N. NEXT LEVEL BASS ANGLING: Best Knots That Every Bass Angler Should Know

PART 1: Rapala Knot + Palomar Knot PART 2: The Uni Slip Knot + Double Uni Knot PART 3: San Diego Jam & Uni Snell Knot WORDS: Duncan Murfin ILLUSTRATIONS: Laudette Sass PART 4: Yucatan Knot & Arbor Knot Continuing our series on ‘Best Bass Knots”, remember that the knot is the weakest link in your line. It also pays to use the correct knot for the particular application – in bass fishing there is not a one-size-ﬁts-all knot. Knowing which one is correct, not only for a bait but also the material the line is constructed from, is as important. Fact is that there are speciﬁc knots with properties suited to speciﬁc techniques. Bass ﬁshing throws out most of the properties that popular knots have for targeting hard ﬁghting bass in cover. In conventional angling breaking strain is measured on lateral line strength, whereas bass exert sudden jolts on the line which makes dynamic impact resistance or shock resistance much more important. One of the most common complaints among bass anglers is not the fact the line parts on the hookset but that it breaks at the knot. The major reasons for knot breakage are firstly that the strain on the knot exceeds the line’s knot strength, and secondly not taking the trouble to tie the knot properly so it breaks even when the strain does not exceed its potential strength. Continuing this series, here are another two knots. The Yucatan Knot & Arbor Knot 6. Yucatan Knot Knot Know How: Application & Line Recommendations Recommended Use: Joining line or leader materials of varying diameter.Suitable Line: Monofilament, Fluorocarbon, Braid. Pro's & Cons: + Quick to Tie+ Incredibly strong and creates a small knot that passes through guides easily.- Must pull all the lines simultaneously to seat the knot. Arguably one of the easiest knots to learn, the Yucatan knot is a great connection knot to join lines of varying materials and diameter. To Tie: Double the thinner diameter line to form a loop. Next wrap the loop around the larger diameter line (leader) 8 times.Hold the loop and pass the leader tag through the loop at the end of the wraps. Lubricate the knot and start pulling both tag ends and mainlines all together. Be careful not to let the tag end of the smaller diameter line slip when the knot is seated. Note: It will take a few attempts to learn the knot but once you have mastered it tying on a leader will only take you seconds. The Yucatan Knot is incredibly strong and creates a small knot that passes through all types of guides with ease. 7. Arbor Knot This is the standard knot recommended by most manufacturers when spooling monofilament or fluorocarbon lines or to stop line peeling off a storage spool. One important aspect of the Arbor knot is that the line you use must stretch or else the knot won’t lock into place. To Tie: Tie a simple half hitch (don’t pull the knot tight) around the mainline +-20cm from the tag and then wrap the line around the spool. Thread the tag end through the half knot and then tie another half knot on it. Pull the tag end to seat the main line on the spool, and once it is seated pull the tag end to lock the second half hitch knot in place. Pull it just enough to a point where the line starts to stretch, then release and it should be locked on the spool. *Continued next issue.

N. NEXT LEVEL BASS ANGLING: Best Knots That Every Bass Angler Should Know

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