GT Knot vs. FG Knot: Head To Head Knot Strength Experiment
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
Every day I get emails about the GT knot.
They’re either asking me if it’s really the strongest rated knot, or telling me I’m crazy for thinking the FG knot is stronger.
I’ve never seen a knot get so much attention!
But is all the hype deserved?
Is the GT knot really the strongest braid to mono/fluoro knot?
I decided to put these two knots head to head and do a test.
I have a new tension machine that tells me exactly how strong a knot is so we can see precisely which knot is stronger and by how much.
Check out the experiment below.
P.S. If you’re a GT knot fan, this might surprise you!
GT Knot vs. FG Knot [VIDEO]
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Mentioned Links:
– THE BEST FISHING KNOTS OF ALL TIME [RANKED STRONGEST TO WEAKEST]
– HOW TO TIE THE FG KNOT IN UNDER 60 SECONDS [FREE CHEAT SHEET PDF]
There’s a ton of misinformation about the GT knot out there, as well as several different ways to tie it.
And the crazy thing is, the most popular videos show the worst way to tie it!
The GT knot is basically a uni knot on the braid side and a figure eight knot on the mono side.
Both of those knots are weaker than the FG knot, so I had a hunch the GT knot wouldn’t be as strong as the FG knot.
And I was right!
Here are the results of the test:
GT Knot Breaking Strength
Test 1: 9.80 lbs.
Test 2: 7.36 lbs.
Test 3: 13.12 lbs.
Average: 10.09 lbs.
FG Knot Breaking Strength
Test 1: 18.96 lbs.
Test 2: 17.77 lbs.
Average: 18.37 lbs.
Braid should break well above it’s listed resistance, which in this case was 10 lbs.
The FG knot did break well above 10 lbs., but the GT knot broke right at 10 lbs. on average
Conclusion
Although there’s a lot of excitement about the GT knot, there’s also a lot of misinformation.
It’s only 55% as strong as the FG knot because it doesn’t spread the load as well as FG knot does.
Have any questions about these knots?
Want me to test out any other knots against each other?
Let me know down in the comments!
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The Sebile Knot/GT/FG are all the exact same knot just by different name.
If I am going to tie a Bimini knot which I can prep. Then on the water I would just use an aussie quickie with 2 turns thru the bimini loop eye at the end instead of a single pass thru. You could even finish like the fg with a few half hitches to ensure smooth taper and no chance of it pull thru.
So the fg knot nor the gt knot are the universal strongest. It’s line size dependent. If I am running a surf rod using 50-60lb braid to 80lb mono the gt knot is stronger. One thing for sure the fg knot is by far the most streamline and has the smallest peak diameter and Iis double tapered.
Luke,
The IGFA testing that shows the GT knot as stronger than the FG knot requires tying it with the braid already started with a bimini twist. Did you test in this configuration?
Yes, I tried it with my normal lines (10 lb powerpro and 30 lb ande mono), and it slipped right out when tying it exactly as the chart shows (bimini twist with the leader line then getting threaded through the bimini loop).
The IGFA test in which the GT knot won was specifically for thicker lines (50 lb braid to 80 lb leader). Given their findings, it seems like a good knot for thick lines. But based on what I saw when tying it with light lines, it should be avoided because there are better options that are much quicker to tie.
In case you’d like to see details in the IGFA test and the exact knot I tested, I explained it in this video: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/gt-knot/
Glad to get confirmation on the weakness of the GT. Seems like the figure 8 almost shears the braid under tension. Every tome I’ve tied this knot the braid fails inside the figure 8.
Yes, the figure 8 knot isn’t very good at spreading tension load so I avoid pretty much all knots that use it.
Hi Luke. Thanks for doing these tests for us. Have you ever tested the Trilene knot for both braid and mono?
Not yet. But it’s on my list of knots to test out soon.
Your are probably aware that the IGFA did a study on the GT knot. https://youtu.be/TASzTlhfouY .
They have a big disclaimer:
****Please Note•••• all the knots tested and rated by the IFGA were tied to a Bimini Twist mono leader line. There is no guarantee in any of the knot strength ratings unless you tie the knot using a Bimini Twist leader line. In this demonstration, I did not use a Bimini Twist Leader line.
Based on “their scientific data” the GT out performed the FG using a 50lb mono.
However, Sport Fishing Magazine did similar test but had two categories: one for light line and one for heavy line. In the light line category, the Bobbin Knot came out on top, followed but an improved FG Knot and a regular FG knot. The GT Knot only won in the heavy line category.
This seems to support Salt Strong’s conclusion.
In personal experience casting a Bimini Twist in my line can hang up in guides when casting and can cause unexpected backlashes and even break offs. This fisherman will be sticking with the FG until further notice…
Thanks Luke. I use the FG when I’m using a heavier leader than the braid. I understand you say only to use it that way. So I use the 6 turn surgeons knot when my leader is lighter than my braid. Happens often when bass fishing or when I need a little more abrasion resistance from a heavier braid. How much knot strength do you think I lose if I use the FG to attach a lighter test leader to a heavier rated or equal rated braid? Any tests on that?
The FG knot is specifically designed to protect a lighter braid from breaking when connected to a stronger leader. So if I even didn’t use that scenario of a line assembly, I would not use the FG knot and would instead use a 6 turn surgeons knot, double uni, or crazy alberto.
I routinely use 30 lb braid (my baitcaster works better with the thicker line) and 17 lb flourocarbon connected with the FG knot. I have had no problems even with big reds. I understand with this set up the strength of my line lies solely within the flourocarbon leader. My question, because of the line diameter differences, is the ability of the knot to cinch down and hold compromised?
Yes, you run a risk of the FG loops slipping off since the thicker braid doesn’t have much to grip on to. If you don’t cast the knot through your guides, it should be ok. But if you do, then I’d be very cautious with the FG knot.
That’s not heavier as in higher test but heavier as in thicker diameter. So heavier as in PE rating would be another way to look at it.
I have tested and exclusively fish the FG, however will sometimes double the braid with a bimini prior to braiding the FG. Testing at home tying this to the same leader the regular fg breaks first.
Worth testing on your machine?
I know it’s an extra step so I only do it when rigging at home, it wont glide through the guides quite as well and there is a diameter of braid to leader to keep in mind but seems to work well. Would certainly be curious if I am wasting my time!
Also, I am testing UV knot cure (fly fishing stuff) over the fg, i dont think it will help with strength but maybe keep the tag of the braid a bit more intact when reeling through the guides 100’s of times? Eventually i get a frayed end so figured I would give it shot! Doesnt seem to react with the leader material.
Yes, the only knot that I’ve found which consistently beat the traditional FG knot was the FG knot tied at the end of doubled line from a Bimini Twist. I found that a while back with testing the traditional FG knot against the most popular doubled line options. Here’s a link to see that test in case interested: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot-vs-bimini-twist-knot-strength-test/
As for the UV knot cure, I have not tried that out so not sure how much it helps. Please keep most posted once you’ve had some time to test it out.
Tight Lines!
i watched this over and over and find it hard to believe you did not clip the tag end on the FG knot. correct me if wrong but all tests on the GT clearly looked to me, it broke right at the knot yet the FG looked more like the braid broke close to knot but not at the knot. anyway i will stick with the FG if for no other reason it just looks smother than the GT and will glide through the eye much better. thanks luke for this demo and even otus had to come see the testing 🙂
The FG knot is very strong, albeit inevitably messy. However, the braid is always bruised by the process. Splicing avoids this. 100% is claimed.
I splice for elegance and because I enjoy it. I set my drags to 50% of the lightest line.
Have you found a way to effectively splice 10 lb braid lines? I have only heard about people doing that with much stronger/thicker lines.
LOL just trying to picture trying to splice my Brook Trout setup. 0.4 P.E line which is 0.102mm 8 strands. Usually splicing is done with hollow braid, no?
I’m not sure what you mean by not clipping the tag end… it was clipped as normal, but the tag end got exposed after it broke because the breaks of the FG knot typically occurs about 25% into the coils which is why there was a bit of exposed tag end after the break.