Leader to braid....knots or swivels?? 2025

Bassnajr reply :

Hey all,

Gonna set up at least one spinning rod this season with braid and a flouro leader. Just wondering what most guys prefer....direct tie line to leader, or swivel? I grabbed a few Spro power swivels in #10 35 lb. test....VERY tiny.

So small in fact, I might need my specs to use them!! ;D.

Please weigh in!!!

Alan (bassnajr)

Steve_IA reply :

knot

gobig reply :

Alberto knot.

5bass reply :

[movedhere] Fishing Tackle [move by] five.bass.limit.

Bassnajr reply :

I have also been trying different knots.......

WanderLust reply :

Alberto will be the blue ribbon winner here. I use a nice swivel on my spinning great though...

Jig Man reply :

Check out the alberto in the video JFranko posted.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1298514158/6#6

J Francho reply :

The only time I'd use a swivel is with a fluke or a split shot rig.

Bassnajr reply :

Watched the video...very helpful to SEE it done....

thanks JFrancho!

SirSnookalot reply :

I'll swim against the current on this one. I much prefer using swivels, especially with spinning gear. I do not like a knot ( even the alberto) coming thru my guides when I'm casting. Certain lures like spoons (more so when trolling), plastic flukes cause line twist, bb swivels will help prevent it from happening, 2 bb swivels are better yet, exception are fish that will hit a swivel as likely as the lure like spanish mackerel. I tie a simple clinch knot fishing from bass to shark.

BASSclary reply :

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I'll swim against the current on this one. I much prefer using swivels, especially with spinning gear. I do not like a knot ( even the alberto) coming thru my guides when I'm casting. Certain lures like spoons (more so when trolling), plastic flukes cause line twist, bb swivels will help prevent it from happening, 2 bb swivels are better yet, exception are fish that will hit a swivel as likely as the lure like spanish mackerel. I tie a simple clinch knot fishing from bass to shark.

So you would rather have a swivel go through your guides? :-?

Ima Bass Ninja reply :

I'm gonna agree with the general consensious that a knot is the better of the 2. I've never had a problem with the alberto knot describe previously.

Crabcakes reply :

I use a knot. Swivels are way too easy to reel into your tip top especially in low light. A slim knot like an alberto will pass through the guides easily if you happen to reel it too far.

Bass fishing should not require a leader so long that it needs to be reeled into your guides.

SirSnookalot reply :

Quote

Quote
I'll swim against the current on this one. I much prefer using swivels, especially with spinning gear. I do not like a knot ( even the alberto) coming thru my guides when I'm casting. Certain lures like spoons (more so when trolling), plastic flukes cause line twist, bb swivels will help prevent it from happening, 2 bb swivels are better yet, exception are fish that will hit a swivel as likely as the lure like spanish mackerel. I tie a simple clinch knot fishing from bass to shark.

So you would rather have a swivel go through your guides? :-?

I don't use swivels that small. In 60 years of fishing my swivel seldom has touched the eye. I use 15-18" of leader except for some pelagic species I use about 5'. With many larger fish it's best to grab a long leader rather than the line, especially if you are not gaffing the fish, like a sail. We aren't casting for them but trolling. Many people use a bimini twist knot but I still like a BB swivel to avoid line twist when trolling.

A-Rob reply :

J knot. No swivel.

SoFlaBassAddict reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote
I'll swim against the current on this one. I much prefer using swivels, especially with spinning gear. I do not like a knot ( even the alberto) coming thru my guides when I'm casting. Certain lures like spoons (more so when trolling), plastic flukes cause line twist, bb swivels will help prevent it from happening, 2 bb swivels are better yet, exception are fish that will hit a swivel as likely as the lure like spanish mackerel. I tie a simple clinch knot fishing from bass to shark.

So you would rather have a swivel go through your guides? :-?

I don't use swivels that small. In 60 years of fishing my swivel seldom has touched the eye. I use 15-18" of leader except for some pelagic species I use about 5'. With many larger fish it's best to grab a long leader rather than the line, especially if you are not gaffing the fish, like a sail. We aren't casting for them but trolling. Many people use a bimini twist knot but I still like a BB swivel to avoid line twist when trolling.

Agreed with the longer leader and a wire man for larger fish offshore. When I'm bottom bouncing big grouper jigs, I'll use a wind on leader though. I'll frequently have very long leaders in that situation.

When bass fishing, I always go with an Albright or an Alberto though. No issues casting the knot through the guides or anything. To each his own though. I will use a swivel at times with certain lures.

Hammer 4 reply :

Knot...I'll go against the grain here..I use the uni to uni, never had a problem.. 8-)

hookingem reply :

I've had no problems with the uni to uni but I guess I'm behind the times with everyone using the Alberto Knot.. :

SirSnookalot reply :

I just don't see the need to use a long leader for bass fishing when a shorter leader with a swivel does the job, imo it's much easier. I can understand not wanting to put fresh leaders on while your fishing, but that only takes seconds to do and when I'm using a duolock my leaders generally last the entire outing.

CWB reply :

Goodbye Uni to Uni. Hello Albright. Easier to tie and stronger.

MickD reply :

My fishing partner uses swivels, but with a short enough leader that the swivels don't go through the guides. I just cannot imagine having swivels go through the guides, and cannot cast well with leaders long enough to be effective.

The best knot I've found and it's easy to tie is the albright. It is the smallest, most streamlined knot I've found - it has just two diameters of the bigger line while many knots have up to five. The alberto is simply an albright that uses two wraps of the smaller line, one down then one back up. I've tried this not knowing its name and it is tougher to do well than the albright. It doesn't smooth out as cleanly as the albright. I have no data, but doubt if it is any stronger than a correctly done albright. It will theoretically be bigger by two diameters of the smaller line, which admittedly isn't much.

Looking at salt water forums there is a lot of talk about knots and the major factor in most knots appears to be doing them correctly. An advantage of the albright is that it is easy to tie it correctly. Many of the knots are not that easy to tie correctly. And none that I have found is smaller.

Another common theme on the forums is the problem of braid cutting the mono or flouro. I've never had that happen with the albright or the uni-uni.

bassman018 reply :

I utterly despise swivels to th point that even if im ultralight fishing i would rather completely screw up my line with twist than use a swivel, it will knock out a guide on the rod or better yet it will hang up and when you snap your rod forward to cast your lure flys and hits the water and your swivel is still in the guides... whatever knot you choose will be a huckuvalot better than any swivel

Hooligan reply :

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I just don't see the need to use a long leader for bass fishing when a shorter leader with a swivel does the job, imo it's much easier. I can understand not wanting to put fresh leaders on while your fishing, but that only takes seconds to do and when I'm using a duolock my leaders generally last the entire outing.

I've tried it, but pick up a lot more "trash" on the snap; filamentous algae and the like. It's seriously annoying.

Luke at Gouldsboro reply :

i would only use a swivel if I was using a fluke. Otherwise I would go line to line

lynyrdsky1 reply :

Blood Knot

Cire reply :

I would go with the Albright. I used to use the Blood knot but had way to many issues between braid and flouro. I have not determined though if the problem was with the flouro or not, since I switched back to Yo-zuri US when I switched knots.

So far haven't had an issue with the Albright.

Eric

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Leader to braid....knots or swivels?? 2025

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