I am finally really getting the hang of finesse fishing and discovering how effective it can be, as well as how many more and bigger fish I am catching. 
 

I have gotten pretty quick at the Alberto knot, but it is still sort of a pain to retie constantly with an application like the Ned rig where I am constantly getting hung up.  
 

I fish rivers so snags are common, and was hoping there was a lighter knot than the Palomar to tie to the jig head so that I could break off there and save my leader. Thanks!

To be blunt and frank, Don't use braid if you don't want to retie. All these people say that their knot is the best and never fails but none of them would bet their life on it I'm sure because it's human to err.. even the pros occasionally snap their leaders, even when bringing in smaller fish and not being snagged. (Also I would not sacrifice knot strength for saving a leader.)

Palomar is one of the strongest knots you can tie, a 4-5 turn clinch should do the trick. 

I used to use the Alberto on my leader-to-braid connection and was irritated when I sometimes broke off at that connection rather than the bait.  If you want a leader-to-braid knot that's strongest, you'll need to learn the FG knot.

23 minutes ago, desmobob said:

 If you want a leader-to-braid knot that's strongest, you'll need to learn the FG knot.

 

Second that. After I changed to FG knots, the majority of my break-offs happened on the bait knot, not the leader knot. And I fish river and creeks mostly as well. 

31 minutes ago, desmobob said:

I used to use the Alberto on my leader-to-braid connection and was irritated when I sometimes broke off at that connection rather than the bait.  If you want a leader-to-braid knot that's strongest, you'll need to learn the FG knot.

Cool, on it! Thanks.

Re-tying the whole leader…….. is why I use mostly straight mono 

25 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Cool, on it! Thanks.

A pre-tip - most of the videos show people holding one end of the line with their teeth. That's madness, can't see a dang thing. Use a belt loop or a button hole on your shirt to hold tension on the braid. 

 

33 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Re-tying the whole leader…….. is why I use mostly straight mono 

It is a major pain, but for finesse the sensitivity is unreal.

The Alberto has always been good for me, no breaking at knot. I use the Uni for terminal connections.

29 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

It is a major pain, but for finesse the sensitivity is unreal.

I agree and can't leave braid to leader if I wanted to.  Here's how I tie my fg, usually 3 groups of 6 turns with a floro/mono tug after each grouping.  Rizzuto finish is also very beneficial to keeping the braid from working itself loose over time.  I think it's well worth the extra effort required for this knot.  Good luck!

 

scott

 

 

Alberto with an extra pass through the loop to finish has been perfect for me. Never broke one, always breaks at the trilene knot or somewhere in between.

5 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

It is a major pain, but for finesse the sensitivity is unreal.

Yeah I’ve tried it, I like it, but I don’t like it that much 

9 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

It is a major pain, but for finesse the sensitivity is unreal.

With braid, sensitivity is non existent on semi slack line presentations that are often used in finesse fishing.  Straight fluorocarbon yields the greatest sensitivity in this case, and is what most use.  If you are using braid and you are not line watching, you are missing bites. There are some pretty good arguments for using braid, but sensitivity is not one of them. You can test this for yourself.  Put your bait on a table and let out enough line to go into the next room, out of sight of the bait.  While leaving some slack - a slight bow in the line really, have someone pick up the bait.  You will not feel a thing. Do this with fluorocarbon or even nylon mono, and you feel a tick.  Claims of braid's sensitivity are something I'll never get my head around.    

12 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

I am finally really getting the hang of finesse fishing and discovering how effective it can be, as well as how many more and bigger fish I am catching. 
 

I have gotten pretty quick at the Alberto knot, but it is still sort of a pain to retie constantly with an application like the Ned rig where I am constantly getting hung up.  
 

I fish rivers so snags are common, and was hoping there was a lighter knot than the Palomar to tie to the jig head so that I could break off there and save my leader. Thanks!

Those break offs are what made me switch to fluorocarbon and quit using braid for bottom contact techniques.  Buy some Yozuri hybrid line and put the braid away for a while.

What I'm understanding the OP to be asking is, what terminal knot to use when the angler wants that knot to fail before the leader connection knot (his Alberto).  I'd suggest a 3 wrap uni-knot as the terminal and keep the leader diameter pretty thin.

 

oe

It almost doesn’t matter what knot you tie to your lure, the FG will win versus it just about every time. I’ve made improvements to my palomar tying, so it might wind up giving the FG a run for its money, but I swear the FG must be darn close to 100% strength when tied meticulously.

12 hours ago, newapti5 said:

Second that

Third that ??

Weaker knot would be weakest link in your system no matter what you do, set hook, playing the fish, pull from weed etc.

I don’t go for compromise, if you don’t need leader don’t use it, I rather use 12-15lb FC instead of braid+leader. If you need leader then tie the strongest knot you can both connection and terminal. You don’t want heart broken when the big fish brake off just because you want to weaker your system yourself.

5 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

What I'm understanding the OP to be asking is, what terminal knot to use when the angler wants that knot to fail before the leader connection knot (his Alberto).  I'd suggest a 3 wrap uni-knot as the terminal and keep the leader diameter pretty thin.

 

oe

What, FG knot too thick?