5 Fishing Knots You Should Know

by Ken Freel • January 31, 2012 • 13 comments

Every angler can benefit from knowing how to tie these five fishing knots and when to use them.

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Properly tied fishing knots are a crucial aspect of being a successful angler. However, knowing how to tie and use proper knots is often one of the most neglected aspects of fishing. It shouldn't be. Knots are the one thing that keep you connected with your hook ...and that fish on the end of your line. Besides, many of the top knots in use today are easy to master. Let's start off with five of the simplest to tie and the best to know...

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13 Responses

  1. Alan L.

    Yes, I agree.

    On February 1, 2012 at 5:06 pm • Reply
  2. William McLaughlin

    The diagram only shows two wraps?

    On February 1, 2012 at 5:16 pm • Reply
  3. Richard Smith

    I've used the palomar knot for the past 15 years and it has NEVER failed me. so quick and easy, hard not to use it.

    On February 1, 2012 at 8:13 pm • Reply
  4. Joe

    Might want to add the perfection loop to your list of "must haves".

    On February 2, 2012 at 5:42 am • Reply
    • John Smith

      for fly fishing and prerigged leaders, the loop knot is a good one also. tie a open loop or half hitch two inches up the line. go through the hooks eye then the loop in the line then tie a half hitch and you are done. does not work good on braid nor small diameter lines like 10lb and below.

      On April 25, 2012 at 3:07 pm • Reply
  5. home cookin'

    I put a double loop at the hook eye, too, before wrapping up the line, then run the tag end through both of them. I was told it was the "Marlin Perkins knot" but that was ages ago.

    On February 2, 2012 at 7:17 am • Reply
  6. Eugene V. Lenarz

    I used the clinch knot beginning in about 1940. My brother began tying it with two loops through the eye in the 50s. In the 60s, I saw it listed as the Trilene knot. As to the Palomar, it's a great knot to use to tie on a hook when drop-shotting.

    On February 2, 2012 at 1:29 pm • Reply
    • johnny fain

      Clinch with two loops through the eye became the Trilene, Uni Knot with two loops became the "Fish-N-Fool" knot – a Knot Wars winner.

      On February 19, 2012 at 2:14 pm • Reply
  7. c mcdonnold

    I disagree with the surgeon knot for braid to mono. The smaller diameter braid will eventually cut the mono. The uni-to-uni knot is a better knot.

    On February 7, 2012 at 1:19 pm • Reply
    • johnny fain

      Totally agree, the Uni to Uni is the way to go, braid to mono. The http://www.netknots.com site these nice drawings came from recommends the uni to uni knot.

      On February 19, 2012 at 2:16 pm • Reply
  8. John Smith

    We call number four a double surgeon knot in fly fishing. Good knot just hard to do if you have finger joint problems or in the cold.

    On April 25, 2012 at 3:12 pm • Reply
  9. John Smith

    We call number four a double surgeon knot in fly fishing. Good knot just hard to do if you have finger joint problems or in the cold.

    On April 25, 2012 at 3:14 pm • Reply
  10. John Smith

    The spider hitch is the easy alternative to the Bimini twist. This is a quick knot

    On April 25, 2012 at 3:15 pm • Reply