I've started using fluorocarbon leaders instead of straight braid and have been experiencing my connector knot hitting my guides because they are microguides. Is this a problem? How can I fix this? Thanks! (btw I'm using a blood knot with 20lb braid and 12lb fluoro)

Alberto knot is smaller and strong it will help.

 

Curious, why the heavy line on spinning.

 

 

4 minutes ago, BrianinMD said:

Alberto knot is smaller and strong it will help.

 

Curious, why the heavy line on spinning.

 

 

 

It's a M/H casting rod. Sorry forgot to mention that.

Any knot going through micro guides creates a bump. The FG knot is the smoothest and strongest knot to join braid to Mono/FC leaders, it's also the most complex to tie right.

The blood knot is only 3X the the line diameter, small knot but has 2 tag ends sticking straight out, not good for micro giudes. Double Uni knot or Alberto knot about the same size as a blood knot, the tags end doesn't tend to stick straight out but still you will feel the knot bump through micro guides.

Tom

3 minutes ago, WRB said:

Any knot going through micro guides creates a bump. The FG knot is the smoothest and strongest knot to join braid to Mono/FC leaders, it's also the most complex to tie right.

The blood knot is only 3X the the line diameter, small knot but has 2 tag ends sticking straight out, not good for micro giudes. Double Uni knot or Alberto knot about the same size as a blood knot, the tags end doesn't tend to stick straight out but still you will feel the knot bump through micro guides.

Tom

 

Thanks. I just cut down my leader a little bit so I don't have to feel so many bumps! Haha

I have cut down the leader too but do use the double uni....don't want to give up the braid but was gifted an awesome rod by Cashion so will see what happens.

As long as the guide passes the knot there's no problem. 

^^^ this

If it's not hanging up then there's no problem. 

I don't see how a knot can be much slimmer or less bulky than the Alberto. It is just a weave with no cross line members, so it naturally produces a very slim knot. Maybe the FG is better? But I've never had a problem with the Alberto and I have confidence in it, so I guess I'll stick with it.

16 hours ago, WRB said:

Any knot going through micro guides creates a bump. The FG knot is the smoothest and strongest knot to join braid to Mono/FC leaders, it's also the most complex to tie right.

The blood knot is only 3X the the line diameter, small knot but has 2 tag ends sticking straight out, not good for micro giudes. Double Uni knot or Alberto knot about the same size as a blood knot, the tags end doesn't tend to stick straight out but still you will feel the knot bump through micro guides.

Tom

 

I agree with Tom here - FG is the best way to get the knot diameter down.

 

18 minutes ago, Crestliner2008 said:

I don't see how a knot can be much slimmer or less bulky than the Alberto. It is just a weave with no cross line members, so it naturally produces a very slim knot. Maybe the FG is better? But I've never had a problem with the Alberto and I have confidence in it, so I guess I'll stick with it.

I like both the Alberto and the FG.  The FG is a little slimmer, and a little stronger, assuming all else is equal and both are tied right. 

 

The difference is that the Alberto has the fluoro doubled over once, the FG does not.

 

I'll try to get a picture of each tied with the same lines up a bit later.

 

Lots of folks find the FG harder to tie, and that's a factor in making the choice.

Anyone who owns a baitcasting rod with micro giudes should be able to see how a knot the fills the guide ring 50% (.090 ID ) is a problem. The line slows down as the knot is bumping through 7 to 9 guides during the cast. The line/knot will go through without damaging the guide ring is true unless the lure weighs several ounces. Knot bumping through a micro giude is annoying but necessary if you use a leader/ braid combination. 

Tom

Picture: Alberto on top, FG on bottom.

 

 

Lines are Sunline Sniper fluorocarbon and (I think) 50# Sufix 832.  Braid might be PowerPro.

 

...Yeah, my Albertos look better than my FGs.  FGs still seem to go through the guides better.

 

...the darker lines going to the left are not the lines, they are the shadows of the lines.

 

Someone commented that the Alberto is not really a knot, that it is a weave...that is correct.  The FG is the same, without doubling the fluorocarbon over.  I've never been able to get it to hold if I double the braid and weave the fluorocarbon ...braid always slips out.

Knots bumping guides can damage the knot, even if not the guides.  Also, many micros have very tiny feet, and I don't want bumping that is "significant."  But it can be solved to the point of its being indecipherable, or almost so.  On a casting rod you cannot simply go down on pound test, so you have to have either a very small knot (FG/Alberto, with FG obviously being the smallest knot possible) .  But it's not the easiest to learn.

 

If one cannot use the FG, and the Alberto makes too much commotion through the guides, I suggest using  either no leader or a short leader that doesn't have to go through the guides.  There are a lot of guys on this forum who use braid without a leader  and do well.  You can camoflage your braid by mottling its appearance with a sharpie for the last 2 or 3 feet.

try a slim beauty knot.

 

 

 

On 4/15/2017 at 11:57 AM, Crestliner2008 said:

I don't see how a knot can be much slimmer or less bulky than the Alberto. It is just a weave with no cross line members, so it naturally produces a very slim knot. Maybe the FG is better? But I've never had a problem with the Alberto and I have confidence in it, so I guess I'll stick with it.

Hey crestliner the fg knot is slimmer and tags end face the away from guides so it doesnt hit the guide like other knots

 

Alberto knot, and downsize to 6LB flouro to have two similiar sized lines tied together.

Never mind...ancient topic...