Braid TO FC Leader 2025
ike8120 reply :
I have 3 finesse spinning setups. Should I use Braid with a FC leader or just use straight FC or braid. The reason I ask I have read a lot of articles on this and I still can't come to a conclusion what is the best way. I don't have any problems tying the Braid and FC.
Scott F reply :
The best way to do it, is the best way that works for you. Whichever way you choose isn’t a lifelong commitment. Try one way, if you like it stick with it. If not, change.
FishinBuck07 reply :
I use braid to a leader, usually mono. I don't like Fluorocarbon, but that is just my preference. But like said above, try it different ways and see what you like.
roadwarrior reply :
On 12/25/2019 at 2:35 AM, Scott F said:The best way to do it, is the best way that works for you. Whichever way you choose isn’t a lifelong commitment. Try one way, if you like it stick with it. If not, change.
Great advice!
ike8120 reply :
On 12/25/2019 at 2:35 AM, Scott F said:The best way to do it, is the best way that works for you. Whichever way you choose isn’t a lifelong commitment. Try one way, if you like it stick with it. If not, change.
Best advise yet
Bird reply :
For finesse, braid then Alberto on floro......it's the best way that works for me. Lol
Mr.C in Texas reply :
Definitely do what works for you. For me I love braid because it gives me the most flexibility. I use 10lb. braid and make changes depending on lure/presentation/water clarity. Strait braid for dirty water, muddy bottom and top water. I add floro 8-20lb when rocks and structure become an issue or if the water is clearer. Plus I don’t have to worry about memory, gain line capacity, and I can’t even remember the last time I’ve had a wind knot. I can use the same rod/reel for bass up to bull reds.
A-Jay reply :
I use braid & a leader on every spinning set up in the boat; including but not limited to Drop Shot, Ned Rig, Neko Rig, tubes, swim baits, blade baits, spy baits, Jerkbaits, and an assortment of top water presentations.
While size & length vary with presentation, it's almost always Mono.
Berkley Big Game Green in 10-12lb test and Maxima Ultragreen in 6-8 lb test.
There are a few occasions where I'll venture into the FC zone.
This is usually a rare event and almost always revolves around my own bit of paranoia about not getting bites.
Seaguar Tatsu, InvisX and AbrasX all see limited duty, but it always makes me a little nervous if I bump into any crazy big by-catch - which is a semi-common occurrence here.
I have been using a uni to uni knot for leaders since I started this deal.
Knot failure is not something I'm Ever concerned with. (Can not say that when using FC).
Especially with spinning gear, where I rarely if ever need to 'pressure' a fish.
Once this gear survives the hook set, the rest is just playing the bass to the net; using the reels drag.
Finally, 10 lb Braid and a 10lb Big Game Green mono leader has accounted for a ton of Master angler fish (of assorted species) for me.
YMMV
A-Jay
GreenPig reply :
Water clarity determines whether I use a leader or straight braid. But I usually use a leader just in case, unless it's very muddy.
ike8120 reply :
On 12/25/2019 at 4:20 AM, A-Jay said:I use braid & a leader on every spinning set up in the boat; including but not limited to Drop Shot, Ned Rig, Neko Rig, tubes, swim baits, blade baits, spy baits, Jerkbaits, and an assortment of top water presentations.
While size & length vary with presentation, it almost always Mono.
Berkley Big Game Green in 10-12lb test and Maxima Ultragreen in 6-8 lb test.
There are a few occasions where I'll venture into the FC zone.
This is usually a rare event and almost always revolves around my own bit of paranoia about not getting bites.
Seaguar Tatsu, InvisX and AbrasX all see limited duty, but it always makes me a little nervous if I bump into any crazy big by-catch - which is a semi-common occurrence here.
I have been using a uni to uni knot for leaders since I started this deal.
Knot failure is not something I'm Ever concerned with. (Can not say that when using FC).
Especially with spinning gear, where I rarely if ever need to 'pressure' a fish.
Once this gear survives the hook set, the rest is just playing the bass to the net; using the reels drag.
Finally, 10 lb Braid and a 10lb Big Game Green mono leader has accounted for a ton of Master angler fish (of assorted species) for me.
YMMV
A-Jay
Do you feel the UNI to UNI Knot is just as good as the Alberto or FG knot?
I found this site while searching knot how to's www.101knots.com
A-Jay reply :
On 12/25/2019 at 2:40 PM, ike8120 said:Do you feel the UNI to UNI Knot is just as good as the Alberto or FG knot?
I found this site while searching knot how to's www.101knots.com
I've been using a uni to uni knot successfully for a long time in both fresh & salt water applications.
Doesn't mean other knots do not work, are better or worse.
Just that this one's done the job for me and I trust it.
Additionally, I re-tie often, meaning a lot.
New leaders go on every trip.
The uni to uni is one I can tie quickly & correctly; which actually promotes re-tying.
That's a good thing.
IMO 'over used' connection knots are a break off waiting to happen and are the most common cause of knot failure.
Regardless of what knot it is.
Especially when the knot is flying in & out of the rod guides at hyper speed a couple of hundred times per trip.
A-Jay
MickD reply :
On 12/25/2019 at 2:40 PM, ike8120 said:Do you feel the UNI to UNI Knot is just as good as the Alberto or FG knot?
I have never mastered the Alberto, something is missing in my technique. The double uni is just about foolproof, easy to tie right, reliable. Its only problem is if you use fairly heavy leaders and small guides. It is a big knot with leaders above about 15 pound test.
The FG is a tricky knot and easily can be screwed up. I have finally developed a method that works for me, taking the braid out of my mouth where it always seems to slip before I complete the knot, and eliminating having it right up too close to my eyes. The secret to me is keeping the knot tight as it's tied. If that is accomplished the knot will tighten properly before putting on the half hitches. Done right it is very strong, the smallest knot of all, and durable since it clears even the smallest guides cleanly without getting beaten up.
I use saltwater fly tippets in mono and FC. They are hard and tough, much more reliable than FC line used as a leader. The most reliable is the hard saltwater mono LEADER material. A side advantage is that its stiffness helps keep blade baits from tangling on the cast and retrieve.
The correct answer to your question depends on your ability to reliably tie the knots and what your priorities are. The only absolute in this issue is that if you use a leader on your surface fishing rig, it has to be mono to prevent the FC from sinking and screwing up the action of the surface lure.
ike8120 reply :
On 12/25/2019 at 10:09 PM, MickD said:I have never mastered the Alberto, something is missing in my technique. The double uni is just about foolproof, easy to tie right, reliable. Its only problem is if you use fairly heavy leaders and small guides. It is a big knot with leaders above about 15 pound test.
The FG is a tricky knot and easily can be screwed up. I have finally developed a method that works for me, taking the braid out of my mouth where it always seems to slip before I complete the knot, and eliminating having it right up too close to my eyes. The secret to me is keeping the knot tight as it's tied. If that is accomplished the knot will tighten properly before putting on the half hitches. Done right it is very strong, the smallest knot of all, and durable since it clears even the smallest guides cleanly without getting beaten up.
I use saltwater fly tippets in mono and FC. They are hard and tough, much more reliable than FC line used as a leader. The most reliable is the hard saltwater mono LEADER material. A side advantage is that its stiffness helps keep blade baits from tangling on the cast and retrieve.
The correct answer to your question depends on your ability to reliably tie the knots and what your priorities are. The only absolute in this issue is that if you use a leader on your surface fishing rig, it has to be mono to prevent the FC from sinking and screwing up the action of the surface lure.
I can do the Alberto but after practicing the Uni-Uni this knot has a lower profile then the Alberto. My problems is I have to left thumbs LOL. The FG knot is just a little to complicated for me.
MickD reply :
On 12/25/2019 at 11:55 PM, ike8120 said:I can do the Alberto but after practicing the Uni-Uni this knot has a lower profile then the Alberto.
I believe the Alberto has a lower profile than the double uni. The double uni has 5 layers of the leader, which is the larger of the two lines. The Alberto only has two thicknesses of the leader. My problem with the Alberto is that with vigorous snapping of lures off the bottom it often unravels. Probably my technique-lots of people use it successfully.
NHBull reply :
I find myself in A-jays camp on this including uni-uni on spinning setups.
For times I use braid to leader on a bait caster, I sometimes use the PR knot as it is slimmer than the FG and easy to tie for me. As mentioned above there is no wrong or right and “best” is subjective to you
TnRiver46 reply :
I tried it for a couple years on spinning rods, I went back to using just plain Jane 6 and 8 lb mono. Easy, cheap, and simple. No connection knots required and I can still feel a tiny bluegill hit a jig
ike8120 reply :
On 12/26/2019 at 1:36 AM, NHBull said:I find myself in A-jays camp on this including uni-uni on spinning setups.
For times I use braid to leader on a bait caster, I sometimes use the PR knot as it is slimmer than the FG and easy to tie for me. As mentioned above there is no wrong or right and “best” is subjective to you
Not to be ignorant but what is a PR knot?
MN Fisher reply :
On 12/26/2019 at 1:42 AM, TnRiver46 said:I tried it for a couple years on spinning rods, I went back to using just plain Jane 6 and 8 lb mono. Easy, cheap, and simple. No connection knots required and I can still feel a tiny bluegill hit a jig
I never tried braid w/leader on finesse. Mono or YZH only. Mainly because I don't trust my ability to tie a connection knot between main-line and leader.
ike8120 reply :
On 12/26/2019 at 2:12 AM, MN Fisher said:I never tried braid w/leader on finesse. Mono or YZH only. Mainly because I don't trust my ability to tie a connection knot between main-line and leader.
Sometimes it is a real PITA. Probably will stick with the Alberto. I don't seem to have as much of problem with this one. It sucks to have bad eyesight compounded with two left hands.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 12/26/2019 at 2:12 AM, MN Fisher said:I never tried braid w/leader on finesse. Mono or YZH only. Mainly because I don't trust my ability to tie a connection knot between main-line and leader.
I used the Albright knot when I was trying braid to FC and it seemed good and strong, Easy to tie. It was always intact after I had to break off I just got sick of fooling with it all. The one thing I never found was the “advantage” of braid w/ leader over mono.
NHBull reply :
On 12/26/2019 at 1:49 AM, ike8120 said:Not to be ignorant but what is a PR knot?
It's a salt water knot.
I only make mine 1.5 inches and it take 2 minutes. I started using it for micro guides and it just got easy
https://youtu.be/ZPjMdA9xuro
ike8120 reply :
On 12/26/2019 at 2:23 AM, NHBull said:It's a salt water knot.
I only make mine 1.5 inches and it take 2 minutes. I started using it for micro guides and it just got easy
https://youtu.be/ZPjMdA9xuro
You make it with the bobbin?
NHBull reply :
On 12/26/2019 at 2:27 AM, ike8120 said:You make it with the bobbin?
I do...when I tie it I usually are replacing all my leaders and one of my friends are keeping me company in a glass ( Jefferson,Johnny, Blanton, Jim or Mac). ????....I have yet to find a knot that goes through microguides as good as the PR
ike8120 reply :
On 12/26/2019 at 2:39 AM, NHBull said:I do...when I tie it I usually are replacing all my leaders and one of my friends are keeping me company in a glass ( Jefferson,Johnny, Blanton, Jim or Mac). ????....I have yet to find a knot that goes through microguides as good as the PR
Do you have the Shimano Bobbin?
NHBull reply :
@ike8120 I do
MickD reply :
On 12/26/2019 at 1:49 AM, ike8120 said:Not to be ignorant but what is a PR knot?
- Do an internet search for instructions. It is a knot for tying leader to braid, and I submit it is not smaller than the FG. Not much bigger, but not smaller. It may be stronger, but any knot that takes an expert 9 1/2 minutes (expert how to tie PR video is 9:47 long) to tie will keep it from breaking on me because I would never get it onto the water. It takes what appears to be dozens of half hitches, costs probably a foot and a half of braid for every knot. It has a strange lump/bend from what I think is the junction of a uni and a bunch of half hitches, is about 8-10 times longer than an FG, so doubt if it clears guides as well as an FG. I don't see it as being a practical fishing knot.
- 100% line strength vs 80% for the FG? So if I use 20 pound test line instead of 16, and use an FG, I'll have the same strength knot. And the knot takes about 6 minutes less to tie, about a foot less braid, and is less easy to screw up than the PR. The PR might be right for some, but not for me.
king fisher reply :
I have tested and used many braid to leader knots. For years I only used Uni to Uni. It worked fine, but when I tested the knot against other knots it was by far weaker than Alberto or FG. Even though I caught Thousands of fish with a uni to uni, the test results made me switch. I use FG which is the strongest in tests, with heavy line, leaders 50 lbs. and above. With practice I can tie it correctly in a rocking boat with out any difficulties. The Alberto is as easy for me to tie as the uni to uni, and has the added advantage of going through the guides better. this is a big advantage when you are using 20 lbs, or larger floro leader. As with most knots, the Alberto tied incorrectly will fail. The leader tag end must be trimmed as close as possible to avoid the main line from constantly catching in between the main line and tag, becoming weak in that spot. The wraps have to slide all the way down the knot when tightened, to avoid from slipping a fraction of an millimeter, breaking the knot where the line enters. and the knot should mostly be tightened with the tag end. There are a few good Utube videos, on how to tie both the FG and Alberto, but some do not show either knot correctly.
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