FG Tutorial--Easiest Way I've Seen

[straightsixes]

I was a big fan of the Shin Fukae method until I started running leaders with bigger swimbaits etc. Several breaks at the knot made me try the FG again.

For me this was by far the fastest and simplest.

The above is the link to the Salt Strong method that uses a wrapped pinky.

I have the tool pictured above and that was successfully used as well, but no way would I use that now. It’s time consuming and I don’t need anything else floating around that I can’t find when needed (old man stuff).

The wrapped pinky allows for both index and thumbs to be free and lines are all easily worked with. For me the biggest thing was to learn to seat the knot after the first locking overhand knots. Once locked it is trim leader tag, single overhand with braid followed by 2 double overhands. Trim braid tag and melt.

I like that there are no tiny holes or slots to try and slide a tag through. I don’t need my readers to complete the knot. It sounds dumb but it’s not as our eyes start to fail.

I probably could have made 3 FG knots in the time it took to write all this. I haven’t time it but it can’t be much over a minute even in a boat. If it’s windy… I don’t melt the braid. It’s not worth the hassle with keeping the flame on but not ON the lines just tied together.

[Ranger Skipper]

Googling braid to leader knots returns 1000 best knots and ways to tie them. They are all difficult to me and I was so bad with them that I wouldn't even bother using a leader much less trying to pull it off while in the boat. I ran across this one several years ago and have been using it ever since. It's the Mahin knot which I believe is a carp fisherman's knot. Yes carp. Also used by saltwater anglers as a shock leader. I've actually never had one fail and it's easy to tie in the boat. I'll put the leader spool under my right foot and hold tension on the loop which makes it a breeze to wrap the braid. I'm normally using 10-15-20 braid to 8-10 fluro and it cinches up small. Both tag ends end up on the braid side so they don't get beat up by the guides when casting if a choose to use a longer leader. The big plus to me. It's easy to remember easy to tie in the wind and no more wishing I would have prepared a leader on a rig the night before.

[mossie3]

Knot demos look easy when using 100# braid and 15# leader. 15# braid to 8# FC is a little tougher.

[marshman]

Googling braid to leader knots returns 1000 best knots and ways to tie them. They are all difficult to me and I was so bad with them that I wouldn't even bother using a leader much less trying to pull it off while in the boat. I ran across this one several years ago and have been using it ever since. It's the Mahin knot which I believe is a carp fisherman's knot. Yes carp. Also used by saltwater anglers as a shock leader. I've actually never had one fail and it's easy to tie in the boat. I'll put the leader spool under my right foot and hold tension on the loop which makes it a breeze to wrap the braid. I'm normally using 10-15-20 braid to 8-10 fluro and it cinches up small. Both tag ends end up on the braid side so they don't get beat up by the guides when casting if a choose to use a longer leader. The big plus to me. It's easy to remember easy to tie in the wind and no more wishing I would have prepared a leader on a rig the night before.

that’s not much different than Alberto knot…

[78Staff]

Yup, as long as it breaks on the hook end I'm good. Even when it doesn't I can still tie it really fast even with the wind blowing and boat rocking.

This is me lol... I'll tie the FG at home prepping, but if I have to retie on the water I typically just revert to the Shin Fukae knot (not sure of the actual name)... So much faster and simpler.

[rboren]

Knot demos look easy when using 100# braid and 15# leader. 15# braid to 8# FC is a little tougher.

This is the problem I had when first learning to tie it. You can learn to tie big lines fairly quickly but as you get into the line size you actually need it becomes many times more difficult. I kept working at it and now can make a dependable connection. Not super fast but it will hold until the leader gets too short. I have not tried tying it when fishing. I think I can but might take me up to ten minutes.

[shooter66]

I use the FG tool at the house and 78staff....thanks for posting that Shin Knot...just tried it man its easy will be my go to on the water!

[Rangerdeepv]

If in a hurry the Alberto works for me too...........

[angleiron]

Knot demos look easy when using 100# braid and 15# leader. 15# braid to 8# FC is a little tougher.

Because I surf fish I tie the FG all of the time to keep up on making it second nature. Its all about repetition and nothing more and it is not hard at all once you just keep doing it, and yeah it can be a pain at times tying 8# FC to 10# braid and tying a 40# FC leader to 60# braid is a snap. It's easy when you use it a lot.

[Ranger Skipper]

that’s not much different than Alberto knot…

Not much but it is. No loop in the Alberto to cinch main to leader and you have tags on both ends. I've tied and used the Alberto knot and lost fish at the knot

[cubswin]

Not much but it is. No loop in the Alberto to cinch main to leader and you have tags on both ends. I've tied and used the Alberto knot and lost fish at the knot

Been using it for years, don’t remember ever breaking one off at leader knot. But that is the beauty of all the knots out there.

You remember what size line?

[cg2fish]

FG-not. I use a double Alberto. Works good enough for me.

[SoonerFan]

I went all in on learning the FG....bought the little overpriced helper tool, and practiced and practiced. Got to were I could tie it pretty cleanly. In use, I found it to fail very easily. What I discovered was the knot failed because the braid cut into the fluro and weakened it. I'm sure that my knot tying skills could be in question...perhaps I tightened the braid too tight, but that's what all the YouTubers said to do.

I can tie a Uni to Uni in the wind in the dark with my eyes closed and never had a knot failure with it. Why change?

[BassnPhoenix920]

I was a big fan of the Shin Fukae method until I started running leaders with bigger swimbaits etc. Several breaks at the knot made me try the FG again.

For me this was by far the fastest and simplest.

The above is the link to the Salt Strong method that uses a wrapped pinky.

I have the tool pictured above and that was successfully used as well, but no way would I use that now. It’s time consuming and I don’t need anything else floating around that I can’t find when needed (old man stuff).

The wrapped pinky allows for both index and thumbs to be free and lines are all easily worked with. For me the biggest thing was to learn to seat the knot after the first locking overhand knots. Once locked it is trim leader tag, single overhand with braid followed by 2 double overhands. Trim braid tag and melt.

I like that there are no tiny holes or slots to try and slide a tag through. I don’t need my readers to complete the knot. It sounds dumb but it’s not as our eyes start to fail.

I probably could have made 3 FG knots in the time it took to write all this. I haven’t time it but it can’t be much over a minute even in a boat. If it’s windy… I don’t melt the braid. It’s not worth the hassle with keeping the flame on but not ON the lines just tied together.

I tried many different ways this is my favorite way to tie it I just practiced a couple times until I was proficient.

[Classicxl]

Glad I use all mono.

Me too!

[AndrewM-Fishing]

[Highcentered]

I can tie a Uni to Uni in the wind in the dark with my eyes closed and never had a knot failure with it. Why change?

Because the Youtube "experts" say you're doing it wrong if you don't tie the FG knot

And the Uni to Uni is VERY strong that's for sure. I also use the Palomar for just about every hook or lure I tie on and they say I'm doing it wrong doing that too

[krindgen]

I tie to the reel handle and have ab0ut a 50% success ratio. HQ's method I think is the best in the long run. I find the tension on the braid is the key part to get the knot correct.

[Ranger Skipper]

Been using it for years, don’t remember ever breaking one off at leader knot. But that is the beauty of all the knots out there.

You remember what size line?

15lb braid to 8lb fluor. Happened the first time I used it so I quit trying to get better at it. Probably a crappy knot on my part but I still switched to the Mahen knot and have had no failures with it. I can fish it a long time with many catches and will have to replace the leader before I need to retie another one.

[geodebasser]

Wow way toooooo much hassle! I’d rather put string trimmer line on while at a cream cheese sale!