Tying good knots is a must-have ability for any angler.
The braid to fluorocarbon line is one of the most important connections.
Here are the best knots you can use:
Alberto knot
This knot is one of the most popular option for connecting braid line to a fluorocarbon leader. Its greatest advantage is that you can use it with pretty much all line diameters. The beginning and end of this knot is very similar to the Albright knot. You can learn how to tie it here.
Pros:
- Works with all diameters
- Very strong
- Compact
Cons:
- Slower to tie than other knots
Double Uni knot
The Double Uni is basically like tying the uni knot with the line doubled, twice at 2 ends. It is used by both salt and freshwater anglers. See how to tie the Double Uni Knot.
Pros:
- Strong
- Easy to tie the right way
- Easy to remember
- Rating of 85%-90% strength
Cons:
- A little slippery
FG knot
The FG Knot was originally designed by GT fishermen and is a must-know for anglers who use braided line. It is absolutely reliable and can be used with mono, braid and fluorocarbon. See how to tie the FG knot here.
Pros:
Very reliable if tied correctly
Cons:
Works best with light braid
Not very easy to tie correctly
PR Bobbin Knot
This is the only fishing knot guaranteed to hold up 100 percent of the time, provided that you tie it properly. Many anglers agree that this is the ultimate knot to connect leader; however, the downside is that it takes practice to master it and a long time to tie it. Learn the PR Bobbin Know process here.
Pros:
- Extremely strong and reliable
Cons:
- It requires tools
- Takes a long time to tie
Improved Albright Knot
This is the stronger version of the Albright knot and can be used to tie two lines of varying diameters. The difference is that in the improved version you’ll continue to make wraps with the leader around the loop formed by the main line and the leader itself. See how to tie the Improved Albright knot here.
- Pro: Nice low profile knot with a strong breaking point
- Con: Weaker than the FG knot and the PR Bobbin Knot
Do you need leader with braided line? How much leader should I use on braid?
Braid has many benefits but tying it directly to your lure might not be the best option because of its visibility. In most situations, you may find it easier to use a leader. Many anglers use fluorocarbon as a leader, since it’s a lot harder to see in the water.
The only times you may find it better to use straight braid is in dirty waters, where visibility is crucial. Some professional bass fishermen tie the braid to the worms or jigs, but this doesn’t mean you should too. The reason behind that is that they use a heavy braid (65 lb) and fish around soft vegetation.
A fluoro leader is a good choice: it’s denser and it sinks (unlike braid), so it’s easier for your lure or bait to go down in the water.
Regarding how much leader should you use, there is no right or wrong length, but this value often falls between 1 to 3 ft, depending on the type of fishing you’re doing. Use a shorter leader with artificial lures, while for live bait fishing you can increase the length.
How do you tie braided line to a leader?
Tying a braid line to a leader doesn’t need to be complicated. There are three steps you should follow: tie the two lines together, determine the leader length and then tie the lure or hook to the leader. You’ll need the main line, the leader line, the lure/hook, pliers (or scissors, or a knife).
The first step is connecting the main line to the leader line through a knot. This is crucial as you don’t want a weak link to affect your casting performance. Choose the knot carefully, as some work better than others.
The second step is to determine the leader length. As discussed above, you need to choose it according to the fishing environment. Finally, you need to connect your lure or hook to your leader. You can use a loop knot that doesn’t constrain the lure or hook, allowing it to have as much action as possible.
Can you tie lures straight to braid?
If you chose not to use a leader, you can tie lures directly to braid. That makes sense in dirty waters and many anglers do that. Just make sure to tie the right knot. The Berkley braid knot is a good choice to use when tying braid to hooks or lures: it has a good strength and stops braided lines from slipping out of the knot.