Learning to properly tie the best knot is critical if you want to become a better fisherman and not have that once-in-a-lifetime fish become a tall tale.
Need to learn how to tie a specific knot or need to find a fishing knot for a specific purpose but don’t know which knot is best for that purpose?
You should be able to find your answer here.
I don’t have every yu[e listed as many are redundant. If you know a hitch or knot that I don’t have listed that you think will serve a purpose better than what I have listed then email me and let me know.
And they aren’t just reserved for fishing lines. Fishing often involves boats and there are a whole host of knots that will come in handy whether you are mooring a boat or tying on an anchor.
Choose your fishing knot!
Uni-Knot
This is one of the best solutions around withstanding sudden jerks better than other versions. Very strong and can be used in a number of applications although it is most commonly used for tying fishing lines to terminal tackle.
The uni-knot works with both braided lines as well as monofilament fishing lines.
It can be tied directly to the hook eye in the traditional manner or tied as a loop. Instead of sliding all the way to the eye simply slide it to the size loop desired. Then, grip the loop just forward of the hook eye and pull firmly on the tag end when the loop is at the desired size. This locks it around the standing line.
Uni-Knot Snell Version
This a a version of the uni-knot that is snelled. This puts it below the eye of the hook where it is protected from abrasion. The angle of pull on the hook is also slightly different than a regular non-snelled hook with is slightly better for setting the hook.
Uni-Knot Join Two Lines
Now that you know the Uni-Knot it is a simple matter of adapting it to join two lines together. No need for a fishing knot and another for joining two seperate line.
Stren Knot
It is an excellent one for joining braid to a mono leader.
Clove Hitch
The Clove Hitch is a quick and easy way of tying a line temporarily to a piling or post. It will usually not bind and unless the pole can turn will usually not unroll once it has been pulled tight. It can be worked lose by repeatedly working the tagline back and forth varying the angle.
You can add one or two half hitches on the standing line for a more secure hitch. With the half hitches, this is an excellent way to tie up to a dock without the line binding over time.
Alpine Butterfly
The Alpine Butterfly is one way of putting a loop in the middle of your rope. The rope still runs straight. It is also easy to adjust and to untie. And most importantly is easier to untie, after being weighted, than a figure eight. Not to say that it can’t jam though.
Bowline Knot
It is one of the most important ones to know especially for boat owners. The bowline is the preferred solution whenever a line is expected to be under a load. Give it periodic slack and the bowline is not secure enough. This can be remedied by leaving a long tagline and tying a stopper.
But to reemphasize… the reason it is so widely known and used is because it will almost never jam.
Palomar Fishing Knot
This one is used to tie the fishing line to a hook or lure. The Palomar is one of the strongest, if not THE strongest fishing ones known. It is really easy to learn how to tie it.
The disadvantage is that it can be difficult to tie onto very large tackle, such as snapper rigs, or any object where the loop is not free to wrap around, or if using a thick diameter line that will not fit through the eye of the hook twice.
Improved Clinch Knot
The Improved Clinch is probably the most widely used model today. They are very strong and don’t slip. This is excellent for most lures and other terminal tackles.
Hint instead of wrapping the tagline around the main line it is usually easier and quicker to simply grasp the tag and main line and spin the hook or lure to get the desired number of twist.
Highwaymans Hitch
The Highwayman’s Hitch is just perfect. I mean hitch for tying a rope to a pole when you need a quick release. To untie you simply pull on the tag end and the rope will be completely free of the pole it was tied to. The quick release is what makes it famous but it also gets the thumbs up in its ability to not jam after being loaded.
To make the hitch more secure the tag end is often left long and dropped through the center of the loop.
Offshore Swivel Knot
The Offshore swivel is used to attach a swivel or even a hook to a main line. Commonly used to provide a place to attach a hook or sinker off of another short line. But also comes in handy if you want to attach a swivel or hook to a double line.
Reef Knot
It is easily tied and will not jam, so it is always easy to untie. This fact makes it valuable to know. To make it more secure the two tag ends can be tied around the main lines or a stopper can be added.
Adjustable Grip Hitch
This hitch is one of the easier hitches to tie but has grips better than most. The adjustable grip hitch’s big advantage though is it gives you the ability to slide up and down the main line which will adjust the length of the main line.
To make it the Adjustable Grip Hitch easier to untie after being put under a load you can pass a bight (double the rope) through on the last step instead of just passing the tagline through. This gives you an easy way to pull the normally single tagline back through.
Surgeons End Loop
The Surgeon’s End Loop is used to form a loop at the end of a rope or fishing line. This end loop is easy to tie and reliable. Great for making leaders, especially for bottom fishing.
Coiling a Rope
Quick easy way to coil a rope for storage. Not the neatest but one of the quickest and should be adequate for storing rope on your boat.
Now as you have learned more about the best fishing knots and how they are tied properly, you can try fishing not only as your hobby but also as a means of earning. If you love fishing more than any other activity in the world, you can not only enjoy it as a hobby and lifestyle.