A fishing knot is a very important part of catching a fish. A good fishing knot is essential in tying a line to the hook, lure, or bait, but deciding on what type of fishing knot to use can be difficult with so many available.
We have compiled a list of the 13 best fishing knots that are essential for you to know!
1. The Fisherman’s Knot
The fisherman’s knot, sometimes called a clinch knot, is the first essential knot that all fishermen need to know.
It is the easiest knot to tie but is still very durable and strong, making it an excellent choice for novice fishermen.
This type of knot can be used with a monofilament line and a braided fishing line, making it versatile.
How To Tie A Fisherman’s Knot
Start by threading the line straight through the eye of the hook and wrapping it around 5 to 7 times with the loose end.
Using the loose end, thread it back through the loop closest to the eye and pull it back around the inside where the loose section of the line is.
Pull on both ends of the line until it is nice and tight, and trim if necessary.
If you want to watch this knot being tied by an expert, you can watch the youtube video by Captin Austin Hayne linked here:
Video Credit: FinaoLive
2. The Palomar Knot
The Palomar knot is a popular choice due to its strength, and with only three steps needed to tie it, it is a very easy option for beginners!
This knot does not contain many twists and kinks, making it both easy to tie and hard to break. The Palomar knot works best with a braided fishing line.
How To Tie A Palomar Knot
Begin by doubling up your line and then push the loop straight through the eye of the hook.
Follow on by tying a loose overhand knot to secure it.
Then, pass the loop around the end of the hook and pull on the line to tighten it. You can trim the leftover line if you wish.
If you want to see this knot being tied in person, follow this link to watch a youtube video by salt strong to see a Palomar knot being tied.
Video Credit: Salt Strong
3. A Surgeons Knot
This type of knot may also be referred to as the surgeon’s double loop. The surgeon’s knot frequently ranks as an easy and sturdy fishing knot that is popular with novice and expert fishermen.
A surgeon’s knot is used for monofilament lines as it joins two separate pieces of monofilament together to form the knot.
How To Tie A Surgeons Knot
The first step to tying a surgeon’s knot is by placing the leader line next to the main line.
Once the two lines are side by side, form an overhead knot by passing the leader line’s long end and the main line’s tag end through the fishing loop.
Then, form a second overhead knot in the same process. Once both knots are formed, pull on all 4 ends slowly to tighten the knot. Trim the excess.
Watch an expert from Berkley Fishing tying a surgeon’s knot by watching the youtube video, which you can find at this link.
Video Credit: Berkley Fishing
4. The Snell Knot
The Snell knot is the strongest knot you can use to tie your hooks to a fishing line. However, this knot can be difficult to learn, but when done correctly, it is nearly impossible to break!
Its difficulty level makes this knot a better choice for experienced fishermen and becomes much easier over time with practice.
How To Tie The Snell Knot
Begin by tying a snell knot, run the line straight through the hook eye and bring it down the hook’s shank. Using the line, form a loop below the hook.
Next, pass the tag end of the line around the hook shank and loop around 4 to 6 times. Make sure to keep the wraps close to each other, as this is the biggest mistake people make with a snell knot.
Work the coils down the shank to the eye, then pull on the tag end and the standing line to tighten them.
If you would like to understand better the process of tieing a snell line, you can follow this link to watch a youtube video by Captin Austin Haynes here.
Video Credit: FinaoLive
5. The Uni Knot
The Uni Knot is another very popular fishing knot that many novice fishermen will be able to use.
It is similar in difficulty and strength to the fisherman’s knot and can also be used with braided and monofilament lines. However, it is most popular for monofilament lines.
How To Tie A Uni Knot
You can start tying a uni knot by running the line through the eye of the hook and bringing the line back to the standing line.
Make a loop by laying the tag end over the doubled line and make 6 loops around the line and through the hoop, from bottom to top.
Pull on the line to tighten it and then trim the excess.
You can see this knot being tied by Ultimate Fishing by watching the following youtube video.
Video Credit: Ultimate Fishing
6. The Turle Knot
The turtle knot is primarily used for fly fishing, connecting a thin line to a small hook or fly. This type of knot is strong and easy to use, making it a very popular choice for fly fishing, surpassing some of the other knots which were previously believed to be the best fly fishing knot choice.
How To Tie A Turle Knot
Begin by running the line through the eye of the hook.
Next, tie a loose double overhand knot at the end of the line.
To finish this knot, pass the overhand loop through the eye of the hook and tighten everything so the loop tightens over the eye.
You can see an expert from Take Me Fishing tie this knot by watching the provided youtube video here:
Video Credit: Take Me Fishing
7. A Berkley Braided Knot
The Berkly Braided Knot was developed to retain better knot strength and prevent braided lines from slipping out of the knot.
This type of knot can be used for tying braided lines to hooks, lures, or leaders and is quickly becoming an increasingly popular knot choice for braided lines.
How To Tie The Berkeley Braided Knot
To tie a Berkeley braided knot, run a double loop of braid through the hook’s eye or lure.
Next, loop around the tag end of the main line 8 times and thread the double loop back between the eye and coils.
Tighten the knot and trim the line, keeping about ¼ inch of the line remaining.
If you want to learn how to tie a Berkely braided knot better, you can watch the following youtube video by Berkely Fishing on this youtube link:
Video Credit: Berkley Fishing
8. The Hay Wire Twist
The Hay Wire twist is technically a knot but is more of a series of twists. This type of knot is used when working with a steel leader and is essential for any fisherman who uses a steel leader to know. It can be more difficult to learn, so it is best for fishermen who are used to tying knots already.
How To Tie The Haywire Twist
Start by threading the wire through the eye of the hook or swivel. Hold the loop with your fingers or pliers, then cross one line under the other and hold both lies of wire in your fingers.
The standing part of the wire and the tag end must cross each other at an angle greater than 90 degrees. Once you have ensured this, you must twist both wires at the same time about 3.5 times.
Next, you will need to make a barrel wrap. You can do this by pushing the tag end out to the right angle to the standing part. Make five wraps around the standing part with the tag end of the wire.
Bend the tag end back and forth until the wire breaks beside the last barrel.
This type of knot can be a lot more difficult to get the hang of, so you can watch this youtube video by Captin Austin Hayes to get more familiar with the process
How to Tie the Haywire Twist – The Knot for Steel Leader.
Video Credit: Finao Live
9. The Blood Knot
The blood knot is a popular and favorite knot for fly fishermen. It is used to tie two lines of similar size together.
This type of knot is one of the best you can know when joining monofilament lines together and can be used by beginners or experts to create a strong, sturdy line.
How To Tie A Blood Knot
Line up both ends of the lines together for several inches and then wrap the first line around the second, ideally 5 times or more.
Follow this by wrapping the second line around the first line in the same way, at least 5 times as well, then bringing both lines to the middle.
Pull on both lines to tighten the knot.
If you want to see a blood knot tied by an expert from Salt Strong, follow the link to a youtube tutorial.
Video Credit: Salt Strong
10. The Improved Clinch Knot
The improved clinch knot is one of the most widely used knots in fishing due to its good method of securing a line to a hook, swivel, or lure.
This knot is harder to tie on heavier lines, so it is only recommended for lines under the 30lb test line.
How To Tie The Improved Clinch Knot
Start tying this line by threading the line through the eye of the hook and looping it around 5 to 7 times with the loose end of the line.
Using the loose line, thread it through the loop closest to the eye and then back around the inside of the loose section of the line.
Pull on both ends of the line to tighten and trim any excess line.
You can follow the provided youtube link to watch a video tutorial by Barkley Fishing to see an expert tying this knot.
Video Credit: Berkley Fishing
11. A Double Fisherman’s Knot
A double fisherman’s knot is not extremely difficult to tie, but it can often fail if not done correctly, so it is best to use it when you have to practice tying easier knots.
This type of knot is one of the most effective ways of joining two ends of a line together to form a Prusik loop. This knot is also very effective for joining two climbing ropes.
How To Tie A Double Fisherman’s Know
To tie this knot, begin by overlapping the two ends of the line, then wrap one end around both lines twice.
Pull this line back through the over-looped lines and pull the line to tighten. Then, put the other end around the looped lines twice and pass through, repeating the earlier process.
Pull on both ropes to tighten the two knots against each other.
If you want to watch this knot being tied in real life, you can click on this link to a youtube video by MHR fishing:
Video Credit: MHR Fishing
12. A Trilene Knot
A Trilene knot can be best used with a monofilament or fluorocarbon line and can be very effective for tying these lines to a snap, swivel, hook or lure.
This knot is more resistant to slips or failures and is an excellent alternative to other knots like the Clinch Knot.
This knot can be more difficult to tie than its counterpart – the clinch knot, so experienced fishermen best use it.
However, the lines are extremely strong when this knot is tied correctly.
How To Tie A Trilene Knot
Begin tying a Trilene knot by slipping the line through the hook eye and repeating in the same direction to create a double loop at the hook eye.
Next, wrap the tag end of the line around the standing line, moving away from the hook. It would be best if you wrapped this 4 to 5 times for a secure wrap.
Put the tag end of the line back through the double loop at the hook eye and then pull the line tight. Cut off any excess line.
You can watch an expert tying a Trilene knot before trying it yourself by watching the following youtube video by Gary Klein at NorthAmericanFishing:
Video Credit: NorthAmericanFishing
13. The Nanofil Knot
The nanofilm knot is the thinnest and longest-casting superline knot you can tie. It is extremely strong when tied correctly but can be a difficult knot to get right.
Since the line is too thin, it needs to be tied with extra caution and care than other lines, which can be difficult to get right and often results in the line breaking.
However, experienced fishermen who are looking for a more challenging, discreet, and stronger fishing knot will enjoy the nanofil knot.
How To Tie A Aanofil Knot
Start by double looping the line and pull about 6 inches of it through the hook eye. Bring the loop up the main line and make two wraps through the new loops.
Run the hook or lure through the loop that is formed by the double lines.
Gently pull the line to draw the loops together.
This knot can be difficult to get your head around, so if you want to learn more about tying a nanofil knot, you can watch this youtube video by Angling Knots:
Video Credit: Angling Knots
What Is The Easiest And Strongest Knot?
The fisherman’s knot is generally considered the easiest knot to tie and is recommended for beginners, but it is not the strongest.
If you are looking for a knot that is both easy and strong, the Palomar knot generally comes out on top as an easy but very strong knot, coming in at 89%.
What Is The Best Knot For Monofilament Or Fourocarbon Lines?
The Trilene Knot is the best for both of these lines as it can be used to tie snaps, hooks, swivels, and lures to the line. When done correctly, this knot is very effective at resisting slippage or breaking.
What Is The Best Knot For Joining Two Lines Together?
If you are looking for a reliable and effective knot that can be used to tie two lines together, the surgeon’s knot comes out on top.
It is most effective when being used to tie two lines of equal length together but can be used for lines that are no more than three times line tests apart.
