Almost always I'm losing my leader when the line is firmly snagged.  I'm using a pretty dependable crazy Alberto knot between the main line, and the leader so I thought it was pretty safe/secure. What needs to be corrected so that I can get my leader back next time it happens?

Is it slipping out of the knot or is it breaking off somewhere between the knot and the lure/hook?

 

If it's slipping - maybe a different knot.

If it's breaking - that's why you use a leader - so it breaks off instead of breaking the rod.

 

You snag something solid with a leader - you're going to loose the leader...it's just how it is.

More practice...

 

https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-tie-crazy-alberto-knot/

 

What is lb on your leader and mainline? How long is your leader? You loose the whole length or just a part of it? 
I’ll be glad to just loose the leader than main line and that is one of the reason a lot of ppl using leader just to save main line.

The leader would be the one that stay contact with rocks and timber most of the time, and over time it would become the weakest point.

No matter which knot you are using, you will loose some strength of the line.

If it isn’t break off at your leader, you might end up loosing 10-15 yds of main line or might end up cutting the line off at spool (using high strength braid)

If you plan to bend the hook out to save the lure don’t use leader but plan to re-spool more often.

19 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

What is lb on your leader and mainline? How long is your leader? You loose the whole length or just a part of it? 
I’ll be glad to just loose the leader than main line and that is one of the reason a lot of ppl using leader just to save main line.

The leader would be the one that stay contact with rocks and timber most of the time, and over time it would become the weakest point.

No matter knot you are using, you will loose some strength of the line.

If it isn’t break off at your leader, you might end up loosing 10-15 yds of main line or might end up cutting the line off at spool (using high strength braid)

If you plan to bend the hook out to save the lure don’t use leader but plan to re-spool more often.

10 lb braid and 8 lb mono leader and the leader is about 10 ft long. Almost always I'm losing the whole nine yards or 10 ft in this case. I thought perhaps I cut the loose ends too close when I tied the knot and I guess losing the leader is probably the better option. 

22 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

More practice...

 

https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-tie-crazy-alberto-knot/

 

By looking at the video again, I may have missed - messed up -  one last step at the end! Thank you, Kent!

Meaning you really have to improve your knot tie. Or may be the knot goes through guide too many times, and loose it’s strength. Why 10’?

I have 8lb leader to 8lb nanofil only 2-3’ top. I sometimes loose the whole length but oftentimes only part of the leader or at the lure tie knot (contact point with whatever underwater).

a chain is only as strong as the weakest link.  Something has to give.  If you can’t get a stronger knot you could try a weaker hook.  

I use a double uni knot (which is not as good as an Alberto or FG knot) but the only time I have lost my leader has been when I got snagged. Given the location (rocks!) I was pretty sure I was not getting my bait back in each case even if I was running the 12lb braid with no leader, but who knows maybe it's just me being stubborn and if I used a FG knot maybe I would have got it back.

1 hour ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Meaning you really have to improve your knot tie. Or may be the knot goes through guide too many times, and loose it’s strength. Why 10’?

I have 8lb leader to 8lb nanofil only 2-3’ top. I sometimes loose the whole length but oftentimes only part of the leader or at the lure tie knot (contact point with whatever underwater).

About 10 or 14 ft since I don't want all that power of braid kick in, and possibly yank the hook out of fish's mouth. 2-3 ft? Maybe I need to try that length.

I think the length of your leader is ok, it's kind of a "to each their own" type of thing in my mind. Whatever works best for you.  I had a love/hate relationship with braid to leader and went back to straight 8lb mono for a season. When I came back to braid to leader I started using a much longer leader than before, something in the 10'-12' range and it's been awesome.

 

As far as the knot, I tried the FG and the few I tried held up for me but I've found that with a longer leader a much easier to tie double-uni has worked perfectly for me.

26 minutes ago, Eddie101 said:

About 10 or 14 ft since I don't want all that power of braid kick in, and possibly yank the hook out of fish's mouth. 2-3 ft? Maybe I need to try that length.

Then don't pull so hard, or set the drag lower. You'll be fine with 3'.

34 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

I use a double uni knot (which is not as good as an Alberto or FG knot) but the only time I have lost my leader has been when I got snagged. Given the location (rocks!) I was pretty sure I was not getting my bait back in each case even if I was running the 12lb braid with no leader, but who knows maybe it's just me being stubborn and if I used a FG knot maybe I would have got it back.

Ya - Double-Uni is my go-to for all line joins...backing to mainline or mainline to leader. Any breakoffs I've had have left the knot intact and a few inches of leader hanging on - so it's the leader breaking. With aging fingers and only one working eye, the FG and Alberto are a bit too difficult for me to tie, especially in a rocking canoe.

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Ya - Double-Uni is my go-to for all line joins...backing to mainline or mainline to leader. Any breakoffs I've had have left the knot intact and a few inches of leader hanging on - so it's the leader breaking. With aging fingers and only one working eye, the FG and Alberto are a bit too difficult for me to tie, especially in a rocking canoe.

I believe I have broke it off at the knot on at least one of the occasions but I didn't give it to much thought because like I said given where it snagged, I don't think I was getting anything back short of 50lb braid.

I was having occasional breakoffs myself using the crazy alberto. I’m convinced that on lighter lines taking your tag through the loop at the end 2-3 times rather than once makes for a much better knot. I have knot (sorry?) had a break off this year.

Alberto knots that are tied and synched correctly are really strong.  If you synch the knot correctly the color of the braid wrapped around the leader will change.  Check out Tackle Advisors Alberto knot vid on his YouTube channel. 

Does anyone have trouble tying an FG knot with 6 or 8 lb fluorocarbon leader and 10 or 15 lb braid?  If I use 20 lb leader, that I use in saltwater, it ties fine but not the lighter leader.  

Interesting, not heard of the crazy Alberto but Alberto is the only leader knot I've ever used.....trimmed flush with no issues wrapping 7 up 7 down.

 

With Neds and drop shots I'm always bending hooks without break offs using 15# braid to 8# Flouro. 

 

I also prefer the leader knot to stay out of reel, helps with casting. 

 

Maybe test some different knots and see how they do.

28 minutes ago, Bird said:

Interesting, not heard of the crazy Alberto but Alberto is the only leader knot I've ever used.....trimmed flush with no issues wrapping 7 up 7 down.

 

With Neds and drop shots I'm always bending hooks without break offs using 15# braid to 8# Flouro. 

 

I also prefer the leader knot to stay out of reel, helps with casting. 

 

Maybe test some different knots and see how they do.

If I'm not mistaken, 5 up and 5 down is the "regular" Alberto and 7 and 7 is the crazy one. If I'm wrong, please let me know.

  While the back to back uni knot might not be a fan favorite recently, 

it's the only leader connection knot I use and has been my go to for many, many years. 

At this point, I'm only using leaders on spinning gear.

I rely on it to connect 10lb braid mainline (usually Suffix 832)

and 8-10 lb Big Game mono or Seguar Tatsu FC 8lb leader.

It's easy & fast for me to tie & re-tie correctly, even in colder air temps & or low light. 

Despite the back to back uni knot, perhaps not "Winning" in the current wave of knot wars

that seem to be a hot topic several times a year, in the real world, it's a solid performer IMO.

If the objective of our gear is to put BIG fish in the net, the uni-knot has done that for me consistently.

 

 

There's simply no reason for me to even consider another knot.

The results speak for themselves.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

10 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

  While the back to back uni knot might not be a fan favorite recently, 

it's the only leader connection knot I use and has been my go to for many, many years. 

At this point, I'm only use leaders on spinning gear.

I rely on it to connect 10lb braid mainline (usually Suffix 832)

and 8-10 lb Big Game mono or Seguar Tatsu FC 8lb leader.

It's easy & fast for me to tie & re-tie correctly, even in colder air temps & or low light. 

Despite the back to back uni knot, perhaps not "Winning" in the current wave of knot wars

that seem to be a hot topic several times a year, in the real world, it's a solid performer IMO.

If the objective of our gear is to put BIG fish in the net, the uni-knot has done that for me consistently.

 

 

There's simply no reason for me to even consider another knot.

The results speak for themselves.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

Show off! But, hey, I'm bloody impressed!

1 hour ago, Alex from GA said:

Does anyone have trouble tying an FG knot with 6 or 8 lb fluorocarbon leader and 10 or 15 lb braid?  If I use 20 lb leader, that I use in saltwater, it ties fine but not the lighter leader.  

Definitely me. I haven't tried tying it on heavier line, but had more leaders break loose at the knot than I could count tying 10 or 15 lb. braid to a 6 or 8 lb. copolymer leader with an FG knot. Granted I'm certain it was from user error, but still.

 

I finally switched to the double uni knot, which I was more comfortable and familiar with from flyfishing in days past. It has worked really well for me. Yeah it might not be the absolute tiniest knot, but it goes through my spinning rod guides just fine; I am much faster tying it and MUCH better tying it on the water in a hurry; and the only ones I have had break at the knot were super solid hangups. Heck, I had the double uni knot hold when I was crappie fishing not long ago and snagged a stake imbedded in the mud bottom in a stake bed. I actually pulled the 6 foot long stake loose from the bottom and to the surface. 

 

I'm with A-Jay, the double uni may not win a popularity contest right now but it by far works the best for me.

22 minutes ago, Eddie101 said:

Show off! But, hey, I'm bloody impressed!

Always been a visual learner myself.

A-Jay

1 hour ago, Alex from GA said:

Does anyone have trouble tying an FG knot with 6 or 8 lb fluorocarbon leader and 10 or 15 lb braid?  If I use 20 lb leader, that I use in saltwater, it ties fine but not the lighter leader.  

My main finesse setup is 14# braid to 6# or 8# leader using FG and no issues. I even use 3-5# braid to 4# leader with FG on my crappie setups.

 

39 minutes ago, Eddie101 said:

If I'm not mistaken, 5 up and 5 down is the "regular" Alberto and 7 and 7 is the crazy one. If I'm wrong, please let me know.

No difference to my knowledge. “Crazy Alberto” seemed to be the more common name early on before it got real popular, and I think over time people have just shortened it to “Alberto” out of convenience. Variations of number of wraps up or down has always been common with this knot.

 

33 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

  While the back to back uni knot might not be a fan favorite recently, 

it's the only leader connection knot I use and has been my go to for many, many years. 

At this point, I'm only use leaders on spinning gear.

I rely on it to connect 10lb braid mainline (usually Suffix 832)

and 8-10 lb Big Game mono or Seguar Tatsu FC 8lb leader.

It's easy & fast for me to tie & re-tie correctly, even in colder air temps & or low light. 

Despite the back to back uni knot, perhaps not "Winning" in the current wave of knot wars

that seem to be a hot topic several times a year, in the real world, it's a solid performer IMO.

If the objective of our gear is to put BIG fish in the net, the uni-knot has done that for me consistently.

 

There's simply no reason for me to even consider another knot.

The results speak for themselves.

YMMV

A-Jay

This goes well with something I’ve mentioned before, that being with the great drag systems and people setting them properly (low), the connection knot should never really come into play, and any decent knot will work. For the few like me who lock drags down tighter and backreel, knot selection plays a much more important role...but we’re the vast minority these days ?

6 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

This goes well with something I’ve mentioned before, that being with the great drag systems and people setting them properly (low), the comnection knot should never really come into play, and any decent knot will work. For the few like me who lock drags down tighter and backreel, knot selection plays a much more important role...but we’re the vast minority these days ?

Admittedly, on anything I believe might be a plus size bass,

after the hookset on spinning gear,

I am dropping off drag pressure routinely.

A-Jay 

I guess I look at the scenario much differently, maybe because I am a shore angler. When I get snagged up, I want that leader to break so that I don’t waste my main line. 
 

To me, that has been the one of the main reasons I would use a leader. 
 

The break off will usually happen on the leader material and not the knot. 
 

im speaking solely on breaking snags.