🎣 GardenRouteFishing

Fishing knots

The knots that hold the fish of your life. Wet every knot before tightening — friction heat weakens line. Percentages are approximate knot strength vs unknotted line.

Improved clinch knot

Use: Tying hook or swivel to mono/fluoro line · Strength: ~85-95%

The everyday knot for tying hooks and swivels to monofilament and light fluorocarbon.

  1. Pass the line through the eye and make 5-7 wraps around the standing line.
  2. Pass the tag end through the small loop just above the eye.
  3. Now pass it through the big loop you just created.
  4. Wet the knot and pull tight; trim the tag.

Palomar knot

Use: Braid to hook or swivel · Strength: ~90-95%

The strongest, simplest knot for braid — fewer wraps to slip.

  1. Double about 15 cm of line and pass the loop through the eye.
  2. Tie a loose overhand knot with the doubled line, leaving the loop hanging.
  3. Pass the hook or swivel through the loop.
  4. Wet and pull both ends to seat; trim.

Uni knot

Use: All-round hook/swivel knot; joins lines as a double uni · Strength: ~85-90%

Versatile and reliable; two unis tied together join two lines (leader to main).

  1. Pass the line through the eye and back alongside itself.
  2. Make a loop and wrap the tag through it and around both lines 5-6 times.
  3. Wet and pull the tag to snug the coils, then slide down to the eye.
  4. Trim the tag.

Double uni (line joiner)

Use: Joining mainline to leader · Strength: ~80-90%

The easy way to join leader to mainline when an FG is overkill.

  1. Overlap the two lines by about 20 cm.
  2. Tie a uni knot with the first line around the second (5-6 wraps for mono, 6-8 for braid).
  3. Repeat with the second line around the first.
  4. Wet and pull the standing lines so the two knots slide together; trim tags.

FG knot

Use: Braid mainline to fluoro leader (thin, strong) · Strength: ~90-95%

A slim, super-strong join that runs through the guides — worth learning for lure and distance fishing.

  1. Lay the braid over the leader and make plaited wraps up and down the leader (~20).
  2. Lock with two half hitches over both lines, then several more over the braid only.
  3. Wet thoroughly and seat slowly.
  4. Trim the leader tag close and the braid tag long.

Snell knot

Use: Whipping the line to a hook shank · Strength: ~90%

Gives a straight-line pull to the hook point — deadly for bait fishing and circle hooks.

  1. Pass the line through the eye and lay it along the shank.
  2. Wrap the line around the shank and the standing line 6-8 times toward the eye.
  3. Hold the wraps and pull the standing line to tighten.
  4. Seat and trim.

Dropper loop

Use: Making a standoff loop for a second hook/sinker · Strength: ~80%

Builds a two-hook trace or a paternoster sinker rig — a surf-fishing staple.

  1. Form a loop in the line and make 5-6 twists in the middle.
  2. Open a gap in the centre of the twists.
  3. Pass the loop through that gap.
  4. Wet and pull the standing lines apart so the loop stands out; trim nothing.

Surgeon's knot

Use: Quick strong line joiner · Strength: ~85-90%

Fast and strong for joining similar-diameter lines when you are in a hurry.

  1. Overlap the two lines by ~15 cm.
  2. Tie a loose overhand knot with both lines together.
  3. Pass both lines through the loop a second time.
  4. Wet and pull all four ends evenly; trim.

Tip: practise knots at home with heavy line until your fingers know them — you will be tying them with cold, wet hands in the dark.

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