I honestly tried and successfully performed an exercise I call the “FG-knot”.  Twice.    I just had this nagging feeling that I really should go with my best, and well tied knot.  The Alberto.  50lb braid > 20ln flouro top-shot > 20lb mono bounce-ball rig behind a series of really strong swivels.   My 6oz sinker dangled from a 10LB mono piece in hopes it snaps first.  
 

I used Loon line adhesive to bolster my knot. I apply the glue as the knot moisturizer instead of saliva. (Yea, I used moist)

 

when you snag bottom in the ocean, it’s almost a panic worthy situation.  It is like an anchor to a kayak.  It almost flipped me. I line up my kayak, look at my fish finder and try to determine which way the snag happened and try to pull it out the other way.  And then I pedal and pull.  It’s astounding how much effort it took.  I broke off 5x.  Lost everything.   But my topshot knot never failed.   The leader got shorter and shorter.  If tie on a new ball swivel and repeat.  
 

it’s a good knot for me.  I have great muscle memory for that knot and it’s fairly tiny.  I shoots thru the guides.   A big heavy weight will drag any knot thru really.  I’m not casting it anyways.  
 

Loon glue is my insurance policy.   I learned the knot from my bud Justin.  He uses it for big tuna.  

Old fisherman's adage: The best knot is the knot you can tie best.

100% agree with DARTH-BAITER.  Go to a fly fishing shop and buy a tube of Loon UV Knot Sense;  if your wallet can stand it, also pick up a UV Nano Light.  Don't wet your leader knot with saliva;  instead, apply a small drop of Knot Sense and smooth it on the tied knot with fingers.  If not fishing in bright sunlight, take about 20 seconds to cure it with the Nano Light.  Your knot will not fray or slip and will pass thru the guides more smoothly. 

 

I know I'm not the only member of this group experiencing age related fumbling fingers and blurry eyesight, so here is another tip for tying that Alberto Knot : the Uncle Jim Alberto Knot Tyer (unclejimtool.com).  I bought one and use it at home;  after some practice, I bought another to keep on the boat.  It can be mounted on a fixed object with velcro, or a small piece of wood to hold in your lap;  I leave it in a bin until needed.

I have found that by tying two half hitches tightly against the knot, using the tag end of the braid, that the Alberto becomes bullet-proof for unravelling.  No need for any glue or substance other than saliva while setting the Alberto. The half hitches do not make the knot any larger.

49 minutes ago, MickD said:

I have found that by tying two half hitches tightly against the knot, using the tag end of the braid, that the Alberto becomes bullet-proof for unravelling.  No need for any glue or substance other than saliva while setting the Alberto. The half hitches do not make the knot any larger.

This. The extra 2 half hitches at the end make it fool proof and as strong as an FG - just quicker/easier to tie.

 

Of course the hitch knots at the end make it as thick as the FG too. Which is a great misconception - the body of the FG is thin but the hitch knots make it the width of the Alberto and many other knots.

 

All things being equal, I have switched back to the double hitch Alberto from the FG. 

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

Of course the hitch knots at the end make it as thick as the FG too.

The braid hitch knots are smaller in diameter than the two layers of leader + braid wrap, so they do not make the knot any bigger than it would be without them.

 

With the leader/line combinations I use, leaders up to 15 pound test, the alberto is insignificant in size compared with the bore of the 4 mm micros I build with.  The main thing is to get the leader end cut off right at the knot-leave no exposed end to catch on the tiptop.  

You might be surprised at the width of the hitch knots and that is usually what you hear ticking through the guides with an FG knot. Either way, the size difference of the 2 knots (Alberto vs. FG) I think are overblown and the strength of both are excellent. In my book, the tie breaker goes to the Alberto because it is so much easier/quicker to tie. 

5 hours ago, Tackleholic said:

I know I'm not the only member of this group experiencing age related fumbling fingers and blurry eyesight, 

 

Here's my best tip.

 

Get yourself a pair of 4x cheaters.

 

I can't tie a knot without them.

I wear progressives. In 2 years, my “reading” prescription in my progressives went from +.25 to +2.00. Getting old sucks. 

2 hours ago, Smirak said:

I wear progressives. In 2 years, my “reading” prescription in my progressives went from +.25 to +2.00. Getting old sucks. 

Haha.  I’m at +2 now. Just recently. 
 

I can still tie a knot in bright sunlight w my eyes naked tho. 

I started out with a uni to uni and had lots of failures. I fussed around with the FG for a solid couple of years before deciding I just didn't want to deal with it and I settled back on the Alberto (occasionally will use blood knot for larger lines). 

20 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Haha.  I’m at +2 now. Just recently. 
 

I can still tie a knot in bright sunlight w my eyes naked tho. 

Better you than me! With “naked” eyes, I squint as tightly as i can and pull the knot as close to my face as possible. My costas are prescription, but that prescription is toast now. Gotta get new lenses for them, but they’re stupid expensive. Since I’m retired, and I have VA insurance, I don’t carry normal vision insurance. Often times, it’s cheaper to buy a new pair vs just lenses.  I usually pay for my normal (eyeglass) frames and lenses from an optical shop, and let the VA give me beater frames. I think this year, I’m going to try some polarized sunglasses from the VA.

19 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I started out with a uni to uni and had lots of failures. I fussed around with the FG for a solid couple of years before deciding I just didn't want to deal with it and I settled back on the Alberto (occasionally will use blood knot for larger lines). 

Alberto, Uni, Palomar, and Loop Knot cover all bases for me;  just had cataract surgery and hope to get rid of reading glasses.  FG never.

I can tie an FG, but usually I run FC with casting gear so most of my leader knots are on light spinning gear.  I think the PR is a better knot for light line when compared to FG.  The problem is the time it takes.  Realistically I can tie a knot that I know will outlast my knot on the bait and tie it 3 or 4 times in the time it takes me to tie an FG or PR.   The Alberto knot when tied well is as strong as you need it to be.  I snagged an old mooring dragging metal for fluke with 8lb blue label and brand new 10lb TCS PE I thought I was going to break my rod.  Had to wrap my hand up with a rag and break it.   The Pitzen at the kastmaster broke first.  Ive nearly straightened 2x Mustads with 15lbX9 to 12lb Premier.  

More than half of the How to videos on Albertos aren't good knots.  They're seated to low, not tight enough, uneven or have way too much tag.  When you properly seat an Alberto, the color of the PE line should darken.   

The leader tag is what causes issues if you have any.  I think nail clippers are essential to having a good knot.  As long as you have a steady hand and decent eyes, you can cut that leader tag just about flush with the knot.  Ive seen guys use rizzuto finishes to lock it down, but I don't bother with it.

On 7/21/2025 at 6:29 AM, MickD said:

I have found that by tying two half hitches tightly against the knot, using the tag end of the braid, that the Alberto becomes bullet-proof for unravelling.  No need for any glue or substance other than saliva while setting the Alberto. The half hitches do not make the knot any larger.

Same thing I do don't know that I have had one fail.

On 7/22/2025 at 8:42 PM, GetFishorDieTryin said:

More than half of the How to videos on Albertos aren't good knots.  They're seated to low, not tight enough, uneven or have way too much tag. 

I think many of the knot failures reported are due to not setting the knots tightly enough.  Even the simplest knots work well, IMO, when tightly set because the leader gets put into plastic deformation which forms an actual mechanical interlock of the leader with itself.  If one doesn't believe this, carefully cut a good, tightly set, knot apart to remove the braid, unwrap the leader knot, and see what the leader looks like.

 

Another fallacy with many knots is the "more is better" philosophy.  On knots like the FG and Alberto, there is an optimum number of wraps/weaves.  When more are used the knots often don't tighten properly.

 

I agree with the comment about a better knot than the FG on light lines.  The FG was designed around heavy saltwater leaders that are large enough so that there is plenty of material to be deformed and interlocked.  With the lighter leaders that is not the case.

For sure.  I found that walking the weave down by pulling the tag and main alternately, until it gets int the correct positions then tightening it, works best for me. 

The actual PE and leader material makes a difference as well.  Newer coated lines, like 832 can be slick and tighten very well initially.  Once that coating wears, you have to be careful, especially with softer FCs.  I like to use Yo Zuris' HD Carbon.  The outer layer is very soft for a FC leader material.  If you tighten the weave too early with uncoated braid it can bite into and peel that soft outer layer off the leader. 

More isn't better.  Try putting 8 turns on an improved clinch with 20lb FC, it's too many twists than the knot can't lock properly.

 

Instead of the Alberto, I use the Shin knot ( it’s on Google). It’s a bit thinner than any Alberto knot I’ve tied, and I’ve never had it come loose. I use a 12# flouro leader tied to 30# braid.