FISHERMEN’S KNOTS for OFFSHORE BIG GAME

The Bimini Twist

Used for creating a strong, long double-line shock leader. The Bimini Twist is commonly used for big game trolling.

Starting with 6-12 feet of doubled line, form a loop with one hand, then twist the loop 20 times.
Put your loop around a boat cleat, and keeping tension on top of the lines, place your free hand through the loop and pull upwards, forcing the knot wraps to gather and jam tightly together (this is the most critical and difficult part of the knot to master).
While maintaining a tight tension on the loop, hold standing line tightly, then lower tag end to a right angle to the wraps you made. Be sure to maintain steady tension on both lines and loop.
While keeping tension tight on the loop, gradually ease tension on tag end so it rolls over the column of twists, beginning at just below the top twist.
Once the tag end has rolled completely over the twists (continue keeping pressure on the loop), tie a Half-Hitch and tighten to set.
Now tie another Half-Hitch on the other side of the loop and pull up tight to set.
Wind the end 4-5 times around the loop while still tight, and pass the end back through knot loop and pull tight.

Tuna Single-Hook Stiff Rig

This knot is most often used with various lures like feathers or squids and 130 lb test Mono leaders.

Slide 2 crimps onto your leader line, then thread the leader through the hook twice, and then back through the loop.
Wrap the leader end through the loop 2 times more, then pull the remaining end up through the loop.
Insert the end through the bottom crimp and pull both the leader end and the standing line to tighten the loop.
Tighten the bottom crimp, wrap the remaining end a few times around main leader, then insert and crimp the top.

Haywire Twist

This knot, mainly used for trolling, connects a solid wire leader to a hook.

Thread about 6” of wire through the hook’s eye.
Make 4 or 5 twists with both wire sections simultaneously together.
Make a sharp bend in the wire and add 4-5 tight barrel wraps. Clip end to complete your knot.

Ballyhoo Rig

This knot is used for trolling for Ballyhoo. Begin with a finished Haywire twist.

The excess ½” pin end holds the Ballyhoo through the beak or lip.
Connect a 6” piece of light copper rigging wire to the hook eye with an overhand wrap.

Spoon Wrap

Used for connecting a spoon for trolling with a solid wire leader, allowing the spoon to have a natural action in the water.

Run the wire through spoon’s ring twice, leaving about 6” of wire to work with.
Wrap the wire end four times around wire loop, ending up back near the main leader.
Wrap the wire end around main leader twice, then add several barrel wraps.

King Sling Knot

Use this knot to create a loop in a line or a mono leader – provides for better lure action.

Thread your line through the lure eye, then double back 8-10”.
Form a loop with the doubled line and wrap the lure around 4 times.
Thread the lure through the bottom loop.
Tighten finished your knot by pulling the line and the lure.

Darby Knot

This well-known knot is used for creating a strong shock leader and knot for big game trolling.

Run several feet of 80-125 lb. mono line through the eye of a heavy-duty offshore trolling swivel, then double over and through the eye again.
Create a twist in the line 4-8” up (depending on how long you want the finished wrap).
While applying pressure on the twists, loop the tag end around the standing line and begin making barrel wraps back towards the swivel.
With tension on both the swivel and the standing line, wrap barrel wraps, as needed, back down towards the swivel.
Thread tag end through the bottom twist of both lines, then finish off with a half-hitch on both sides of the swivel eye.

Heavy-Crimp Swivel Knot

This knot is equally with coated wire and heavy mono leaders.

Slide both the crimp and the swivel onto the leader.
Loop the tag end around, under and through the eye.
Bring the tag end back around and through the first loop.
Tighten your knot while sliding the crimp down snug to the knot. Crimp tight and trim the loose tag end.

Homer Rhode Loop Knot

This is an easy knot for tying a lure either to a line or a light mono leader.

Tie a simple overhand knot in the line. Keep the knot open.
Thread the tag end through the lure eye and then back through the overhand knot.
Tie a second overhand knot above the first around the standing line. Pull both knots tightly together to complete the final knot.

Offshore Swivel Knot

This is a big game trolling knot for attaching a swivel to a double-line leader.

Thread a doubled line end through the eye of your swivel.
Flip the doubled-line end over the top of the standing line.
Holding the loop and lines with one hand, rotate the swivel around and through the loop at least 6 times.
Holding the standing line tightly, release the loop. Pull the swivel and line while pushing the wraps together tightly.
Hold the swivel with pliers and pull the knot tight.

Shearer Spider Hook Knot

For really strong fish, this knot provides the extra strength of four lines on the hook.

Double your line twice, then thread through the hook eye.
Loop the doubled line around and pull it under all the standing lines.
Wrap back around through the top loop 4-6 times.
Pull all loops and standing line together tight. Trim excess lines to complete the knot.

Crimping Basics

Some anglers prefer to use crimps instead of knots for wire.

Thread the end of the leader through the crimp sleeve, then through the hook.
Bring the sleeve down over the leader end, making sure that little or no excess leader sticks through the sleeve.
Be sure to use the correct slot on your crimping tool for the size of the sleeve (otherwise crimp will not be secure enough).

Heavy-Duty Crimping

These crimps are used for big game rigs.

Slide 2 crimps back on the leader, then form 2 loops through the eye with the leader.
Make 3-4 wraps around the loop before threading it through the first sleeve.
Slide the first crimp down over the leader and crimp the first sleeve, make 2 more wraps, then crimp the second sleeve.

OTHER POPULAR FISHERMEN’S KNOTS

Terminal Tackle Uni-Knot

This knot is used for attaching tackle to a line or a mono leader.

Run your line through the eye and double back, forming a circle.
Tie a uni-knot by wrapping the tag end around the double line 6 turns, then through loop. Pull the tag end to tighten.
Now pull the main line to tighten the knot.
Keep pulling tight on the main line and tackle until the knot slides tight against the eye.

Simplified Blood Knot

Used this knot when you want to connect two lengths of line or leader of near or equal diameter.

Tie the two line ends together with a simple overhand knot.
Form a loop and begin turning one side around the line, leaving the twists loose.
Make 8-10 turns, then pull the loop through the center opening.
Hold the loop with your teeth while pulling both ends to tighten the knot.
Clip the loop off close to knot.

Homer’s Knot

Developed by Homer Circle (angling editor of Sports Afield), this is a very strong knot that can be used for any hook or tackle.

Run the line through the hook eye and tie an overhand knot around the standing line.
Make 3 turns around the standing line.
Then make 3 turns around the standing line, back towards the hook and thread through the center of the overhand knot.
Pull on all lines and hook to tighten your knot. Trim excess end.

Leader to Line Uni-Knot

This knot is used to connect a mono leader to up to 4 times the pound/test of a line.

Double the line end and overlap the leader forming a loop.
Make a basic uni-knot with 3 turns, then bring the end through the loop.
Pull the loop to tighten the knot.
Repeat a uni-knot with the leader end. Make 3 turns around the main line and tag end.
Pull tight and trim the loops and the ends.

Improved Blood Knot

Use this knot if you want to join a line with a smaller diameter line to a much larger diameter line, such as a mono leader.

Double the lighter line and place along side the heavy line.
Wrap each line three times around the other, in opposite directions. Bring the line ends back through the loop in the center of both lines.
Carefully pull both long ends of the lines to tighten the knot; trim excess ends.

Simple Loop Connection

This is a simple knot for connecting a snelled hook directly to your line.

Tie an end loop in your main line.
Thread a leader loop through the line loop, then thread the hook back through the leader loop.
Pull lines tight to secure your connection.

Double Improved Clinch Knot

Use this knot to make tackle connections for light lines.

Pass about 8-10” of doubled line through the eye, then double back and make 5 wraps around the lead lines.
Thread the end through the first loop above the eye, then through the big loop.
Hold the doubled end and lead line while pulling the coils tight. Slide tightened coils tightly against the eye.

Uni-Knot for Joining Two Lines

This is the recommended knot for joining 2 lines of equal diameters.

Overlap both line ends by about 6” inches, forming loop in one line for the uni-knot.
Tie a Uni-Knot with 6 wraps around the lines.
Pull the tag end to tighten the first knot around the line.
Tie a second uni-knot with the tag end of the other line.
Pull both main lines to tighten and bring the knots together. Trim both ends.

End Loop Knot

To form a loop at the end of a line or a mono leader, this is an excellent, easy-to-do knot.

Double line end, leaving 6-8” of doubled line to work with.
Make 5 wraps with the doubled line back over itself, keeping the initial wrap open.
Bring the end of the doubled line back through the first loop you formed. Tighten the knot by pulling the main line, tag end and the loop.
Pull the finished loop tight and neatly trim tag end.

Crawford Knot

This is an excellent knot for joining any hook, lure or swivel to a line or mono leaders.

Insert about 8” of line through the hook (lure or swivel) eye and form a loop.
Bring the tag end back around the front of the loop and then back over.
Bring the tag end back over 3 lines, forming a figure “8”.
Insert the tag end between front part of the loop and the main line. Pull tight and trim off excess line.

FLY FISHING KNOTS

Specialist Loop Knot

This is the best knot to use for tying a fly to a tippet (done much like tying an improved clinch knot that forms a loop).

Thread 6-7” of the tippet through the hook eye in your fly. Form a loop and wrap the tippet end back around the loop and through the end near the fly and pull tight.
Pull snug to form an end loop and trim off excess.
Pull loop around the fly so knot butts up against the hook eye.
Pull knot tight.

Joining Two Lines with a Uni-Knot

Used to join together 2 lines of equal diameters.

Overlap both line ends about 6” or so, forming a loop in one line for uni-knot.
Tie a Uni-Knot with 6 wraps around the two lines.
Pull tag end to tighten the first knot around the line.
Tie a second uni-knot with the tag end of the other line.
Pull both main lines in opposite directions to tighten and bring knots together. Trim tag ends neatly.

Heavy Streamer Knot

This is a very strong knot for a heavy weighted streamer.

Run tippet through the hook eye and tie an overhand knot around the standing line.
Make three turns around the standing line.
Then make three turns around the standing line, back towards the hook and thread it back through the center of your overhand knot.
Pull knot tight to hook eye and trim end.

Riffling Hitch

This knot will makes a fly skim over the surface at an angle, creating a realistic action.

Start with a fly tied on tippet with a ‘turle’ knot.
Tie a half-hitch over the fly’s hook eye.
Pull the half-hitch tight behind the hook eye, so tippet comes off on bottom or side of fly.

Dropper Snell Knot

These knots are used for tying additional snelled flies to a leader (allows you to fish several flies at once).

Hold the loop of a snelled leader up against the main leader.
Pull the fly up and through the loop hole.
Pull the fly back down through the loop and pull tight.

Angler’s Knot

A fly that is already attached to a tippet can be tied to a leader with this knot.

Make an over hand knot with each line, around the standing lines of the other.
Pull both knots tight, up against each other.

Simple Loop Connection

This knot is used to connect two loop ends together.

Tie an end loop in one line.
Thread the leader loop through the line loop, then thread the hook back through the leader loop.
Pull both lines tight.

Extension Blood Knot

Use this knot to attach dropper lines to a loader line to fish with two or more flies at the same time.

Begin by tying a blood knot, making sure to leave the lightest tag end long.
Pull the knots tight and trim the short end.

Fly Line Loop Knot

This knot is used to create a smooth, permanent loop in the end of your fly line for attaching a leader.

Dip about 3” of fly line in nail-polish remover, then scrape off the coating on the fly line, down to core.
Form a loop with the stripped core line.
Wrap the core tightly together with 00-size nylon thread.
Coat the finished wrap with lacquer, or thinned head cement, to bond the thread to your fly line.

Crawford Knot

This is a good knot to use for connecting a fly to any size tippet.

Insert about 8” of line through the fly’s eye and from a loop.
Bring the tag end back around the front of the loop and then back over.
Bring the tag end back over the three lines, forming a figure eight.
Insert the tag end between the front part of the loop and the main line. Pull the knot tight and trim.

Joining Coated Wire to Mono

Used to connect a nylon-coated wire leader to monofilament.

Form a loop in the wire and place the loop of the mono over the top. Begin making wraps around the wire loop.
While holding the lines in place, make 6 wraps around the loop, then bring the mono line end through the end of the loop.
Slowly pull both ends of the wire and mono lines to tighten your knot.
Trim ends to finish knot.

Joining Wire to a Line

This knot is used for connecting a wire leader directly to a monofilament leader (Note: take extra care not to kink the wire as you make this knot).

Tie a loop knot at the end of your line. Thread the wire leader end through the loop knot and wrap it around the outside of the loop.
Make two complete wraps around the loop knot, then thread back through the inside of the loop.
Make 4-5 wraps around the leader to finish the knot. Trim excess wire.

Rapala Knot

This popular knot creates a secure loop that allows for excellent lure action.

Tie an open overhand knot in your line 5-6” from the end, then thread the end through the lure eye, then back through the knot.
Make 3 wraps around main line.
Thread the end back through overhand knot, then through the formed loop.
Pull knot tight and trim.

Lark’s Head Knot

Use this knot when you want to attach any tackle to a loop knot. You can also use this same knot to attach two loops together.

Place a loop through the hook eye.
Pull the loop around hook shank.
Then pull tight up around the top of the eye.

Bowline Knot

Used for tying a loop in end of a line.

Make a loop in the line about 6” from the end, then bring the line end back through the loop.
Wrap the end around the main line and then through the loop again.
Pull tight to firmly secure knot.

Leader to Line Uni-Knot

This is the knot to use to connect a heavy mono leader to a lighter one.

Double the line end, then overlap the leader forming a loop.
Make a basic uni-knot with 3 turns, then bring end through the loop.
Pull the loop to tighten the knot.
Repeat the same uni-knot, but with the leader end. Make 3 turns around the main line and tag end.
Pull tight and trim both the loop and the ends.

Palomar Knot

If you prefer, you can use this knot in place of Clinch Knot for heavy streamers with large hooks.

Double over about 3” of line and pass the loop through the eye of your streamer.
Tie an overhand knot in the doubled line.
Pull the loop over the fly.
Pull both ends to tighten knot, then clip off any excess line close to the knot.

Splicing Two Fly Lines

This is great for splicing together two fly lines to design custom tapers.

Dip 1½” of fly line ends in acetone to remove coatings and expose cores. Place exposed lines side by side.
Wrap the exposed cores tightly together with 00-size nylon thread, then coat the finished splice with lacquer or varnish.

Splicing a Shock Leader

Use this technique for splicing a heavier mono leader directly to a lighter line.

Tie a loose overhand knot near the end of the leader. Insert the end of the main light line through the loop in the knot and pull about 12” through. Tighten the knot in the leader.
Make 8-10 wraps with the lighter line, then run the end back through the first wrap.
Slowly tighten the knot by pulling the leader and light line ends evenly. Trim off excess line from knot.

Spider Hitch Knot

This is a fast knot that makes a strong double-line shock leader.

Double the line and make a loop.
While holding the loop tightly, wrap remaining doubled line 5 times around your thumb and loop.
Insert the end of the doubled line through the loop.
Pull the loop so that the line slowly unwinds off your thumb. Pull doubled lines tight on both sides of knot.