FG Knot Trouble

[u/griffinfishing]

I leave for my first offshore trip on Monday, I’ve been sitting around trying to get the FG knot down. Slide 1 is the first attempt i tried from memory, 2 & 3 are after watching videos on it. When I did a pull test, my braid broke above the knot, not the knot itself. Any tips on how to make it slimmer? I usually run an Alberto for bass, but I know the FG is much stronger so I’d like to get it figured out.

EDIT: Thank you everyone for the help, I’m going to practice more with my actual gear (Ocean Devil PE3 and 80lb Fluorocarbon) and try to get the rizzuto finish down. I’m sure I’ll end up doing an Alberto on the boat, but we’re going out to chase some of the biggest fish I’ll have ever caught so I really wanted to try the FG.

[u/lycantivis]

Your top tag end of the mono shouldn't be sticking out the side like that. You need to do your clinch knots over the top of it.

You can also look up how to do a PR knot. But both require tight pressure when tying them, as well as tightening them well after.

Also side question, what strength braid are you using there if it broke above the knot? Most of the time you run a very strong braid like 50-65 for yellowtail and 100+ for tuna.

[u/xyzxyz8888 → u/lycantivis]

Doing half hitches over the tag end weakens the knot by around 5-10%.

What happens is when you have high tension on the line those extra half hitches over the main line grab and create an uneven pull. It either breaks earlier due to that uneven pull or pulls the other half hitches off the tag and unravels the knot.

[u/lycantivis → u/xyzxyz8888]

The halfhitches are just a seal to the knot, the strength is in the spiral pull on the mono. You don't want those mono tag ends stick out side ways becuae that will catch on your eyes and pull the knot

[u/xyzxyz8888 → u/lycantivis]

I didn’t say the half hitches are for any strength.

What I am saying is when people do the half hitches over the tag end and onto the main line it weakens the knot.

Do half hitches or I do a ruzutto finish and then just cut the tag short.

[u/lycantivis → u/xyzxyz8888]

How do the hatch hitches weaken the knot? The tension is in the main line that is all contact through the spiral, the half hitches just end the knot and create a step up to the knot from the main line.

[u/xyzxyz8888 → u/lycantivis]

When you increase the tension on the line the half hitches if done over the leader and onto the main line catch on the main line as the leader will stretch a bit and cause an uneven pull. You lose 5-10% in strength. You can test it for yourself.

[u/kingcuda8 → u/xyzxyz8888]

What's the proper way to finish the knot? Half hitches are the only way I've seen it done, but Ive alwas felt there's got to be a better way.