How to Tie the FG Knot
By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026
You punch out a cast and a bulky leader knot clicks through the tip ring, or snags and costs you the lure.
The FG knot fixes that. It joins braided mainline to a fluorocarbon or mono leader: you wrap the leader around the tensioned braid about 20 times, then lock the wraps with half hitches of braid. The leader does the wrapping and the braid stays straight. Some guides get that the wrong way round.
Tie the FG knot braid to fluoro and the join is slim enough to run through the guides smoothly. The wraps are easy. Tension is the hard part.
You need braid, a length of leader, sharp scissors, something to hold the braid taut and, optionally, a lighter. For other connections, see our fishing knots guide.
Step 1: Match Your Braid and Leader (and Check the FG Is the Right Knot)
The FG isn’t always the right knot, and knowing when to skip it can save you a fish.
It is a line-to-line knot: braid mainline to a fluorocarbon or nylon leader, nothing else. Wired2Fish gives 10 lb braid to a 6 lb fluoro leader for clear water as one example, but the right pairing depends on species and snags.
In the UK it suits:
- Perch: drop-shot and light lure work in clear water.
- Bass from the shore: braid for distance, fluoro at the business end. See our best bass lures for the rest.
- Pike and zander: braid to leader, with a wire bite trace below. The FG is never tied to wire.
On Windermere I use a braid-to-fluoro leader for perch on the drop-shot and for pike lure work, with a wire trace on the end for the pike.
If you cast heavy leads, look at our shock leader knots instead. If your hands are cold and wet, start with the Albright knot or another braid to mono knot, both easier to tie.
By now you should have braid on the reel and a length of leader cut, ready to tie.
Step 2: Set Up Tension on the Braid (With or Without an FG Knot Tool)
Fix one thing, tension, and the FG goes from impossible to routine.
The wraps only grip if the braid stays straight while both hands work the leader. Two tool-free options:
- Rod and drag: close the bail, set the drag firm and wedge the rod so the braid runs taut in front of you.
- Teeth and a fixed point: grip the braid tag in your teeth and anchor the rod side under your foot or round a chair leg.
Aim for semi-tight, not bar-tight. Jason Sealock at Wired2Fish advises keeping a little give in the braid so the leader can bite into it.
An FG knot tool, such as the Daiichi Seiko Knot Assist, holds the braid under constant tension and keeps the leader in place. It earns its keep if you tie lots of leaders or fish in the cold. You don’t need one to learn the knot.
| Method | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rod and drag | Free | Tying on the bank |
| Teeth and fixed point | Free | Practising at home |
| FG knot tool | Extra kit | Tying lots of leaders, cold hands |
By now the braid should be taut in a straight line in front of you, with both hands free for the leader.
Step 3: Lay the Leader Across and Start the Wraps
If your first wraps keep sliding off, the cause is usually wrap direction or slack braid.
The rule from the intro applies: the leader moves, the braid stays straight. Never wrap the braid round the leader.
- Lay the leader across the taut braid, leaving a long working tag of leader to wrap with. Around 30cm is plenty while you are learning.
- Pass the leader tag under the braid and bring it back over the top.
- Pass it under from the opposite side and back over again.
- Check that the two wraps criss-cross each other on the braid.
Keep each pair snug against the last. If you can see braid between wraps, push them together before you go on.
By now you should have two neat, crossed wraps sitting tight on the braid that don’t unravel if you let go of the leader for a second.
Step 4: Build Up About 20 Wraps and Bed Them In as You Go
The FG has almost no knot in it. Its grip comes from the wraps squeezing the braid like a finger trap, which is why it stays so slim.
Keep alternating until you have about 20 wraps, 10 from each side. Guides quote 18 to 22, so treat 20 as your target. More isn’t automatically stronger.
The move that makes the wraps bite is bedding them in as you go:
- After every pair or every few wraps, ease the braid tension slightly.
- Pull the leader tight so the wraps slide together and lock onto the braid.
- Restore the tension and carry on wrapping.
Some anglers wet the wraps before each pull to help them seat.
Good wraps form a tight, even sleeve with no gaps or crossed lumps. If wraps bunch or ride over each other, unpick and restart rather than finish a weak knot.
By now you should have 20 wraps that don’t move when you tug the leader gently.
Step 5: Hold the Wraps With Half Hitches Round Both Lines
An FG that unravels as you trim it almost always had rushed or loose half hitches.
- Take the braid tag and tie a half hitch round both the braid and the leader.
- Cinch it down snugly before you tie the next one.
- Repeat, alternating sides, until you have four half hitches.
Moisten the knot. Hold the main braid in one hand and the leader in the other, then pull steadily to bed the whole thing down. Pull, don’t jerk.
By now the wraps should be locked so firmly that you can’t push them along the leader with a fingernail. Four careful hitches are worth more than six hurried ones.
Step 6: Trim the Leader Tag and Finish With a Tapered Braid Wrap
A minute spent finishing is what makes the knot glide through the rod rings.
- Trim the leader tag as close to the wraps as you can without nicking them.
- With the braid tag, tie a few more half hitches round the main braid only, working away from the wraps to build a smooth taper over the cut end.
- Trim the braid tag.
Optionally, touch a lighter flame briefly to the braid tag end to stop it fraying. Keep the flame away from the leader and the main braid, because heat weakens both.
By now you should have a slim, smooth join with no sharp end you can feel between finger and thumb. That slimness is why it runs through the guides more easily than the bulkier Albright.
Step 7: Test the FG Knot and Fix the Common Faults
A knot that survives a gentle tug can still let go on a hard cast. Pull steadily between your hands, or load it against the reel with the drag set, then inspect the wraps. If anything has moved, retie.
| Fault | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wraps slide off the end | Braid too slack, or too few wraps | Increase tension and build to about 20 wraps |
| Wraps bunch or cross | Rushed, uneven pulls | Bed in after every pair with a steady pull |
| Knot unravels when trimmed | Too few or loose half hitches | Tie four, cinching each one |
| Stub catches in the guides | Leader tag left long, or no taper | Trim close and add braid-only hitches |
A pro angler quoted by Tackle Village describes the FG as close to full line strength. We found no independent test data to back that up, so treat it as a claim.
Practise at home first. Wired2Fish reckons the knot takes about 30 seconds once learned. If it still slips after a few attempts on the bank, tie an Albright for the session and keep practising the FG at home.
Frequently asked questions
What does FG stand for in the FG knot?
The origin of the name is unclear. One US source says "Fine Grain", but no second source confirms it. The knot is said to come from giant trevally (GT) anglers, and it is sometimes called the Sebile or GT knot.
How many wraps should an FG knot have?
About 20 wraps, 10 from each side, though guides quote anything from 18 to 22. Bedding them in matters more than the exact count (see Step 4).
Do you need an FG knot tool?
No. A tool holds the braid under tension for you, but the rod-and-drag method in Step 2 does the same job for free.
Is the FG knot stronger than the Albright?
There is no independent test data comparing the two. The FG is slimmer and runs through the guides more easily, while the Albright is easier to tie when conditions are against you.
Can you use an FG knot for pike?
Yes, for joining braid to a fluoro or mono leader. You still need a wire trace on the end, because pike teeth cut through fluorocarbon and mono.