[VIDEO] How to tie the GT knot

Well, after trying to find a decent video of how to tie a GT knot (and not another knot named wrong), I thought I would actually get around to making a video (seeing as it gets requested quite often and is one of the major strong braid-mono knots).

 

So here you go (In HD goodness)

(you'll need to open it in youtube and choose one of the higher resolutions to see it in HD)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe7nG9BBi_o

 

 

 


MattMiller's picture

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Nice work Matt

Tue, 2011-04-12 10:42

the demo with the cord is quite good, shame you couldn't get the mono demo in frame but the first one should suffice.

 

hlokk's picture

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Yeah, a little hard to sort

Tue, 2011-04-12 10:46

Yeah, a little hard to sort out. It was either show the last bit up close, or show the whole thing but not in detail, so I went with the first option because I figured it would be better to show how the braid pulls up on actual line. Missed the focus slightly on the real knot (theres about 2cm of focus, and that was the max i could get)

crasny1's picture

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Matt I dont see it!!!

Tue, 2011-04-12 10:45

Am I the only one????

Neels

I mean I cant see the link to the Vid.

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hlokk's picture

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Must be a browser thing.

Tue, 2011-04-12 10:48

Must be a browser thing. Embedding works fine on mine. I added a link so you can still click to get to youtube (where you can select HD too)

crasny1's picture

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Cheers matt

Tue, 2011-04-12 11:00

Can get to it now. Yes must be some browser thing.

Neels

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PJAY's picture

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great job on the video

Tue, 2011-04-12 10:48

great job on the video matt.........even i will be able to tie that knot now.....thanks mate!

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cuthbad's picture

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nice work mate good demo!

Tue, 2011-04-12 10:51

nice work mate good demo!

Seaquest's picture

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Thanks Matt. Been wanting to

Tue, 2011-04-12 10:55

Thanks Matt. Been wanting to learn this knot for a while.

MattMiller's picture

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I'll give you

Tue, 2011-04-12 10:58

a demo on your tub if you'd like

slam's picture

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Matt, Is this knot

Tue, 2011-04-12 12:17

Is this knot stronger than the bimini to albright? I haven't yet had the albright let go. Just wondering.

hlokk's picture

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Improved albright to single

Tue, 2011-04-12 13:10

Short answer: Improved albright to single line braid, yes, definitely. To a bimini in the braid, I havent checked, but quite likely (for some line diameters more so).

 

Long answer: One thing that frustrated me with albrights is that you need to tie them well and pull them up well or they fail well under. Particularily between a light braid and a light leader where it can cut through with little pressure. Larger leaders can slip if you dont tie them right as well. 

The GT knot has the advantage of being a knot where if 'it looks right' its strong, while an albright can 'look right' but be weak if tied incorrectly, and can be very hard to pick up if its tied strongly. Its very very hard to tie a weak GT knot accidently (as it will be obvious its not right).

If you already have a bimini, the GT doesnt take any longer than an albright anyways, and it has the advantage of an upwards facing tag (better for casting) and is more reliable.


As for knots that 'havent failed'. I've tested all the knots i've used with scales so i'm confident that they have a minimum rated strain. Fished with 25% drag, a 50% knot will not break under normal use, but when you get the fish of a lifetime its a different story (or have to apply the brakes for a demersal or you get your line caught over the handle or something). Also, most people will have to bust off when snagged up or popping an unstoppable before you get spooled, so a strong knot can be quite useful in those situations.

Kinda like having a old VW on the freeway. It can still get to 100, it hasnt failed so far, but its a different story when you have to push it faster ;) At least, unlike cars, high performance knots are free ;)

 

All in all, its up to the angler, but if you want to learn a GT knot, at least theres a video ;)

MattMiller's picture

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It's up to

Tue, 2011-04-12 12:27

the way it's tied and the way you fish. I used to use a version of the improved albright and can't say I had any trouble with it. Only prob was it's a little chuncky through the guides when a long casting leader is used.

I've used the GT for around a year now and must say I prefer it. Fairly easy to tie, goes through the guides a little better and I'm yet to have one fail.The next best know would be an FG but TBH i can't be bothered.

grayzeee's picture

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good work matt.     another

Tue, 2011-04-12 13:12

good work matt.    

another great point about starting with a gt knot is , if your leader gets scuffed up and needs replacing on the boat , just cut the leader off next to the gt knot (dont cut the bimini) and tie an improved albright to your new leader to get fishing again quickly.      works quite well and saves arsing around trying to unpick the gt.

FWIW  a well tied improved albright sinched down well , is a great knot

 

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hlokk's picture

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If you cut the leader just

Tue, 2011-04-12 13:31

If you cut the leader just below the braid, you can often pull the 'loops' off then slip off the mono knot. I heavier lines, bend the braid double back and cut through the mono with some good scissors and it comes off very easy (just gotta cut the knot right).

Again, a well tied albright ;) (but even then, its not as good as the GT :p though it is a quite reasonable knot if tied well)

beau's picture

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 ABSOLUTE LEGEND! no doubt

Tue, 2011-04-12 15:26

 ABSOLUTE LEGEND! no doubt this video will get a million views soon haha

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Brody's picture

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Nice one Matt.

Tue, 2011-04-12 15:49

Nice one Matt.

Lamby's picture

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Top vid Matt, well explained

Tue, 2011-04-12 16:48

Top vid Matt, well explained

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thanks for the video :)

Tue, 2011-04-12 18:19

thanks for the video :) awesome demo!

Auslobster's picture

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Great job, buddy!

Tue, 2011-04-12 18:22

I think you've "shown the light" to a lot of people!

grayzeee's picture

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now do one for a pr and an

Tue, 2011-04-12 18:35

now do one for a pr and an fg.   

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If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am. 

jay_burgess's picture

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Look up the tight line TV on

Wed, 2011-04-13 09:14

Look up the tight line TV on youtube, Fishead have done vids for PR and FG knots.

JGS's picture

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Well Done

Tue, 2011-04-12 18:43

Great vid and the first of many i sincerely hope!!

Very helpful

Lucky Tim's picture

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nice Matt but who was the

Tue, 2011-04-12 19:50

nice Matt but who was the text from? I did reach for my phone.

hlokk's picture

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Yeah, didnt figure out how to

Tue, 2011-04-12 19:53

Yeah, didnt figure out how to mute only that bit. When I played it on my computer I kept looking around for my phone, it sounded exactly like it (hence the note).

jay_burgess's picture

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Good knot but I've always

Wed, 2011-04-13 09:16

Good knot but I've always wondered why it was called the GT knot? Don't think it's entirely practical to use for with GT fishing.

hlokk's picture

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Yeah, ironically I use it for

Wed, 2011-04-13 11:34

Yeah, ironically I use it for almost everything except GT fishing. Perhaps it was around before the PR and FG knots became popular? Certainly in heavier lines, the slimmer knots cast a lot better, but the GT knot works really well in light lines (down to 4lb). Plus its easy to tie, comparitively quick and can be tied on a rocking boat. No one knot will be best at everything though (but this knot didnt have many vids unlike the PR and FG).

JohnF's picture

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Agreed jay, but at a pinch it

Wed, 2011-04-13 10:47

Agreed jay, but at a pinch it is probably OK, but I would prefer to spend an extra minute and tie a FG knot, casts heaps better and probably stronger. Just rigged all my gear from PE 2 to PE 6 with FG knots last nite. FG in PE2 is a bit fiddly but heaps better profile than GT.

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spanishmackeral's picture

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Great demo, will this knot be

Sat, 2011-04-23 20:02

Great demo, will this knot be good for a 10-20m wind-on for trolling with 20-50lb braid or is there a better knot for running a wind-on? (im sick of buying premade wind-ons every couple of weeks.

How does it go being pulled through guides, rollers on eggbeaters, levelwind on small overheads etc.

cheers rob

hlokk's picture

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Works fine for a wind on,

Sun, 2011-04-24 09:49

Works fine for a wind on, however, if doing a wind on for trolling I will usually do a an aussie plait in the mono, then connect the braid to the mono using a similar method to the GT knot. I.e. you leave the mono on the spool and you pull the braid loop through the mono loop, then drop the mono spool through the open braid loop like the GT knot and drop through (5 or 6 times) then pull the knot up (have to be careful it doesnt slip up around the mono loop). See link. Puts less strain than a catspaw. Goes through the guides perfect on a fast fish. Lower profile and less snaggy than a GT knot. GT's are still good for casting, and still work fine for leaders while trolling. If you're knot is out of the guides anyways, I would just use a GT (much quicker). For 100m of topshot I would go the aussie plait/ted donelan.

Auslobster's picture

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GT Knot...

Sun, 2011-04-24 05:47

...hey spanishmackeral, I've connected 100lb mono shock leader to 30lb braid using this knot. Reel is a Calcutta 400B which I normally use for casting lures but I thought I'd rig it up so that I'd have something a bit lighter for the spaniards than the standard 50lb trolling gear. Goes through the guides fine, doesn't go through the levelwind, but leader's only about 2m long so doesn't matter. So far have only caught stripeys and SBT's on it but am confident it will handle a mack if any are still around!

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Gt Knot

Sun, 2011-04-24 06:37

Tied three last night, Cheers Matt !!!

 

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