The Unbreakable Link: Why a Good Knot is Everything
I’ve lost fish to broken lines, thrown lures, and my own dumb mistakes. But the one thing that haunts an angler the most is losing a great fish because a knot slipped. It’s a completely avoidable heartbreak. Your knot is the only thing connecting you to the fish. It has to be perfect, every single time. The good news is, it’s easy to learn, and you don’t need to know dozens of fancy knots. You just need two that are strong, reliable, and that you can tie in the wind and rain without thinking. These are those two knots.
Tooling Up for Practice
Before we start, grab a few feet of old monofilament line (10-12 lb is perfect to work with) and a large hook, like a 4/0 worm hook. Use a pair of pliers to snip the sharp point off the hook for safety. Now you’re ready to practice.
How to Tie the Palomar Knot: The Strongest Connection
This is my go-to knot for 90% of my fishing. It is incredibly strong, simple, and virtually foolproof. I trust this knot with my paycheck in tournaments and for giant fish in remote places. It works great with all three line types.
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Palomar Knot
- Double the Line: Take about 6 inches of your main line and fold it over to create a loop.
[Image: A loop of fishing line is formed.] - Through the Eye: Pass this loop through the eye of your hook or lure.
[Image: The loop of line is passed through the hook eye.] - Form an Overhand Knot: With the loop, tie a simple, loose overhand knot, leaving a large loop at the top. Don’t pull it tight yet.
[Image: A loose overhand knot is tied with the doubled line.] - Pass the Lure Through: This is the key step. Take the large loop you just made and pass your entire hook or lure completely through it.
[Image: The hook is passed through the top loop of the overhand knot.] - Seat and Cinch: Pull on both the main line and the tag end to slide the knot up to the hook eye. It should seat cleanly.
How to Tie the Improved Clinch Knot: The Timeless Classic
This is the knot most of us learned as kids, and for good reason. It’s been landing fish for generations. It is fast to tie and fantastic for monofilament and fluorocarbon lines when connecting to a lure or hook.
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Improved Clinch Knot
- Through the Eye: Pass about 5-6 inches of your line’s tag end through the eye of the hook.
- Wrap the Line: Hold the lure and the line just above the eye. Wrap the tag end around the standing main line 5 to 7 times.
[Image: The tag end is wrapped around the main line 5 times.] - First Tuck: Pass the tag end through the small loop that was formed just above the hook eye.
[Image: The tag end is passed through the first loop by the hook eye.] - Second Tuck (The “Improved” Step): Now, pass the tag end back through the large loop you just created in the previous step.
[Image: The tag end is passed back through the second, larger loop.] - Seat and Cinch: Pull on the main line to tighten the coils down to the hook eye.
The Most Important Step: Cinching Your Knot Correctly
Before you pull any knot tight, you must lubricate it. Wet the line with a bit of saliva or water. This allows the coils to slide together smoothly without creating friction. Friction creates heat, which weakens your line and can reduce your knot’s strength by half. A wet knot is a strong knot.
Captain Sal’s Final Word on Knots
Practice these two knots until they become second nature. Tying a strong, clean knot is a sign of a good angler. It’s a simple skill that breeds confidence, and that confidence will help you catch more fish. Mastering these knots is the first and most critical step we cover in our guide to Essential Fishing Skills.
-Captain Sal
