Knots Every Rig Relies On
Which knot to tie, which line to pair, and how to tie each one — the quick reference to screenshot before you hit the water.
Line & Leader Pairings
Palomar Knot
Braid to hook / lure — the go-to for soft-plastic and drop-shot rigs.
- 1Double 6" of line and pass the loop through the eye.
- 2Tie a loose overhand knot, keeping the eye in the loop.
- 3Pass the loop over the hook/lure.
- 4Wet it and pull the tag + standing line to seat.
Improved Clinch Knot
Mono / fluoro to hook or swivel — a fast, reliable everyday knot.
- 1Thread the line through the eye and make 5–7 wraps.
- 2Pass the tag through the loop above the eye.
- 3Then back through the big loop you just formed.
- 4Wet and cinch down slowly.
Uni Knot
All-around line-to-terminal knot; doubles as a line-to-line splice.
- 1Run the line through the eye and back alongside itself.
- 2Make a loop and wrap the tag through it 5–6 times.
- 3Moisten and pull the tag to snug the coils.
- 4Slide the knot down to the eye.
Double Uni / FG Knot
Braid-to-fluoro leader connection for a slick, low-profile joint.
- 1Overlap the two lines.
- 2Tie a Uni with each line around the other (Double Uni).
- 3Cinch each Uni, then pull both standing lines to join.
- 4For the thinnest joint, learn the FG knot instead.
Loop Knot (Non-Slip)
Gives hard baits and jigs free, natural movement on the leader.
- 1Tie a loose overhand knot in the line.
- 2Pass the tag through the eye and back through the overhand.
- 3Wrap the tag around the standing line 4–5 times.
- 4Back through the overhand, wet, and seat.
Snell Knot
Straight-shank hooks on flipping and catfish rigs — powerful hooksets.
- 1Pass the tag through the eye twice, forming a loop.
- 2Wrap the loop around the shank 6–8 times toward the point.
- 3Hold wraps and pull the standing line tight.
- 4Trim the tag.
Fly Fishing Knots
The four connections that rig any fly setup — fly to tippet, tippet to leader, leader to line.
Improved Clinch (Fly to Tippet)
Ties the fly to your tippet — the everyday fly-to-line knot.
- 1Thread the tippet through the hook eye.
- 2Make 5–6 wraps around the standing line.
- 3Pass the tag through the small loop by the eye, then the big loop.
- 4Wet and cinch slowly, seating against the eye.
Double Surgeon's Knot
Joins tippet to leader — the fastest, strongest line-to-line for fly.
- 1Overlap the leader end and tippet several inches.
- 2Form a loop with both lines together.
- 3Pass both ends through the loop twice.
- 4Wet and pull all four strands to seat, then trim.
Loop-to-Loop Connection
Connects a looped leader to a looped fly line in seconds.
- 1Pass the leader loop through the fly-line loop.
- 2Feed the far end of the leader back through its own loop.
- 3Pull to draw the loops together into a square knot.
- 4Seat neatly so the connection lies straight.
Nail Knot
Attaches leader or backing to the fly line — smooth, low-profile joint.
- 1Lay a small tube (or nail) alongside the fly-line tip.
- 2Wrap the leader 6–7 times around line and tube.
- 3Feed the tag back through the tube, then remove the tube.
- 4Wet, pull tight, and trim both tags close.