What Knot To Know: The Fishing Knot Guide

Just like learning how to tie your shoes when you were a kid, learning how to tie the essential knots of fisherman will keep you from tripping up. Now However, the steaks are much higher. If you take the time to research the best rods, reels, lines, and lures, as well as spend the time figuring where to find fish and how to catch them, don’t you want the reassurance that your knots are going to hold up when you have a new personal best fish at the end of your line.

If you ever over worry about what pound test you should use, then you should be equally worried about tying a knot that will hold up to that same strength.

“Your fishing line is only as strong as its weakest link”

Here is a list of the knots that I use regularly. Most of them have a specific time and place where they should be used, while others can be used for many different applications.

The Knots We Will Cover

The Arbor knot is used for tying line to your reel and is easy to tie. This knot is very important to know.

The Uni knot is used for tying line to your lure and is easy to tie. This knot is very important to know.

The Double Uni knot is used for tying line to another line and is moderately easy to tie. This knot is very important to know.

The Improved Clinch knot is used for tying line to your lure and is easy to tie. This knot is very important to know.

The Palomar knot is used for tying line to your lure and is easy to tie. This knot is very important to know.

The FG knot is used for tying line to another line and is fairly difficult to tie. This knot is somewhat important to know.

The Blood knot is used for tying line to another line and is moderately easy to tie. This knot is somewhat important to know.

The Snell knot is used for tying line to your lure and is moderately easy to tie. This knot is somewhat important to know.

The Non Slip Loop knot is used for tying line to your lure and is moderately easy to tie. This knot is somewhat important to know.

New Fisherman - The Knots You Need To Learn First

If you are brand new to fishing and are learning to tie fishing knot for the first time the most important knots that let you tie your main line from your spool to your leader and your leader to your lure. Those knots are the Arbor, the Double Uni, the Improved Clinch, and the Palomar Knot.

Stubborn Fisherman

If you are stubborn and only want to learn one knot and use if for every application you should learn how to tie the Uni knot. This knot is made to tie your line to a hook, but in a pinch can be used to tie your line onto your spool, or even tie two lines together through the use of a Double Uni

Instructions

Arbor Knot

Applications

This knot if used to connect your line to your reel.

Importance

very.

Ease

This knot is easy to tie.

Description

Great knot for tying your line onto your spool. Quick, easy, reliable.

Instructions

Uni Knot

Applications

This knot if used to connect your line to your lure.

Importance

very.

Ease

This knot is easy to tie.

Description

Not the best knot for all applications, but can be used in so many different scenerios it is a must learn knot.

Instructions

Double Uni Knot

Applications

This knot if used to connect your line to another line.

Importance

very.

Ease

This knot is moderately easy to tie.

Description

Fantastic line to line knot, especially for tying your main line to your leader.

Instructions

Improved Clinch Knot

Applications

This knot if used to connect your line to your lure.

Importance

very.

Ease

This knot is easy to tie.

Description

Most likely the most well known knot. It has stood the test of time. Avoid using this knot on braided line. Most braids are slick and your knot may fail.

Instructions

Palomar Knot

Applications

This knot if used to connect your line to your lure.

Importance

very.

Ease

This knot is easy to tie.

Description

One of the easiest and strongest knots.

Instructions

FG Knot

Applications

This knot if used to connect your line to another line.

Importance

somewhat.

Ease

This knot is fairly difficult to tie.

Description

Takes a while to learn and tie. Once you get the hang of it, it is an extremely strong, and extremely skinny knot, great for casting with long leaders along your knot to slide through your eyelets easier.

Instructions

Blood Knot

Applications

This knot if used to connect your line to another line.

Importance

somewhat.

Ease

This knot is moderately easy to tie.

Description

Alternative to the Uni to Uni knot. The Blood knot is basically a clinch to clinch knot.

Instructions

Snell Knot

Applications

This knot if used to connect your line to your lure.

Importance

somewhat.

Ease

This knot is moderately easy to tie.

Description

Make sure your line comes out the hook side of your hooks eye.

Instructions

Non Slip Loop Knot

Applications

This knot if used to connect your line to your lure.

Importance

somewhat.

Ease

This knot is moderately easy to tie.

Description

Also called the Kreh Loop Knot. This is a fantastic knot for giving your lures or flies extra action. It is a clinch not with an extra overhand knot thrown in.

Instructions