Let's talk KNOT-TIE about KNOTS ;)
We will take you through everything you need to know about tying knots for a more successful fishing experience. Fishing is a wonderful and exciting sport that is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels, but the key to success lies in using the right gear and techniques. One of the most important factors in catching fish is having strong and secure knots that can withstand the strain and pressure of reeling in a big catch. In this article, we will show you step-by-step how to tie some of the most commonly used knots and provide helpful tips to make your fishing experience more enjoyable and successful.
Understanding Line-to-Line Knots:
A line-to-line knot, also sometimes reffered to as a leader knot, is a knot used to join two fishing lines of different diameters or materials. This type of knot is essential for fishing situations where a different line is needed for the leader and the mainline. There are various types of line-to-line knots, but the most common and effective knots are the Albright knot, the Blood knot, and the Double Uni knot.
The Albright Knot:
The Albright knot is a strong and reliable knot that is commonly used to join different types of fishing lines of similar diameters. Good for all types of fishing line, especially useful when joining monofilaments of different sizes.
Follow these simple steps to tie the Albright Knot:
Step 1: Make a loop in the heavier line and run about 10” of the lighter line through the loop.
Step 2: Hold the 3 lines between your thumb and index finger. Wrap the light line back over itself and both strands of the loop.
Step 3: Make 10 tightly wrapped turns. Feed the tag end back through the loop and exit the loop the same side as it entered. Note that you can wrap front to back or back to front, the end result will be the same. Just make sure the lines exit on the same side of the loop.
Step 4: Hold both ends of the heavy line and slide the wraps to the end of the loop. Moisten then pull the light line to tighten and clip tag end close to the knot.
The Blood "Barrel" Knot:
The Blood knot also reffered to as the "Barrel Knot" because of its appearence in looking barrel like. It is normally used to tie two lines in similar size together and is one of the more ideal knots to join sections of tippet or leader.
Follow these simple steps to tie the Blood "Barrel" knot:
Step 1: Overlap the ends of the leader and mainline and make five to six turns with the tag end of each line around the other line.
Step 2: Insert the tag end of the leader line through the loop created by the mainline and vice versa.
Step 3: Moisten the knot with water or saliva and pull the knot tight.
Step 4: Trim the tag ends of both lines.
The Double Uni Knot:
The Double Uni knot is a versatile and easy-to-tie knot that can be used to join lines of different diameters or materials. Follow these simple steps to tie the Double Uni knot:
Step 1: Overlap the ends of the leader and mainline and make a loop with the mainline.
Step 2: Hold the leader line alongside the loop and make five to six turns around both the mainline and the leader line.
Step 3: Pass the tag end of the leader line through the loop and do the same with the mainline.
Step 4: Moisten the knot with water or saliva and pull the knot tight. Trim the tag ends of both lines.
Terminal connections:
Terminal connection knots are essential in fishing because they are the last link between you and the fish. A weak or poorly tied terminal connection knot can result in a lost catch if your hook slips or the knot fails. In this article, we will explore the different types of terminal connections, their uses, and how to tie them correctly.
Types of Terminal Connections:
There are several types of terminal connections, including the Palomar knot, the Clinch knot, the Snell knot and the single uni knot. Each of these knots has its unique characteristics and is suitable for specific fishing scenarios.
The Palomar Knot:
The Palomar knot is a strong and reliable knot used for tying hooks, lures, and swivels to the fishing line. It is suitable for tying braided lines, fluorocarbon lines, or monofilament lines. Follow these simple steps to tie the Palomar Knot:
Step 1: Double 6 inches of line and pass end of loop through eye of hook, leaving about six inches of doubled line outside the hook eye.
Step 2: Tie a loose overhand knot with hook hanging from bottom.
Step 3: Holding overhand knot between thumb and forefinger, pass loop of line over the hook. Slide loop above eye of hook.
Step 4: Moisten with water or saliva then pull on both the standing line and tag end to tighten knot down onto eye. trim the tag end close.
The "Improved" Clinch Knot:
The Clinch Knot is a time-tested and a very popular choice for tying terminal tackle to monofilament line. Follow these simple steps to tie the Improved Clinch Knot:
Step 1: Thread end of line through eye of hook. Double back making 5 or more turns around standing line.
Step 2: Bring end of line back through the first loop formed behind the eye then through the big loop.
Step 3: moisten knot with water or saliva then pull on tag end to tighten down the coils. Slide tight against the eye and trim tag end close.
The Snell Knot:
Originally, the snell know was invented for eyeless hooks, and is still widely used. This knot aligns the leader with the hook's shank. It provides a trustworthy straight line pull when setting the hook. Follow these simple steps to tie the Snell Knott:
Step 1: Run tag end through hook eye toward point of hook, form a small loop and bring tag end behind hook shank. You will want about four inches of tag to work with.
Step 2: Begin wrapping the tag end around the hook shank and the line working from the point to the eye. Make 5 -7 wraps and then feed tag out through loop, from underside to topside.
Step 3: While holding wraps in place, moisten with water or saliva and pull the tag end to tighten. Make sure wraps are nice and neat on the hook shank and pull both ends very tight. Trim the tag end.
The Single Uni Knot:
Also known as the "Duncan Loop" Knot and the "Grinner" Knot, the Uni Knot is a good and dependable knot for monofilament to terminal tackle connections. Some anglers find it easier to tie than the Improved Clinch and equally dependable. Follow these simple steps to tie the Single Uni knot:
Step 1: Run line through eye of hook and double back parallel to the standing line. Make a loop by laying tag end over the doubled line.
Step 2: Make 6 turns with the tag end around the double line and through the loop.
Step 3: Moisten lines with water or saliva then pull tag end to snug up the turns.
Step 4: Slide knot down to the eye or leave a small loop if desired
Bonus Knots for Bonus Fish!
Here we will teach you some bonus knots that are quite helpfull to know in particular situations. You may never need to know any of these knots, but sometimes its exactly what you need for a given situation. They have came in handy for me many times and I am thankfull for the extra knowledge.
The Simple Arbor Knot:
Use the simple Arbor Knot to tie your fishing line to the spool. The goal here isn’t in thinking that this knot is going to hold if a fish has taken all the line off your spool, but more so having something strong enough to hold in the event you lose a rod overboard or drop it into a stream and have to pull it up by the line.
If you are off shore angler loking for larger fish, there is a more complex knot called the 100% Arbor Knot, or the Complex Arbor knot. It is a more advanced knot so we will not be covering it here. Follow these simple steps to tie the Simple Arbor Knot:
Step 1: Wrap your line around the arbor of the spool with the tag end of the line. Then tie a simple overhand knot around the standing part with the tag end.
Step 2: Tie a second overhand knot in the tag end just an inch or two from the first overhand knot.
Step 3: Pull the standing part of the line to slide the first overhand knot down to the spool and the second knot to jam against the first. Trim tag end close.
The Bobber Stopper Knot:
The Bobber Stopper Knot is tied on to the main line above a sliding bobber. The knot grips the line at the location you want the bobber to stop at for the depth you want to fish. The very handy part about this knot is that it can be reeled in past the eyes of the rod. Once casted out the bait settles to the desired depth, the bobber slides up the line until it hits the stopper knot. This allows for deep bait presentation without being impeded by the bobber on the cast. Follow these simple steps to learn how to tie the Bobber Stopper Knot:
Step 1: The knot should be made with about 6 inches of line. Lay the stopper line against the fishing line at the chosen point and double back forming a loop. Hold the loop where the stopper line crosses over itself and the fishing line.
Step 2: Take two or three turns around both lines passing through the open loop each time.
Step 3: Moisten lines with water or saliva then pull the two ends in opposite directions to tighten down the knot.
The Dropper Loop Knot:
A Dropper Loop Knot is a method of attaching additional flies, baits or jigs to a single fishing line. If the loop is tied particularly large, one side of the loop can be cut where it exits the knot leaving a single strand line, upon which baits can be tied directly and efficiently. Follow these simple steps to learn how to tie the Dropper Loop Knot:
Step 1: Form a loop in the line at the desired location. Pass line from one side of loop through and around that side of loop. Make 5 to 7 wraps and keep new formed loop open.
Step 2: Push bottom of original loop up through new opening and hold with teeth. Wet knot with saliva and pull both ends in opposite directions.
Step 3: Moisten lineswith water or saliva, then pull the ends of the line evenly until coils tighten and the loop stands out from line.
The Egg Loop Knot:
Fish eggs, trout bait, and roe make excellent bait but they are difficult to attach to a hook. Use the Fish Egg Loop Knot to tie your own leaders that will accommodate your bait of choice. The Egg Loop is useful in Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout fishing. After tying the knot push a little of the leader back into the hook eye to form the loop you put your bait around.
Follow these simple steps to learn how to tie the Egg Loop Knot:
Step 1: Start with about 2 feet of leader and thread leader through hook eye to bend in hook. Hold in place with thumb and forefinger.
Step 2: Make 10 - 20 tight wraps back toward bend in hook.
Step 3: Hold wraps firmly in place and thread end of leader back through hook eye in opposite direction. 4. Make 5 more wraps.
Step 4: moisten with water or saliva, then pull on leader to tighten down the knot.
Step 5: Open up the line on top of the hook into a loop to hold the eggs, trout bait, or roe sack.
