I have solely used the FG knot now for about 5 years & swear by it! If I ever get a break it is the braid failing before knot so you know the knot is 100% the best thing ever. I use a Daiichi 2.0 knot assist for tying mine which for me is way better that any manual method I had used previously. It is said by a few that the PR is a stronger knot, maybe Paul @ifishtv needs to try that one next?? But still Im not changing, if the knot is stronger than the line in a FG then no need to try anything else imo 😉
Same here, even for my freshwater ultralight setup I did FG braid to mono. If only for the practice, gonna keep doing it for everything. Reason why I learned the quick-tie method as well and MAN does it save me some time.
The other thing to consider is how knots survive after 100 casts. The fg has excellent survivability if finished properly. I quite often have mine lasting 2 or 3 sessions before the leader is too short from swapping lures all the time. Another thing is it doesn’t get caught up on runners and casts smoothly.
If you finish the FG with a risotto finish it will last even longer, because the tag is along the length, not at the end. It will not fray and is a lot neater that a series of granny knots.
Or you could just tie a modified Albright special without any special finish, save a bit of time, make thousands of casts going through multiple guides and never have any problems.
@@philippiansfourfour1081 I never accept second best when it comes to knots. The FG is the strongest and smoothest. I can tie it with Rizzoto finish in the rain on a windy boat in under 2 minutes, just using my hands, no feet or relying on a tight line from the rod tip. It takes quite a lot of practice but it's an essential skill if you're a professional fishing guide and you want to be taken seriously.
@@neilrobinson7615 @@neilrobinson7615 and I can tie a modified Albright special on a pitch black night with no tourist head lamp, sweaty hands while being eaten alive by mosquitoes in less than 15 seconds. If it is strong enough to stop a just hooked up fully green 6’ tarpon from diving under the bridge on me and nearly snapping my rod over the bridge railing in the process, I gladly settle for that. The majority of all fishing records have been landed on the basic traditional knots. I don’t judge whether to take people seriously or not by what knot they prefer I judge by what they’re landing on a consistent basis. Every googan at my favorite beaches and bridges to fish ties an FG knot I rarely to never see them land anything of note. The best fisherman I know uses a blood knot to splice lines lol.
Really great abrasion resistance and though I've never put the Big Game line ruclips.net/user/postUgkxQ4x31pJVpClzhxzNFeILZYTW7Xbs7ZIF (any poundage) through an official test it always seems to break well above rated poundage. This line stretches a very good amount before it breaks and does well in saltwater too. Not the best line for a spinning reel in my opinion, especially if you're planning on using it for lures only due to it having a bit of memory but still a great line whether filling a spool, using as top shot or strictly for leader line. I've bought a bunch of Big game line in the past and plan on continuing to do so in the future.
A great test and lots of fun! I did a load of knot tests for Sea Angler magazine using a Berkley line tester, this was some years ago and to my knowledge the FG had not been invented at that time. I tied 5 versions of each knot and averaged the breaking strain, the back to back uni was not that great but could be improved by 50 % using a Bimini to form a double in the braid to attach to the mono. I still use this today fishing out of Mooloolaba and can't remember having it fail. One observation from the tests was as soon as any movement could be detected in the knot it would fail almost immediately, so by wetting and snugging knots up really well they will out perform loose knots.
@@Archenhaust learn the bimini, then use the bimini double as if its a single strand. This has been done for years to improve knot strength here in Australia 👍
I ordered this to net the algae in a large pond in our backyard. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxphFK7ETiDP5G4IGsNcg7vbASDp_YfDpI The net is very sturdy and easy to maneuver in the water. The angled edges make it easier to get into the smaller spaces among the rocks. I didn't realize that the front of the net doesn't actually have a frame to it, just the sides do, but it seems to work just fine. The handle extends to various sizes, which is a great feature when I'm in areas that are tight with shrubs at the edges of the pond. I can collapse the handle so it doesn't get stuck in the bushes.
any extra size will cause drag & scoping, or it will catch seaweed and such. If you have time, the FG is great. Especially for surfcasting. On the fly, I trust the uni to uni. You can keep one had on the knot even you're getting tossed around.
For a knot to add 5 kg of resistance to the lines breaking point is incredible. Theres so many applications for big game fish that this would be ideal for. Looks like i got some knot tying to practice thanks for the amazing content!
thanks for doing that, that was fun! I gave up on the albright knot cuz i was losing to many lures, went to the FG knot and no looking back. more reliable once you get the hang of tying it
That double uni looked awful. I'm not really surprised it failed so early at barely 50% strength. I've seen other tests with the same knot hitting 90% or more which would have given 18kg holding force in your test. You've really got me pondering and I'm going to try testing my own knots now! Your setup is nice and easy to do the test anywhere.
@steve carkner I just commented the same thing. Hauser Wirth you need to Union I've ever seen it look like there was One Union not and then the other knot was like some overhand knot
Come on mate really? 90% from a uni to uni join knot. "Tell him his dreaming" uni to terminal is extremely effective but for line joining you won't get much more than 60% with double uni. The only three common join knots that pull numbers around that 90% are the PR, GT and FG knots respectively
That’s kind of how double uni looks with that size mono. They do look pretty goofy with that size mono vs normal size braid. I find that the double uni is best when using smaller mono, but it’s definitely not great compared to some of the other knots in the vid based on every test I’ve seen + personal experience
For the past 50 years the uni has served me well for both fresh and saltwater. For the braid to mono, I use a small barrel swivel. Tie the braid to one side and the mono to the other. This way I don’t have the braid cutting into the mono, weakening it. The small swivel goes through the guides easily and doesn’t get hung up.
I fish in Thailand the the Thai guys I go with all use the PR Bobbin knot, it lasts them all day, several trips, no problems. No hang ups on the guides, was on the boat when a guy pulled in an 80kg sailfish using 60lb leader and 50lb braid using a 60g vertical jig in 30meters of water, gulf of Thailand. Fish threw the hook in the first 30 seconds of the fight when jumping but the leader wrapped around its bill as it flipped in the air and the guy was still able to land it, maybe it forced the mouth closed and tired out the fish faster? It was amazing
It really is easy to tie and takes about a minute once you know it. People always say "FG is too difficult" - that's because they haven't taken time to learn and perfect it. Nothing worth doing is easy.
would be nice to know what a single strand of that braid broke at. Often manufacturers claim actual breaking strain much higher than rating of line. If this is 45lb braid it broke at almost half in most tests in knot form which is not flash really.
As far as I'm aware when fishing line says 45ib that means 45lb of tugging or pulling force not weight, like kinetic energy, a big fish jerking and shaking its head around is what breaks the line not the weight of the fish itself, whenever you have to bust off a snag it always breaks at a knot ( the weakest point in the rig ) , having the braid wrapped around around that hook is a poor control method I think because it's being stressed a tearing on itself if that makes sense Have a look at a rigging booklet and it shows how different rigging methods for cranes effect how much the sling can safely hold, I'd say the same goes for fishing line, Me and my mate have hook unstoppable fish on 20lb line in 20 metres of water it only broke when the fish reefed us or had a poorly tied knot
i think the only thing you can gather from this is which knot will be the strongest and not how much weight the knot will withhold before it snaps because you're right its all up to the lines strength too.
Since I use both mono and braid as my mainline, so I choose Double Uni knot. My experience of jokes is everytime I lost my catch, it is always either the main line or leader snapped.
I always used a Uni Knot tie. And it handled the shark perfectly. The sharks length is maybe at least 6 feet n maybe weights 60-70 pounds. It’s just a plain and simple knot but it’s tested by me.
With 40lb Braid and 20lb mono topshot on a FG I've been able to bring 2 meter long sharks up to the surface without so much a problem. FG is the way to go!
I love the comparison. I am primarily an alright knot guy now switching from the Double Uni. I don't have straight enough teeth to reliable tie the fg on the kayak. I've had too many double units fail after several casts. So the alright is my working knot. It's thinner than the double uni, ties almost as fast and has held very well.
Just use a blood knot, fast, thin, quick, and strong. but u don’t have to just use ur teeth my man, only do that for tightening at the very very end. You got other fingers
Knot strength/durability etc vary massively. Using a UV coated clear setting glue ( like LOON UV GLUE) will make the knot way more strong etc. I mean for any hook knot the SNELL ius the best by far. The best mono to braid is the FG. then the best swivel is the offshore swivel knot. Then you have the LOOP KNOT - which is super strong. The PALOMAR is excellent. The SC knot is also awesome.....
Have you tried the blob knot, use a lighter and warm it's metal end up then very lightly press the end of the mono on it to create a very small blob/flare so it's just thicker than the rest, then 12 turn uni and snug down to end. Used it for long range surfcasting,
The reason the FG is so strong is because you're not actually putting a knot into the leader line. The braid "grips" the leader line which is held straight and has no turns put in it which is when you get tearing of the molecular bonds in the mono. That's where the G in FG comes from. If you use foolacarbon then this is the only truly strong knot to use because it negates the high level of molecular weakening that foolacarbon is plagued by.
@@diddkss4303 Fg is designed for heavy leader, the whole idea being to reduce the bulk in the knot caused by turns of heavy leader material . In thin diameter lines the fg holds no particular advantage , but there is a disadvantage in how long it takes to tie. So this is why I use a double uni knot for most of my fishing which is with light leaders. You have to be careful making specious generalisations, because there is great diversity with knots and lines, and how we rig them.
@@markrigg6623 I fish with light and heavy gear,the double uni is so weak,you’re losing about 40% of your line strength with a double uni,I’ve tried double unis and IMO the worst joining knot for braid to mono,FG knot is the best joining knot,the double uni is for noob fisherman that are just starting out using braid,I started out using fgs and I will never tie a double uni 🤮
@@diddkss4303 The trick is to put a double In the braid with a bimini twist, then tie with that. I sell fishing tackle and work with a line testing machine. This method can be stronger than the fg that most of my customers tie. The other thing is, any conventionally knot will lose massive amounts of breaking strain if it's fluorocarbon that's being tied. And In that situation , the fg is the solution because the foolacarbon is being held straight and doesn't have the tight turns that tear its molecular bonds and weaken the knot. On our machine at work, a well tied uni going to nylon and tied with a double gets around 90 %. People caught plenty of fish before fgs and prs were Invented, you know. Thanks for the response. You do what works for you.
@@markrigg6623 no Bimini twist is still weaker then an FG and you end up with 2 knots instead of 1,when fishing braid you want the least amount of knots and the most slim profile as possible.
FG is best in real world app. If you look it up, it is same knot as a 'stopper knot' used by sailors in mooring lines for big ships. The finish is different, but the action is the same. Power reminds me of Palomar bend. Great test!
haha that was fun to watch. slim beauty/gt knot is a must for me especially surfcasting although i do enjoy using the fg knot. did get caught once on the guide and snapped my leader off and bent my guide haha that was quite a scary experience.
The fg knot isn't too bad, it's about the practice. Two main points to help anyone out there, is make sure that once your wraps are done I put in 1 half hitch to secure the wraps then pull on both ends to get the knot to bite into the mono, that's very important. The second most important is finishing the knot well with a rizuto finish. I find half hitches work well, but the rizuto finish is superior.
totally agree buddy! So many people forget to bed the fg down before finishing with a rizutto and then trash talk it about it slipping. I used to finish it with 6 half hitches,but after repeatedly casting through the guides,some would undo or fluff up. Since using the rizutto it just stays tight and perfect.
@@karlstokes874 yep, that's exactly my experience with the knot. Half hitches work well enough for jigging and bottom bashing, but for casting they do eventually ride up and that's what allows the fg to undo itself. That problem is eliminated with the rizuto finish.
@@turbostyler How do you treat your leader's tag? Do you burn it a little at the edge in order to create a protective barrier, and you cover it with half hitches? What's your experience on this issue?
@@Spyros_Mazarakis I see some people like to burn the end of the leader, or mushrooming it, but I find it completely pointless. If you bed the knot down like I described in my first comment then the knot will only lock down harder with force trying to pull it apart. Also, if you finish with a rizuto then there is no feasible way to put down more half hitches, as the tag for the braid is in the middle of the knot and not at the end. With the length of the leader tag, some have suggested cutting right up at the knot. I don't do this, instead I leave about 1mm of leader tag to give the knot a margin of error if it should stretch under load. The strength of the knot is in the first 8 or so wraps, the finishing technique (half hitches or rizuto) are only to stop the wraps coming undone. If you finishing technique fails, then no amount of mushrooming the leader tag will help you.
@@turbostyler I always melt the leader end in my FGs if I have time, not because it really makes it stronger, but because the sharp edges of a cut tag end can both nick the braid mainline over time AND catch on your guides going back in the rod for another cast or drop. Both these things can weaken your connection in different ways. Rounding the end of the leader prevents both of those from happening and makes it much less likely to fail over time.
I hated to toe the FG knot, until I realized that I just need to practice until it becomes muscle memory. It now takes me about a minute, and the knot is by far the strongest and most reliable that I ever used. Don’t be lazy, and don’t settle - tie the FG..!
U know what i will now try again with fg knot and practice. I usually do double uni but will go fishing on Sunday so will practice fg again and learn it. Thanks for the pep talk😤👍
I just did this test on a Instron material tester. (not any of these knots). The best knot that I have found is the alberto knot. It's super easy to tie as well. Also, I have caught a couple of 4+ pound largemouth without a break off due to knot strength. Like your video
Interesting to note how much strength is lost in the knot. Would you consider doing the same test with a thicker braid like a power pro, which would be less prone to wear may not cut through the mono as fast under strain.
Craid D. The braid still broke and where it broke wasnt my point. Its common knowledge that the knot is the weakest point of an undamaged line. The point is that I haven't seen braid break consistently at 50% its rated strength before. Most of the braids I've tested fail (yes at the knot) under load thats right on or higher than the rated strength stated on the packet. To get more to the point, the reason why I asked what braid it was is so that i know what to steer clear of the next time i'm looking to try another braid. I'd be a bit disappointed spooling up 45lb braid only to find i couldn't stress it past 22lb to 32lbs of pressure.
Well done Paul, usually I pick on fools, my suggestion would to just add a garden hose trickle so no splash bounce was stressing the line, but then again fish kick there tails , so I shot myself just there, hehe , I think a ‘lots of knots’ would be an interesting outcome as well ,
The best knot is the one you can easily tie perfect every time and see before breaking off that it was a good or bad knot. I personally use a 9 twist blood knot ( 9 wraps each direction ). It’s as skinny as an FG, way easier to tie correctly and I can look at one and instantly know if it’s good or not. There’s no need for glue, tools or special finishing knots to keep it together.
Yep a simple knot tied well is better than a fancy one tied poorly especially in cold weather where I live the simplest knot I can tie well with freezing cold hands is the one to go with
I did tests many years ago (also with water bucket) and concluded, that for mono to metal 4 turns and twice through the eye of the hook could have up to 100% line strength. So I only use once through, to avoid the line being stressed to much, and that it breaks with a long end on the hook, that the fish can get into problems from.
I agree, the blood knot is the perfect knot. When your drag is properly set, that 20% extra strength of the fg knot become a mute point. Then all of the advantages of the blood knot come into play.
I used the improved crazy Alberto never had a problem. Goes through the guides great an never snapped it yet. I do senko fish I ng most day 30lbs braid to 14lbs fluorocarbon. Got a 5.2 lbs largemouth last weekend thats big for Northern new hampshire I was very excited.
Got back to back Uni knots on my sea fishing set up for rough ground. 105lb J braid, to a 100lb mono and I can pull and my 40lb rotten bottom gives out first. Point being you can haul anything out with it, can't see why that failed so easy.
I tied 50lb to 50lb double uni and got 3in of stretch in 4in of line with no breakage, and it looked way better than yours. It looked like you only did a couple of wraps and didn't tighten it down properly.
I don't know where I got it from but I started tying a looped uni knot like a year ago and Its my favorite knot. I've never seen any one talk about it or if it has an actual name but it be cool if you tested it out. Basically just loop the line and put it through the eye like a palomar and then tie a uni knot.
Fg knots are really designed for heavier leaders, where there's abig difference in line diameters. The single best thing you can do to increase strength and durability is to make a double in the braid before attaching the leader, no matter what the knot.
@@thedeegeesaga A "double " is a rigging concept normally used in game fishing. It's a long loop from a couple of feet to 30 or so feet long. You terminate to your lure or swivel or whatever with the 2 strands you've created. When you tie a knot in fishing line normally, there is a considerable loss of strength, commonly 10 to 15 %. The double is made using either a bimini twist, or its plaited. These 2 methods work differently to a knot in the sense that there's no significant weakening ,( maybe 1 or 2 %), when you're forming the double. So now, when you tie your normal knot to your swivel or whatever YOU ARE TYING WITH TWICE THE SURFACE AREA BECAUSE THERE ARE 2 STRANDS. As a result of this, you don't get ANY WEAKENING in the knot. That's because of all the extra surface area you've created in the knot with 2 strands. So you've effectively rigged in a way that conserves most of the strength in your mainline. You need to make sure to keep the 2 strands perfectly even as pull the knot up tight. This takes a bit of practice. The knot with 2 strands is more durable as well. In braid in a lure casting situation I form a 2 foot double with a bimini twist. I then tie my leader to that. It's much stronger. Hope that helps.
@@bertlindsay I'm not kidding. I'm glad we have the distance. Have spent a good deal of time in the states - never want to go there again. Sadly, the place is totally dysfunctional - unless you're a red-neck.
Southern California uses mainly the RP knot/Royal Polaris or Alberto knot. Some guys use the uni to uni knot but that ends up popping guide inserts out eventually. On a cattle boat/party boat everything is about speed and getting back in the water so the FG just doesn't work for us out here. 🤙
I mean if you're constantly having to deal with hordes of other fisherman tangling you and cutting you off I can see how that is the case, but the FG is still better than almost every other knot.
I’d like to see some of the other widely used knots tested for comparison. Alberto knot, etc. not that I’m going to change what I’m doing, but just out of curiosity
You should do an experiment to see which breaking strain leader/braid more closely companies to the knot's breaking strain. What good is 40 lb lone when it breaks at 22lb. Their should be a point at where a swivel is better
you get 65-70% out of an fg knot because the braids are treating the larger line as a barrel point, and the half hitch keeping the braids under tension if the friction point with the tightest radius, so the strength is in the final knot. thus you get 60-70% strength out of the weakest line. Hence 32/45 = 71% (theres always a little margin of error)
Agreed although I don’t fish braid and tie a modified Albright special. These new age fancy knots are a waste of time and all the records have been caught on traditional knots.
@@philippiansfourfour1081 Not a waste at all if you use braid to leader and want a slim, strong knot that runs nicely thru guides. Funny how you dismiss something you haven't even tried... or did try and did'nt get it right?
@@andersriksson100 *waste. No need to be triggered. I don’t use braid, the type of fishing I do braid would be a detriment. Let’s see you ‘get it right’ trying to tie your pretentious, unnecessary knot in pitch darkness with no goofy headlamp, with sweaty hands, mosquitoes eating you alive. No need for me to try something I’ve fished for over 30 years and done more than fine without. What are you catching bud?
I would like too see a comparison between the FG And the Albright Knot. The FG might still be stronger but would like to see how colse they are. Great video, Thanks!!
Doing that test again, on several lines would be great but, grab your sleeper attach the scales at one of the sleeper and a boat winch at the other. Tie the line between them and you can leave that setup for further tests.
Would have loved to see the Albright. I do an improved version with 8 wraps up and 8 back down, it's always worked perfect for me. Super slim profile too!
If I'm doing an fg im usually doing it at home for a particularly long leader. I've actually had an fg knot slip while fighting a bog fish, then catch its self.
Same here, modified Albright special, very quick and easy. I fish mono lines so only 4 wraps up, and 4 down..I leave as close to no tag ends as I can get with a set of nail clippers and not once has it ever budged.
Yes I do a lot of really light line fishing 2 lb braid or 3 llb fluorocarbon mainlines and the improved Albright special with a mod of my own beats everything
I would do the FG if I had the disipline to learn it lol but I just havent taken the time of day to do so so I use a blood knot for line to line; easy and works well (better than double uni imo while being easier)
@@FiciousCritik Nah 95% of those “easy and fast” GT knots arent GT knots; the actual GT knot that was the “strongest line to line knot” is pretty hard and complex and only works with heavy lines 50-80lb test
I enjoyed this very much. Lots of good data collection. I really like how you redid the fg knot test after not getting consistent data. Most others on here would have not done this. Stuff like this gets makes me subscribe.
I love the fg knot. Not only is it good and reliable, but it looks so clean when done right, and it's thin so it glides right through the eyes without hanging!
Million dollar question do you wet your line before tightening down makes a world difference especially when you create all that friction. FG is the best
In my scenario.. I do 7x7x7 for fw and 10x10x10 for sw. This setup for FG Knot. Which promising and ever landed 27kg, 16kg n 9kg within 1½ hours after it's snap away.
The best part of the fg is that you never fold the mono over. Most of the time this means you can pull the leader through the lineguides all day, no problems, and cast the leader as well
Add to the fact that the FG goes through guides better, it's a pretty easy choice. Only reason not to use it is that you can't be bothered to learn and/or tie one. Which is fine.
I have solely used the FG knot now for about 5 years & swear by it! If I ever get a break it is the braid failing before knot so you know the knot is 100% the best thing ever. I use a Daiichi 2.0 knot assist for tying mine which for me is way better that any manual method I had used previously. It is said by a few that the PR is a stronger knot, maybe Paul @ifishtv needs to try that one next?? But still Im not changing, if the knot is stronger than the line in a FG then no need to try anything else imo 😉
Once I learnt to tie a fg it’s all I do now. From trout to tuna all my rods are tied with the fg 🤙
Same here, even for my freshwater ultralight setup I did FG braid to mono. If only for the practice, gonna keep doing it for everything.
Reason why I learned the quick-tie method as well and MAN does it save me some time.
Same, and I learned the rizutto finish which I think makes it even better
Yep it is so strong even I can't break it
It is strong and slim. Just perfect.
Fg is a salt water knot for bigger fish. All you clowns jumping on the bandwagon because some clown on youtube told you its the best.
The other thing to consider is how knots survive after 100 casts. The fg has excellent survivability if finished properly. I quite often have mine lasting 2 or 3 sessions before the leader is too short from swapping lures all the time. Another thing is it doesn’t get caught up on runners and casts smoothly.
If you finish the FG with a risotto finish it will last even longer, because the tag is along the length, not at the end. It will not fray and is a lot neater that a series of granny knots.
@@neilrobinson7615 like a nice mushroom risotto?
Or you could just tie a modified Albright special without any special finish, save a bit of time, make thousands of casts going through multiple guides and never have any problems.
@@philippiansfourfour1081 I never accept second best when it comes to knots. The FG is the strongest and smoothest. I can tie it with Rizzoto finish in the rain on a windy boat in under 2 minutes, just using my hands, no feet or relying on a tight line from the rod tip. It takes quite a lot of practice but it's an essential skill if you're a professional fishing guide and you want to be taken seriously.
@@neilrobinson7615 @@neilrobinson7615 and I can tie a modified Albright special on a pitch black night with no tourist head lamp, sweaty hands while being eaten alive by mosquitoes in less than 15 seconds. If it is strong enough to stop a just hooked up fully green 6’ tarpon from diving under the bridge on me and nearly snapping my rod over the bridge railing in the process, I gladly settle for that. The majority of all fishing records have been landed on the basic traditional knots. I don’t judge whether to take people seriously or not by what knot they prefer I judge by what they’re landing on a consistent basis. Every googan at my favorite beaches and bridges to fish ties an FG knot I rarely to never see them land anything of note. The best fisherman I know uses a blood knot to splice lines lol.
Really great abrasion resistance and though I've never put the Big Game line ruclips.net/user/postUgkxQ4x31pJVpClzhxzNFeILZYTW7Xbs7ZIF (any poundage) through an official test it always seems to break well above rated poundage. This line stretches a very good amount before it breaks and does well in saltwater too. Not the best line for a spinning reel in my opinion, especially if you're planning on using it for lures only due to it having a bit of memory but still a great line whether filling a spool, using as top shot or strictly for leader line. I've bought a bunch of Big game line in the past and plan on continuing to do so in the future.
A great test and lots of fun! I did a load of knot tests for Sea Angler magazine using a Berkley line tester, this was some years ago and to my knowledge the FG had not been invented at that time. I tied 5 versions of each knot and averaged the breaking strain, the back to back uni was not that great but could be improved by 50 % using a Bimini to form a double in the braid to attach to the mono. I still use this today fishing out of Mooloolaba and can't remember having it fail. One observation from the tests was as soon as any movement could be detected in the knot it would fail almost immediately, so by wetting and snugging knots up really well they will out perform loose knots.
Do you have a video you can link that shows this technique?
@@Archenhaust learn the bimini, then use the bimini double as if its a single strand. This has been done for years to improve knot strength here in Australia 👍
Roger the charter skipper Legend
@@Adam-rh1cu Still fishing Adam!
@@rogerbayzand4455
Glad to hear that roger
I ordered this to net the algae in a large pond in our backyard. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxphFK7ETiDP5G4IGsNcg7vbASDp_YfDpI The net is very sturdy and easy to maneuver in the water. The angled edges make it easier to get into the smaller spaces among the rocks. I didn't realize that the front of the net doesn't actually have a frame to it, just the sides do, but it seems to work just fine. The handle extends to various sizes, which is a great feature when I'm in areas that are tight with shrubs at the edges of the pond. I can collapse the handle so it doesn't get stuck in the bushes.
any extra size will cause drag & scoping, or it will catch seaweed and such.
If you have time, the FG is great. Especially for surfcasting. On the fly, I trust the uni to uni. You can keep one had on the knot even you're getting tossed around.
For a knot to add 5 kg of resistance to the lines breaking point is incredible. Theres so many applications for big game fish that this would be ideal for. Looks like i got some knot tying to practice thanks for the amazing content!
Damnit, why'd it have to be the FG !!! Lol
its a tedious knot to tie but it wont let you down. i rather tie a tedious knot than loosing a big fish. good luck. 😉
FG is easy to tie with some practise, I can tie one in about a minute and a half and it is so much better than anything short of a PR
thanks for doing that, that was fun! I gave up on the albright knot cuz i was losing to many lures, went to the FG knot and no looking back. more reliable once you get the hang of tying it
That double uni looked awful. I'm not really surprised it failed so early at barely 50% strength. I've seen other tests with the same knot hitting 90% or more which would have given 18kg holding force in your test. You've really got me pondering and I'm going to try testing my own knots now! Your setup is nice and easy to do the test anywhere.
Salt strong did a bunch of high tech tests with various knots and the double uni never scored more than 60 percent but no less than 50.
@steve carkner I just commented the same thing. Hauser Wirth you need to Union I've ever seen it look like there was One Union not and then the other knot was like some overhand knot
Come on mate really? 90% from a uni to uni join knot. "Tell him his dreaming" uni to terminal is extremely effective but for line joining you won't get much more than 60% with double uni. The only three common join knots that pull numbers around that 90% are the PR, GT and FG knots respectively
That’s kind of how double uni looks with that size mono. They do look pretty goofy with that size mono vs normal size braid. I find that the double uni is best when using smaller mono, but it’s definitely not great compared to some of the other knots in the vid based on every test I’ve seen + personal experience
It was a poorly tied uni. Double up on the braid and it will be up there with the sk.
I think its positive that the braid broke, and not at the knot. I think that speaks more for the quality of the knot.
Braid wraps around itself and cut the SAME braid line.....That is what happened to the first 2 tests......
For the past 50 years the uni has served me well for both fresh and saltwater. For the braid to mono, I use a small barrel swivel. Tie the braid to one side and the mono to the other. This way I don’t have the braid cutting into the mono, weakening it. The small swivel goes through the guides easily and doesn’t get hung up.
Doesn't is wear down the guides?
@@monkey_ish4117 Nope, I do this on several different rods and it hasn’t been a factor.
@sirtango1 ... damn what size swivel lol
Do you use baitcaster rod or spinning?
exactly my experience. the braid breaks, but not the fg.👌
I fish in Thailand the the Thai guys I go with all use the PR Bobbin knot, it lasts them all day, several trips, no problems. No hang ups on the guides, was on the boat when a guy pulled in an 80kg sailfish using 60lb leader and 50lb braid using a 60g vertical jig in 30meters of water, gulf of Thailand. Fish threw the hook in the first 30 seconds of the fight when jumping but the leader wrapped around its bill as it flipped in the air and the guy was still able to land it, maybe it forced the mouth closed and tired out the fish faster? It was amazing
The only braid to mono is the fg knot.. all I've ever used don't know any others. It's really easy to tie too.
It really is easy to tie and takes about a minute once you know it. People always say "FG is too difficult" - that's because they haven't taken time to learn and perfect it. Nothing worth doing is easy.
@@user-rr5ce1wb2j except your mum, ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
@@zippyspinifex She ain't worth doing.
For some reason that was very entertaining, especially for an experiment. Well done.
would be nice to know what a single strand of that braid broke at. Often manufacturers claim actual breaking strain much higher than rating of line. If this is 45lb braid it broke at almost half in most tests in knot form which is not flash really.
I agree
It's kinda sad that the braid line didn't last 40lb in fact, so I am curious, because I have seen some lines actually stand what they say
@@thedeegeesaga some lines will actually go higher than what the package says, you just have to do some research to find the good braid.
As far as I'm aware when fishing line says 45ib that means 45lb of tugging or pulling force not weight, like kinetic energy, a big fish jerking and shaking its head around is what breaks the line not the weight of the fish itself, whenever you have to bust off a snag it always breaks at a knot ( the weakest point in the rig ) , having the braid wrapped around around that hook is a poor control method I think because it's being stressed a tearing on itself if that makes sense
Have a look at a rigging booklet and it shows how different rigging methods for cranes effect how much the sling can safely hold, I'd say the same goes for fishing line,
Me and my mate have hook unstoppable fish on 20lb line in 20 metres of water it only broke when the fish reefed us or had a poorly tied knot
i think the only thing you can gather from this is which knot will be the strongest and not how much weight the knot will withhold before it snaps because you're right its all up to the lines strength too.
Since I use both mono and braid as my mainline, so I choose Double Uni knot.
My experience of jokes is everytime I lost my catch, it is always either the main line or leader snapped.
Fantastic experiment! I would love to see you do this test again but this time with a GoPro focused on the knot!
I always used a Uni Knot tie. And it handled the shark perfectly. The sharks length is maybe at least 6 feet n maybe weights 60-70 pounds. It’s just a plain and simple knot but it’s tested by me.
Yea I’ve used it when I spool my reels and stuff because it’s very easy and quite strong for how easy it is.
It's clunky going through the runners, especially in thicker braids. The clunking damages the knot. It's also weaker in thicker lines and leaders.
With 40lb Braid and 20lb mono topshot on a FG I've been able to bring 2 meter long sharks up to the surface without so much a problem. FG is the way to go!
The fuck are you catching sharks with 20 lb test?
@@packingwithparker0789 unless wires are used at the business end i smell bs
I love this more for the antics than anything else. GREAT JOB.
I've never heard of the slim beauty or melrose special... I use an alberto knot usually which seems to work well for me.
I love the comparison. I am primarily an alright knot guy now switching from the Double Uni. I don't have straight enough teeth to reliable tie the fg on the kayak. I've had too many double units fail after several casts. So the alright is my working knot. It's thinner than the double uni, ties almost as fast and has held very well.
Instead of using your teeth you can wrap the Braid around your ring finger. 👍
@@hfishingnz3930 exactly. Don't use your teeth. He hasn't learned how to tie it properly if he is still doing that.
Just use a blood knot, fast, thin, quick, and strong. but u don’t have to just use ur teeth my man, only do that for tightening at the very very end. You got other fingers
Knot strength/durability etc vary massively. Using a UV coated clear setting glue ( like LOON UV GLUE) will make the knot way more strong etc. I mean for any hook knot the SNELL ius the best by far. The best mono to braid is the FG. then the best swivel is the offshore swivel knot. Then you have the LOOP KNOT - which is super strong. The PALOMAR is excellent. The SC knot is also awesome.....
What a sense of humor! I love it.
Thanks for creating such a dramatic video to showcase the various knot strengths. Entertaining and informative. Two thumbs up! Keep it up!
Glad you enjoyed it!
fun video! I use the FG when tuna fishing with great success!
As a Houstonian, the "Houston, we have a problem." and "Yes, NASA?" warmed my heart. xD
Have you tried the blob knot, use a lighter and warm it's metal end up then very lightly press the end of the mono on it to create a very small blob/flare so it's just thicker than the rest, then 12 turn uni and snug down to end. Used it for long range surfcasting,
I'm not sure which was more fun. Learning about the knots or watching you.
The reason the FG is so strong is because you're not actually putting a knot into the leader line. The braid "grips" the leader line which is held straight and has no turns put in it which is when you get tearing of the molecular bonds in the mono. That's where the G in FG comes from. If you use foolacarbon then this is the only truly strong knot to use because it negates the high level of molecular weakening that foolacarbon is plagued by.
FG and pr knot should be the only joining knot anyone uses
@@diddkss4303 Fg is designed for heavy leader, the whole idea being to reduce the bulk in the knot caused by turns of heavy leader material . In thin diameter lines the fg holds no particular advantage , but there is a disadvantage in how long it takes to tie. So this is why I use a double uni knot for most of my fishing which is with light leaders. You have to be careful making specious generalisations, because there is great diversity with knots and lines, and how we rig them.
@@markrigg6623 I fish with light and heavy gear,the double uni is so weak,you’re losing about 40% of your line strength with a double uni,I’ve tried double unis and IMO the worst joining knot for braid to mono,FG knot is the best joining knot,the double uni is for noob fisherman that are just starting out using braid,I started out using fgs and I will never tie a double uni 🤮
@@diddkss4303 The trick is to put a double In the braid with a bimini twist, then tie with that. I sell fishing tackle and work with a line testing machine. This method can be stronger than the fg that most of my customers tie. The other thing is, any conventionally knot will lose massive amounts of breaking strain if it's fluorocarbon that's being tied. And In that situation , the fg is the solution because the foolacarbon is being held straight and doesn't have the tight turns that tear its molecular bonds and weaken the knot. On our machine at work, a well tied uni going to nylon and tied with a double gets around 90 %. People caught plenty of fish before fgs and prs were Invented, you know. Thanks for the response. You do what works for you.
@@markrigg6623 no Bimini twist is still weaker then an FG and you end up with 2 knots instead of 1,when fishing braid you want the least amount of knots and the most slim profile as possible.
Very cool video... think i learnt mostly not to forget putting in my safety goggles..
FG is best in real world app. If you look it up, it is same knot as a 'stopper knot' used by sailors in mooring lines for big ships. The finish is different, but the action is the same. Power reminds me of Palomar bend. Great test!
haha that was fun to watch. slim beauty/gt knot is a must for me especially surfcasting although i do enjoy using the fg knot. did get caught once on the guide and snapped my leader off and bent my guide haha that was quite a scary experience.
The fg knot isn't too bad, it's about the practice. Two main points to help anyone out there, is make sure that once your wraps are done I put in 1 half hitch to secure the wraps then pull on both ends to get the knot to bite into the mono, that's very important. The second most important is finishing the knot well with a rizuto finish. I find half hitches work well, but the rizuto finish is superior.
totally agree buddy!
So many people forget to bed the fg down before finishing with a rizutto and then trash talk it about it slipping.
I used to finish it with 6 half hitches,but after repeatedly casting through the guides,some would undo or fluff up.
Since using the rizutto it just stays tight and perfect.
@@karlstokes874 yep, that's exactly my experience with the knot. Half hitches work well enough for jigging and bottom bashing, but for casting they do eventually ride up and that's what allows the fg to undo itself. That problem is eliminated with the rizuto finish.
@@turbostyler How do you treat your leader's tag? Do you burn it a little at the edge in order to create a protective barrier, and you cover it with half hitches? What's your experience on this issue?
@@Spyros_Mazarakis I see some people like to burn the end of the leader, or mushrooming it, but I find it completely pointless. If you bed the knot down like I described in my first comment then the knot will only lock down harder with force trying to pull it apart. Also, if you finish with a rizuto then there is no feasible way to put down more half hitches, as the tag for the braid is in the middle of the knot and not at the end. With the length of the leader tag, some have suggested cutting right up at the knot. I don't do this, instead I leave about 1mm of leader tag to give the knot a margin of error if it should stretch under load. The strength of the knot is in the first 8 or so wraps, the finishing technique (half hitches or rizuto) are only to stop the wraps coming undone. If you finishing technique fails, then no amount of mushrooming the leader tag will help you.
@@turbostyler I always melt the leader end in my FGs if I have time, not because it really makes it stronger, but because the sharp edges of a cut tag end can both nick the braid mainline over time AND catch on your guides going back in the rod for another cast or drop. Both these things can weaken your connection in different ways. Rounding the end of the leader prevents both of those from happening and makes it much less likely to fail over time.
Man are not complicated. We are happy with just a bucket 🪣 , water 💧 & scale ⚖️This is so exciting 😀
I hated to toe the FG knot, until I realized that I just need to practice until it becomes muscle memory.
It now takes me about a minute, and the knot is by far the strongest and most reliable that I ever used.
Don’t be lazy, and don’t settle - tie the FG..!
U know what i will now try again with fg knot and practice. I usually do double uni but will go fishing on Sunday so will practice fg again and learn it. Thanks for the pep talk😤👍
I just did this test on a Instron material tester. (not any of these knots). The best knot that I have found is the alberto knot. It's super easy to tie as well. Also, I have caught a couple of 4+ pound largemouth without a break off due to knot strength. Like your video
im a uni man my self ive caught 300 lb stingrays with them after that ive never tied on with a different not
I loved watching this Paul so creative and fun to watch! Made me laugh many times
Thinking that this made someone laugh is 100x funnier than the video itself, and yet I still didn’t laugh
Can u test the alberto and crazy alberto knots for braid to mono?
Blood knot!! Perfect for gliding through the guides and holds like no other..
yea the lack of attention the blood knot is getting these days is interesting. I only tie blood knots for leaders.
Only good for mono to mono or flouro. Blood will slip with braid.
@@zajdabneeg I agree
Interesting to note how much strength is lost in the knot. Would you consider doing the same test with a thicker braid like a power pro, which would be less prone to wear may not cut through the mono as fast under strain.
Or just use Flurocarbon leader. It’s abrasion resistant.
Thanks for the vid. Can you let us know what braid you used? Ive never seen braid break so far under its rated strength before.
The braid didn't snap, the knot did. Knots have a lower breaking point that the line itself
Craid D. The braid still broke and where it broke wasnt my point. Its common knowledge that the knot is the weakest point of an undamaged line. The point is that I haven't seen braid break consistently at 50% its rated strength before. Most of the braids I've tested fail (yes at the knot) under load thats right on or higher than the rated strength stated on the packet.
To get more to the point, the reason why I asked what braid it was is so that i know what to steer clear of the next time i'm looking to try another braid. I'd be a bit disappointed spooling up 45lb braid only to find i couldn't stress it past 22lb to 32lbs of pressure.
Well done Paul, usually I pick on fools, my suggestion would to just add a garden hose trickle so no splash bounce was stressing the line, but then again fish kick there tails , so I shot myself just there, hehe , I think a ‘lots of knots’ would be an interesting outcome as well ,
Loved this video Paul Wasa a great watch
The best knot is the one you can easily tie perfect every time and see before breaking off that it was a good or bad knot. I personally use a 9 twist blood knot ( 9 wraps each direction ). It’s as skinny as an FG, way easier to tie correctly and I can look at one and instantly know if it’s good or not. There’s no need for glue, tools or special finishing knots to keep it together.
Majority of records have likely been caught on blood knots too.
Yep a simple knot tied well is better than a fancy one tied poorly especially in cold weather where I live the simplest knot I can tie well with freezing cold hands is the one to go with
I did tests many years ago (also with water bucket) and concluded, that for mono to metal 4 turns and twice through the eye of the hook could have up to 100% line strength. So I only use once through, to avoid the line being stressed to much, and that it breaks with a long end on the hook, that the fish can get into problems from.
I agree, the blood knot is the perfect knot. When your drag is properly set, that 20% extra strength of the fg knot become a mute point. Then all of the advantages of the blood knot come into play.
the blood know is definitely not as slim as the FG. No other knot is as slim as the FG.
What about trying an improved albright Paul?
I used the improved crazy Alberto never had a problem. Goes through the guides great an never snapped it yet. I do senko fish I ng most day 30lbs braid to 14lbs fluorocarbon. Got a 5.2 lbs largemouth last weekend thats big for Northern new hampshire I was very excited.
You have gained a fan just on this video good shit man love this.
Got back to back Uni knots on my sea fishing set up for rough ground. 105lb J braid, to a 100lb mono and I can pull and my 40lb rotten bottom gives out first. Point being you can haul anything out with it, can't see why that failed so easy.
I only use the fg anymore. Mostly because of how slim it is going through the guides.
I like the Albright the best. It’s super slim and I haven’t had any breaks.
I tied 50lb to 50lb double uni and got 3in of stretch in 4in of line with no breakage, and it looked way better than yours. It looked like you only did a couple of wraps and didn't tighten it down properly.
I don't know where I got it from but I started tying a looped uni knot like a year ago and Its my favorite knot. I've never seen any one talk about it or if it has an actual name but it be cool if you tested it out. Basically just loop the line and put it through the eye like a palomar and then tie a uni knot.
I use the same and double the braid with back to back uni
Fg knots are really designed for heavier leaders, where there's abig difference in line diameters. The single best thing you can do to increase strength and durability is to make a double in the braid before attaching the leader, no matter what the knot.
Agree, dbl line uni is a gr8 one
I'm new to fishing and knots, so I am curious. What do you mean by making a double in the braid? Thx
@@thedeegeesaga A "double " is a rigging concept normally used in game fishing. It's a long loop from a couple of feet to 30 or so feet long. You terminate to your lure or swivel or whatever with the 2 strands you've created. When you tie a knot in fishing line normally, there is a considerable loss of strength, commonly 10 to 15 %. The double is made using either a bimini twist, or its plaited. These 2 methods work differently to a knot in the sense that there's no significant weakening ,( maybe 1 or 2 %), when you're forming the double. So now, when you tie your normal knot to your swivel or whatever YOU ARE TYING WITH TWICE THE SURFACE AREA BECAUSE THERE ARE 2 STRANDS. As a result of this, you don't get ANY WEAKENING in the knot. That's because of all the extra surface area you've created in the knot with 2 strands. So you've effectively rigged in a way that conserves most of the strength in your mainline. You need to make sure to keep the 2 strands perfectly even as pull the knot up tight. This takes a bit of practice. The knot with 2 strands is more durable as well. In braid in a lure casting situation I form a 2 foot double with a bimini twist. I then tie my leader to that. It's much stronger. Hope that helps.
@@markrigg6623 it did! Thanks a lot for details! But is there another keyword I need if I look up any videos on that? Thanks!
@@thedeegeesaga Just " bimini twist" should do it
I'm wondering if the result would be different for thinner lines.
Yeah, not sure the FG works on lighter lines. Would be good to know.
Man I really do love Australians I wish you guys were closer to us here in the states
No thanks hahaha, just kidding mate.
hahaha
@@bertlindsay I'm not kidding. I'm glad we have the distance. Have spent a good deal of time in the states - never want to go there again.
Sadly, the place is totally dysfunctional - unless you're a red-neck.
Unbelievable, that driver side roof rack held that weight 😀. Great job man with the video
The FG is the very slim and goes through the eyes well, it’s a win win😉
Have you tried using a spider hitch to make a double line and then attach to the leader with an Albright knot?
That excitement definitely wasn't staged lol!!! Well done.
Southern California uses mainly the RP knot/Royal Polaris or Alberto knot. Some guys use the uni to uni knot but that ends up popping guide inserts out eventually. On a cattle boat/party boat everything is about speed and getting back in the water so the FG just doesn't work for us out here. 🤙
I mean if you're constantly having to deal with hordes of other fisherman tangling you and cutting you off I can see how that is the case, but the FG is still better than almost every other knot.
Get yourself an FG WIZZ & I guarantee you’ll never have a worry about FG knots every again ! Cheers Paul.
Which one gives the least “mono bump?”
Haha I caught myself jumping when you did. Great video
I’d like to see some of the other widely used knots tested for comparison. Alberto knot, etc. not that I’m going to change what I’m doing, but just out of curiosity
So what was the knot at the swivels? Palomar? That seemed to hold up well
Any thoughts on the Alberto knot??
You should do an experiment to see which breaking strain leader/braid more closely companies to the knot's breaking strain. What good is 40 lb lone when it breaks at 22lb. Their should be a point at where a swivel is better
would joining the leader and braid with a swivel be stronger ( Ignoring the fact the fish may see the swivel ). ???
you get 65-70% out of an fg knot because the braids are treating the larger line as a barrel point, and the half hitch keeping the braids under tension if the friction point with the tightest radius, so the strength is in the final knot. thus you get 60-70% strength out of the weakest line. Hence 32/45 = 71% (theres always a little margin of error)
Fantastic experiment. Left no doubt
so far the best comparison test
Uni, best combination of strength and speed.
Agreed although I don’t fish braid and tie a modified Albright special. These new age fancy knots are a waste of time and all the records have been caught on traditional knots.
@@philippiansfourfour1081 Not a waste at all if you use braid to leader and want a slim, strong knot that runs nicely thru guides. Funny how you dismiss something you haven't even tried... or did try and did'nt get it right?
the fg is nice but i never tie it when im out fishing only at home prepping. when fishing if i have to tie its uni to uni
@@johngriffin5446 Agreed, FG is a prep knot for me, but I will try the SC-knot while out on the water.
@@andersriksson100 *waste. No need to be triggered. I don’t use braid, the type of fishing I do braid would be a detriment. Let’s see you ‘get it right’ trying to tie your pretentious, unnecessary knot in pitch darkness with no goofy headlamp, with sweaty hands, mosquitoes eating you alive. No need for me to try something I’ve fished for over 30 years and done more than fine without. What are you catching bud?
Would it be any different if the lines was wet no as much friction ?
I would like too see a comparison between the FG And the Albright Knot. The FG might still be stronger but would like to see how colse they are. Great video, Thanks!!
Doing that test again, on several lines would be great but, grab your sleeper attach the scales at one of the sleeper and a boat winch at the other. Tie the line between them and you can leave that setup for further tests.
Would have loved to see the Albright. I do an improved version with 8 wraps up and 8 back down, it's always worked perfect for me. Super slim profile too!
Yeah Albright is my personal favourite, it’s the better uni not and in my opinion it’s easier to do to
My favorite as well. The only time it breaks is when I'm hung up hard, but then it's going to break anyway.
I used the fg but i switched to albricht cause the mono slipped when my spinner got stuck sometimes and i pulled to hard.
I used the fg but i switched to albricht cause the mono slipped when my spinner got stuck sometimes and i pulled to hard.
I used the fg but i switched to albricht cause the mono slipped when my spinner got stuck sometimes and i pulled to hard.
If I'm doing an fg im usually doing it at home for a particularly long leader. I've actually had an fg knot slip while fighting a bog fish, then catch its self.
Great. I'm using slimbeauty for my connection, this us a knot I can tie in all weather conditions
Very useful. But I'm loving, "assuming a litre of water weighs 1 kilo". 😂 I'm hoping so. Unless gravity's different down under.
albright/alberto for me. Never failed on me. Easy to tie and strong as hell.
Same here, modified Albright special, very quick and easy. I fish mono lines so only 4 wraps up, and 4 down..I leave as close to no tag ends as I can get with a set of nail clippers and not once has it ever budged.
Yes I do a lot of really light line fishing 2 lb braid or 3 llb fluorocarbon mainlines and the improved Albright special with a mod of my own beats everything
Would like to see a comparison between a FG and a PR knot (my favorite)
I would do the FG if I had the disipline to learn it lol but I just havent taken the time of day to do so so I use a blood knot for line to line; easy and works well (better than double uni imo while being easier)
IGFA experiments showed/demonstrated that the GT KNOT is the strongest line-to-line knot. It's easy and fast.
@@FiciousCritik Nah 95% of those “easy and fast” GT knots arent GT knots; the actual GT knot that was the “strongest line to line knot” is pretty hard and complex and only works with heavy lines 50-80lb test
Great video this guy makes it so entertaining
Is there a way to equalize the loops made to tie the knots? I know that certain knots are stronger the more loops you tie into it.
Great info, and great soundtrack!
I enjoyed this very much. Lots of good data collection. I really like how you redid the fg knot test after not getting consistent data. Most others on here would have not done this. Stuff like this gets makes me subscribe.
Great video, been laughing for 10 minutes.
I love the fg knot. Not only is it good and reliable, but it looks so clean when done right, and it's thin so it glides right through the eyes without hanging!
FG Knot or UNI knot, which would be stronger? I'm not talking about the back to back UNI knot either
i use an alberto knot and its super strong, slim so it casts smooth, its durable, and its super easy and fast to tie.
did you factor the weight of the bucket or subtract
10:24 "I'm getting nervous." "I'm getting scared". That had me laughing! Oooooooooooooooooh Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaahh! Dig It!
Million dollar question do you wet your line before tightening down makes a world difference especially when you create all that friction. FG is the best
In my scenario.. I do 7x7x7 for fw and 10x10x10 for sw. This setup for FG Knot. Which promising and ever landed 27kg, 16kg n 9kg within 1½ hours after it's snap away.
I use the seagar knot easy and quick
Paul what sunnies are they on your head
I'm pretty sure he said Spotters at one point, but no clue if they are.
What knot are you tiring to the swivel?
The best part of the fg is that you never fold the mono over. Most of the time this means you can pull the leader through the lineguides all day, no problems, and cast the leader as well
Add to the fact that the FG goes through guides better, it's a pretty easy choice. Only reason not to use it is that you can't be bothered to learn and/or tie one. Which is fine.