How to Tie Fishing Knots: 7 Strong Knots for Every Line

A rig is only as strong as the knot that holds it together. You can use a good rod, fresh fishing line and a strong hook, but a poorly tied knot will still be the weak point. You often only notice it on a hard cast, a snag or exactly that one heavy fish.

Luckily, you do not need to know dozens of fishing knots. With seven well-chosen knots you can make almost every connection: attach a hook or swivel, give a lure free movement, join nylon to fluorocarbon or tie a braided main line to a leader.

Which fishing knot do you need?

Connection	Best first choice	Suitable line	Difficulty
Hook or swivel to nylon	Improved clinch knot	Nylon and fluorocarbon	Easy
Hook or swivel to braid	Palomar knot	Braided line	Easy
All-round connection to an eye	Uni or grinner knot	Nylon, fluorocarbon and braid	Easy
Lure with free action	Non-slip loop knot	Nylon and fluorocarbon	Medium
Joining two similar lines	Double uni knot	Nylon, fluorocarbon and braid	Medium
Quick line-to-line connection	Surgeon's knot	Nylon and fluorocarbon	Easy
Thin braid to thicker leader	FG knot	Braid to nylon or fluorocarbon	Advanced

The best choice does not depend on the knot name alone. Diameter, stiffness, coating and surface smoothness differ from line to line. Also read our guide to choosing nylon, braided line and fluorocarbon.

Four rules for every strong fishing knot

1. Use undamaged line. Cut away any frayed, flattened or discoloured section first.
2. Lay the wraps neatly. Crossed wraps create uneven pressure and can damage the line.
3. Wet the knot. Water or a little saliva reduces friction while tightening.
4. Pull slowly and evenly. Let the wraps slide into place and then test the knot firmly.

Do not cut the tag end flush against the knot. Leave a small margin, especially with slick braid or stiff fluorocarbon. The right margin depends on diameter and material.

1. Improved clinch knot for hooks, swivels and clips

The improved clinch knot is an accessible choice for nylon and many fluorocarbon lines. Use it to attach line directly to the eye of a hook, swivel or clip. With very thick or stiff fluorocarbon, a uni or grinner knot can close more easily.

1. Pass about 15 cm of line through the eye.
2. Wrap the tag end five to seven times around the main line.
3. Pass the tag end back through the small loop just above the eye.
4. Then pass it through the larger loop that has formed.
5. Wet the knot and first pull gently on the tag end, then on the main line.
6. Check that the wraps sit compactly and evenly against the eye.

Common mistake: using too many wraps with thick line. The knot can lock before it closes fully. Use fewer wraps with thicker line and test the connection carefully.

2. Palomar knot for braided fishing line

The Palomar knot is strong, compact and relatively simple. It is especially useful for braided line, which can slip out of some other knots because of its smooth surface. You do need to pass the whole item through a loop, so it is less convenient with large lures or long rigs.

1. Double 15 to 20 cm of line.
2. Pass the doubled line through the eye of the hook or swivel.
3. Tie a loose overhand knot with the doubled line.
4. Pass the large loop completely over the hook, swivel or clip.
5. Make sure the loop does not catch on the hook eye.
6. Wet the knot and pull the main line and tag end evenly.

Make sure the doubled line is not crossed or twisted anywhere. A neat Palomar knot tightens evenly around the eye.

3. Uni or grinner knot as a versatile all-rounder

The uni knot, often called the grinner knot, works for many line and material combinations. You can use it on a hook, swivel or lure. By adjusting the number of wraps to the line type, the knot closes well on different diameters.

1. Pass the line through the eye and bring the tag end back alongside the main line.
2. Use the tag end to form a loop beside the doubled line.
3. Wrap the tag end through the loop and around both lines.
4. Use about four to five wraps for thick nylon or fluorocarbon, and more for thin, slick line.
5. Wet the knot and pull the tag end so the wraps gather together.
6. Slide the formed knot gently down to the eye and tighten.

Always test carefully with slick braid. If the line keeps sliding, add more wraps or use the Palomar knot.

4. Non-slip loop knot for free-moving lures

A fixed loop in front of the eye gives small plugs, streamers and other lures more freedom of movement. That helps when tying directly to the eye restricts the action. With a large lure eye or a lure that already has a split ring, an extra loop is not always needed.

1. Tie a loose overhand knot in the line without tightening it.
2. Pass the tag end through the eye of the lure.
3. Pass the tag end back through the overhand knot.
4. Wrap the tag end three to five times around the main line.
5. Pass the tag end back through the overhand knot from the same side it came out earlier.
6. Wet the knot, set the loop size and tighten slowly.

Keep the loop compact. An oversized loop can catch on treble hooks, weed or obstacles. For suitable applications, browse our lures.

5. Double uni knot for joining two lines

The double uni knot is suitable for joining two lines with a similar or slightly different diameter. It is often used for nylon to fluorocarbon and can also connect braid to a leader. It is reliable, but bulkier than a well-tied FG knot.

1. Lay both lines about 20 cm parallel and facing opposite directions.
2. Use line A to tie a uni knot around line B and itself.
3. Pull that knot lightly, but do not slide it fully closed yet.
4. Repeat with line B around line A.
5. Wet both knots.
6. Pull on the two main lines so the knots slide together.
7. Tighten firmly and trim both tag ends with a small margin.

Use more wraps on the braid side than on the nylon or fluorocarbon side. The thinner, slicker line needs more grip.

6. Surgeon's knot for a quick leader connection

The surgeon's knot is useful when speed matters more than a very slim profile. It works well for two nylon or fluorocarbon lines that do not differ extremely in diameter, for example on a coarse fishing or trout hooklength.

1. Overlap the ends of both lines by 15 to 20 cm.
2. Make a wide overhand loop with both lines together.
3. Pass both ends through that loop two or three times.
4. Arrange the lines so they do not cut across each other.
5. Wet generously and pull slowly on all four line sections.
6. Trim the ends once the knot is compact and even.

With a large diameter difference, the thinnest line can cut into the thicker one or slip. Choose another connection and always do a firm pull test first.

7. FG knot for braid to leader

The FG knot has a slim profile and therefore passes relatively smoothly through rod guides. It is popular when a braided main line is connected to a longer nylon or fluorocarbon leader. This knot takes practice and constant tension; on the bank with cold hands, it is not the quickest knot to tie.

1. Keep the braided main line under constant tension.
2. Lay the leader across the tight braid.
3. Wrap the braid alternately left and right around the leader to create a long, even weave.
4. Make enough tight crossings; the exact number depends on diameter and smoothness.
5. Secure the weave with several half hitches around both lines.
6. Pull the connection firmly so the braid bites into the outer layer of the leader.
7. Trim the leader tag end short and finish with extra half hitches around the main line.

An FG knot tied without tension can come loose unexpectedly. Practise at home with thick, visible material and test every finished connection hard before casting.

Which knot suits which line type?

Line type	To hook or swivel	To another line	Watch out for
Nylon	Improved clinch or uni	Surgeon's knot or double uni	Do not tighten dry or with jerky force
Fluorocarbon	Uni or clinch with a suitable diameter	Double uni, surgeon's knot or FG	Stiffness and neat wraps
Braided line	Palomar or uni with extra wraps	Double uni or FG	Slick material can slip

Browse all options in fishing lines, including monofilament, braided lines and fluorocarbon.

How to check a fishing knot

1. Check that all wraps sit next to each other and do not cross.
2. Make sure the knot is fully closed against the eye or against the second knot.
3. Pull gently first, then firmly.
4. Watch for movement of the tag end.
5. Feel whether the line directly beside the knot is flat, rough or curled.
6. Retie the knot whenever anything looks unreliable.

After a snag, heavy fish or contact with stones and mussels, check not only the knot but also the first metre of line. A perfect knot does not help if the line above it is damaged.

Common fishing knot mistakes

• Using the same knot for every material: braid, nylon and fluorocarbon behave differently.
• Tightening dry: friction can create heat and damage.
• Pulling too fast: wraps can cross or close incompletely.
• Leaving tag ends too short: there is no safety margin if the knot settles slightly.
• Using an old piece of line: the connection is weakened before you start.
• Skipping the pull test: the mistake only appears while fishing.
• Casting a bulky knot through small guides: this reduces distance and damages the connection.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best fishing knot for beginners?

The improved clinch knot is a good start for nylon, while the Palomar knot is simple and reliable for braided line. Learn these two first, then add the uni knot and line-to-line connections.

Should every fishing knot be wetted?

With nylon and fluorocarbon, wetting is important to reduce friction while tightening. With braid, it also helps the wraps close in a controlled way.

How much breaking strain does a line lose at the knot?

That varies strongly by line, diameter, knot and execution. General percentages are no guarantee. Judge the whole connection and test new combinations before fishing with them.

Can I tie braided line directly to a lure?

Technically yes, with a suitable knot, but a leader is often used for abrasion resistance, presentation or protection against teeth. Also read how to choose a shock leader or fishing leader.

How often should I retie a knot?

Retie as soon as the line, tag end or wraps are damaged or have moved. When casting a lot, fishing near obstacles or putting heavy pressure on the line, check more often.

With four knots you can already do almost everything

If you can tie the improved clinch, Palomar, uni and double uni reliably, you already have enough knowledge for most fishing days. Add the loop knot for free-moving lures, the surgeon's knot for quick hooklengths and the FG knot for a slim braid-to-leader connection.

Practise at home with thicker line, tighten every knot in a controlled way and test it before the first cast. That turns knot tying from an uncertain moment into a reliable part of your rig.