How to Make Fishing Knots
Experienced anglers should be able to prep their own gear – and that includes being able to tie fishing knots. As with any skill, often, mastering the basics will enable you to build a foundation to master more difficult skills. One all purpose knot to have in your repertoire is the clinch knot.
The purpose of this knot is to join the fishing line to a piece of tackle such as a hook or lure.
- Push your line through the eye of your lure or hook. These items are known as “terminal tackle”, and this is because they go on the end of the fishing line.
- Pull the line far enough through the eye so that you have three inches of line available to work with. As you practice more and more, you will need less slack in order to tie the knot.
- Wrap the line about five to seven times around the end of the line going back to the fishing pole. Begin your wrap next to the eye, and extend up towards the fishing pole. As you are completing your wraps, keep them right next to each other.
- Using your thumb and forefinger, hold the wraps neatly in place. Continue in this manner until your five to seven wraps have been completed.
- Pass the end of the line through a loop near the eye. Slide the wraps on the pole end of the line towards the eye, and then pull the free end of the line tight through the loop. Once the clinch knot is complete, use a pair of scissors, or your line trimmer to clip any excess line. Leave approximately 1/8 inches of line visible. This will help protect against knot slip.