There is a lot to know when you first get started fishing. Even after you've been fishing for years you will find some of these knots to be helpful, so do have a look through them!
There's a real difficulty in using words to describe how to tie knots in three dimensions. It's hard enough to show someone standing next to you! For this reason, we've added videos to help you follow closely after reading the step-by-step instructions we've provided here.
Try the step-by-step instructions first and see if you can get it. Some you probably will, and others you'll get lost quickly!
Factors Affecting the Strength of Fishing Knots
There are many variables that can affect the strength and reliability of a fishing knot. Here are some of the most important ones.
Type of Knot – Different types of knots are better suited for different types of fishing lines and applications. Some knots are easier to tie and more versatile, but may not be as strong as others.
Type of Line – The strength and durability of the fishing line being used can greatly affect the holding power of a knot. For example, braided lines are generally stronger than monofilament lines and not all knots are good choices for braided line.
Quality of Line and Tackle – Even the slightest burr on the eye of a metal hook can cause the line to fail at the knot. The same goes for line that isn’t in top condition. It’s always better to cut away rough line and get to a new section without damage before tying a knot.
Knot Details – The way a knot is tied can have a significant impact on its strength. Variables like the number of turns, the angle of entry and exit, and the amount of tension applied to the knot while tying can all affect the strength of the knot itself.
Wet vs. Dry Knots – A knot tied with wet line can be stronger than one tied with dry line. Moisture helps to lubricate the knot so the line slides better and into the ideal position.
Size/Shape of the Hook or Tackle – The size and shape of the hook being used can also impact the strength of the knot, as different knots may be better suited for different hook diameters.
Line Diameter – The diameter of the fishing line being used can affect the holding power of a knot, as smaller diameter lines may require more turns or a different knot type to be used to have the greatest strength.
Cinching Technique and Pressure – Cinch your knots slow and with lubrication so you can see how the knot develops and finalizes. Once you’re sure it’s perfect, the amount of pressure applied to cinch it is important. Pull tightly, that way when you cut the tag end(s) you’ll be sure the end won’t slip through the knot and untie when you need it most. A poorly tied knot may slip or come undone under heavy pressure, while a well-tied knot will hold strong.
Fishing Knots All Anglers Should Know
Learn all these knots and you'll become a fishing master. Learn a handful and you'll probably know enough! Make sure you know some knots that you'll remember and that will help you tie line to hooks, swivels, and lures, but also knots that will help you tie lines together of the same and different diameters.
Just to clear up some vocabulary. The Tag End is the end of your fishing line. The Standing Line or Standing End is the other end of your line that is coming from the fishing reel.
Also, in the examples below the instructions tell you the number of twists or turns around the line to make. With heavier line, you can do 5-6 twists for most of these knots. For lightweight line you should use 6-10 twists to ensure a good knot.
Improved Clinch Knot
Useful for: Tying fishing line to an object like a hook, sinker, swivel, or lure.
Best for: Monofilament, fluorocarbon, braid, and flylines.
Difficulty: 2/5. Easy to tie this one.
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Tie an Improved Clinch Knot Step-by-Step
Pass the line through the eye of the hook.
Make five or six turns around the standing line.
Thread the tag end of the line back through the loop above the eye and then through the big loop.
Wet the knot with water or saliva and pull the tag end to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag end.
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Palomar Knot
Useful For: Tying fishing line to tackle.
Best For: Good for all types of fishing line, including braided, monofilament, fluorocarbon, and flyline.
Difficulty: 1/5 Super easy to tie this knot. (One of our favorites)
Tie a Palomar Knot Step-by-Step
This is the simplest fishing knot to learn, to tie, and to remember. We've used this one for decades. Is it the strongest knot you can possibly tie? No, but it's quite strong enough and the time you'll save tying this knot over some others is substantial over the course of your life!
There are a couple of other cool knots that are simple and effective that we'll also highlight here, but this is one that even kids can tie easily.
This one is more quickly tied with braided line if you're doubling the line up and squeezing the loop through the eye of the hook, but you could always just put the tag end through and turn it around and put it back through to make the same sort of loop in the first step.
Double 6 inches of the line and pass it through the eye of the hook or lure.
Tie an overhand knot in the doubled line, leaving the hook or lure hanging loose.
Pass the hook or lure through the single loop of the overhand knot.
Wet the knot with water or saliva and pull both the standing line and tag end to tighten the knot. Then pull on the standing line to tighten it further. Trim the excess tag end.
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Trilene Knot
Useful For: Tying fishing line to tackle.
Best For: Mono and fluoro lines are best.
Difficulty: 2/5 Fairly easy.
Tie a Trilene Knot Step-by-Step
Thread the line through the eye of the hook or lure.
Double back and thread the tag end back through the eye of the hook again.
Make five or six turns around the standing line, then pass the tag end back through the overhand knot.
Wet the knot with water or saliva and pull both the standing line and tag end to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag end.
Blood Knot
Useful For: Tying two fishing lines together.
Best For: Better for monofilament and fluorocarbon lines but can work with braid and fly fishing lines of the same or different diameter.
Difficulty: 4/5. Difficult to tie and cinch, especially with lightweight line or cold hands.
Tie a Blood Knot Step-by-Step
Overlap the two lines you want to join and twist them together for 4-6 turns.
Bring the tag end of each line through the loop formed on the opposite side.
Wet the knot with water or saliva and pull both standing lines to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag ends.
Surgeon's Knot
Useful For: Tying two fishing lines together.
Best For: Mono and fluoro lines, but can also be used with braid or fly fishing line.
Difficulty: 2/5 This is the easiest way to join two lines together.
Tie a Surgeon's Knot Step-by-Step
Overlap the two lines you want to join and tie a simple overhand knot.
Pass both the tag end and the standing line through the loop twice more.
Wet the knot with water or saliva and pull both standing lines to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag ends.
Surgeon's Loop Knot
Useful For: Tying fishing line to tackle. Good for loop-to-loop knots.
Best For: Mono and fluoro, but you can use braided and flyline too.
Difficulty: 1/5 Easy!
Tie a Surgeon's Loop Knot Step-by-Step
Double back the line and tie a simple overhand knot, leaving a loop at the end.
Pass that loop through the double loop one more time.
Wet the knot with water or saliva and pull both standing lines to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag ends.
Uni Knot
Useful For: Tying fishing line to tackle. Many people use a uni knot to uni knot to tie two lines together as well (see next one). This is a strong knot.
Best For: Mono, fluoro, braid, or fly fishing lines.
Difficulty: 2/5 Easy enough.
Tie a Uni Knot Step-by-Step
Pass the line through the eye of the hook or lure and double back, forming a loop.
Tie a knot around the standing line and the tag end by making five turns.
Thread the tag end through the loop and wet the knot with water or saliva.
Pull the standing line to tighten the knot so it moves closer to the hook. Trim the excess tag end.
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Double Uni Knot
Useful For: Tying two lines together.
Best For: Tying mono or fluoro line to braided line and lines of different diameter.
Difficulty: 4/5. This is rather difficult, but once you tie it a few times, you may choose this method for joining two lines together because it's such a strong knot.
Tie a Double Uni Knot Step-by-Step
Overlap the ends of two lines to be joined and tie a simple overhand knot.
Tie another overhand knot in the doubled lines, leaving a small tag end.
Pass each tag end through the opposite loop.
Wet the knot with water or saliva and pull both standing lines to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag ends.
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Snell Knot
Useful For: Tying fishing lines to hooks where you want a very strong connection.
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Best For: Mono and fluoro lines primarily, but braid can be used.
Difficulty: 2/5 Not too hard.
Tie a Snell Knot Step-by-Step
Run the line through the eye of the hook and tie an overhand knot around the hook shank.
Pass the tag end of the line through the hook eye and down the shank, wrapping it around both the shank and the line.
Make five or six turns and then pull the tag end tight, drawing the line toward the hook bend.
Wet the knot with water or saliva and pull both the standing line and tag end to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag end.
Nail Knot
Useful For: Tying two fishing lines together, especially of different diameters.
Best For: Mono and flyline or fluoro and flyline.
Difficulty: 5/5 They try to make it easier with the knot-tying tool. You can also use a small tube.
RELATED: Fly Fishing Lanyard Setup
Tie a Nail Knot Step-by-Step
Tie a loop in the end of the line and insert a nail or tube into the loop.
Hold the nail against the standing line and wrap the tag end around both the nail and the standing line.
Make five or six turns, keeping the wraps tight and even, then remove the nail or tube.
Thread the tag end back through the loop and wet the knot with water or saliva.
Pull both the standing line and tag end to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag end.
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Albright Knot
Useful For: Tying two fishing lines together.
Best For: Great for tying any two lines together of equal or different diameter.
Difficulty: 5/5 Hard to manage, especially with light line or in less than ideal conditions (cold fingers).
Tie an Albright Knot Step-by-Step
Overlap the end of the heavier line with the end of the lighter line.
Double back the heavier line and make a loop that faces the lighter line.
Tie a simple overhand knot around the lighter line and the loop.
Pass the tag end of the lighter line through the loop.
Wind the lighter line around the loop and the standing line of the heavier line for 10-15 turns.
Pass the tag end of the lighter line back through the loop and wet the knot with water or saliva.
Pull both the standing line and tag end of the lighter line to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag ends.
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Crazy Alberto Knot
Useful For: Tying two fishing lines together.
Best For: Braid to fluoro or braid to mono.
Difficulty: 5/5 Quite difficult to manage.
Tie a Crazy Alberto Knot Step-by-Step
Double the line and make a loop, then pass the loop through the eye of the hook.
Tie an overhand knot around the standing line and the loop.
Pass the tag end through the loop three times.
Wet the knot with water or saliva and pull both the standing line and tag end to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag end.
Bimini Twist Knot
Useful For: Tying fishing line to tackle.
Best For: Offshore fishing and trolling when you need a very strong knot.
Difficulty: 5/5 Ridiculously difficult! If you master this one, you should get an award.
Tie a Bimini Twist Knot Step-by-Step
Double the line and make a loop, then twist the loop 20 times to make a series of twists.
Hold the twists together and make another loop, then twist the loop 20 times to make a series of twists.
Hold the twists together and pass the loop through the first loop.
Wrap the tag end around the standing line and both loops for 20 turns.
Wet the knot with water or saliva and pull both the standing line and tag end to tighten the knot. Trim the excess tag end.
Final Thoughts
If you're just beginning to fish and you think you need to know all of these line knotting techniques before you're able to go fishing, just relax! Learn a couple of knots first and add new ones to your library as you feel the need.
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The easiest knots to tie on this page are the Palomar, Surgeon's Loop, Surgeon's knot, and the Uni knot. If you know these, you can do everything you need to and you may just use these as the main tools in your arsenal for years.
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