Rickyh2000

Thanks everybody! Your info has cut my hands to pieces the last week or so trying different knots in my garage. So, here’s what I’ve noticed on my own with the Alberto vs the FG. First, I forgot to mention I only run the micro swivels on heavy spin rigs in saltwater. Despite what Hank Parker claims they just don’t work for me on freshwather rigs. Second, please don’t take my findings as the gospel or opinions or facts…they’re simply things I noticed myself. The rig I tested was with a Lew’s Tournament Pro baitcaster on a 7’ BP Carbonlite rod with standard guides…not the micros. 30# PowerPro with 17# Berkley Vanish. 18 and 20 wraps on the FG, and 7 wraps to and fro on the Alberto. The Alberto won hands down. Just pulling with my hands and not a meter, I couldn’t tell a noticeable difference in their break points. It took well over 17 lbs to break both but not enough to notice. The biggest difference was the guide pass. Holding the rod about 45 degrees the FG surprisingly caught on way more guides and had more trouble than the Alberto which passed every guide every time and only barely snagged the last guide sometimes. Although the FG’s thinner, it’s hardly noticeable on the 30/17 lines vs the Alberto. What IS noticeable is the FG covers more line length whereas the Alberto is more compact. I’m not a physics guru, but it stands to reason the FG’s length has a greater chance to catch/drag guides than the more compact Alberto. A lot more compact. Next, I’m gonna put the uni/uni and see. I’ve used the uni/uni before, but I’m loving the chance to test it with the setup I have. My conclusion so far is find what works best for the rig just like guns perform better with different ammo…it takes time and testing. The FG probably has no issues on a big guide spincast, but maybe it does on a baitcast? Maybe not, but it’s worth testing the rig to find out what’s best. So many times folks bash things but don’t consider it may be their gear isn’t meant for it, and I really hate that because there are great opinions from seasoned fishermen like yourselves everyone can learn from.

I can’t thank you all enough for the feedback. I’m never an internet reseach kind of guy…just go off what I know works after fishing over 40 years for everything in fresh and inshore. Although bass was my heart growing up I quit the seriousness about it probably 15 years ago maybe. I was in minor league baseball and just wanted some relief from the competition and south Florida heat so I fell in love with fishing creeks again like I also did growing up. Coming home in the offseason and injury days bass was always a competition with my old buddies so I just fell in love with ultralights in the creek and redfish inshore. The braid/leader knot controversy/experience isn’t there in those two, and I can tie all of them. Just wanted to get some experienced input from you all. My 11 year old son is all about bass and bored with creek fishing….mainly because he gets hung up a lot. But, I’m patient, and I get him undone. My lesson to him is “if you learn to hit holes and flip structure in this creek you can cast anywhere”. It hasn’t decreased his bass fix or his longing for a baitcaster. Thanks YouTube. He’s done pretty well with the BlackMax combo I got him last week. For me though, it was getting info from you guys on the leader knots. I run 66 lb micro swivels (can’t remember the brand, but they’re litteraly 1/4 the size of another popular brand 30 lb) polamar on braid side and improved clinch on leader side. Never had an issue. I don’t and won’t run the micro swivels on bass not so much for the rod guides, but more so for the “catch” on structure like lilypad v’s and slime pick up. So, again, is why I asked you all. I really like the strength and quick tie of the alberto, but I can tie an FG with just a minute more maybe, and the thing I love most about it is there are no tags on the cast end. The vid I posted earlier about tying it with no tension is solid. Check it out if you haven’t already.

By twist I meant wrapping when tying the knot. Some wrap with the fluoro leader and some wrap with the braded main line

What I’ve been noticing though is the FG has no tags on the cast end..

Running a similar diameter braid to fluoro with an FG knot has me wondering. I’ve seen some people twist with the braid and some with the fluoro, but I can’t find anything that explains why or what lines are better for either. The general consensus is it extends the strength of a lighter lb braid down a stronger lb fluoro leader by twisting with the braid (main line). Is it the opposite twisting with a lighter lb fluoro leader? We all know braid bites into fluoro so my concern is FG with similar diameters decreasing the leader strength and breaking it at the knot. Especially over time. The double uni seems like a better knot for a lighter leader simply because both lines are wrapped. All thoughts are greatly appreciated. Look forward to chatting with everyone. Ricky