Why would you want 50 yds of fluoro? Most fluoro is stiff & has memory. For albacore, either direct tie to mono or a very short piece of fluoro, like 4 ft, so knot is outside the tip.

I like mono, so I might have a partial top shot of mono attached to the braid with an fg knot. Then attach the fluoro if desired.

It's a personal preference thing. A lot of guys tie the short fluoro directly to braid, and catch like crazy.

 

Agree with Mark. Fluoro is a hard line that is more tooth resistant than mono, as well as tougher for the fish to see. That’s about the end of the positives though!

It doesn’t cast as well as mono or braid, and is much more expensive.

I don’t cast mono from a conventional reel as a lot of guys, so I don’t typically use more than a 15-25’ mono top shot before I tie on a few feet of fluoro.

FG for the braid to mono, then a uni to uni between the mono and fluoro. San Diego Jam Knot at the jig. The FG typically casts through the guides easily.

My second choice is braid to a short 3-4’ fluoro with no mono.

 

The best setup for a spin rod is 40 or 50 max braid, tied with an FG knot to 30 or 40 lb max flouro top shot no longer than 15-feet.

You will never need 65 braid on an albacore or even on a spin rod.

The 40lb setup with 30 lb leader will cast a mile and have plenty of pull to deck any albacore.

 

I quit using 50# leader a couple seasons ago. We had a bout of crazy clear water. Watched albies chase the jig and then veer away last minute. Bait guys with 30# we’re still getting eaten. There is no NEED for more than 30. I have 20# on several rods now.

 

We use 50 lb braid with an FG knot to about 10 ft of 30 lb floro. The FG knot takes a while to learn but when tied correctly holds well and goes through your guides easily. It still helps if you dip your rod tip just a bit when the knot is coming in.

 

OK….I feel like I’m over-thinking the hell outta this. I dont know that I care to un-spool the 65# braid at this point so I’ll likely just leave that alone. From there, should I go FG knot to 5-6’ of Floro and then snap-swivel to jig? Should I go braid to a snap-swivel and tie all jigs to that same 5-6’ of FLORO with swivels at the top (Thinking quick change here). Can I eliminate the mono bumper or is that a necessary piece?

 

Not sure I’d go 5-6’ unless you leave that much hanging out of the guide train when you cast. The goal is the cast the least amount of knot through the guides. Even a slim knot like an FG will interfere with casting, especially that close to the start of it.

If you’re a swivel guy, it can go at either the mono-fluoro connection or at the jig.

I’ll throw another option atcha if you don’t like to tie a SD Jam onto the jig. Braid to mono, then a barrel swivel between mono and 3-4’ fluoro. Tie or crimp a solid ring on the end and put your hooks on this ring. Connect the solid ring to your jig with a split ring. This makes jig changes quick and easy, allows you to store jigs without hooks, and reduces how many hooks you carry.

Probably more beneficial when using real big gear that we have to buy better hooks for…

 

Well, you ask 10 guys and you'll get at least 9 answers. I never, ever use snap swivels on any albacore jigging setups. I try to keep it simple & stealthy.

On the end of my leader, I tie on a solid ring. Then attach a split ring. Now attach the jig via the split ring. It makes it easy to swap jigs. And if I want to use an assist hook, it's also attached to the split ring.

Only use quality solid & split rings, like Owner.

My 3 cents

 

lol. I just saw Mark’s response after posting! Well, that’s two of us! Looks like I’m in good company.

 

Everybody has their preference. Mine is braid to 30lb fluoro. I never use a snap - I'd rather re-tie for jig swaps. If you're not re-tying your knots often enough, that tooth fray on your leader will lose you some jigs. Mono as a bumper is unnecessary if you have a good soft rod action and good drag.

 

Jig action will suffer without a ring or snap of some kind.
I’m partial to du locks. Only thing I don’t like about braid to mono to snap is line twist.
I tie an Alberto knot for my braid to mono which works fine. I think the issue people have is not cutting the mono tag line short enough which does cause major issues with letting line out.
Many ways to skin a cat.

 

I use both at different times..however I don't believe albacore are line shy especially during feeding periods..I like mono better because of the stretch..a Yucatan knot is fine lots of similarities to other knots..once they are chummed into a frenzy I don't think it matters..many time I'm causing commotion on the top water to create a feeding frenzy..predator fish can't stand a brother getting a better easier meal than them...fun part is pumping stomachs and seeing you chum inside fish you're catching..I like metered line on for the reason for knowing where I am not thinking I know where I am...take some advice and create your own protocol..if you get out enough it won't be hard for anyone to figure out what's working..however what worked out today may have to be switched up..don't be afraid to switch things up...that's what's nice about having 4 or 5 anglers aboard..I'm generally the guy who tries something different..and many times I get rewarded until I dont...lol

 

Braid to 4-5’ of mono or fluoro via a FG knot. Then solid ring to split ring to hook(s). That goes to whatever jig I want. Get a good set of split ring pliers. But do check for frayed lines.

 

Marty set me up years ago with my spinner jig rods. 65 braid to 100’ of 40 lb mono. To the jig

that way it’s easy for guests to drop a jig 100’

on my personal rods I usually go about 15’ of 40# flouro over spectra so I don’t have to retie my connection on a busy day

as others have mentioned. Learn the FG knot

 

I have ran a Tuna charter the last 5 seasons and all my jig setups had 50lb metered braid with 25’ of 30lb fluro. I used the Alberto knot most of the time, pretty flawless setup for me. Never have issues with the knot catching. I like that extra length of top shot so I can just cut and re-tie if there is any frays in my line. I will use 40lb fluro on deeper drop verdical jigs but other than that I primarily use 30lb. As stated above, if your good and quick at tying the FG knot that is probably the smoothest knot to use.