suggestion. I’m very glad to see that you enjoyed this FG knot video. I still have yet to have the braid coils slip off while in use, but that melting idea will be good for ensuring that there isn’t a possibility of a hard edge from the leader tag rubbing up against the lighter main line.
Please keep us posted to how you do when using the FG knot with the melted tag. Fish On!
Hi Luke,
I tested the FG knot today. I’m most impressed with it.
My setup is a 4′ medium action spinning rod, with a Shimano TX2000 reel loaded with 30 lb Power Pro braid. Leader is 30 lb monofilament joined to the braid with an FG knot. The pond I was fishing in had some barramundi in it and the gill plates I’m told, are pretty sharp, which is why I was loaded for bear…
I miscast my line and caught a tree. After struggling with it for a few minutes and determining that it’s pretty much stuck, I wrapped some of the line around my pliers and proceeded to pull. When the line finally snapped I had a look at it. The mono failed at one of the dropper loops. It did NOT fail at the knot. The knot was still intact.
I was then able to field tie another FG knot and was able to land (and release) 3 pacu, all of which hit pretty hard and include some aerobatics during the fight. I then proceeded to another fishing spot and was able to land 2 x 1.5kg African Catfish. Again, no problems though I did notice the braid fraying a bit.
Hey Allan, thanks for leaving the helpful comment. I’m very glad to see that you’re enjoying the FG knot. That’s awesome to see that you’re catching barramundi… what a cool fish.
I’m not at all surprised to see that the mono side was the weaker of the two with 30 x 30 connection… I most often use 10 lb braid and a 20 lb leader, and the loop knot on the leader is the first to fail every time. And when beefing up to a 30 lb leader, the FG knot wins on occasion.
Keep up the great work… Fish On!
Luke,
Will do.
As an afterthought, I realized you can probably even use this to join braid to mono backing on a reel. It probably doesn’t have to be as smooth because if it ever catches on a rod tip, you’re really in trouble (because you’re about to run out of line)! 🙂
Yes, it is definitely a great choice for connecting braid to mono backing… not only is it incredibly thin, it’s also stronger than any other braid to mono knot we’ve tested. Fish On!
Hey Luke, I tried the FG knot for tuna fishing last Friday, got a nice 30 pound tuna and the knot worked great
Hey Martin, congrats on the nice tuna catch while using the FG knot. Sounds like you’ll be eating good… Fish On!
How would this work with Mono to Mono line of two different diameters? I am thinking of heavy leader (50#) to thinner line (25#). It would be great fishing in areas that have a lot of floating weeds that hang up on swivels.
Great question Doug! After doing some testing, the FG knot did not work well for a mono to mono connection. I recommend using the FG knot only for braid to mono/fluoro.
I like it and will try it in the world of catfshing
Hey James, I’m glad to see that you enjoyed this FG Knot video! We wish you the best on your next catfishing trip.
Using 30# XPS braid and 6# stren clear. I keep these at my desk at work to practice knots. With this line combo I physically can’t pull the braid loops tight enough to keep it from slipping off.
My guess is that the mono is too thin in comparison to the braid for this knot to work. It’s basis is that the braid coils dig small notches into the mono allowing it to hold tight no matter how much pressure is applied without slipping (it’ll break internally before pulling out).
And the thick braid in relation to such a light mono must not allow for the notches to form. You’ll likely need to use a different knot for connected those two lines.
Note: The breaking strength of braid is often much higher than the listed strength in comparison to mono, so you could very well drop down to a much lighter braid without losing any overall system strength.
Seem like a great knot, however I keep pulling the finished knot off the mono. I have been very careful to make sure the wraps are tight and correctly over wrapped.
The most common issue I’ve heard has been caused by not pulling hard on the lines prior to cutting the tag end of the leader. Before cutting the leader, the braid coils need to have already cinched down and locked itself into place by pulling on the main braid and leader lines.
If that is not the issue, please let me know what lines your using.
Hey Luke,
Thanks a lot for showing this easy way to tie a FG!
Conditions in my home waters force me to use 2-3m mono leader on my lure equipment because I am fishing in clear lakes that are heavily pressurized by anglers and the fish are very line shy. Further more the lakes inhabit tons of Zebra Mussels that have been introduced through ships in the last three decades. These mussels have very sharp edges and if you’re fishing close to rocky grounds PE line gets snagged off in an instant. So mono is of great benefit as well as it’s far more abrasion resistant.
However I cannot use swivels for the connection as the narrow freshwater rod guides are to delicate to cast a metal ring through them and as the leader is wound onto the reel (baitcast or spinner) a swivel would interfere with casting, especially on spinning reels.
I’ve been using an improved Albright knot but with heavier line it get’s very bulky and after repeated casts with heavy lures you can see how the know weakens from passing through the guides. Then I switched to a Yucatan knot, which is very easy to tie. The problem is, however, that even though it’s strong I had unexpected break offs I cannot fully understand. It might be that the number of turns vs. line strength is very important.
Many of the super strong off-shore knots require at least one Bimini to be tied. So you need to learn to tie two knots to get a connection. And as we all know – rather an average knot tied well than a superb knot tied poorly.
This one is different: I got it very nice after the first two tries. I am very confident that it will show a great performance with casting as it is slimmer as any other knot I have ever used.
Last but not least as a response to some people who compared your results with the ones from other sites.
It is always difficult to compare these results. You never know how well the knots have been tied, it’s hard to correlate the lines the people have been using(FC vs Nylon, brand of braid, etc), with the results they are seeing.
Last but not least: Google any popular knot and you will get dozens of different ways to tie it. More or less wraps different styles of finishing the knots let alone knots that where simply named wrong. So unless you see exactly how the knot was tied in a specific test, it’s useless to compare different results.
Thanks again and keep up the good work!
Cheers from Switzerland..
Hey Lukas, thanks so much for leaving the awesome comment! I’m glad to see that you’re enjoying the FG knot. I completely agree with everything you stated. However, I must add that although this FG knot is very slim and can fly through guides on a cast with little resistance, it still will get weakened over time (just like any knot).
The friction from the high speed run-ins with the guides will slowly chip away at the braid coils closes to the leader to the point of breaking the line after a lot of wear. So be careful to re-tie fairly often if you like casting the knots through the guides… or I’ve heard of others who put super glue on those bottom coils to add some protection to the braid coils).
Brilliant good to know
Thanks George! I’m glad to see that you enjoyed this quick method of tying the FG knot.
Hi, i would like you to test this knot againts the PR knot made with a bobbin, and see whether there is much of a difference, thanks.
Cool, I will def give it a try and revert
Hey JP, I have not yet personally tried the PR knot but I’ve heard from some others that it is slightly stronger than the FG knot, but not enough difference to justify having to carry around a bobbin and the time it takes to tie it. I’ll put this test on my “to do” list though to see how much stronger it is.
Can this be used for flouro to flouro leader?
The FG knot is not good for fluoro to fluoro… only for braid to fluoro/mono. The double uni knot is a better choice for a fluoro to fluoro connection.
Very impressed !!! Will practice that, a clear explanation as well
Hey Gazza, thanks so much for leaving the nice comment! I’m thrilled to see that you enjoyed this FG knot video and I hope you catch some huge fish while using it soon. Fish On!
Remember the old saying “Keep it simple stupid.”? I’ve spent hours trying difficult knots. This is so much easier and quicker. Thanx.
Yes, the “keep it simple stupid” approach is most often the way to go. I’m very glad that you enjoyed this simple approach to tying an otherwise difficult FG knot. I hope you catch some huge fish while using it very soon!
Will the FG knot work on heavier mono to braid connections? I use 65 pound Power Pro with a topshot of 50 pound mono. Great instructional video btw, thanks!
Hey Russ, thanks for making time to leave a comment. Yes, the FG knot will work on heavier mono to braid connections. However, I typically recommend using a braid that is lighter than the mono leader because the breaking strength of braid is often much higher than that of mono above the listed strengths, so you can get better casting performance and less water drag by using a lighter braid without losing any overall strength… for example, I use 30 lb PowerPro tied to a 50 lb mono leader when grouper fishing, and the mono leader is most often what breaks when snagged on the bottom.
Thanks for this article and video, can’t wait to try it out. I mainly fish in the bays on the Texas coast for redfish and trout. I’ve been using 30 lb power pro. Do you think if I switched to 20LB power pro for my main line I would get better casting distance? Also, do think 20LB power pro would be enough?
Hey Jackson, switching to 20 lb braid from 30 lb will most certainly bring better casting performance. When targeting reds and trout, I actually recommend using 10 lb line to all of my clients. The only time I go up to 20 lb or 30 lb line for reds is when going after the 40+ inchers in inlets/passes. In low current situations, the 10 lb braid will get the job done with amazing casting performance. For proof, here’s a video showing a tarpon catch on 10 lb braid using the FG knot to connect to a 30 lb leader: http://v2.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot-tarpon-catch.
Awesome thanks for the tip! Will definitely try it out.
Beautiful- very nice and much clearer than other presentations I have seen.
Hey Lawrence, thanks so much for leaving the nice comment. I’m very glad to see that you enjoyed this FG knot video. I hope you catch some monster fish while using it soon… Fish On!
Enjoyed the video. I fish over here in Sydney Australia and your directions were easy to follow. I now use the knot always. Thanks again.
Hey Craig, thanks so much from leaving the nice comment! I’m thrilled to see that you enjoyed this FG knot video and that you’re using it out on the water. I hope you catch some huge fish while using it soon.
Excellent video. Very clear. Thanks so much
Hey Hal, thanks so much for leaving the nice comment! I’m glad to see that you enjoyed this braid to leader knot contest. Fish On!
Having problems wrapping the flo around the braid, flo doesnt want to loop, the braid wants to loop, whats up
Hey Dale, I’m sorry to see that you’re having trouble with the FG knot. Please help me understand the issue you’re having and I’ll do my best to help out. Technically, the fluoro should not form any loops… it should remain straight while wrapping back and forth around the braid. When wrapping the fluoro around the braid, it is very important to keep constant tension on the braided line so it forms tight coils around the fluoro… at the 3:30 mark on the FG knot video above, you’ll be able to see how tight the coils should form. Please let me know exactly where your troubles begin in relation to the steps in the video and I’ll let you know my thoughts on how to fix it. Fish On!
Hola I will add this knot as I train my fisherfolk in MY trix etc in Guatemala and El Salvador I’m new to this NEW type braided line though we did use braided dacron in the 60’s 70’s some at Wrightsville beach
Thanks for the video and info. This has been the easiest and fastest way to learn how to tie the FG knot. I’ve been using it on all my heavier gear for tarpon and such and it’s worked well. I have noticed when tying this knot with older braid, sometimes the braid will break when cinching it down. I almost feel in those cases it may be better to have the braided line doubled. Have you tried tying this knot with the braided line doubled and stress tested it? I just rigged some rods up with it and it seems to be fine. I think I had read somewhere online with doubled braid it may not ‘bite’ good enough to hold, but seems to be alright for me so far. Though I did really pull on it to cinch everything down multiple times while finishing the knot.
Hey Richard, thanks so much for making time to leave a comment. I’m glad to see that you enjoyed this quick method to tie the FG knot. I’ve never tried to double over the line and then tie the FG… I’m assuming it will strengthen it a bit, but probably not worth the time in doubling over the line (bimini twist is known as the strongest doubling knot). I’ll be doing a test of doubled line knots in a few weeks so will be sure to include the Bimini/FG combo to see if it makes a difference. Fish On!
Do you ever use any adhesive, like Super Glue or other product, as a way of preventing fraying or unraveling? I have seen on other videos the use of a two step product using a dab of liquid activator to soften the mono followed by the adhesive. Your FG video was the best I have seen and can’t wait to try it!
Hey Tim, thanks for making time to leave the nice comment! I’m thrilled to see that you enjoyed this FG knot video. As for super glue or any other substance on knots, my personal preference has always been to shy away from using them because I’m typically tying them in a rush and don’t have time to wait for it to dry so I’ve never tried using it. The liquid activator approach to soften the mono may help the braid dig in a bit better, but I never have had it slip (even in testing when I was purposefully pulling on it until it broke) so I don’t feel that it’s worth the time to do it.
As for super glue, my thought is that the only spot where I’d consider using it is on the bottom coils of the knot (facing the lure/hook) because I’ve heard about others having the knot give out due to long-term wear and tear of the knot hitting the rod guides while casting… those top coils would take the brunt of that friction, and the know will unravel if they break.
I’m sure that the glue would give it a bit more protection. However, my recommendation would be to not cast any knots through rod guides because that will always cause them to get weaker. I’m sticking with tying the FG knot without glue or any other fancy substance and not casting it through my guides… so far, sticking to that plan has worked amazingly well for me.
Thanks again for the great question. I hope to hear from you again soon. Fish On!
Awesome video, I’m going try it
Hey Rich, I’m glad you enjoyed this FG knot video. I hope you catch some great fish while using it soon!
It’s called the Naples Knot and we have been using that knot here in 10K for over 12 years. I think some guide discovered/invented it here after consuming a six-pack and playing with Chinese handcuffs. If you google Naples Knot all sorts of discussion/arguments comes up. I first learned of it from Capt. Andy Werner down here and have been using it ever since. I can now tie it in the dark by feel. Well worth the effort!
Thanks for sharing the news about the history of the “Naples Knot”. Looks like that six pack provided us all with an awesome line to line knot to enjoy. Yes, it gets easier over time. I now do it by feel as well… Fish On!
Have you tested this not with 50-lb braid to 100-lb leader for use with tarpon? If the FG knot can hold up to big tarpon, it can hold up to anything!! I like to tie 25 feet of wind-on leader (80-100 lb mono) to my 50-lb braid for tarpon fishing. I have been using the bristol knot but would switch to FGif it has been tested against tarpon.
Hey J.R., thanks for submitting a question. I have not personally tested the FG knot specifically with 50 lb braid to 100 lb leader for tarpon. However, a YouTube viewer from Australia recently let us know that he caught a marlin using the FG knot while using it to connect a 60 lb braid tied to 150 lb leader… he even added the following – “After landing the fish, the FG knot was in perfect health. I left it in place ready for the next marlin.”
What are the benefits/drawbacks of using these knots opposed to a swivel to go from line to leader? Ive always used swivels and just assumed people used these knots to either show off their knowledge of knots or they are cheap and dont want to buy swivels……
Hey Jeff, great question. The reason I most often do not use swivels is because they weigh down the line which can be troublesome when fishing shallow flats or rocky bottoms… the added weight of a swivel can cause the lighter main line to get weakened by rubbing on the ground or even bump into the backs of fish before they get a chance to see my lure. An added bonus is that the line to line connection prevents my rod tips from getting damaged when letting inexperienced friends use my gear… the swivel hitting the top of the rod tip can chip/crack the eye which will ruin your line as it continually rubs against the sharp edge. Strength-wise, this FG knot proved to compete with all direct braid to swivel knots with the exception of a modified uni for braid, which had a slight edge (modified uni – go thru hook eye twice, and then do a 14 turn uni… here’s an example – https://youtu.be/kxS7fVOkmDo). Although the line to line knot is typically a little weaker than tying to a swivel, I prefer to use the direct connection for the reasons listed above knowing that a properly set drag will ensure that no good knot breaks when reeling in a fish. Note: the times I always use swivels is when I”m using something that is prone to twist up my line (like a spoon). Thanks again for asking a great question. Feel free to ask any others… here to help. Fish On!
This may not apply to saltwater — all my experience is with freshwater.
One reason not to use swivels is that if you’re having to cast a lure at the end of a 1-1.5 meter long FC leader, there’s no real way to cast with a swivel joining the lines without running the risk of getting the swivel hung up on your gear. When that happens, best case would be to end up with a bird’s nest. Worst case, something breaks…
Used this knot this past weekend fish for Spanish. It worked great. I don’t like using swivels for Spanish so this knot was great. Held up very good.
Hey Paul, thanks so much for making time to leave a comment. We’re very pleased to see that you had a fun weekend catching Spanish while using the FG knot. Keep up the great work… Fish On!
too much time for a knot. I’ll stick with the Allbright. Remember the amount of pressure a rod exerts is less than line strength. 99% of the time the leader knot won’t go through the rod and even if it does would rarely if ever create a problem. FG knot is certainly thin but if any good knot is tied correctly it won’t break.
Hey Alan, I agree with you that the fact that a fishing knot is thin or not should dictate which one to use… most knots go through guides well. And before doing the various knot strength analysis experiments, I would have completely agreed with the last comment about properly tied good knots being unbreakable. However, I was shocked to notice that in the 100 times that I tied two knots on the same line and pulled until something broke, never once did the “line break” (as we all proclaim when losing a fish or getting snagged on the bottom)… every single break occurred inside a knot (most of the time at the top of the first turn in the knot so there wasn’t even the curly tail at the end to signify a “knot failure”). In the various experiments, I found that the good knots never unwind/unravel, but ALL knots will break when enough pressure is applied to them. Further, I found that all knots have different breaking points (even the ones that don’t unwind)… some significantly more than others. The albright knot is a very good knot so please don’t feel that I’m telling you to switch (no good knot should ever break on a fish because the reel’s drag should always protect it). I just found that the FG knot had a higher breaking point than the others in my testing, and wanted to share that with other anglers who use braided fishing line because I certainly wish that I found out about it years ago. Fish On!
tied this knot many times and did exactly what u did in this video yet it did not hold 1st fish or after a few casts everything came undone i dont think it holds well with flurocarbon yet i see everyone saying it does … i could see it holding better with mono ..
Hello Chris, I have the exact same issue of the hitch knots coming undone after a few casts with micro guides Currently, I’m ending the knot with 5 hitch knots then a hitch knot where I loop 5 times. I’ve tried fewer hitch knots, fewer loops in the last hitch knot, no looping in the last hitch knot, burning the end of the fluorocarbon to make a mushroom, stronger/weaker braid, stronger/weaker fluorocarbon… All of these attempts resulted in the last hitch knot becoming loose. And then the one before the last, etc…
Any news since then ? Any help anyone ?
(I’m using .16mm braid and .33mm fluorocarbon of approximately 5m. I’m forced to use a very thin knot because of the size of the guides on my daiwa infeet xtreme eg93h)
Thanks a lot
Hey Amine, instead of tying a bunch of single hitch knots, you may want to try tying just one to lock everything in place and then tie another one with 5+ wraps (similar to a uni knot) so that there will be a group of very tightly formed coils to withstand the friction of hitting the guides.
Note: It’s best to not cast knots through guides because the friction will weaken all knots over time since the guides will chip away at them. I very rarely cast my knots through the guides and have never had any issues with just using the 4 basic hitch knots on the end of the FG knot.
Hey Chris, sorry to see that you’re having issues with the knot coming undone. This knot does work with fluoro (I used it all the time with fluoro made from Ande and Seagar… 20 to 60 lb range). I’m thinking your issue is caused by one of two culprits: 1) Be sure to cinch the knot down to the point where the far end of the braid coils change colors due to them digging into the fluoro before cutting the tag end of the fluoro. Use less turns if you need to (I now most often do 16 turns instead of 20 ). If that far end is not tight, then it will be more prone to getting weakened by the friction of casting it through the guides.2) Add a couple more hitch knots to the end and tighten them well. If you don’t tighten them, they may come unraveled which could cause the knot to unwind. My assumption is that addressing the #1 item above will fix your problem. Please keep us posted.
Could you try it against the Alberto knot? Yes it is a little thicker but it might prove to be stronger.
Hey Drew, several others have mentioned the Alberto knot after seeing this FG knot video, so I tested it out using the standard 7 twists up, and 7 twists back count of the Alberto… the FG knot won every time (using 10 lb PowerPro to 30 lb Ande Fluoro). I’ll be doing a more in-depth contest where it’ll all be filmed in the next few months… just wanted to give you a quick answer for now. Fish On!
Thanks! Your video makes it look easy to tie. How does this knot compare to the bob sands knot or tony Pena knot in strength?
Hey Doug, in answer to the question about how this FG knot works when tying a braided line to a mono leader that has a smaller diameter than the braid… I’d have to say I’ve never tried, and I don’t feel like that situation is ever really needed. The reason I say that is because a braid’s strength to diameter ratio is so much higher than mono, so I cannot think of a situation where that connection with such diverse breaking strengths would be implemented (unless the heavier line was right at the hook/lure to prevent your target fish’s teeth from cutting the line). Instead of rigging like that, it may be best to lighten up on the braid since the overall system is only as strong as the weakest link… you’ll get better casting performance, have less water drag, and even save money by using a lighter braid (all while not losing any overall line system strength).
Hey Doug, thanks so much for leaving a comment. I’m very glad to see that you enjoyed this FG knot video. I have only done 1 round of testing against the FG knot and the Bob Sands knot, and the FG won. After just now checking out the Tony Pena knot, it appears as if it’s the exact same thing as the Bob Sands knot except that the Tony Pena uses a simple overhand knot with melting the tip while the Bob Sands uses a Uni on the leader side, so I can only assume that the Sands knot is stronger… with the FG beating them both. I’ll be doing a more detailed knot strength analysis on these knots within the next couple months. For now, I highly recommend the FG knot over these two because it appears to be the strongest while being half as thin as the Sands/Pena.
Thanks for the quick response. I usually use a heavier lb braid and a lighter weight leader for live bait tuna fishing. Do you see your results being any different if the braid had a larger diameter than the leader? Thanks again!
I always used the double clinch knots
Hey Mik, thanks so much for leaving a comment. How many twists do you used when tying the cinch knot with braided line? I was unable to get a cinch knot to hold much tension during my testing.
Paulus had a completely different result from his testing.http://www.paulusjustfishing.com/4knotreview.htm
Hey Cameron, thanks for leaving a comment. Yes, it appears as if Paulus was tying the FG knot the more difficult way which takes longer and is prone to leaving separated loops (or perhaps a completely different knot… the reference to burning the leader to form a ball is not something I’ve ever hear of for the FG and is not needed because those braid coils will not slip once they grasp the leader). When done using the method in the video, the loops will all be bound next to one another with the same tension which significantly increases the knot strength because the load is spread across the entire series of coils.
I’ve been using the version of the FG shown above often and have never once seen it pull apart (even when I was testing it and forcing the knot to break) as was described in the FG knot section of Paulus’ site… here are relevant sections from the Paulus review of the FG knot for viewers’ convenience.
“The FG knot, had me intrigued, so I thought I would try it, It is a slim braid to leader knot, where the end of the leader is heated to form a ball, the braid is twisted and looped around the leader and then up it’s self…. The problem is this knots tension is taken from the top not the bottom.The second test again, as the braid tensions up it embeds into the leader, this allows the loops within the knot to separate, this then gives room for the loops to pop off, this knot does allow the braid to tension up on the leader but it allows the separation of the loops, the braid broke at 50% of it’s test value.This looked like a good knot, but it’s not for me, must be better about.”
Thank u for the video. It’s by far the easiest video to understand how to tie the fg knot.
Hey Gabe, thanks so much for leaving the nice comment! I’m very glad to see that you enjoyed the FG knot tutorial. Fish On!
Nice knot! use something like that but not quite tied the same way going to try this one. Thanx
Hey David, thanks for making time to leave a comment… very much appreciated! Please keep me posted on your results when trying out the FG knot. I’m always interested to hear of any new knots to try and test out. Fish On!
I recently went on a fishing live aboard charter with 15 others, out to the Swain Reefs of Gladstone. In preparation for this trip (other times its been a bit if a drink-a-thon) I needed to concentrate on knots. Research took me to this FG youtube video, I practiced it before embarking, tried to convince all the other fishos about it, and like others in this blog – they laughed at me, no return looping!!!All trip, they joked at me about the FG knot – and as you do out there, I lost a lot of gear – BUT NEVER did the FG know fail – I was using 50kg braid and 80kg leader
Hey Simon, I’m thrilled to see that you found the FG knot video on YouTube and that you’ve already been using it. Yes, many will assume it’s a weak knot when they first see it (I sure did), but you’ll have the last laugh when holding the biggest fish of the day in front of them… Fish On!
That is really cool and even I can understand how to tie it. I normally use a double Bimini knot to tie the two together but this looks thinner and based on your tests stronger. Can’t wait to try it. Big trout at my green underwater light last few days. Tight lines and thanks.
Hey Butch, great to hear from you! Yes, the FG knot is thinner than a bimini tied with the leader line. When testing the FG knot against the bimini/bristol combo, they were really close… the bimini/bristol did win on at times, but not as often as the FG. Best of luck landing the big trout at the lights… Fish On!
A friend posted your youtube video of the FG knot on our kayak fishing forum. I liked how the knot was smaller than the uni to uni that I’ve used for years. Retied 2 new leaders on using the FG knot before my last trip and was very happy how well they flowed thru the guides. The fact that they are stronger is a plus.
Hey Bob, thanks for making time to leave a comment! I’m glad to see that you enjoyed your first day out on the water using the FG knot. Yes, they go thru guides smoothly. Just be careful to change the knot over time if you continually cast it thru the guides because that has been known to weaken the knot due to the top of the braid getting slowly frayed from the friction… it has never happened to me, but someone reported it to the comment forum for the video (YouTube).
The fg knot is hands down the best braid to mono knot I’ve ever used. I’ve landed some mean ol angry fish with it been using it offshore for about three years.
Hey Charles, thanks for leaving a comment. I’m jealous that you learned the FG knot a few years ago. It certainly is my go-to knot for connecting braid to mono/fluoro now. Fish On!
Compare to a Briton knot onto a Bimini twist. I think that the Briton is stronger, but it is a double knot on the braid end.
Hey Bob, thanks so much for leaving a knot suggestion! I am not familiar with the Briton knot, so will have to do some research on it. But I’ll be sure to include in my next test. I’m completely ok to have a double knot on the end… whatever works best. I look forward to learning the Briton. Fish On!
I think he meant Bristol Knot
Hey J.R., yes, he intended to state Bristol in his comment. I did a quick test of the Bristol (tied from a bimini loop) against the FG knot, and the FG knot won the initial test when using a 10 lb braid to a 30 lb leader. I’ll do a more in depth knots test soon to include an analysis of the many other knots now that I’m seeing the high interest out there, but just wanted to let you know how the initial test went. Fish On!
Thanks , sounds like a great and strong knot. What lb.test liter line did you use in this demonstration ?
Hey Will, thanks so much for leaving a comment! For the experiment, I was using 10 lb braid made by PowerPro and 30 lb fluorocarbon made by Ande. The coolest part was that its breaking point was as high as 23 lbs, which was way higher than I thought I could ever have when using 10 lb briad.
Hi there, thanks for the simple explanation, going to give it a go soon, one question, is the fg knot the same as the PG knot?
Hey Chris, I’m not familiar with the “PG knot”. I’m assuming you’re referring to the “PR knot”, which is another knot with a slim profile that is known for its extremely high breaking strength. If so, the PR and FG knots are different from one another. The PR is probably slightly stronger, but it requires a tool to tie it, so I rule it out for my knot experiments… I only want to use a knot that I can tie any time and anywhere, so I use the FG knot and absolutely love it.
If there is a specific “PG knot” that does not require a special tool to tie, then please let me know because I’d like to test it out.
Ahhhhh, that’s right… Thanks for jogging my memory, it is called the pg knot…. And I do recall now, the guy used a bobbin to tie it… Thanks Luke.
Luke, the first time I tried the FG knot I was very impressed with it’s holding ability. I am a WI bass fisherman. But I have been having problems lately keeping the flouro from slipping out of the braid. I use 20# Power Pro slick, and a 10# Sunline FC leader. Is this just a bad line combination? I have tried different tensions on the line while tying the knot with mixed results. I just want to feel confident that I am not going to lose a fish because of my knot. Thanks
Hey Michael, the most common cause of FG knot slippage that I’ve heard from anglers is due to not cinching down the knot before cutting the tag end of the mono. The reason this is important is because the braid coils need to dig in to the leader before it’s permanently set in place. So next time you tie the knot, make sure to cinch down hard on it before cutting the mono’s tag end off.
The next common reason I hear that the knot slips is from wear and tear after many casts through guides. Like all knots, the friction caused from getting cast through guides will slowly weaken the knot. For this knot, the braid coils at the leader end will slowly get chipped away, and it apparently can get to the point of wearing through the line which will cause the knot to unravel. So if the bottom coil is torn, you’ll know that this is the cause.
Overall, I’ve only heard a couple people complain about the #2 reason (and it’s never happened to me), so my guess is #1… not cinching it down hard enough before cutting the tag. Let me know if added pressure before cutting the tag changes your results.
When I go to tighten the 2 main lines after I put in the 2 hitch knots, the flouro pulls straight out of the braided line wraps.
What lines are you using? Sounds like they aren’t meshing well with the knot.
Note: Are the coils nice and tight on the leader before pulling (ex… do you thread the leader on while the braid is under tension? or are you wrapping it by hand)?
I am using Power Pro braid (#20, #30, or #40) and Sunline Super FC Sniper #10 for my flouro.
The coils are tight, there is tension, and I am wrapping it by hand.
The combination of super slick braid and lay leader does not seem to mix well with The FG at all. Please try this not with a 10 pound braid to 6 pound floral and let me know how it works out. Not so hot in my experience but maybe I’m doing it wrong
The problem is probably caused by the very small/thin leader… it’s simply not thick enough to allow the braid to dig the necessary groves into the outer layer of the leader.
If you’re using a leader that light, I’d recommend using the 6 turn surgeon knot.
I find that bulky…uni’s or Albright have been ok but I’m considering going up to a 15lb leader. Is that heavy enough for the FG you think?
Thanks