Changing leaders on braid

[briansnat]

Over the past few years I've bought a few bait casting outfits loaded with 40 lb test Power Pro braid and I've been using a (Seagaur) 15 lb test, 6 ft floro leader. I generally change the leader out when it gets down below about 3 feet. That can take a number of trips.

Over the past few weeks I've lost several bass (and lures) when the leader snapped from the braid. I'm using an albright knot to connect them.

Am I not switching out the leaders often enough, or is there a better knot that I should be using, or what?

[SaltLife1980]

How many twists are you doing on your albright knot? Another knot that is good is the double clinch

[rwp2101]

I have had similar issues. I used to use a version of the Albright but I switched to the FG knot and haven't had any issues since. Although those line diameters seem fairly close to one another so a uni to uni might be better.

[fishingbuddies]

Hi....I use the Alberto knot. Hope I'm not jinxing myself...but have NOT lost a leader yet this yr since i started using it. It's relatively fast and easy to tie. Like seconds. See link... Alberto beat out the Albright. http://www.saltstrong.com/articles/albright-vs-alberto-vs-fg-knot/

[River Renegade]

Hi....I use the Alberto knot. Hope I'm not jinxing myself...but have NOT lost a leader yet this yr since i started using it. It's relatively fast and easy to tie. Like seconds. See link... Alberto beat out the Albright. http://www.saltstrong.com/articles/albright-vs-alberto-vs-fg-knot/
Agree on using the Alberto knot, it's a solid one and gets the job done! Give it a try for yourself.

[Bergen Angler]

I normally use 20 lb braided line for my baitcaster with a 6 ft of 14 lb Mono rather than Flouro ( fluoro is much more unruly than mono in my experience). I use double uni knot with three turns on both sides. Didn't lose any fish but it also breaks easy when I get snagged and it's easy to replace the leader with double uni knot for me.

[Capt. Lou]

Over the past few years I've bought a few bait casting outfits loaded with 40 lb test Power Pro braid and I've been using a (Seagaur) 15 lb test, 6 ft floro leader. I generally change the leader out when it gets down below about 3 feet. That can take a number of trips.

Over the past few weeks I've lost several bass (and lures) when the leader snapped from the braid. I'm using an albright knot to connect them.

Am I not switching out the leaders often enough, or is there a better knot that I should be using, or what?

Use a reverse Albright , minimum 10 turns or more in lighter to heavy LD connections . Sounds if the UR not correctly tying the knot. If u use this knot use enough leader material so when u slide down to tighten it locks with enough material remaining to really seat knot . Also ALWAYS double UR braid in tying the knot, I bimini mine short loop then splice in ld never fails , but whatever always double the braid when tying
I use this knot on all size species & cannot remember a break at the connection !
Big game I hit it with a shot of knot sense .

[ScowardNJ]

Alberto...10 Wraps down, 5 wraps up...Use it on everything from salt to fresh and never a problem. I did have an issue with a certain label of Seaguar flouro though. I always forget which color the label was but one of them would snap at the knot more often. I think I'm using Trik Fish or Triple Fish flouro now and haven't had any problems

[Jigman13]

The abuse the knot takes going through the rod guides is often underestimated. 6 ft is long. Try using a shorter leader so the knot enters and exits the guides less. Otherwise I'd change after every trip. It's still more cost effective than losing lures and fish.

The connection knot you are using really doesn't matter for Sweetwater. Uni to uni, albright, alberto... whatever knot you can tie best and have the most confidence in is what I'd recommend. Youll never have to apply 15 plus pounds of pressure on a largemouth so breaking strength of the knot matters little. Snags are a different story obviously.

[PCO]

Try a Ligature knot with 3 ft of softer flourocarbon.

[catfishonthelake]

Uni-to-uni's and Albrights will not hold up going through the guides repeatedly. As is they are strong knots, but will weaken from abuse. If I'm using them I make the leader short enough to not have to bring the knot through the guide.

If I want a longer leader, I use an FG knot. On my smallwater carp rods I use a 7-foot top shot of 20-lb fluoro attached to my 30-lb. braid main line. I've landed multiple fish on the same rods this year pushing 25 pounds and the knots still look flawless. Had a nice fish take me 75 yards upriver on Sunday with the knot repeatedly coming in and out the tip from the give and take and it was fine.

[rocknbass]

i use the alberto knot, 7 or 8 wraps in each direction...braid has to wrap around the fluoro or else there will be slippage.

i feel this works well for me . no issues.

[Chrisper4694]

Coat the knot in super glue, it will protect it better. Modified Albright /Alberto knot has always worked for me if the tag end is cut completely off. I've tried the fg knot...slips every time and I can't figure out why :mad:

[catfishonthelake]

Coat the knot in super glue, it will protect it better. Modified Albright /Alberto knot has always worked for me if the tag end is cut completely off. I've tried the fg knot...slips every time and I can't figure out why :mad:

FG knot needs a lot more wraps for smaller diamenter lines. For attaching 80-lb. braid to 100-lb. leader, you can get away with 20 wraps. For smaller diameter lines, you need a minimum of 30. For attaching the 30-lb. braid to 20-lb. mono I use almost 40 wraps and never an issue. It's very tough to beat the slim profile of this knot. It takes a little practice, but worth it. Look for the YouTube video that demonstrates holding the mainline in your teeth. Much much easier.

[Chrisper4694]

FG knot needs a lot more wraps for smaller diamenter lines. For attaching 80-lb. braid to 100-lb. leader, you can get away with 20 wraps. For smaller diameter lines, you need a minimum of 30. For attaching the 30-lb. braid to 20-lb. mono I use almost 40 wraps and never an issue. It's very tough to beat the slim profile of this knot. It takes a little practice, but worth it. Look for the YouTube video that demonstrates holding the mainline in your teeth. Much much easier.

yeah i did all that, maybe i wasn't doing enough wraps. It got frustrating and i never had a problem with the modified albright so i just stopped bothering with it.

[briansnat]

FG knot needs a lot more wraps for smaller diamenter lines. For attaching 80-lb. braid to 100-lb. leader, you can get away with 20 wraps. For smaller diameter lines, you need a minimum of 30. For attaching the 30-lb. braid to 20-lb. mono I use almost 40 wraps and never an issue. It's very tough to beat the slim profile of this knot. It takes a little practice, but worth it. Look for the YouTube video that demonstrates holding the mainline in your teeth. Much much easier.

I think I'll rule out the FB as 30-40 wraps are a bit much. The Alberto looks pretty easy to tie. I may give that a shot. Thanks for the advice everyone.

[briansnat]

How many twists are you doing on your albright knot? Another knot that is good is the double clinch

6 up and 6 back.

[briansnat]

Agree on using the Alberto knot, it's a solid one and gets the job done! Give it a try for yourself.


After watching that video, it seems I have been tying the Alberto knot all along. I found it online as an albright. Maybe 6 wraps isn't enough or perhaps my knot is a bit sloppy. No way it should be breaking off when setting the hook with the line I'm using.Thanks for the video.

[rwp2101]

FG knot needs a lot more wraps for smaller diamenter lines. For attaching 80-lb. braid to 100-lb. leader, you can get away with 20 wraps. For smaller diameter lines, you need a minimum of 30. For attaching the 30-lb. braid to 20-lb. mono I use almost 40 wraps and never an issue. It's very tough to beat the slim profile of this knot. It takes a little practice, but worth it. Look for the YouTube video that demonstrates holding the mainline in your teeth. Much much easier.

I do admit to having a bit of ocd when it comes to knots and always using at least thirty wraps with the fg knot, so maybe that's why I've never had any issues with it.

[njdevils908]

Uni to uni with a shorter leader. Probably around 3 to 4 feet. I've never had a problem.

[Esox Luciano]

Uni-to-uni's and Albrights will not hold up going through the guides repeatedly. As is they are strong knots, but will weaken from abuse. If I'm using them I make the leader short enough to not have to bring the knot through the guide.

Totally agree 100%! I've never tried the Fg but seems now I'm gonna have to.

This is completely unconventional and also a touch tricky to tie...but proven (in my uses fishing), to be stronger than a few knots stated that I've used already & have failed me. Only because these knots failed me I tried, so I tied a double clinch knot to another double clinch knot. Like I said, very tricky to tie, but get it lubed & tight and it's very strong. very strong.

[Chrisper4694]

Modified Albright is 6 up and 5 back down in each space left by the first 6 and then through the loop the same way it went in. You can use 7 and 6 if you want for lighter line as long as it's a good spiral and snugged slow. Coat it with super glue for added protection through the guides, test it every trip it's only slightly weaker than most terminal knots.

[Rickhem]

My freshwater braid set-ups are with 15 pound power-pro and 20 pound Samauri line. I either use 8 pound flouro or 10 to 12 pound mono leaders. Always tied on with a uni to uni knot, and a minimum of 7 wraps on each side. As was mentioned by others before, my leaders are usually 4 feet or less and get changed once they are clipped down to less than 18", so maybe mine aren't on as long as others. They don't go through the guides either (well, maybe the top one on occasion). Never had a breakoff at the line/leader connection.

As an aside, flouro is very heat sensitive and snugging down knots should be done slowly, and with wet line. I use saliva. We used to play with different lines and different knots at the store where I worked, and it's a real difference.