The knot is what I understand to basically be an improved/modified FG or GT knot. Here is my source, I prefer this one and have not had this knot fail yet. I had one that I leader tied last summer and used it for the whole season with no issues.
The reasons were a few...
- I typically am fishing deep, not uncommon to have 200+ feet of line out.
- The number one reason I prefer the braid when that deep, it has a much better feel, you can feel every head shake even with 300' of line out with a fish on. Makes it much more fun and enjoyable and because braid is 'less forgiving', the reward is greater (personally anyway!).
- Less line drag and blow back because I typically am fishing deep.
- I like the top shot of mono for two reasons.
- It allows a little bit of grace for larger fish, allows flexibility, especially when playing and landing at the boat (I'm often solo or with my younger son)
- It is much better for holding the line in the clip
- I prefer the braid for the subtle strikes and for when you have shakers, rockfish, P-cod, etc on the line. That with a MF rod tip, the subtle rod dips are more easily discernible and end up dragging incidental bycatch around less.
- I feel that I've had more hook ups, or at least a much better retention ratio because of the change.
I'm no expert and don't claim to be absolutely right but I like what I have.
I don't worry about the ratio's at all whether right, wrong, or indifferent. I use Amundson mooching reels, so for backing I add about 200 yards of Berkley Trilene Big Cat Solar (UV, high vis) backing which fills about half the volume of the spool. I tie on with the improved FG knot 300 yards of Hi-Vis 30# Power Pro, this takes me to about 70% spool capacity with lots of room for taking up line that is offset. I then tie on my leader, using the FG knot with the top shot of the Berkley BG Solar. I love this stuff, the line visibility on the surface is awesome. I've had other boats comment on how they can see where my line is quite a ways away.
Here are some pictures.
View attachment 31895
View attachment 31896