FG knot

[Fishdreamer]

I've been tying my mono top shot to a braid line with a modified albright knot. It works pretty good but occasionally will catch on the top guide. I've recently heard of the FG knot and it looks like it would be a better knot. Does anyone use this knot and what has been your experience with the knot breaking, and also going though the guides.

 

[wildthing]

try the alberto knot may find it easier ... have uesd a figure of 8 in the mono with a nail knot on the braid for 35+ odd years and its never let me down .. so i use mainly only 4 knots in fishing palomor , nail knot tied using a tapestry needle , said one above , and snell but very rarely .... but tie what you have confidence in

 

[Bod]

The best knot you can use. Easy to tie once you get the hang of it. We use it for all our Marlin and Tuna fishing in Mexico.

 

[chille51]

Man, I have tried to wrap (pun intended) my head around tying this knot, but I have yet to do it successfully. Spent probably an hour one afternoon practicing, watching different methods on Youtube and trying to follow along. I just don't seem to have the dexterity to pull it off, but I'll probably keep trying. I have no doubt it is a superior knot for the purpose you mentioned, which is also what I want to use it for. Noah at PNT swears by it. Right now, I use a double uni because that is what I used river fishing and I know how to tie it easily enough the first time every time. But yes, it does catch the first eye sometimes, depending on the angle it runs in at. I've no doubt there are better and stronger options - I just can't tie them reliably yet.

 

[tubber]

I have FG on any rod needing braid to mono, so about 10. No failures, slides through guides well.

 

[Marley]

I have been running the FG knot for a few years and like it. Slides nicely through the guides. I tie one of I am at home. If I am on the boat I’ll just throw on a double uni as it’s quick and when trolling it doesn’t matter that much.

Any situation where I am casting I run the FG.

 

[Rain City]

I don't have any troubles with the modified albright. You do need to make sure that your tag ends are trimmed up tight, or use a little shot of crazy glue to make a little taper (worst case).

 

[Old Blue]

The best not you can use. Easy to tie once you get the hang of it. We use it for all our Marlin and Tuna fishing in Mexico.

I gotta watch you do it Ken, I can't tie it for sh@t and get about 30% success rate on a good day.

My go to is a double uni. Is it as strong, heck no but I tie it confidently.

Amazon has a bobbin on it's way for trying out the PR knot which is similar in strength and glide through the guides to the FG.

 

[CIVANO]

I've been tying my mono top shot to a braid line with a modified albright knot. It works pretty good but occasionally will catch on the top guide. I've recently heard of the FG knot and it looks like it would be a better knot. Does anyone use this knot and what has been your experience with the knot breaking, and also going though the guides.

Have you watched this one?

 

[RiverBoy]

I also use the FG and i’ll give you a tip i learned from a you tube video. instead of holding braid in your teeth, wrap the braid around your baby finger a few times, then start with your mono wraps while braid line is kept under tension with your hand.

waaay easier to control as you have everything in plain sight in front of you.

do your over/ under wraps, and when completed
lock in with a couple of quick overhand knots, then grab main lines and pull as hard as you dare. i use gloves as 30lb braid is nasty stuff.
the braid cuts mini grooves into the mono or fluoro and this is the key to a successful FG.

i finish off with quite a few more alternating overhand knots. i leave about a half inch tag line. doesn’t impact going thru the guides. i also use the smallest dab of fly tying glue on the last over hand knot but this step is unnecessary.

as someone else mentioned, this knot isn’t fun to tie on a boat.

 

[Fishdreamer]

Man, I have tried to wrap (pun intended) my head around tying this knot, but I have yet to do it successfully. Spent probably an hour one afternoon practicing, watching different methods on Youtube and trying to follow along. I just don't seem to have the dexterity to pull it off, but I'll probably keep trying. I have no doubt it is a superior knot for the purpose you mentioned, which is also what I want to use it for. Noah at PNT swears by it. Right now, I use a double uni because that is what I used river fishing and I know how to tie it easily enough the first time every time. But yes, it does catch the first eye sometimes, depending on the angle it runs in at. I've no doubt there are better and stronger options - I just can't tie them reliably yet.

I spent a frustrating 5 days trying to tie the knot using all the different methods I found on u tube. Finally figured a way that works for me. Took a scotty release and tied it to a heavy object on one end of table. Put the rod with braid against the other end of table and reeled line tight so there is tension on braid. Put spool of mono on floor, pull enough line off to go a couple of inches past braid. Take another scotty release and tie a small weight to it then attach to mono between table and floor so mono also has tension. Now have 2 hands free to tie knot. On the first couple of wraps slide the mono tight against the braid so the knot stays straight, after that it should wrap on quick and easy.

 

[Rigby]

I used the FG knot for quite few years. I had it slip a few times and had it come unwound a few times.
I have switched to a uni to uni knot and find it much more reliable.

 

[Hot-Streak]

Just learned the FG knot this week as I was spooling snow new R3EF mooching reels and decided to try 64lb braid mainline with a mono topshot. Tested the reel out on Sunday and got into some chinook. The FG knot held up fine. I went with green braid but a pink/red mono topshot and worked well. Knot didn't bump or snag on the guides.

 

[the force]

Have you watched this one?

This is the method I follow, takes a bit to get the right amount of tension on the mono so that the braid wraps and it all lays nice.

Have used for 15-40lb braid, once tied properly it is the smoothest knot. Make sure you test appropriately and where gloves when required. The low profile really shines for ice fishing.

 

[RiverBoy]

This is the method I follow, takes a bit to get the right amount of tension on the mono so that the braid wraps and it all lays nice.

Have used for 15-40lb braid, once tied properly it is the smoothest knot. Make sure you test appropriately and where gloves when required. The low profile really shines for ice fishing.

yep this is the video i was referring to

 

[Hardy Guy]

I've used it for years. It's a great knot and once you get the hang of it and tie it properly and snug it down it will not fail. I've used it here, long range trips and mexico and pulled hard on lots of fish.

I've used it mostly with 40 to 80 mono with 50 to 100 braid. You can use it much heavier though.

Like any knot familiarity helps. ...... now off to perfect the reverse san diego jam knot .... lol

 

[CBsqrd]

Use the FG for all my bottom fishing and tuna set ups - anything that needs a fluorocarbon leader at the end of the braided mainline. Works great and after some practice it can be tied quickly in all conditions.

This is one of the best videos on how to tie. I see that two months ago he uploaded a version with the "improved" method he uses now, but I haven't tried that way yet.

I highly recommend investing in a knot puller. I got one from Accurate last time my reels were in for service and it makes it so much easier to tension the knot. Way better than using gloves, I'll never go without one now. You can find them on Amazon for about $20.

 

[Stoisy]

FG Knot has been great for me. I've found it relatively simple to tie after a little practice. I've never had it fail. I like it more than other options because the thicker mono is never doubled over, so it is the thinnest possible profile for joining braid and mono. So it doesn't catch the eyes of the rod while trolling or with casting/jigging rods. Especially if you trim the tag end tight to the braid and/or add a couple half hitches above the tag end to full cover it with the braid.

 

[tubber]

Does anyone use this on Hali setups? Or is a clip on the end of the braid to a spreader or whatever good enough?

 

[CBsqrd]

Does anyone use this on Hali setups? Or is a clip on the end of the braid to a spreader or whatever good enough?

Use it on all my Hali setups. I find the length (6 - 8 ft) of stiff fluoro at the end helps prevent tangles. Also, the fluoro is 10 lb lighter test so if you get hung up you know the break is going to be in that last section instead of losing a bunch of expensive braid as well.