For about the last year I have been using an FG knot for my leader line.  The issue I am running into is with the tag end of the main line.  When I end the knot, I understand you have to do some half-hitch knots with the main line both on top of and "after" the leader line.  

 

What I don't like is that occasionally one or two of these knots comes undone, resulting in a long flier piece, like shown in the picture below.  

Any tips for how to avoid this happening?

23 minutes ago, gilkeybr said:

For about the last year I have been using an FG knot for my leader line.  The issue I am running into is with the tag end of the main line.  When I end the knot, I understand you have to do some half-hitch knots with the main line both on top of and "after" the leader line.  

 

What I don't like is that occasionally one or two of these knots comes undone, resulting in a long flier piece, like shown in the picture below.  

Any tips for how to avoid this happening?

Your last half hitch, go thru the hole twice. It will lock it in if you do this on an even numbered half hitch

I also dab super glue on it- if I tied it the night before.

Both of these tips are good ones.  I use the FG on every set up I have, and will say the finishing knot is now the biggest determining factor on how many fishing trips I get out of the same knot.

 

Have been using rizzuto finish lately and it works great.  The knot now lasts until I retie lures so many times I run out of leader.  There are a few different versions from what I can tell, but I tie a single square knot, cinch down the FG (using a lot of force, I mean a load) then tie one more square knot, only I wrap the tag of braid through the loop 4 or 5 times before pulling it tight.  Kinda takes a bit of effort to find a good rizzuto finish video on YouTube but well worth it.  Will solve your problem.

 

I wasn't crazy about having to apply super glue to a knot, but that method works quite well also.

Does superglue affect the integrity of the line? 

I have not noticed a failure on my set ups, but I could not speak of anything at the cellular level.

You just have to be so careful that the finishing knots, that, or any treatments such as super glue, don't end up being larger than the knot itself. I, and I imagine everyone here, likely agree that these half hitch knots do nothing for knot strength, just protect the FG knot a bit. A shock absorber.

 

The trade-off for me is while the FG junction knots last a long time, no doubt, but abrasion issues on the leader itself have always been the "weak link" for me, so I can handle the little fuzzy end as it develops over a day on the water knowing I am going to replace my leader anyway.

 

In certain circumstances with certain length leaders, that little fuzzy braid end makes for a pretty decent "line watching" sighting element to find and focus on especially with lines that aren't bright.

 

Brad

8 hours ago, FrankN209 said:

Does superglue affect the integrity of the line? 

I've used it one time on an FG knot.  That sucker lasted forever.  I only replaced the FG knot because my leader was getting too short.  

 

Since I have been using the rizutto finish, I achieve the same longevity.

I haven't stepped up to the Rizutto finish yet, still stumbling along with the half hitch solution.

 

I tie the half hitches in alternating directions, then finish off with a double or triple wrap.

 

I still get "the fuzzy" sometimes, but it doesn't impact the knot...so I don't sweat it...

 

Super glue works, so dues something like UV Knot Sense.

Thanks for all the tips.  I have considered the superglue method myself in the past, but was worried about how it would impact the strength of the braid, especially in applications with really thin braid.

 

I tied my first rizzuto finish yesterday.  Its not all too difficult to tie, and does give a nice clean ending to the knot.  I'll have to fish it a little to see how it sticks!

 

Thanks again

On 5/4/2018 at 9:31 PM, LionHeart said:

I've used it one time on an FG knot.  That sucker lasted forever.  I only replaced the FG knot because my leader was getting too short.  

 

Since I have been using the rizutto finish, I achieve the same longevity.

I switched over to using the rizutto finish too. I used to use two half hitches for years, then for some reason they seemed to start to come undone after one long day of fishing. I think it may be due to me fishing more and longer days.

The 5 turn rizutto takes care of all the issues. YouTube is a great resource for knots.