Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Fishing => Fishing Line, Knots, Splices and Rigging => Topic started by: Danhans on June 29, 2012, 07:09:22 PM

Title: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Danhans on June 29, 2012, 07:09:22 PM
FG is my favorite knot to connect a mono leader/topshot to braided main line..
i prefer FG because it runs smoother through rod guides compare to albright..
i would like to share on how i do my FG knot..

first step is to tie the end of the main line to the first guide..
(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/399389_3933326727685_210987594_n.jpg)

(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/555153_3933327167696_304918963_n.jpg)

here's how it should look like..don't set the drag to tight..just enough to tighten the line..
(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/319341_3933327647708_6748460_n.jpg)

place a mono leader at the mid point between reel and guide..take about 3-4 inch from the end of the mono..
(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/483994_3933327887714_440981276_n.jpg)

now twist the mono around the braided line to the right..
(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/396610_3933328207722_338273035_n.jpg)

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/392802_3933328407727_1257318059_n.jpg)

twist to the left side then pull..
(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/314791_3933328567731_1870030134_n.jpg)

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/293765_3933328647733_1602070578_n.jpg)

repeat the two steps above until it is about 1 inch long..
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/487887_3933328847738_70714560_n.jpg)

now release the knot at the rod guide
(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/255293_3933329127745_1663389521_n.jpg)

here's how it looks like..
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/529441_3933329527755_1489046363_n.jpg)

make a half hitch knot
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/255228_3933330127770_46652335_n.jpg)

another half hitch knot...same as above but instead of going from bottom, it goes through the top..
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/548602_3933330287774_1808205120_n.jpg)

this is how it looks..
(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/562851_3933331087794_1371569256_n.jpg)

repeat the process 3 or 4 times..
(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/529223_3933331327800_398317749_n.jpg)

cut the extra mono..
(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/577320_3933331447803_900784371_n.jpg)

repeat the knots another 3-4 times..then do the finishing knot
(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250965_3933331807812_1705588020_n.jpg)

there you go..usually i put a little bit of super glue at the knot's end to secure it..
(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/561160_3933332407827_887711434_n.jpg)

if you have any question please ask here..i will try my best to answer..
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: redsetta on June 29, 2012, 10:22:40 PM
Nice work Dan - will give that a try today.
Cheers, Justin
PS It's a 'half hitch'.
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Bryan Young on June 29, 2012, 10:42:24 PM
Thanks Dan.  I really gotta give this one a try.
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Danhans on June 30, 2012, 04:44:44 AM
yesss..it's half hitch..thanks Justin!!
it takes a little practice to make a nice FG..take your time and do it very slowly..  ;D
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Irish Jigger on June 30, 2012, 10:24:56 AM
Thank's Dan. It's a lot quicker than the method depicted in this video.

http://www.resourcefinder4u.com/japan_knots/japan-fg-knot.php
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Danhans on June 30, 2012, 10:45:48 AM
the method i'm showing here doesn't require you to pull hard after wrapping the mono with braided..
because i'm taking advantage of the reel drag to keep the braided line tight every time you wrap..
dan
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: wallacewt on July 01, 2012, 02:26:25 AM
good one dan,lotsa folk will use your method
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: LTM on July 01, 2012, 04:18:23 AM
Dan,

What does FG stand for?

Leo
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Dave Bentley on July 01, 2012, 10:40:50 AM
Quote from: LTM on July 01, 2012, 04:18:23 AM
Dan,

What does FG stand for?

Leo

LOL Keeping the 12 year rule in mind it means fery good knot. Especially tied like this. Very innovative.
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Dr. Jekyll - AKA MeL B on July 01, 2012, 01:16:35 PM
thanks Dan! when i used the FG or Sebile and PR knots i put tension on the mono or fluoro and then do the wraps with the braided line. this way it stretches the top shot thus the diameter is less and when you you're done and release the tension it's actually tighter....tight lines!
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Danhans on July 01, 2012, 04:20:33 PM
Quote from: Mel B on July 01, 2012, 01:16:35 PM
thanks Dan! when i used the FG or Sebile and PR knots i put tension on the mono or fluoro and then do the wraps with the braided line. this way it stretches the top shot thus the diameter is less and when you you're done and release the tension it's actually tighter....tight lines!

that's a good idea too Mel...how do you put tension to the mono/fluoro line?? is there any special tool required??
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Dr. Jekyll - AKA MeL B on July 01, 2012, 10:07:05 PM
EZ knotter;

http://www.saltywatertackle.com/product.php?id_product=506

video;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ0mnVL2ayg

the no. of wraps i make depends on the size of the lines; thinner more wraps(30-40), thicker less wraps(20-30)

Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Bill B on July 17, 2012, 03:29:12 AM
Beautiful knots.... I'm just now starting to take knot tying as a hobby...didn;t know but there is a Knot Tying Association..will add this to my library.
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: CaptKev on October 15, 2012, 11:13:06 AM
FG = finger glove
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: aus bass on October 17, 2012, 01:43:47 AM
Great Illustration. Thanks, i'll be changing the way i tie the Mid-Knot to this method from now on i think.
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: saltydog on October 17, 2012, 12:25:47 PM
Thanks for the tutorial,very informative.
William
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: maxpowers on September 13, 2013, 02:14:14 AM
Great knot..Just learned to tie it last night and tested it on 65 lbs tufline and 50 lbs flouro.  Knot is holding well under a lot of drag.  I'll have to see how it will do once it is wet..
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: TravHale on October 21, 2013, 04:47:03 PM
I've been using this knot for the past 3-4 years. It's a great knot once you get used to tying it. I'm not sure i'd go through the trouble of buying those tools to tie the knot though. It's not that difficult...
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: Bunnlevel Sharker on October 21, 2013, 07:42:11 PM
I will give anyone who fishes with me 3 beers a pop to tie this for me. This scares me more than a bimini twist! Nice tutorial by the way
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: TravHale on October 22, 2013, 09:27:47 PM
Quote from: Bunnlevel Sharker on October 21, 2013, 07:42:11 PM
I will give anyone who fishes with me 3 beers a pop to tie this for me. This scares me more than a bimini twist! Nice tutorial by the way

Practice makes perfect. Grab some cheap mono and braid and start tying.
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: JGB on October 24, 2013, 06:43:56 AM
Grayson,

Check out the you tube on the 'Sebiel' knot. It is basically a relabeled 'FG'  and is not that difficult to tie with 30# to 80# leader (the FG tutorial is horrendously complicated and confusing compared to the slightly different Sebiel).
Start off with 50 wraps for thinner lines and 40 wraps or less for thicker lines. What is important is that the knot draws up and turns clear with pulling 30 to 50% of the leader test to tighten it. This knot works well with stiffer leader material and Flouro and tends to 'cut' off soft mono lines at 50% of line test. Test you knots to  failure with a scale and eye protection and if done properly you can expect nearly 90% to 110% of the labeled line test. I do not like to use Power Pro but prefer Ultracast, Super slick, hollow Ace which are all 8 or 16 carrier braids.

As said in previous post - practice a lot ( 50 connections will improve consistency to a reliable level).

Jim N.
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: erikpowell on October 24, 2013, 09:35:04 AM

Hey all, are these photos still here?  ??? I'm not getting them.
Meanwhile, I'll check out Jim's suggestion... ;)
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: maxpowers on October 24, 2013, 06:09:35 PM
Erik,

Check out the link to the sportsman's magazine knot test.  There is a video of the improved FG that broke at +120% above the line stated strength.  It looked really simple to do.

Mike
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: floating doc on October 25, 2013, 02:50:03 AM
I didn't get the photos or a link to a magazine knot test.   ???

I have been tying albright and bimini knots for decades, but apparently I need to learn a new knot for braid. I've seen a lot of differing opinions on bimini twists with braid as well.

Some tie as many as forty turns, but one of the articles in Sportfishing magazine was written by a someone that tested his knots on the IGFA's line tester and he found that twelve turn biminis were strongest.
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: maxpowers on October 25, 2013, 04:23:24 AM
doc,

Get on you tube and search for sportfishing magazine improved FG.  There are several other variations too.  All fairly easy to do especially if you are doing it at home.
Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: erikpowell on October 25, 2013, 06:02:29 AM
Thanks Mike, I'll check that out.

in the meantime I found this video... the GT knot... simple and easy, I want to try using this one this weekend if the weather breaks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjcFEKJEhHw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjcFEKJEhHw)

For my heavy popping i use 100lb braid bimini,  loop to looped with a weave, to an 80-100lb mono twisted double leader.
....(I'll usually twist up 4-6 leaders at a time and keep them coiled up in a ziplock in my bag)
So these FG's and seibels and gt knots don't seem like they're loop to loop friendly,so i wouldn't change my normal proven way..

However,

For my lighter 15-65lb popping and jigging (the daily duty) I just double my braid (no knot) and use a uni to uni knot to my leader (usually fluoro)... and sure it bangs it's way thru the guides a bit... ;D... but it almost never fails.

BUT this is the knot I reckon could benefit from a change, and most certainly help casting distance..it has to be quick & easy though...
so I want to give that aussie guys GT knot a go.

Cheers


Title: Re: FG knot tutorial
Post by: jonnou on July 08, 2014, 11:26:30 AM
there is alot of variations on all of these Knots I found a version of the GT which I think is easier and the mono has no Knot so would be lower profile. I have posted link In other threads (leader to braid conection)
I find even the uni to uni can be challenging at sea so usually have a spare reel and spool with leader tied
for soft plastics

Floating Doc I have heard the same about the bimini