Fishing Knots By Grog

Fishing Knots

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Join different types or thickness of fishing line.

Used to attach the fishing line to the arbor or spool center.

Strong loop for double-line leader and loop-to-loop join.

Strong double-line leader and for loop-to-loop connections.

One of the best knots for joining two lines of similar size.

Easy and fast tying knot for attaching a hook or fly.

Secure, and fast tying knot for attaching a hook or fly.

Simple knot used to tie a hook or fly to a leader.

Creates a large loop in the middle of a line.

Attaches hook to leader and provides a hold for bait.

Securely joins braided line to leader

Attaches a fishing line to a hook, lure, or swivel.

Used to join two lines of different diameters.

Creates a very strong fixed loop in the end of a line.

Strong, small, light & reliable knot to attach a hook to a line.

Simple knot to attach a line to a hook, or a fly to a tippet.

Small loop in end of a leader aligns with the standing end.

A non-slip loop knot usually tied directly to the lure.

Attaches a hook to a line; retains line strength very well.

Excellent for joining lines of different diameter or material.

Allows the leader, or tippet, to be directly tied to a baited hook.

Reliable way to join two lines of moderately unequal size.

End of line loop often used to make a loop-to-loop connection

Strong and reliable knot to join monofilament line to hooks.

Used for Snelling, creating loops and end-to-end joins

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Welcome to Fishing Knots

Selection

These animated knots are primarily used for fishing, but some are useful in other applications. The selection of knots is based on feedback and advice from many expert fishing contributors to this website. In this section the knots are listed in alphabetical order.

Fishing Knot Characteristics

Fishing knots are designed to be tied in monofilament or braided fishing line and to run through the eyes and rings of a fishing rod or rig. Fishing line is cheap. The emphasis, therefore, is on compactness and reliability with no interest in being able to untie them. Many fishing knots employ multiple, tightly wound turns. The structure of such knots changes under load – outer wraps are pulled into the knot and the inner line becomes outer wraps.

Fishing Knots

Fly Fishing Knots

Common Fly Fishing Setup

This image shows one typical system for fly fishing. It shows examples of knots that can be used at each junction. The purpose of the tippet is to prolong the life of the leader by replacing it when enough has been lost through breakage, re-tying flies, or damage on snags. For more information, much more information, about Fly Fishing try Ted Thomas's article in Gray Wolf Life.

Lubricate, Tighten & Trim

Fishing knots are intended to be pulled extremely tight before use. To ensure the knot tightens smoothly, and to avoid generating heat, the knot should be moistened with water first. The most conveniently available source of water is saliva - which is probably used more than anything else! When available, a better lubricant is vegetable oil.

The ends of most fishing knots can, and should, be trimmed closely against the knot. The best tool for the purpose is a nail clipper.

Breaking Strain

Some words have already been written on the Safety page about knots weakening rope. Claimed breaking strength for some fishing knots is suspiciously high. Supposedly it varies with the number of turns used, and the number of turns is supposed to be adjusted to accord with the line diameter. It is worth remembering, testing shows that monofilament with a knot in its length breaks at about 50% of its ideal strength.

Ideal breaking strength is tested by winding each end around very large diameter drums. However, this is not the typical situation; in most cases fishing knots subject the line to sharp bends and kinks, which greatly reduces the breaking strain.

Therefore, in any knot where the line passes round itself, performance figures in excess of the 50 - 70 % range are best treated with critical skepticism. Testing your own line and your own knot with your own spring balance still provides you with the only data you can truly trust.

The only well-documented method of tying knots in monofilament and maintaining its strength involves threading the monofilament inside a dacron braid. The report claims that with this technique breaking strains of 90% of the ideal were achieved.

The two knots which claim very high breaking strains are the Bimini Twist and the Australian Braid

Which Knot Should I Use?

Attach Backing Line to Reel Attach Backing Line (Arbor Knot)

Attach Line by Wrapping (Snell) Wind Line Round Shank (Snell Knot)

Create Open Loop in End of Leader Lengthy Braid (Australian) Lengthy Twist (Bimini Twist) Neat Loop in the End (Perfection) Loop in the Standing End (Surgeon's)

Create Loop in the Middle of a Line Dropper Loop in the Middle of a Line

Join Similar Sized Lines Join Monofilament Lines (Blood Knot)

Use Fish Eggs or Roe as Bait Provide loop to hold the bait

Attach Line to Lure with a Loop Attach line with Davy Knot Attach line with Double Davy Knot Attach Fly with Double Turle Knot Attach line with Uni Knot Attach line with Improved Clinch Knot Line to Hook with Orvis Knot Line to Hook with Non-Slip Mono Line to Hook with Palomar Loop Line to Hook with Rapala Knot Line to Hook with San Diego Jam Knot Line to Hook with Trilene Knot

Join Unequal Sized Lines Unequal Line (Albright) Unequal Line (Double Surgeon's) Unequal Line (Nail Knot) Unequal Line (Slim Beauty)

Joining Lines

Some Knots are better than others for joining lines of different materials or sizes. The following list provides a some recommendations.

Strong Double Line Leader Loop (Claimed 100%) Bimini Twist Australian Braid

Better for Joining Mono Line to Braided Albright Nail Knot Uni Knot Surgeon's Knot

Excellent for Small Braided to Large Tippet Slim Beauty

NOT Recommended for Joining Mono Line to Braided Blood Knot

Better for Attaching Braided Line to Lures Palomar Uni Knot

Similar Knots

Many fishing knots serve almost identical purposes and are interchangeable. Know at least one example in each group.

Attach Line to Hook, or Swivel Improved Clinch Orvis San Diego Jam Trilene Uni Knot

Joining Lines Albright Blood Knot Surgeon's Knot Nail Knot Slim Beauty

Attaching Line to a Lure Rapala Palomar Surgeon's Loop

Joining Lines

Some Knots are better than others for joining lines of different materials or sizes. The following list provides a some recommendations.

Strong Double Line Leader Loop (Claimed 100%) Bimini Twist Australian Braid

Better for Joining Mono Line to Braided Albright Nail Knot Uni Knot Surgeon's Knot

Excellent for Small Braided to Large Tippet Slim Beauty

NOT Recommended for Joining Mono Line to Braided Blood Knot

Better for Attaching Braided Line to Lures Palomar Uni Knot

Similar Knots

Many fishing knots serve almost identical purposes and are interchangeable. Know at least one example in each group.

Attach Line to Hook, or Swivel Improved Clinch Orvis San Diego Jam Trilene Uni Knot

Joining Lines Albright Blood Knot Surgeon's Knot Nail Knot Slim Beauty

Attaching Line to a Lure Rapala Palomar Surgeon's Loop

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