Tying knots is a fundamental skill every angler needs to know. Knots attach your line to the reel and your lure to the line. If you have bad knots you are going to lose fish and lures, period! We know because we’ve been there and its not fun to have to re-tie lures or a full spool of line because of a bad knot; not to mention the cost of losing brand new baits and fish that could have been your next PB!. Luckily, you do not need to know all the knots that are out there. At New Wave Fishing Academy we are able to do all of our fishing only knowing 4 basic knots and you can too!
The knots we use are the arbor knot (for attaching line to spool), the palomar knot (for most application and 100% of the time while using braided line), the fluorocarbon knot (when using fluorocarbon or monofilament line to attach to lures), and the double uni knot (when tieing a mono or fluorocarbon leader directly to another line). For video walkthroughs of these knots be sure to check our Fishing Fundamentals Course as part of the Zero To Hero Masterclass at the link below or downloadable on our website:
Arbor Knot:
Overhead view while I do it and you only see the lines and my hands
To tie an arbor knot first loop the line around the spool in the direction it will be added when reeled in. If you do the opposite this knot will not sinch to the spool properly and this will prevent the drag from working. Next, simply tie an overhand knot around the mainline. Next, tie a second overhand knot on your tag end. Pull the mainline tight so both knots bind together on the spool. If the knots pull through because you are using braided or thin mono/fluorocarbon line you can add a second overhand knot around the mainline and multiple overhand knots on the tag end and this should solve the problem.
Palomar Knot:
The palomar is the most common knot fisherman use. It is very strong and easy to tie.
To tie a palomar start by folding your line back on itself so you have 6-8 inches of doubled up line.
Put the looped end through the eyelet of your lure, hook, or snap.
While holding the doubled up line tie an overhand knot around the doubled mainline.
After this toss your lure, hook, or snap back through the loop.
Wet the line, Pull tight and trim the excess mainline.
Fluorcarbon Knot:
The fluorocarbon knot is another easy knot anglers can tie and works best for mono / fluoro lines.
Start by passing the tag end of the line through the eyelet.
Pass it through the same side of the eyelet a second time forming a loop.
With the tag end twist around the mainline 3-6 times. For thinner lines wrap more times.
Pass the tag end back through the loop created by the tag end and mainline as well as the loop around the eyelet.
Wet and pull tight.
Double Uni Knot:
The double uni-knot is used for tieing one piece of line to another. It is a little more complicated but is the most simple line to line knot we have found.
To tie a double uni knot start by placing the tag ends of your two lines in parrallel but opposite directions from each other.
With one of the lines fold it backwards so the line is doubled.
Twist around the mainline and tag end of the other line as you move back towards the looped end. (4-6 times recommended)
Wet and pull tight.
Repeat with the other tag line
Once complete pull two knots tight together and trim excess
If you or someone you know is looking to get into fishing or you just want to become a more successful angler be sure to check out our "Zero To Hero Fishing Masterclass" for courses on everything fishing! The masterclass is built to help you learn how to find and catch fish like the pro's by providing all the information you need and a clear development path! Don't miss out check it out now at www.newwavefishingacademy.com/zero-to-hero
Have you ever wondered why lures don't come with instructions and wanted to know how to fish them? Look no further than our "How To Fish" series where you will learn what each bait is, how to use it, when and where it excels over other baits, our preferred setup to use it on, and the common mistakes anglers make when using it. www.newwavefishingacademy.com/how-to-fish