Albright Knot

Created for tarpon fishing back in the 1950s by Jimmy Albright, a well-known Florida Keys guide, the Albright Knot is a good choice to add a large-diameter, heavy-pound-test monofilament or fluorocarbon leader to much lighter monofilament fishing line, such as a 60-pound leader to 12- or 20-pound line. It’s also a popular connection to join single-strand wire leader to mono as a bite leader. Many wire-line trollers use the Albright to join a mono leader to Monel wire trolling line, and the braided Dacron backing. It’s not a good connection when joining mono to gelspun because the super-braid will slip.

The number of wraps required around the doubled-over wire or heavy mono varies with the pound-test of the main fishing line. Take 12 wraps with lines of 12- to 20-pound-test, six to ten wraps if the main fishing line is 30-pound-test or above. Twelve wraps with wire line makes a more durable knot to pass repeatedly through rod guides. Light tackle anglers often double the light mono with a 24-inch Bimini Twist or Spider Hitch for maximum knot strength. With wire leaders, simply fold the wire to form a loop; with wire trolling line, form the loop with a Haywire twist. Carefully pinch the loop to a pointed shape with pliers before making the mono wraps.

Step 1
Form a loop in the heavy mono and insert the tag end of the braid through the loop.

Step 2
Make seven tight wraps up the leader loop.

Step 3
Make seven tight wraps down the leader loop.

Step 4
Pass the tag end of the braid through the mono loop in the same direction as it entered.

Step 5
Pull on all four legs of the lines. You may have to push the braid with your fingertips.

Step 6
Pull on the main line and the leader to firmly set the knot. Trim the tag end before fishing.

NOTE: For illustration purposes, 80-pound-test Cortland Dacron was used for the photos taken by Linda Barrett. The black line represents the mono or wire leader, yellow the monofilament running line.