The Best Fluorocarbon Leader Knot (an Insane Alternative)

[BoatSquirrel 51]

Just watched Boss Hank describe his favorite braid to fluoro connector, a micro swivel that can be reeled through guides.  Is anyone familiar with these?  Thanks boys!

[FryDog62 645]

A small micro-swivel might go through the guides but it can still damage them.  I’d like to see a non-metal swivel or connector of some type.  

[Brad Reid 84]

I have some tiny swivels for experiments with ultralight gear but I'd have the same reservation FryDog62 mentioned related to it still damaging rod guides.

 

And, excepting a possible advantage related to line twist, in the end you now end up needing to tie 2 knots, not just one. 

 

2 knots double the chances of knot failure.

 

Brad 

[Team9nine 5,225]

Tippet rings have become somewhat common in fly fishing circles for similar reasons, and they're smaller than swivels, but I personally still go with line-to-line connections because of their greater flexibility in rigging.

[reason 2,134]

28 minutes ago, BoatSquirrel said:

Just watched Boss Hank describe his favorite braid to fluoro connector, a micro swivel that can be reeled through guides.  Is anyone familiar with these?  Thanks boys!

We do this in the salt sometimes. I don't when bass fishing. Reeling a swivel through the tip will eventually damage it. But it's a fairly easy fix. I fix all my damaged salt water tips in the winter. There are also tips designed for this and wire without inserts.

[NHBull 3,001]

Not a good thing to do....if that goes through, so will a double uni

[reason 2,134]

22 minutes ago, NHBull said:

if that goes through, so will a double

That's what she said...

[Janderson45 330]

Dumb... use an FG knot, Alberto knot, double uni, etc.  Another fantastic video featured on the home page with Hank I guess! 🙄

[Smalls 110]

I was just reading that article as I opened the site. I winced at the thought of sending a swivel through my guides. 

[A-Jay 25,167]

1 hour ago, BoatSquirrel said:

Just watched Boss Hank describe his favorite braid to fluoro connector, a micro swivel that can be reeled through guides.  Is anyone familiar with these?  Thanks boys!

Sounds like an Excellent Idea - 

For someone else's rods . . . . . 

A-Jay

[MN Fisher 230]

Sending swivels through the guides? Good way to nick the guides and now add even more abrasion to the line. I'll stick with double-uni or alberto for my leaders.

[NYWayfarer 2,242]

I Not a fan of this idea for a number of reasons, most of which were already mentioned.

 

Swivel through guides is asking for damaged guides.  

 

A swivel small enough to fit through micro guides can't be that strong.

 

3 knots three chances for failure.

 

That swivel has to get caught in a guide during casts, hello backlash.

 

I worry a lot about connecting lines. I solve that problem by running straight Fluoro.

[fishwizzard 1,551]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

Tippet rings have become somewhat common in fly fishing circles for similar reasons, and they're smaller than swivels, but I personally still go with line-to-line connections because of their greater flexibility in rigging.

 I’ve been toying with the idea picking up some tippit rings to try to connect leader to very fine braid.  I can get a decent night when indoors and out of the wind, but trying to tie a leader knot with 6 pound braid in the wind never seems to work out well for me. 

[Crestliner2008 1,627]

There is no way I'd use a swivel this way. Definitely would cause guide damage eventually. And could cost you a good fish. The Alberto knot works just fine and is totally benign, as far as damage goes.

[J Francho 14,107]

I use two 20# micro swivels in my terminal rig float fishing for trout.  Yes, you can safely reel them through the guides, but not under load.  I don't use them for bass fishing because I rarely use a leader, and when I do, an Alberto knot is less fussy, and the line we use for bass is much thicker, making these very difficult to thread.  They are that small.  One thing to note, I have never broken a micro swivel.  You can get them here:

 

https://raventackle.com/

[WRB 10,742]

Salt water big game fishing we used wind on leaders without knots. You need hollow tubular braid to make up wind on leaders by inserting the leader inside the braid then wrap the overlap with Kevlar rod giude thread and super glue. You don't feel the union going through the guides.

The knot gaining popularity with bass anglers is another salt water braid to leader knot called RP knot named for the west coast long ranger charter boat Royal Polaris.

So many knots, so little time.

Anglers forget what goes out through the guides must come back in, hopefully with a fish on the other end of the line. Using an inline swivel you end up with 3 knots, not 2.

Tom

[MassYak85 1,548]

Sounds like the advice of someone who gets free rods...😄

[Fishingmickey 193]

2 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

Not a fan of this idea for a number of reasons, most of which were already mentioned.

 

Swivel through guides is asking for damaged guides.  

 

A swivel small enough to fit through micro guides can't be that strong.

 

2 knots two chances for failure.

 

That swivel has to get caught in a guide during casts, hello backlash.

 

I worry a lot about connecting lines. I solve that problem by running straight Fluoro.

I have been in that same camp running straight fluoro. I have been experimenting with braid and the FG knot. I really like the FG and how it goes through the guides in either direction. I have had no FG knot failures yet. It has taking some practice to tie good FG knots.  With the braid being tied on to a single diameter line that knot is so much thinner in diameter then the alberto or uni to uni or any doubled over line knot. So I might be jumping on the braid to leader band wagon if the experimenting continues to yield excellent results.

Fishingmickey

[MN Fisher 230]

1 hour ago, Fishingmickey said:

I have been in that same camp running straight fluoro. I have been experimenting with braid and the FG knot. I really like the FG and how it goes through the guides in either direction. I have had no FG knot failures yet. It has taking some practice to tie good FG knots.  With the braid being tied on to a single diameter line that knot is so much thinner in diameter then the alberto or uni to uni or any doubled over line knot. So I might be jumping on the braid to leader band wagon if the experimenting continues to yield excellent results.

Fishingmickey

I may have to learn how to tie this one. Sounds like a winner.

[Hook2Jaw 374]

Those of you considering learning the FG reading this thread, learn the FG.  There is no better braid to fluoro/mono connection.

 

I started with the double uni, moved to the Alberto, and finally settled on the FG.  It is the bee's knees. 

 

@fishwizzard, you mentioned difficulties from the wind.  You'll be happy to know you apply slight tension throughout the FG.

[Log Catcher 361]

7 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

Sounds like the advice of someone who gets free rods...😄

Or someone who wants to sell you some rods after you try this.

[Fishingmickey 193]

Just one thought to add here. I do not tie the FG knot while in the Yak. I tie them at home under good light with my cheaters on, where I can sit comfortably and where I can keep good tension on the braid.  I suspect after practice I would be able to tie a good knot on the Yak.

FM

[OCdockskipper 1,958]

I'm glad someone made this thread.  After seeing the article where Hank Parker recommended it, I naively thought that I would have to give that a try.  After all, why would a bass legend give bad advice and that advice then be featured prominently on this site?  I almost convinced myself that my concerns about the guides was self paranoia... 

[Sam 4,739]

On ‎12‎/‎21‎/‎2018 at 9:05 AM, Team9nine said:

Tippet rings have become somewhat common in fly fishing circles for similar reasons, and they're smaller than swivels, but I personally still go with line-to-line connections because of their greater flexibility in rigging.

Team, I tried Tippet rings and they drove me crazy.

 

Had no confidence in them so I don't use them.

 

I go with braid to fluorocarbon as you do.

1 hour ago, Fishingmickey said:

Just one thought to add here. I do not tie the FG knot while in the Yak. I tie them at home under good light with my cheaters on, where I can sit comfortably and where I can keep good tension on the braid.  I suspect after practice I would be able to tie a good knot on the Yak.

FM

Totally agree.

 

I tie a simple know when on the boat.