szlartibartfast

Hi all. I often fish the sand flats wading in the water flicking for flathead. I got busted off recently and had a bastard of a time retying a braid/mono knot in the wind. As much as the FG knot is lovely, some of these more complex ones seem impractical while juggling a backpack in water up to your nutsack (with the nearest sand a 40m slog away and the fish biting). How you do/would solve this dilemma?  

I like the idea of extra security as my leader is only 12lb. I am probably just paranoid, but I always wonder if the half hitch reduces breaking strain?

Hi all. I often fish the sand flats wading in the water flicking for flathead. I got busted off recently and had a bastard of a time retying a braid/mono knot in the wind. As much as the FG knot is lovely, some of these more complex ones seem impractical while juggling a backpack in water up to your nutsack (with the nearest sand a 40m slog away and the fish biting). How you do/would solve this dilemma?  

Many years ago when I got my first permit for NPD boating we trolled hard bodies for bass and yellas with braid right to the lure. If the braid was fluro we would hit the first metre or so with a black nikko pen. Braid direct to the lure does not impact there at all....probably because most are either reaction strikes or the fish are hunting and chasing down the baits.
Numbers of fish caught with braid to the lure were remarkably good...so much so the thrill of catching bass died off and I went back to fishing salt water again. Since then i have had one other session out there...last one about 20 years ago when i caught a 61cm bass....my biggest and last impoundment bass.
Braid direct to the lure also tends to slice a bit of the weed up too.

Many years ago fishing out of Waddy Pt I caught my biggest, whole green jobfish on braid tied straight to hook. 
Just over 9kg, and I say whole because I've retrieved parts of the same species that would have been a larger, complete fish. 
 
If memory serves me it was 60lb platyl braid (dark green) or similar, not platypus. 
 I had made the double using a figure 8 knot, then just looped the hook on and a running 8 ball.
Yep, full not giving a toss. 
 
Well, I found out that jobbies that size fight extremely hard.  I was sitting up the bow, with rod butt under my thigh. I was sick of fighting what I thought was a shark. This thing just would not give up. I raised it three times, then I saw it and could not believe that
A, it's not a shark, and
B, the braid held with all my carelessness. 
No leader, full dodge houso style fishing and its still my PB jobbie. 
From the on. I use braid. 
 
Leader, can sometimes be the weak point. 
Every time I loose a big fish, it's leader breaking or hook straightening. Never the braid breaking. 

I like the idea of extra security as my leader is only 12lb. I am probably just paranoid, but I always wonder if the half hitch reduces breaking strain?

Can tie an fg in the water by sticking the rod butt in my pants, and hanging the the rod with my line in my teeth, but I'm pretty sure it looks ridiculous.

Allbright or double uni in the situation you describe.
 
However, my fg has held on and I have not been required to tie leader in said situation. 

I sometimes do FG knots at home but always do Albright on the boat. Very rarely have I had a knot failure and when I do it was likely a mistake in the tiring process. If the leader is 25lb or less, I like to add a half hitch on Rivendell of the knot for extra reassurance. 

for ease of tying and probably the fastest in light lines when wading I tie a albright....about 20 seconds and wind is never an issue......hold the tag end in your teeth and roll the leader/line between your thumbs and forefinger like rolling a durrie. Feed the tag end thru the loop and cinch up tight.

I usexthe double uni on light line and leader, you van tie that while holding the rod under your arm, it should work.

braid is defenitly a better option, highly recommending making sure your fg knots is done well so it doesnt slip burning the tags with a lighter can make it a tad bit stronger. Also longer leader will reduce the amount of times to retie leader also in my experience gets me more fish

Use Mono instead of braid.
You won't have a problem.

You could try learning a slightly simpler knot, like an Albright or Double Uni Knot, I sometimes have this issue too when its rough and normally just try the knot a bit slower. 

Hi all. I often fish the sand flats wading in the water flicking for flathead. I got busted off recently and had a bastard of a time retying a braid/mono knot in the wind. As much as the FG knot is lovely, some of these more complex ones seem impractical while juggling a backpack in water up to your nutsack (with the nearest sand a 40m slog away and the fish biting). How you do/would solve this dilemma?