Just curious, you guys that use the FG knot, let's say you are using 40 lb braid, what's the smallest fluro line leader you'd consider using? The reason I'm asking is, I was watching Bill Dance the other day and he was was fishing a Texas rig on a baitcasting outfit using 30 lb braid with a 30 lb leader. So...one of my bc's that I don't use that often is spooled with 40 lb braid so I decided to tie on a 17 lb leader using the FG knot and give Bill's method a whirl. I Do know how to tie the FG, use it on my spinning stuff all the time and never had an issue. I actually tied this one twice because I wasn't satisfied with the wraps on the first one. Did everything right, number of wraps, kept tension, two half hitches to lock it down, pulled hard....really hard to cinch it down. No slippage. None. Went to the pond and after a number of cast I hung a fish only to have the fluro slip right through the braid. The one thing I did forget to do when tying the knot was lube the wraps before cinching. So my question after saying all that is, #1... Is 17 lb fluro too small to use for leader with 40 lb braid, and #2...and I guess this may be a no brainer...did me forgetting to lube the wraps have a something to do with the knot slipping? Sorry for this being so long and thanks in advance.

No, 17lb fluoro isn't too small for 40lb braid. How many wraps? Did you use your hands to tighten them? What brand of braid?

For me 40lb Suffix 832 braid with a 17lb fluoro leader would be 20 wraps, 4 half hitches, Rizzuto finish, then pulled with these:

https://a.co/d/0dU3LfWt

I routinely use 12-14 lb fluoro with 40 or 50lb braid and the FG knot, also 8-10lb with 20lb braid on spinning. I’m jinxing myself but never had it fail after cinching and testing. Have had it fail while testing bc I didn’t get it right.

Definitely getting a set of those knot pullers. I had seen them before I think but forgot about them.

In theory, I would feel comfortable pair 40# with as low as 10# fluoro, but I can’t imagine where there would be an application. 17# would be no problem.

35 to 40 wraps, 2 half hitches with Rizzuto finish. I have 2 dowel rods wrapped with duct tape to wrap the line around to pull. 15 lb Strike King Contra fluro and 40 lb PowerPro braid.

That is too many wraps. It would be difficult to get all of the braid to constrict into the leader. Any unconstricted braid is basically slack in the knot. 18 or 20 wraps is the right amount.