Dean's Go-To Frog Knot

Anyone who follows the top bass tournament trails has not only heard of Dean Rojas but likely knows he is an expert hollow body frog fisherman. As a matter of fact, he's so much of an expert that the folks at SPRO U.S.A. have been working with Dean to develop their line of Bronzeye Frogs for many years.

Where many bass anglers often rely on knots like the Palomar or Improved Clinch knot for many applications, Dean's preferred frog knot is a slight twist on an all-time favorite as he demonstrates in the short video below!

I hope it helps keep those big gals pinned to your favorite kermy!

Three Great Fluorocarbon Leader to Braided Line Knots

Fluorocarbon leaders are a great way to improve your chances of landing fish especially when fishing with finesse presentations. They are far less visible to fish than braided lines, highly visible to anglers not to mention being very abrasion-resistant.

It is always important to use the right knot when connecting a fluorocarbon leader to a braided line but like most things in the fishing world there are numerous variations available to anglers.

Here are some of the best knots for connecting leaders to your braided main line:

The Alberto Knot 

This knot is more difficult to tie than some like the Double Uni Knot, but it is also stronger. It is a good choice for anglers who need a knot that can handle big fish and my personal favorite not to mention Bassmaster Classic champ Jason Christie’s.

Take a few moments and watch the following video where Jason shows how he ties his version of the Alberto knot:

The Double Uni Knot

The double uni knot is one of the most popular knots for connecting fluorocarbon leaders to braided lines. It is easy to tie, and it is very strong. To tie a double uni knot, follow these steps:

1. Form a loop at the end of your fluorocarbon leader.

2. Pass the end of your braided line through the loop twice, in opposite directions.

3. Tighten the knot by pulling on both ends of the line.

4. Trim the tag ends of the line.

Video Link ==> Double Uni Knot

The FG Knot

The FG knot is a newer knot that is becoming increasingly popular for connecting fluorocarbon leaders to braided lines. It is very strong, and it is also very small and streamlined, which can help you cast farther. To tie an FG knot, follow these steps:

1. Pass the end of your fluorocarbon leader through the loop on your fishing hook.

2. Pass the end of your braided line through the loop on your fishing hook twice, in opposite directions.

3. Tighten the knot by pulling on both ends of the line.

4. Trim the tag ends of the line.

Video Link ==> FG Knot

The best knot for you will depend on your personal preferences and fishing style. Experiment with different knots to find one that you are comfortable with and that you can tie quickly and easily.

Are These the Best Fluorocarbon Knots?

The introduction of fluorocarbon fishing lines was a great advancement in bass fishing since it provides anglers with more abrasion resistance, less stretch and lower line visibility over monofilament and braided lines. 

Even with all these advantages, fluorocarbon lines weren't without issues especially when it came to finding knots with great knot strength and that did not allow the line to slip and untie.

Over the years, several knots were identified to address both these problems. Some were relatively easy to tie, some "knot" so much ;)

Take a few moments and listen to bass pro Shaw Grigsby demonstrate how to tie two of his favorite fluoro knots, the double pitzen and double improved clinch knots:

It appears G-man likes a version of the pitzen just with a few more twists as he describes below :)

Though I have used a version of the improved clinch for many, many years looks like I'll be giving the pitzen a shot :)