Hello everyone,

I want to talk about two popular leader-to-braid knots: the FG knot and the PR knot. I’ve spent years tying the FG knot and I’ve recently experimented with the PR knot, mainly because I kept hearing that it’s a good option for saltwater fishing. I bought the PR knot tools and gave it a few tries. When I did a pound test, I found that my PR knot wouldn’t hold as I expected—my knot would slip under load(23lb test). In at least one case I even used a dab of super glue, something I’d never done with the FG knot. After a few attempts, I went back to the FG knot.

With the FG knot, after about 20 turns around the leader and a couple of half-hitches, I’ve found it extremely unlikely to fail. I can’t break it in a controlled test, and that’s been my experience for more than seven years now. I’m very comfortable with it, and I trust its strength. This is why I’m surprised when I hear about people switching to the PR knot or buying extra tools for it. I’m not here to knock the PR knot outright—I’m just sharing how things have played out for me.

Saltwater season is in full swing here in Southern California, and I’ve seen a lot of chatter and promotions touting the PR knot as the go-to option for saltwater leader connections. I even bought a set of tools to give it a fair shot. After a few tries, though, I didn’t feel confident enough in the PR knot’s consistency for my needs, and I’ve decided to return the tools and stick with what I know works: the FG knot. I’m not against trying new ideas or approaches, but this is what works for me in the field.

I’ve attached or will attach some photos to illustrate what I’m talking about. In the pictures you’ll see that my FG knot is roughly one-third to one-half the length of the PR knot, and yet it feels strong and secure. I’d be interested to hear how others see these images and what you think about the relative lengths and the grip you’ve found with your own setups.

A few practical observations I’ve made along the way

Wrapping and tension: The FG knot relies on clean, evenly spaced wraps and consistent tension as you tighten. If wraps are loose or uneven, a knot can slip under load, especially when the line diameters are mismatched (thin braid to thicker leader). For me, 20 turns around the leader with steady, tight wraps and a couple of precise half-hitches works reliably.

PR knot considerations: From my attempts, the PR knot seemed more sensitive to precise execution and line-to-line friction. It felt like any deviation in wrap symmetry or tension could lead to slippage, which was a red flag for the kind of saltwater fishing I do—rocks, structure, big fish, and the real loads they can impose. I also found that the finished PR knot needed more careful handling to avoid any micro-slippage in the field.

Glue and finishing: I’ve always tied the FG knot dry and tested it under load before finishing. The FG knot tends to perform well without glue. In a pinch, a small dab of glue on the last few wraps can affect the knot’s feel and how it grips, and I’ve noticed it can make future untangling or retying more difficult if you ever need to redo it quickly. For the PR knot, some anglers use glue or head cement, but that adds a different risk profile and can make untying harder later.

Line condition and gear: The condition of your lines matters a lot. Old, nicked, or dirty line won’t grip as well, regardless of the knot. Salt can add a gritty factor if you don’t rinse and dry your gear, so keeping lines clean and dry is important for any knot you tie.

Real-world testing approach: If you’re evaluating knots side-by-side, it helps to practice on scraps of your exact line types (braid diameter, leader material and diameter) and to test with a scale or a controlled pull. Note the failure point (knot vs. line) and the amount of load before failure. That will give you apples-to-apples data for your gear.

What I’d like from the forum

If you’ve used both knots in saltwater situations like Southern California, what have you observed in terms of durability, ease of tying under pressure, and the time it takes to tie each knot correctly?
Do you have screenshots or photos of your wraps, tension, and final knot dimensions? I’d love to compare notes on wrap counts, how you finish, and how close your knots are to the leader end.
Has anyone found a sweet spot for the PR knot with particular line combinations (specific braid diameters, leader materials, or coatings) that makes it more reliable in saltwater?
For those who prefer FG, are there any tweaks you use—different wrap counts, lead-in methods, or finishing techniques—that you’ve found improve consistency in the field?

Bottom line

For my gear and my fishing style, the FG knot remains my trusted choice. It’s strong, repeatable, and something I can rely on when a big fish is pulling against a rough, abrasive environment. I’m not opposed to trying new methods, but consistency and reliability are what matter most on the water, especially when salt, rocks, and big fish are involved.

If you’d like, I can share step-by-step tie-by-tie photos or a quick checklist I use when tying the FG knot for saltwater leaders. And if anyone has a clear, tested comparison protocol for the two knots with the same line types, I’d be keen to see it.

Thanks for reading, and I’m looking forward to hearing your experiences and any tips you might have. Please check the pictures and let me know your thoughts. Do you agree with the points I’ve raised, or do you have a different take based on your own results?

I think the PR is superior with lighter line.  The leader you have in the picture looks #30 or #40.  At that point, I dont know if the PR is much of an advantage, if it is at all.  I'll use an FG if I'm tying a leader the night before, or before I leave the day of.  Once I'm on the water, I tie Alberto knots.  I've never had an alberto knot fail on a fish 

Yes that was 30lb izorline with 65lb Jbraid.

Today I was spooling some big game reels and they told me PR knot is the only way to go after splicing, So I got another set of tools to give it a try again.

Good Lord those are some big knots! 
 

Which is why I’m both amazed and pleased at how easy, strong and small the Lefty Kreh leader knot is. No tools. No fuss. 30 seconds to tie. No Ph.D required!  

Being from the Midwest I am not familiar with any salt water types of knots. But I do know I would never tie anything that requires a tool 😵‍💫

 

 

Double uni has never failed me.

So guys, I gave it another try and I must say you really need to do this right and I dialed in everything. I watch a few videos on YouTube and as you can see in the picture, I did the PR not by the 8 pound braid. Also, I did three nail knots at the back and I put the dap of the superglue on it and I gave it the test today as you can see the picture it cut 42 pound which is the it was the Strength of my mono line 40 pound and you can see nothing happened to line line even move and I’m thinking if I do that, this is really 100% not as they claim to be also about the thickness of the not that one of you guys mentioned the thickness is 0.2 mm adding to the overall dimensions of your mono, you need to remember we have the braid around it and then not around it And by braid itself alone on the mono we almost has 0.2 mm of difference so I just want to say I like this note and I’m going to do it before my soft water trips and I’m even thinking to do it for some freshwater like a storage and big catfish rigs thank you. Let me know what you think.

On 8/17/2025 at 4:30 AM, BrianMDTX said:

Good Lord those are some big knots! 
 

Which is why I’m both amazed and pleased at how easy, strong and small the Lefty Kreh leader knot is. No tools. No fuss. 30 seconds to tie. No Ph.D required!  

Mono 0.61

mono spliced by braid 0.74

knot and glue done 0.91

 

I think it is pretty tiny when do it right way.

@ATA Just for the heck of it, try the Lefty Kreh knot. You may be surprised at how strong it is, when it’s that small and that easy to tie.