How to Tie a Palomar Knot

Just about anyone at any level of expertise can pick up a rod and reel and start catching fish. Whether you are new to the sport or an old hand, mastering the basics will undoubtedly increase your pleasure and decrease some of the frustration that you may encounter while passing the time with a hook and a line. Tying a good knot should be considered one of the most important things to learn before making that first cast. Any angler, either a novice or a professional, needs to know how to tie a hook to the line, and the Palomar knot is the perfect choice.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fishing rod
• Fishing line
• Terminal tackle (hooks, lures, fast clips)
• Nail clippers (or scissors)

1. Pick up a hook of the correct size for the fish you want to catch and hold it in your left hand.

2. Take your right hand and grab your fishing line from the tip of the rod. This is the tag end.

3. Take the tag end and thread it through the eye of the hook and pull approximately eight inches of line through.

4. Take the tag end and double back through the eye of the hook, careful to leave a loop of about four inches.

5. Take both ends of the doubled line, the loop end in your right hand and the tag end plus spooled line in your left, and leave the hook hanging free in the center.

6. Make an overhand knot with both sections of the doubled line. Make sure to leave this knot loose and do not let the line twist up or cross over itself.

7. Pull the overhand knot slightly to make the loop end a little larger. Bring the loop back under the shank of the hook and up and over the hook to just below the eye against the bottom two sections of line that pass through the eye.

8. Hold the hook at the shank in your right hand, and with your left hand, grab both the tag end line and the spool line section and pull firmly, bringing the knot snugly down against the top of the hook eye.

Tips & Warnings

• In cold weather, wear thin surgical gloves. This will help keep your hands and fingers warm while still allowing the dexterity needed for tying knots.
• Do not let the line twist or cross over itself when you make the overhand knot. If this happens and you pull the line tight, the knot is liable to cut into the line and weaken it. Just when you think you are going to land the big one, your line will snap and ruin an otherwise great day on the water.
• Before going fishing, make sure you check with your state or local department of natural resources (or applicable governing body) to purchase or determine if you must purchase a fishing license.
• Make sure that you read your local fishing regulations, especially if you are in an unfamiliar area away from home. Many places have laws requiring the use of barbless hooks or outlawing the use of treble hooks.

Resources

• A nice graphical representation of this knot.

Who Can Help Sponsored

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[redhoss]

on 9/15/2008 Good article. However, you left out a very important step. You should always apply a little lubricant (spit) on the knot before you pull it tight.