How to Tie the FG Knot: Braid-to-Leader, Step by Step
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The FG knot joins braid to a fluoro or mono leader. You make 16 to 20 alternating wraps of braid, then a row of half hitches. It takes 7 steps and keeps the braid under tension the whole time. If you can't hold tension, tie a double uni instead.
The payoff is a slim joint. Only braid wraps sit on the leader, so the knot is barely thicker than the leader itself. That's why it passes through rod guides more smoothly than bulkier line-to-line knots.
Spec card
FG knot
- Connects
- braid main line to fluoro or mono leader
- Line types
- braid wraps around the leader; leader can be fluoro or mono
- Wraps
- 16 to 20 alternating crossesSalt Strong counts 16 to 20; Animated Knots counts 12 to 15 pairs; see the table
- Finish
- 2 to 3 half hitches on both lines, then 3 to 6 on the braid
- Tension
- braid held tight for steps 1 to 5
- Don't use for
- mono to mono; braid to hook; tying without a way to hold tension
The 7 steps
Lock the braid under tension. Run it through the rod guides and lock the reel, or pin it to a fixed point. Keep 12 in. or more of free braid to work with.
Step 1. Lock the braid under tension. Tap to enlarge. Lay the leader across the braid. The leader tag points away from you. About 6 in. of leader should cross past the braid.
Step 2. Lay the leader across the braid. Tap to enlarge. Wrap the braid around the leader, alternating sides. One wrap goes over, the next goes under. Count each cross and stop at 16 to 20.
Step 3. Wrap the braid around the leader, alternating sides. Tap to enlarge. Pinch the wraps and tie a half hitch around both lines. This holds the wraps while you tighten. Don't let go of the wraps yet.
Step 4. Pinch the wraps and tie a half hitch around both lines. Tap to enlarge. Wet the wraps and pull tight. Pull the leader standing line against the braid standing line. The wraps turn darker and grip the leader.
Step 5. Wet the wraps and pull tight. Tap to enlarge. Add 2 to 3 more half hitches around both lines. Then trim the leader tag close.
Step 6. Add 2 to 3 more half hitches around both lines. Tap to enlarge. Finish with 3 to 6 half hitches around the braid alone. Trim the braid tag.
Step 7. Finish with 3 to 6 half hitches around the braid alone. Tap to enlarge.
Step 3 is the whole knot. If 2 wraps cross over each other, the joint can slip under load, and you won't see it until a hookset pulls the wraps off the end of the leader. Keep each wrap tight against the last one. Think coils on a spring.
Step 5 matters as much. A loose FG looks fine on the table. Pull hard enough that the braid bites into the leader, and wet it first so the wraps slide into place.
Wrap counts by leader
Our assumptions
- A wrap: 1 cross of braid over or under the leader. Some guides count pairs, so "10 pairs" means 20 here.
- Range: what published instructions give. It's not a measured count.
- Lines: braid main line, fluoro or mono leader.
| Leader | Wraps (single crosses) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 8 to 12 lb | 16 to 20 | thin leader, wraps sit close |
| 15 to 20 lb | 16 to 20 | the usual bass setup |
| 25 to 40 lb | 16 to 20 | same count; if wraps fail to seat, try fewer, not more |
More wraps make a longer joint, not a magic one. If 20 wraps slip, check for crossed wraps or weak tension before adding more. If you tie the FG often, a bobbin knotter keeps that tension even.
Count out loud. It sounds silly. It works.
Leader length and the guides
Leader length decides how often the FG goes through the guides. That's where a slim joint pays off.
- Leader shorter than the rod: the joint stays outside the tip on a normal cast. A 4 ft leader on a 7 ft rod is one example.
- Leader longer than the rod: the joint winds onto the spool. It passes every guide on every cast and every retrieve.
- Leader about the same as the rod: the joint sits near the tip guide when you cast. That's the spot where a bulky knot ticks the guide.
If your leader runs 6 to 10 ft, you're in the second case. That's the classic reason to learn the FG. With a 2 ft leader, a double uni stays outside the guides and the bulk matters less.
Retying also eats leader. Each new hook knot costs about 6.5 in. with a Palomar on a small hook, per our Palomar calculator. A 4 ft leader gives you 4 or 5 reties before it's worth tying a fresh FG.
Which leader fits which braid?
The FG grips well when the leader is thicker than the braid. Here are common pairings, with diameters from the maker charts.
Our assumptions
- Braid diameters: PowerPro Spectra chart on Tackle Warehouse.
- Leader diameters: Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon chart on Tackle Warehouse.
- Ratio: leader diameter ÷ braid diameter, rounded to 0.1.
| Braid | Braid diameter | Fluoro leader | Leader diameter | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 lb | .007 in. | 10 lb | .010 in. | 1.4 |
| 20 lb | .009 in. | 12 lb | .011 in. | 1.2 |
| 20 lb | .009 in. | 15 lb | .013 in. | 1.4 |
| 30 lb | .011 in. | 15 lb | .013 in. | 1.2 |
| 30 lb | .011 in. | 20 lb | .016 in. | 1.5 |
| 40 lb | .013 in. | 20 lb | .016 in. | 1.2 |
| 50 lb | .014 in. | 25 lb | .017 in. | 1.2 |
Every pairing here has a leader at least 1.2 times as thick as the braid. For finesse, 15 to 20 lb braid takes a 6 to 10 lb fluoro leader; the 15 lb braid to 10 lb fluoro pair is 1.4 times. Other brands differ. Check your own spools against the maker's chart, not the box front.
Note the lb numbers. 20 lb braid at .009 in. is thinner than 12 lb fluoro at .011 in. The label test tells you little about fit. Diameter does.
To match those numbers, you need the leader spool in hand. A coil of 20 lb fluorocarbon leader fits the 30 and 40 lb braid rows above. Check its diameter on the maker's chart before you tie.
Braid, fluoro and mono leaders: what changes
| Pairing | FG works? | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Braid to fluorocarbon | yes, the standard use | stiff fluoro: wet well, pull hard in step 5 |
| Braid to mono | yes | mono stretches, so the wraps can bed in deeper |
| Mono to mono | no | mono won't grip like braid; use a double uni or blood knot |
| Braid to braid | no | slick on slick; use a double uni with extra turns |
Why FG knots fail
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Joint slides off the leader | wraps crossed in step 3 | retie, keep wraps side by side |
| Wraps look loose after step 5 | not enough tension | lock the reel or pin the braid |
| Leader curls at the joint | tightened dry | wet the wraps first |
| Hitches unravel | leader tag cut too early | trim only after step 6 |
Checking the knot before you cast
Give the finished FG 3 checks. They take about 20 seconds.
- Look at the wraps. They should sit side by side with no gaps and no crossings. A crossed wrap shows as a bump.
- Pull hard by hand. Wrap each line around a glove or a spool and pull steady. The joint should not creep along the leader.
- Run it through your fingers. The hitches should feel smooth. A stray tag end snags the guides.
If the joint creeps in check 2, cut it off and retie. Don't try to add wraps to a knot that already slipped.
When to skip the FG
- No way to hold tension. On a rocking boat or a windy bank, a double uni is easier to tie right.
- Mono to mono. The FG needs braid as the wrapping line.
- You need it in 30 seconds. The FG takes practice. Learn it at home first.
- Very thin leader on very thick braid. If the leader is thinner than the braid, the wraps have little to grip.
Variants
Some anglers add extra half hitches or a different finish. They call it an "improved FG." That's a variant, not the standard knot. Searches for "FC knot" often land on FG steps too. If the FC knot turns out to be a separate tie, it will get its own card.
Common Questions
Can you tie an FG knot without a tool?
Yes. A tool or bobbin only holds tension. You can do the same by locking the reel and keeping the rod tip pinned under your arm.
The point is steady tension through step 5. If the braid goes slack while you wrap, the wraps loosen. A knot tying tool helps most when you tie on a moving boat.
How long should the leader tag be?
Leave about 6 in. of leader past the braid in step 2. That's enough to hold while you wrap 16 to 20 times.
After the hitches in step 6, trim the leader tag close. A long leader tag catches in the guides and can pull the hitches loose.
Is the FG better than a double uni?
It depends on the job. The FG is slimmer at the joint, which helps when the knot goes through the guides on every cast.
The double uni is faster and easier to tie without tension. Neither page here makes strength claims. Pick the one you can tie correctly every time.
Gear for this page
Seaguar Fluorocarbon Leader 20lb Test 25 Meter CoilA 20 lb leader coil for the FG knot.
Shimano TH-202N Bobbin Knotter Knot Machine Heavy P.E 1.5 - 8 Black 413352Keeps wrap tension even when you tie the FG knot often.
Sufix 832 Braid 20 lb Low-Vis Green 300 yards (660-120G)20 lb braid main line for an FG knot leader connection.
Rapala RSD-1 Line ScissorsCuts braid tags clean after the FG knot.
Next knots
- Fishing knots by connectionevery connection in one table
- Double uni knotthe faster braid-to-leader option
- Uni knotthe single knot the double uni is built from
- Palomar knotleader to hook
- Knot tying toolsFG bobbins and tension tools
- Fishing line for bassmono, fluoro, braid and copolymer by technique
Sources: published FG knot instructions for steps and wrap ranges. PowerPro Spectra and Seaguar InvizX diameter charts on Tackle Warehouse product pages. Ratios from our calculator on the methodology page..
Wrap counts: Salt Strong (16 to 20) and Animated Knots FG Knot (12 to 15 pairs).