I have a couple of rigs with fluorocarbon mainline and two others with monofilament (technique specific).

After a couple of years of "experimenting", I am leaning towards almost everything braid based with a leader,

especially on spinning tackle. Tied PERFECTLY, the Alberto Knot is fail safe. 

 

I am with you.....

My only hold out is shallow crankbaits, and that too might change.

 

I have many friends that are 100% braid to leader..

So what online knot tutorial do you recommend? 

Tom

7 minutes ago, WRB said:

So what online knot tutorial do you recommend? 

Tom

 

Far be it from me answer for Kent, but he did underscore the 'Alberto Knot'.

 

Roger

The timing of this thread is great.

We started a fishing club for students and today we decided everyone was going to use the Uni to uni if the knot wasn't going through the guides

 

FG and Alberto if taking it through a few....

I concur, the Alberto is about as perfect a knot as there is. Actually, it's braid instead of a knot, but I'm getting pretty good at tying it, even in a boat with a stiff breeze! LOL!

12 minutes ago, Crestliner2008 said:

I concur, the Alberto is about as perfect a knot as there is. Actually, it's braid instead of a knot, but I'm getting pretty good at tying it, even in a boat with a stiff breeze! LOL!

 

I have a hard time tying it at home.  Would hate to try in on a boat.....especially with a stiff breeze.

I would argue that, if the line diameters are close, the Alberto is fail safe even if poorly tied.  In my informal testing, it has never failed, the leader always breaks at the lure or in the middle, never at the knot.  I was testing it to see if the sometimes sloppy ones I tye on the water will hold. While I always try and try it perfect, I have great confidence it will hold even if I mess it up a little.  

I have been using the uni to uni for 6 or more years and have never had a problem with one failing, however you do need to pay attention to details when pulling then down. I fish many micro guide rods and never had a problem either.

Now I will make one note though. I use 14 pound test Stren for backing and tie 14 pound FireLine ( 6 pound mono equivalent in diameter) and then usually have a P Line CXX 8 pound leader.  The diameters of these lines do not differ that much.  This could have an influence on my success also.

I'm old school and still like mono due to it floating for top waters.  I've used braid on spin casters but after my divorce I'm on a budget.

 

Go easy on me.....

 

When you guys spool braid and have a fluro leader..... How long is this leader?

 

I'm seeing some of you have 3 types of line on one spool. "Backing" is used to save money?

 

 

Backing saves money, takes up space and prevents line/spool slippage.  I'm not a braid guy but do keep it on 2 reels for certain situations.

 

As for leaders, some like it to go into the spool a few wraps and some don't- personal preference.  I use only about 4'-5'.... just enough for a couple of reties if needed.  By then, I'll change the leader for wear.

So you using flurocarbon as a leader is just cause it's invisible?

33 minutes ago, TX-Deluxe said:

I'm old school and still like mono due to it floating for top waters.  I've used braid on spin casters but after my divorce I'm on a budget.

 

Go easy on me.....

 

When you guys spool braid and have a fluro leader..... How long is this leader?

 

I'm seeing some of you have 3 types of line on one spool. "Backing" is used to save money?

 

 

It depends what I am using for bait.  On a spinning rod, it can be as long as 12 ft.

Sometimes I bring it back to the reel......other times 5 feet.  No set rule and sometimes depends how lazy I am.

I prefer the FG to the Alberto.  I really like how the FG passes through the guides on cast. The FG has beaten just about every other knot in strength test.  Some people think it is just to hard to tie in the boat,  I am totally blind in my right eye, if I can tie an FG anyone can.

9 hours ago, TX-Deluxe said:

So you using flurocarbon as a leader is just cause it's invisible?

A lot of people use it because it is much more abrasion resistant than braid.

9 hours ago, TX-Deluxe said:

So you using fluorocarbon as a leader is just cause it's invisible?

Yes, and IMO it really helps, especially on plastics in clear water.  I had rather throw mono on top water. or jerk baits.  Braid to the hook in the muck.  I have a friend that was a non believer in fluorocarbon.   He and I were fishing and catching a lot of small bass. Both of us were throwing 7' MH/F Ducketts with  identical Shaky Heads, only difference was the line.  He was using 12# mono and I was using 14# fluorocarbon.  I was catching three fish to his one.  Out of curiosity we switched rods, now he was catching three to my one.  We swapped rods back and forth a couple of times with the same result.