https://youtu.be/u_zxaI5ErbM?si=lefHCm3LPFwOiJOj

This fg wizz tool makes it pretty easy to tie.

I made my own version of it. They turn out neat and strong almost every time. And don’t take long at all to tie.

I pre-rig the setups in the garage. Have hardly ever needed to re-tie on the water as knot failure is almost nonexistent, so the tool never leaves the garage.

I have on a few occasions had to and have been able to tie it on the water, but it’s not easy without the tool since I’ve become so used to doing it that way.

Another vote for the Knot Assist Tool 2.0

The tool makes it easy but it still takes more time than most knots. I have a tool at home and one on the boat. I rarely tie an FG on the boat.

I have the tool and CAN do it if necessary. The only FG knot I have currently is braid (whatever PE is 7lb in sunline almight) to leader (6# FC) on my BFS setup. Why? I don’t know. I had to buy the tool because it looked cool I guess? Pretty much everything else line-to-line connection wise is an Albright.

Circling back on this. The FG is strong! I’ve snagged to ocean floor and have had to great it all off. I haven’t lost it at the knot yet. At the Alberto? I have.

My watershed moment was to stop counting wraps. I watch for knot length. For salt I go to .75” , for fresh I go .5”.

It is so strong. I bought the tool to try the PR knot, and that’s a new frustration. It’s so difficult!!

Can I tie an FG? Depends if I have shoes on or not.

I can’t tie it on the water, so I don’t tie it period. Alberto knot is the perfect blend of strength and practicality for me.

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Circling back on this. The FG is strong! I’ve snagged to ocean floor and have had to great it all off. I haven’t lost it at the knot yet. At the Alberto? I have.

My watershed moment was to stop counting wraps. I watch for knot length. For salt I go to .75” , for fresh I go .5”.

It is so strong. I bought the tool to try the PR knot, and that’s a new frustration. It’s so difficult!!

Do tie a new Alberto knot before each trip?

Fresh knot and leader every trip.

Having to have a tool or tie a knot or done at home before a fishing trip makes it cumbersome, exhausting knot to tie. If your “on water” knot is the Alberto then,,,,,,,,,,,,,,why bother.

Many have said that the Alberto knot doesn't go through the guides as well as the FG knot. Is that true? That would make a difference for the guys (and gals) using long leaders.

34 minutes ago, Crow Horse said:

Many have said that the Alberto knot doesn't go through the guides as well as the FG knot. Is that true? That would make a difference for the guys (and gals) using long leaders.

It goes through the guides good and it’s a pretty flat knot. The main thing is to cut the tag end as close as you can get it. I’m not going to say I’ve never broke at the leader, but the few times it has broke some may have been operator error.

There are many other knots like the double uni that are much bigger that do not come through the guides as well IMO.

Yes, it took a few try-fail-revisit cycles, but I eventually succeeded. My take is that you can watch a hundred videos and if you try to mimic a method exactly you’ll probably drive yourself nuts. Many failed attempts is what taught me the fundamentals of the knot and what it's trying to accomplish. I think I tried at least 3 or 4 different methods and it was only after I began improvising with little tweaks that it finally clicked, the tweaks being in how you manipulate your hands and fingers to hold things in place while tying it, not in the knot itself. It was 100% worth the trouble to learn.

On 1/15/2026 at 10:41 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I can't, and man have I tried. I've watched so many videos that promise to make it easy, none have made it easy, or even something I can accomplish. I've got many knots in my arsenal that I use for different purposes, and I've never had an issue figuring out how to tie them, but this one has me stumped.

I can tie it (or at least, I could at the time). However, I stopped using it because my half-hitches would work themselves loose over time going in and out of the tip guide, even though they were properly done and crossed opposite of each other. The knot is just so long and that section of line is stiffened that the hitches took the brunt of flexing into the tip guide at anything other than a perfect angle. Knot glue would've likely solved the issue, but why bother when there are a dozen or more other excellent connection knots I don't have that issue with....

Went back to the double uni for simplicity and speed.

Actually, I don't think I have ever tried to tie it.

55 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

However, I stopped using it because my half-hitches would work themselves loose over time going in and out of the tip guide, even though they were properly done and crossed opposite of each other.

I think the Rizzuto finish resolves that issue.

Yes I can, I can do it both at home and on the boat. I use a combination of tricks from multiple videos I have watched and I have settled on holding the braid with my teeth and I use this tool to cinch it down and a lighter on the tag after i tie 3 overhands. It is most important to make sure your knots lay out correctly and do not stack up otherwise it will slip.

On 1/15/2026 at 3:52 PM, Junk Fisherman said:

Not really.

I tried a bunch of different videos and had the knot assist tool (sold it) but this video from Swindle has been very promising for me. I've been tying one every day using this technique and they don't slip or break. The real test will come in a couple months when I'm on the water. I'm optimistic.

After using this technique another half dozen times, I'm feeling really good about the FG Knot. And I'm like several of you that tried multiple different videos and the tool and still didn't have it. The key with this technique is when you go over/under with the FC leader, you must pull it tight and feel the know slip into place. After 11 over/unders I do 4 overhand knots with the braid over the tag end of the FC alternating over and under the braid. I'm feeling really good about this knot. Hope it helps.

On 1/15/2026 at 10:41 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I can't, and man have I tried. I've watched so many videos that promise to make it easy, none have made it easy, or even something I can accomplish. I've got many knots in my arsenal that I use for different purposes, and I've never had an issue figuring out how to tie them, but this one has me stumped.

Same. requires both hands and all your toes! just stick with the good ole trusty double uni knot that takes about 20 seconds to tie. i think it's been pretty well proven over the last 2-3 years length of leader is overrated. only time i ever need a leader longer than 3-4 feet is if i'm fishing a moving river and want my light ned rig to actually make it to bottom. i do have a buddy, maybe 2 that throw braid on everything and tie big long FG leaders. if i throw braid on treble hooks there are going to be some lipless fish running around

LoL, no.

I gave up on it quickly. More trouble than it's worth to me. I can tie an Alberto with ease and I haven't had one fail me yet.

2 hours ago, jermination2.0 said:

Same. requires both hands and all your toes! just stick with the good ole trusty double uni knot that takes about 20 seconds to tie. i think it's been pretty well proven over the last 2-3 years length of leader is overrated. only time i ever need a leader longer than 3-4 feet is if i'm fishing a moving river and want my light ned rig to actually make it to bottom. i do have a buddy, maybe 2 that throw braid on everything and tie big long FG leaders. if i throw braid on treble hooks there are going to be some lipless fish running around

For purely stealth/invisibility reasons I can’t argue, but there are definitely other benefits to an extra long leader, which you may or may not need depending on your situation, I often go 20-25’:

Abrasion resistance against rocky or hard structure.
Natural lure action (its submersibility offsets braids buoyancy).

Shock absorption, less strain on both the leader and lure knot.

Leader knot inside of reel during boatside battles.

More re-ties/rigging per leader.

*No toes were harmed in the tying of this knot 🤣

7 hours ago, jermination2.0 said:

i think it's been pretty well proven over the last 2-3 years length of leader is overrated.

There may be several opinions regarding leader length,

but proving that it's overrated seems like a stretch.

On my boat, I routinely tie leaders in the 25-30 ft range,

and I get a few fish now & then.

Still don't use an FG knot though.

YMMV

A-Jay

On 1/15/2026 at 1:45 PM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Not sure how old you are, but I can't fish without my 4x cheaters.

I might look like Bubbles when I'm tying a knot, but I can't do it without them.

I'm 48, I use to have perfect vision but age has been really hard on my eyes. my prescription is not terrible but since I only need them to look things up-close, I hate to remove my sunglasses change to my readers just to tide a know.

Things could be worst, so swapping glasses is no be deal and I'm happy its just that..

On 1/17/2026 at 2:48 PM, Aaron_H said:

I can tie it (or at least, I could at the time). However, I stopped using it because my half-hitches would work themselves loose over time going in and out of the tip guide, even though they were properly done and crossed opposite of each other. The knot is just so long and that section of line is stiffened that the hitches took the brunt of flexing into the tip guide at anything other than a perfect angle. Knot glue would've likely solved the issue, but why bother when there are a dozen or more other excellent connection knots I don't have that issue with....

Went back to the double uni for simplicity and speed.

I had the same issues with the hitches working loose. I learned the Rizzuto finish and haven't had a problem since.

No issues with the hitches coming loose since I began using Knot Sense.

1 hour ago, VTFan said:

I had the same issues with the hitches working loose. I learned the Rizzuto finish and haven't had a problem since.

I use a mix of alternating half hitch and a 7 loop rizzuto. However you finish those knots have to be super tight. I pinch the knot and yank the tag end on every hitch, rizzuto I grab the tag with my teeth and pull that sucker TIGHT.