I am trying to decide how small an inner diameter I can with go on my micros. The guides would need to pass a leader knot joining 10# braid to a 8# flouro leader.

what kind of knot?
what brand of braid and leader?
it's very wide possibility since every braid , flouro and knot has different diameter
i think only yourself can answer your question
just make a connection with your own line and use caliper to measure it
good luck

The smallest knot I know is the FG knot. Lots of YouTube vids on it. I use it most of the time. Takes a while learn. Very strong.

ernest sebastian Wrote:
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> what kind of knot?
> what brand of braid and leader?
> it's very wide possibility since every braid ,
> flouro and knot has different diameter
> i think only yourself can answer your question
> just make a connection with your own line and use
> caliper to measure it
> good luck

I'm using a Slim Beauty knot with Power Pro Slick 8 and Berkeley Vanish flouro as a leader. I assumed I would need a passage larger than just the diameter of the knot for it to be passed efficiently.

Tony,
Any time that I am concerned with a knot passing guides, I will use at least a size 4 tip and guide, but most of the time a size 6.

You certainly don't want to be hanging the knot up in the tip and guides in case a larger knot needs to be passed.

Be safe

There are a lot of things that can go wrong with the FG knot, IMNHO. I think there are more easily tied knots that have better reliability, based on reviews of the knot that I have read. A reliable old standard that is easy to tie is the double uni, but it can get a bit bulky. I think it uses 5 layers of both lines, and 5 layers of 10 pound mono or flouro is a a bit large for micros. If you can reliably tie an Albright, it is the smallest knot that doesn't take a college degree to ty. It uses just two layers of the leader and three of the braid.

If I were to build a rod where I wanted knots to pass, I would do like Roger and use small single foot fly guides in 5.5 or 6. I don't see the advantage of micros as being all that compelling, and would prefer not to worry about whether my knot will pass.

the skinniest leader knot i have found is a modified albright.

I used to use the modified Albright as it was much stronger than the double uni I had been using, but now I use the Slim Beauty. What I prefer about the SB is that the tag end of the leader points rearward thus presenting no possibility of snagging some on it's way out.

I have size 3 micro's on all three of my shakey head rods. I have Suffix 832 10# braid with a 10# fluoro leader attached with a knot called a Alberto knot. This is a modified albright knot and i have been using it to join all my braid / fluoro leaders for probably five years now. Very strong and the knot is very slim. Takes a little time to learn to tie but well worth it. I found it on the Striper.com board. I also use nothing but braid on all my spin rods and they too have the same #3 micro's for the running guides. I have one heavy spin outfit with these #3's that I use 20# Suffix 832 with a 15# fluoro leader and they work fine. The key is the size / diameter on the knot in my opinion. My two cents worth.

Do a search on Fishing line knots and you will find a lot that even show how to tie in slow motion

Bill - willierods.com

I'm using #4 Alconites and 3.5 SiC and have no problem passing 10# braid with 6# and 8# leaders. I use a uni-uni knot.