Knot Magic®Copyright KnotMagic 2003

Tie Better Fishing Knots

Which Knot ?

Knots dictate line strength, as they're often the weakest link in the chain.

Poor knots can waste up to 70% of Rated Line Strength, so your choice of fishing knot is important.

Many knots are used in recreational fishing, but most have specific uses (limitations). Fishing should be relaxing, so we chose to "Keep it Simple" - unless a specialist knot is required (eg: multi hook rigs, where we use snell for the top hook and a uni knot for the bottom hook)

We use Uni Knots for tying Line to: hooks, swivels, lures, leaders or reels, and Double Uni Knots for adding leaders or joining line to other line.

The Uni Knot (universal knot) is the best fishing knot, in our opinion, because it is versitile.

Lets review some of the best, worst & most popular knots anglers commonly use...

Popular Fishing Knots

(Maximum 5 Star Rating)

Uni Knot

(Hangmans Knot or Grinner)

Granny Knot *****

A surprising number of fishermen still tie Granny Knots, or their "Own Knot", with similar shapes & results.

These will HALVE your Rated Line Strength !!!

The geometry of the knot Cuts Line at its first sharp turn. Adding more knots wont help as it fails earlier along the chain... Go ahead & test it... Tie a Granny in light line & put it under pressure. It will break at a fraction of its true Strength.

(Granny knots can also be used to cut light monofilament line without clippers)

Granny Knot

Half Blood Knot (or Clinch) *****

Better than a Granny knot (but not much) as it slips under load - particularly with heavier gauge lines.

Can be used for smaller fish, but much better knots are available. Time to upgrade your knot !

Improved Blood Knot *****

Adding a Granny Knot (to the tail end of a Half Blood Knot) can help reduce slippage, but it's messy.

The tail (of the line) faces the hook & bait, which alerts the fish.

Uni Knots (also known as a Hangmans Knot) or Full Blood Knots are better all purpose knots & are far more discrete.

Full Blood Knot *****

Better than the above & a common fishing knot - though a little harder to tie. Suits lighter line gauges.

Some slipping may occur with heavier lines.

Uni Knot (or Hangman's) *****

A Great "All Purpose" knot which pulls tighter under load.

Highly Versatile & unlikely to slip. Discrete when tightened (see next pic.) as the "tail" faces up & away from the hook & the bait.

Used for tying: Line to a Reel, Hook, Swivel, Trace, Fly or a Lure. Also ties Line to Line (see Double Uni - below)

Lure & Fly movement can be retained by leaving the knot loop slightly "open" (ie: don't fully tighten knot against the hook eyelet). It will tighten quickly on impact, so don't leave it wide open - as this subjects the line to friction heat.

Easily Removed - Cut the line (just above a Uni Knot) & it will Slide Up & Release, if not over tightened.

We find this knot is particularly useful for lure fishing, or regularly changing hooks.

Takes its name from an authentic "Hangman's Noose", which uses 9 turns in rope.

Uni Knot

(or Hangmans Knot)

Uni Knot

(compressed)

Double Uni Knot *****

Join Lines together by Tying one Uni Knot through another (in place of the hook) .

Used for tying: Attaching Leaders & Joining lines (usually different gauges)

Note: Double Uni Knots can create a weak point (at the join) in light gauge monofilament lines of even size - as a tighter turning radius is required. This can be reduced by using a swivel, where possible, to join lighter lines together with a standard Uni Knot.