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Diagram

FG Knot

FG · Fine Grip

Joining a braid main line to a leader, such as fluorocarbon, with a slim, tapered join that runs through the rod guides.

Line-to-line · Advanced · Braid / Monofilament / Fluorocarbon · 4 steps

ApplicationsHow to tie it
FG Knot, finishedFG Knot, finished

Finished structure

Drawn from a rope model of this knot: which strand passes over which comes from where the rope actually lies.

  1. Pin the braid so it stays tight, and lay the leader across it near the braid's endA straight, tight braid runs across the picture; the thicker leader crosses under it at a shallow angle a short way from the braid's tag end.
    1Braid, held tight
    2Leader's end, laid across
    Move 1 of 1Pin the braid so it stays tight, and lay the leader across it near the braid's endYou should now see: A tight, straight braid with the leader crossing it close to the braid's tag end.

    Step 01

    Put steady tension on the braid by pinning the main line so it cannot move, then lay the end of the leader across the braid at a shallow angle.

    You should now see

    A tight, straight braid with the leader crossing it close to the braid's tag end.

    If it goes wrong

    Letting the braid go slack. Wraps laid on slack braid sit loose, and the knot slips the first time it is loaded.

    Fix: Pin the braid again so it stays tight, then start the wraps over.

    Why: The FG holds because tight braid bites into the leader, and that grip is set from the first wrap.

  2. Wrap the braid tag round the leader, alternating so each pass crosses over, then underThe braid folds round the leader where they crossed; its tag and its standing part spiral back along the leader in opposite directions, crossing each other alternately over and under.
    1Fold, where the lines crossed
    2Tag, wrapping back
    Move 1 of 2Wrap the braid tag round the leader, alternating so each pass crosses over, then under
    Keep alternating until the weave is 1.5 to 2 cm long, each wrap snug on the lastA criss-cross weave of braid grips the leader for about two centimetres, tag and standing braid crossing over and under each other. A real weave has 12 to 15 double wraps; fewer are drawn.
    1Weave, about 1.5 to 2 cm
    Move 2 of 2Keep alternating until the weave is 1.5 to 2 cm long, each wrap snug on the lastYou should now see: A tight woven section climbing the leader, each wrap snug against the last, with no leader showing between wraps.

    Step 02

    Wrap the braid tag around the leader, alternating over and under, until the woven section is about 1.5 to 2 cm long. Use more wraps on light line and fewer on heavy.

    You should now see

    A tight woven section climbing the leader, each wrap snug against the last, with no leader showing between wraps.

    If it goes wrong

    A skipped alternation or a loose wrap. The weave looks fine until the first hard pull, then slides.

    Fix: Unwind back to the last tight pair of wraps and weave on from there.

    Why: The length of the weave matters more than a wrap count, because the right count changes with line diameter.

  3. Pinch the weave, then tie six half hitches with the tag round both linesBeyond the weave, six half hitches of braid tag circle both the leader's tag and the standing braid, each one tucked under its own start.
    1Half hitches round both lines
    Move 1 of 1Pinch the weave, then tie six half hitches with the tag round both linesYou should now see: A row of half hitches locking the top of the weave, with the weave still tight underneath.

    Step 03

    Pinch where the lines meet so the weave cannot loosen, then tie 6 to 8 half hitches with the braid tag around both the leader and the braid.

    You should now see

    A row of half hitches locking the top of the weave, with the weave still tight underneath.

    If it goes wrong

    Letting go of the weave before the first hitches are on, so it spreads and loosens.

    Fix: Push the wraps back together by hand before adding hitches. If the weave has opened up, weave it again.

    Why: The hitches stop the weave from creeping. Without them the knot slips on the first hard pull.

  4. Pull the braid and the leader hard in opposite directionsPulled hard from both ends, the weave tightens and shortens along the leader and the half hitches bed down on it.
    Move 1 of 2Pull the braid and the leader hard in opposite directions
    Trim the leader tag close, tie three half hitches round the braid, and trim itThe finished FG knot: a tight weave on the leader, half hitches round both lines, the leader cut close, then three hitches round the braid alone.
    1Half hitches round the braid alone
    2Leader tag, cut close
    Move 2 of 2Trim the leader tag close, tie three half hitches round the braid, and trim itYou should now see: A slim, tapered join, the leader tag cut close, and a short row of hitches on the braid above the weave.

    Step 04

    Pull the braid and the leader hard in opposite directions. Trim the leader tag close, then tie 3 or 4 half hitches with the braid tag around the braid and trim it.

    You should now see

    A slim, tapered join, the leader tag cut close, and a short row of hitches on the braid above the weave.

    If it goes wrong

    Cutting tags before the hard pull, so a weave that would have slipped goes out on the water.

    Fix: Pull hard before you trim anything. If the weave moves, cut it off and tie the knot again.

    Why: The last hitches are braid around braid, which gives the join a smooth end to pass through the guides.

HTH · Reference layout

FG Knot — finished-state checks, on the shared reference layout

FG Knot — finished-state checks, on the shared reference layout
Hook the Horizon reference plate
Failure modes

When this family fails, it fails as these. The recovered end still outranks the name.

HTH · Advanced failure modes

FG Knot — what fails and what to do

FG Knot — what fails and what to do
Hook the Horizon reference plate
FG / Alberto family

Braid wrapped onto a heavier leader, then locked so the join cannot hinge.

  • !Hinge at the material transition — the join clicks, then parts
  • !Wraps not packed on the heavier line before the lock
  • !Lock or tag on the wrong side of the braid, so the column unzips
Fails when
  • !Braid slack while the wraps were laid
  • !A skipped alternation or loose wrap in the weave
  • !Weave not locked with half hitches
  • !No hard final pull to tighten the weave before fishing
Geometry

  • Crossed lower FG wraps

    Load concentrates and the weave slips off the leader

    FG is distributed braid compression, not a barrel you can bunch · step 02

  • Weave left loose — uncompressed leader will dump

    Catastrophic slip under load

    Incomplete seating leaves the leader uncompressed · step 04

  • Lock hitches missing or walking

    Unlock under cyclic casting load

    The finish hitches stop the weave from walking · step 03

  • Leader exits off-axis through the jacket

    Uneven compression; hinge risk

    Braid must jacket the leader on-axis · step 02

If you saw this

  • Braid slides off leader

    Check

    • ?Inspect for gaps in the weave
    • ?Pull-test before fishing

    Then

    • →Retie under firm leader tension
    • →Add wraps
    • →Practice on the dock, not in a fish fight

  • Cannot keep wraps neat

    Check

    • ?Try with heavier practice braid first

    Then

    • →Use Alberto or Double Uni until FG is reliable
    • →Build muscle memory with 20 practice reps

  • Braid coils look alternating-open or uneven before locks.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Braid coils look alternating-open or uneven before locks.

    Then

    • →Retie with even tension; count and maintain direction.

  • Weave slides on the leader before half-hitches engage.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Weave slides on the leader before half-hitches engage.

    Then

    • →Add wraps for material; seat weave firmly before locks.

  • Leader shows whitening, kink, or deep deformation under the weave.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Leader shows whitening, kink, or deep deformation under the weave.

    Then

    • →Match diameters; wet and draw progressively; retie if crushed.

  • After a day of casting, the junction hangs in guides.

    Check

    • ?Look for: After a day of casting, the junction hangs in guides.

    Then

    • →Trim tags, re-dress locks, or switch to a slimmer connection family.

  • Finished check failed — loose or alternating-open braid coils

    Check

    • ?braid weave is evenly tensioned around a straight leader
    • ?locking half-hitches are compact and do not walk
    • ?leader is not visibly crushed or kinked

    Then

    • →Retie. slip, guide impact, or leader damage under load.

  • Crossed lower FG wraps

    Check

    • ?Load concentrates and the weave slips off the leader
    • ?Inspect step 02

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

  • Weave left loose — uncompressed leader will dump

    Check

    • ?Catastrophic slip under load
    • ?Inspect step 04

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

  • Lock hitches missing or walking

    Check

    • ?Unlock under cyclic casting load
    • ?Inspect step 03

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.
Same family

Same failure class, different geometry. Open the plates — Diagnose still starts from the symptom.

This failed — start Diagnose

Why this knot

What it earns its place with, what it costs, and what to reach for instead.

Best for
Braid to leaderJoining linesHigh strength
Not ideal for
  • Beginners needing a fast re-tie in wind
  • Joining two similar mono lines (use Double Uni or Blood)
Common mistakes
  • Letting the braid go slack while weaving
  • Skipping an over-and-under alternation, or leaving a loose wrap
  • Letting go of the weave before the first half hitches are on
  • Trimming the tags before the hard pull
Alternatives
  • Alberto KnotIntermediate

    Joining braid to a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader, or two other lines of different diameter

  • Double Uni KnotBeginner

    Reliable way to join two lines of similar or moderately different diameters

  • Albright SpecialIntermediate

    Classic knot for joining lines of different diameters, including braid to mono and some fly-line style connections

  • Yucatan KnotIntermediate

    Joining a heavier mono leader to a lighter braid or mono main line that has first been doubled with a Bimini twist or spider hitch

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