How to Tie a Fishing Knot

A fisherman’s knot is the best all-around knot to use while fishing with plastic monofilament line. Most sport fishermen use a swivel and clip device, which they attach directly to the fishing line. On one end you tie the simple but effective fisherman’s slip knot and on the other end you can add a lure or leader line if you are bait fishing.

Things You'll Need

• Fishing rod with a monafilament fishing line
• Swivel

Instructions

1. Grab the end of the fishing line in one hand and the eye grommet of the swivel in the other hand. Push the tip of the monofilament through the eyelet until you have a 2-inch segment. Fold this segment back onto the main strand of the filament until you have a 2-inch long loop of fishing line with the swivel device hanging at the bottom of the loop.

2. Twist the eyelet about a half-dozen times, so that the loop of fishing line now looks somewhat like a twisted piece of licorice.

3. Take the tip of the fishing line that is now part of the top end of the loop and gently separate it from the main strand of line.

4. Take this same end of the line and pass it through the bottom-most twist that you created in step 2. Pull it through far enough so that the strand of fishing line does not slide back through the twisted loop.

5. Pull the line tight and trim the end if there is more than an inch of extra line.

Tips & Warnings

• This knot works best when attached to a swivel unit, which allows the lure or hook to twist freely in the water without twisting the main strand of fishing line.

• Make sure the knot is pulled tight. It is a slip knot, but once tightened the knot is dependable. There is too much discarded fishing line in the waters already. You do not want to add to this problem.

• Make sure you twist the line at least three or four times before you begin to tie the knot.