Knots Know-How

If you're a beginning angler, learning to tie knots can seem intimidating.

The bewildering array of knots has resulted from variations on a few basic knots in addition to the need for different knots to adjust different tackle setups.

Tying knots properly is not all that difficult and can help you land more fish. If you tie a knot poorly or if you tie a knot ill-suited to the situation, you will likely lose fish. And that defeats the entire purpose of fishing.

Enough variables in fishing cause you to lose fish without adding another to the mix. Properly tied, properly suited knots will help you cast better and land more fish. It's that simple. But learning and tying the knots is not all the knowledge you need about knots.

Here is some basic pre-knot-tying info:
Don't take knot-tying for granted. Poorly tied knots usually result in losing hooked fish. A bit of attention in the preparation phase of fishing can help you catch more fish in the fishing phase of fishing.

Buy the best tippet, leader and fly line you can afford. Cutting corners on such expensive parts of your tackle makes no sense at all. The better and fresher your line, the better knots you will tie and the fewer fish you will lose.

Always check your line before you go fishing. Look for frayed sections. These areas are weak links that could make your line break when you have that lunker trout or huge bass on, the one you have been stalking all summer. Look for nicks in the line, especially after you hook a fish. If you tie a knot with a nicked line, the breaking point of the line increases dramatically.

If your monofilament or tippet is nicked, frayed, discolored, or just plain old, then go ahead and replace the problem section. Abrasions and other "bad spots" can seriously weaken your line's integrity. It takes less time to tie on more tippet or another leader before you hit the water than it does to do the same while you are standing knee-deep in the river cursing at the big fish you just lost.

If your tippet and leader have been on your fly line all winter, take the time to replace the tippet at the least. Fly lines generally last one hard summer or two light- to medium-use summers. If your leader or tippet is still on the spool from the previous fishing season, trash it. Heat and light (both sunlight and fluorescent light) can weaken your line.

If you keep losing fish because the knot unravels or the line breaks at the knot, you are doing something wrong. Unraveling can mean you tied the knot incorrectly or the knot was not cinched tightly. Breaking at the knot can mean that the line was frayed or nicked (which happens frequently when you snip off the tag end of a knot, so be careful).

Don't bite off the end of the tag end of line. This method does not cut the line cleanly, and your dentist will not be happy with the enamel you will invariably lose.

Do not overwrap your knots. If the directions say five or six turns, wrapping the knot eight times weakens the integrity of the knot.

Take time to tie your knots. If you have time to retie a knot when your tippet has slipped or broken because your knot was hurriedly (and incorrectly) tied, you have time to tie it right the first time. One way to avoid hurrying is to practice the knot at home, before you get on the water.

You can usually feel the nicks on the line when you run your hands up and down the line while tying a knot. Doing so quickly between your forefinger and thumb causes friction and the heat from this helps straighten your tippet.

You should also occasionally take the line with each hand and pull evenly and firmly. Don't jerk the line, just put steady pressure on it. The line and the knots should hold up.

When you seat your knots (make the final tug to secure the knot), don't jerk the line but use steady and even pressure. Don't wimp out either. Knots will easily unravel if not seated properly.

Be careful not to trim the knot too closely. You do want to trim the knot close and neat, but not so close that the tag end of the line can slip through or that you can accidentally clip the standing line.

An old angler's trick is to wet your knot. Most anglers have heard that spitting on the line before you tighten the knot helps. Guess what? It does. This old wives' tale works by lubricating the knot, which ensures that the knot slides correctly. Wetting the knot also lessens the amount of friction heat caused by tightening the knot.

An old wives' tale you should not follow? Do not burn the ends of the line. You will still see anglers swear by this practice. Lighting the end of the mono only weakens the line.

Article © Mark D. Willliams, 2000