Have tested the FG knot extensively. Below are the important things learned, hope they are beneficial.
Disclaimer: Have only tested the FG up to 60# spectra to 60# fluoro and mono. So objective information for the 3 digit lines is not available . But the principals below can reasonably be applied to the heavier lines.
Number of wraps:
Is dependent on the line material and the line diameter. The FG works on the Chinese Finger Trap principle. It cinches itself into the leader creating so much friction that it exceeds the pulling force. That is why it is so important to really cinch the knot down as tight as possible so as to allow the spectra to grip into the leader. Fluoro is quite a bit harder then mono. For the same diameter fluoro you will need more turns. For the softer mono fewer turns. As the diameter increases you will need less turns because for each wrap of the spectra more surface area is covered thus more friction is obtained with each wrap. Using a smaller diameter more turns are needed.
An important consideration is to realize for optimal results you need to adjust the number of turns for each different combination of spectra and leader. This is because different manufactured fluoro/monos have different surface hardness which alters the friction per wrap. And different manufactures of spectra have different coefficient of friction due to various coatings applied. BTW spectra is intrinsically very slippery. Its coefficient of friction is very close to Teflon.
How to determine the number of wraps required:
Start with, lets say 12 wraps each way. Cinch down with cinching tools
(a must) as hard a possible. Check for loose wraps at the top. Properly cinched all the wraps will start to turn translucent , a definite color change. If no loose wraps keep adding more wraps, and re-test. Keep adding wraps until a wrap or two will not cinch down at the top of the knot. Then just back off to the previous number of wraps and you are set to go. If an error is to be made, more wraps are better the too few wraps. You may loose a few pounds of ABS with too many turns but with too few the whole knot can slip off the tag end.
Finish for the FG:
Have found that the finish be it half hitches or a Rizzutto has no effect on the ABS of the knot. It is there to just keep the FG wraps from unraveling and smooth its transition through the guides. And the extra extension of the tag end can allow for some slippage if the knot was not cinched down properly. Personally like a 6 turn Rizzutto with a very small amount of Tac Glue on it. A Rizzutto is almost impossible to unravel where half hitches seem to easily come loose.
The link below reinforces the need for proper cinch down.
Hope the above is helpful,
Walt
Disclaimer: Have only tested the FG up to 60# spectra to 60# fluoro and mono. So objective information for the 3 digit lines is not available . But the principals below can reasonably be applied to the heavier lines.
Number of wraps:
Is dependent on the line material and the line diameter. The FG works on the Chinese Finger Trap principle. It cinches itself into the leader creating so much friction that it exceeds the pulling force. That is why it is so important to really cinch the knot down as tight as possible so as to allow the spectra to grip into the leader. Fluoro is quite a bit harder then mono. For the same diameter fluoro you will need more turns. For the softer mono fewer turns. As the diameter increases you will need less turns because for each wrap of the spectra more surface area is covered thus more friction is obtained with each wrap. Using a smaller diameter more turns are needed.
An important consideration is to realize for optimal results you need to adjust the number of turns for each different combination of spectra and leader. This is because different manufactured fluoro/monos have different surface hardness which alters the friction per wrap. And different manufactures of spectra have different coefficient of friction due to various coatings applied. BTW spectra is intrinsically very slippery. Its coefficient of friction is very close to Teflon.
How to determine the number of wraps required:
Start with, lets say 12 wraps each way. Cinch down with cinching tools
(a must) as hard a possible. Check for loose wraps at the top. Properly cinched all the wraps will start to turn translucent , a definite color change. If no loose wraps keep adding more wraps, and re-test. Keep adding wraps until a wrap or two will not cinch down at the top of the knot. Then just back off to the previous number of wraps and you are set to go. If an error is to be made, more wraps are better the too few wraps. You may loose a few pounds of ABS with too many turns but with too few the whole knot can slip off the tag end.
Finish for the FG:
Have found that the finish be it half hitches or a Rizzutto has no effect on the ABS of the knot. It is there to just keep the FG wraps from unraveling and smooth its transition through the guides. And the extra extension of the tag end can allow for some slippage if the knot was not cinched down properly. Personally like a 6 turn Rizzutto with a very small amount of Tac Glue on it. A Rizzutto is almost impossible to unravel where half hitches seem to easily come loose.
The link below reinforces the need for proper cinch down.
Hope the above is helpful,
Walt
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