7 Essential Fishing Knots

Seven knots cover most fishing: the improved clinch and the Palomar for tying on hooks and lures, the uni and double uni for tackle and line-to-line joins, the FG knot for braid to leader, the non-slip loop for lure action, and the arbor knot for spooling up. Our knot picker suggests one for your line and job, and our line and leader strength calculator helps you match line strengths.

You can own the best rod money can buy, but if your knot fails, the fish wins. Knots are worth practising at home.

A few general rules

• Moisten the knot before tightening. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) says the improved clinch comes together more smoothly if you moisten the line first; Animated Knots likewise lubricates its knots before tightening.
• Tighten steadily so the turns seat neatly.
• Trim the tag end. MDC trims the improved clinch about ¼ inch from the knot.
• Test every knot with a firm pull before you cast.

1. The improved clinch knot

MDC’s beginner knot for tying line to a hook:

1. Run about 6 inches of line through the hook eye and fold it back on itself.
2. Holding both strands, rotate the hook about ten half-turns.
3. Put the end through the space between the first twist and the hook eye.
4. Bring the end back through the loop you just made.
5. Moisten, pull on the line and the tag end to tighten the knot against the eye, and trim the tag about ¼ inch away.

2. The Palomar knot

Wikipedia describes the Palomar as a knot for securing line to a lure, hook or swivel that is strong, easy to tie, and with practice can be tied in the dark. It says the knot is good for all kinds of light fishing line, especially braided line, and retains almost all of the original line strength.

1. Double 20-30 cm (8-12 inches) of line into a loop and pass it through the eye.
2. Tie a very loose overhand knot with the doubled line.
3. Pass the hook or lure through the remaining loop.
4. Pull evenly on the standing ends to tighten.

3. The uni knot

Wikipedia: the uni knot (also called the Duncan loop, or in British English the grinner knot) is widely used for attaching hooks, rings and swivels to the end of the line, and works with monofilament, fluorocarbon and braided lines.

1. Run the line through the eye and double it back alongside the standing line, forming a loop.
2. Wrap the tag end around both lines and through the loop several times.
3. Moisten and pull the tag end to snug the wraps, then slide the knot down to the eye.

4. The double uni knot

Wikipedia notes the uni knot is also used to join two fishing lines - for example, main line to a leader:

1. Overlap the ends of the two lines.
2. Tie a uni knot with the first line around the second.
3. Tie a uni knot with the second line around the first.
4. Moisten both and pull the standing lines apart so the two knots slide together.

5. The FG knot

Animated Knots describes the FG knot as a braid-to-leader knot valued for its strength and for running freely through the guides; it is somewhat complicated to learn, but with practice can be tied quickly and reliably. The core of it: keep the braid stretched tight and wrap the fluorocarbon leader alternately under one side and then the other, forming a chain of about 12 to 15 double wraps, then finish with half hitches. Animated Knots stresses that detail is critical and the braid must be kept tight throughout, so practise it at home first.

6. The non-slip loop knot (Rapala knot)

Animated Knots describes the Rapala knot as a non-slip loop knot usually tied directly to the lure, recommended by the Rapala brothers to give a loop that lets lures move freely and naturally.

1. Form an overhand knot in the line.
2. Pass the tag end through the lure eye and back through the overhand knot.
3. Wrap the end three times around the standing line.
4. Pass the end back through the overhand knot, then through the loop just formed.
5. Lubricate, tighten and trim.

7. The arbor knot

The knot that attaches line to your reel spool. Wikipedia describes it: pass the line around the reel arbor, tie the tag end in an overhand knot around the running line, then tie an overhand knot in the tag end; when tightened, the knot in the tag end jams against the first.

How to practise

Knot tying is a motor skill: tie each knot at home until your hands remember it, ideally with heavier line so you can see the structure, then practise with your fishing line.

Matching knots to line

• Monofilament and fluorocarbon: the uni knot works with both (Wikipedia); the improved clinch is MDC’s beginner knot for monofilament.
• Braid: Wikipedia describes the Palomar as especially good for braided line and says the uni works with braid too; the FG knot joins braid to a fluorocarbon leader (Animated Knots).

Conclusion

Start with the improved clinch, add the Palomar and the uni, and learn the others as you need them.

Sources

• Missouri Department of Conservation, Rigging your pole (improved clinch knot). Read 28 October 2026.
• Wikipedia, Palomar knot, Uni knot, Arbor knot. Read 28 October 2026.
• Animated Knots, FG knot and Rapala knot. Read 28 October 2026.

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Recommended Gear on Amazon

• Knot tying tool - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.
• Line clippers - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.
• Fluorocarbon leader line - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.

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