Different Knots & When To Tie Them

One of the most confusing decisions for many anglers to make, and not only for beginners but also for seasoned anglers, is which knot to use where and why? Is it possible to have a one size fits all? Or do we really need an encyclopedia with us every time we go out on the bank? With so many options, with always someone advocating this or that new wonder knot, do you really need to keep changing? Here’s our guide to which knot and why we use them, to help you decide if you need any more. Knotless Knot: Use: Linking the fish to you, the engine room of your hook link. Materials: Mono & Braid Comment: Likely one of the first knots anglers will come across as they move into specimen fishing. A solid and secure knot, easy to tie and pretty foolproof. Tip: When tying always begin wrapping from the opposite side of where the hook eye closes. While this is not always critical, get into the habit as the eyes of poor quality hooks either don’t fully close or have a sharp edge, both which can cause the knot to fail. By wrapping from the opposite side you move the initial wrap of line slightly away from that dangerous eye-closing and potential fail point. Improved Or Tucked Half Blood Knot: Use: Attaching line to swivels, hooks, leads. Materials: Mono & Braid Comment: A blood knot is used for tying two lines together, a half blood knot is just the same knot, but with just one side used, while the improved or tucked blood knot, folds the tag end back inside itself for extra security. Tip: Likely one of the very first knots an angler learns to tie, but don’t let that fool you. Especially when tying heavy mono, this knot will be difficult to beat and sometimes simpler is better. Grinner or Uni-Knot:Use: Tying swivels, joining lines or hooks if you are not using the Knotless Knot. Materials: Mono & Braid Comment: Very popular knot used by many anglers. Strong and reliable, a stalwart amongst Specimen knots. Likely one of the first knots anglers will come across as they move into specimen fishing. A solid and secure knot, easy to tie and pretty foolproof. Tip: Make sure you use enough turns as you wrap the line; a minimum of five will be best. A double Uni-Knot is a good method of joining two lines together. Palomar Knot: Use: Used when tying line to end piece of tackle such as Swivels and Hooks. Materials: Mono & Braid Comment: One of fishing’s top knots, used in many facets. One of the few knots when tied correctly has close to 100% breaking strain. Tip: As with all knots, moisten and tighten slowly, ensuring the coils and the line lies smoothly and evenly. Not only does a poorly finished knot look shoddy, but incorrectly laid lines weaken the knot. Surgeons Loop or Figure of 8 Knot: Use: When a loop is needed, typically to finish off a hooklink. Materials: Mono & Braid Comment: A very good and simple knot to use, it enables you to accurately finish your rigs at exactly the length you require. Very strong, with a small knot which helps when sliding over quick-change sleeves and shrink tubing. A must-have knot in your armoury. Tip: If you’re tired of that kink when you tie a loop in any mono or fluorocarbon type stiff rig material, this knot will leave the loop coming off straight and inline every time. Mahin Leader Knot: Use: Joining lines, especially for leaders. Materials: Mono & Braid Comment: The only knot many anglers use for joining their leaders, and if you are casting, the tapered profile of this knot will help the line smoothly through your guides. Tip: Can be tricky when fine braid is used, especially with some of the new coated super-braids. Tie it slowly and lay the coils nicely as you smooth and pull it tight. Moisten and don’t hurry. If you find the braid keeps pulling through a single overhand knot in the braid can act as a stop and that’s enough to fix and hold it in place. Then tighten down hard. Albright Knot: Use: Joining two lines together. Materials: Mono & Braid Comment: Named after its inventor, Jimmy Albright, he used it when guiding in the Florida Keys fishing for Bone Fish and Giant Tarpon in the 1950’s. Mainly used in Carp fishing as a good way to build your own Combi-Links, it can also be used as intended, namely for joining lines/leaders. Incidentally, Jimmy also invented the Nail-Knot, also a widely used knot by fly fishers. Tip: Use a minimum of seven wraps when tying it, and try not to let the coils overlap each other, it’s been said by no lesser a great than Lefty Kreh; they must be laid neatly or its here that the knot will break. Overhand or Granny Knot :Use: Probably in many places it shouldn’t be used, but the humble overhand knot does have its place in specimen carping, namely for hair loops and attaching rig rings. Materials: Braid mainly Comment: The loop that your tie for the stop is often the first knot you tie when rig making. A simple overhand knot is suitable, but if you really want it fixed, then just use the figure of eight knot. Do not use this knot for any critical parts of your rig which come under tension. Tip: Where this knot really comes into its own though, is when tying a blow-back rig and to have a small knot to fix the ring in place. Have a knot which can be moved by pulling with a baiting needle is a bonus when you need to fine tune the angle the bait comes off the shank of the hook. So whether it’s a double bottom or pop-up presentation, the overhand knot can slide, under tension, to enable perfect presentation.