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Half Blood Knot

One of my favourite and easiest knots to perform is the half blood knot. It is also one of the safest knots to have when tying to singular hooks, swivels and lures. If you look at the design of the knot, you can see that if tension is applied to the hook, the coils actually exert more pressure on the line, preventing it from slipping off your hook.

The knot is tied by passing the line thru the eye of the hook, wrapping the tag around the main line 4-6 times, then passing the tag back thru the first loop made around the eye of the hook. The finer the diameter of the line in relation to the diameter of the hook eye, the greater the number of turns (up to six) that should be made.

If you really want to be fussy, take a cigarette lighter and melt the cut tip of the line (the tag) so that a small ball of monofilament forms. If your not careful, the heat of the lighter could degrade the strength of the knot and line on the hook. I usually don't worry about this. Knots these days have been designed to cater for most situations of fishing.

 

 

Figure Eight Knot

This type of knot is made for the purpose of attaching leaders, traces or other terminal tackle. It has the advantage that they can be tied quickly and in the dark.

Also, terminal tackle can be easily interchangeable on this knot. I primarily use the figure eight knot on bottom fishing rigs for light or heavy sinkers. Its easy and quick to make, and if used in conjunction with a dropper loop, you need only to worry about its placement on the rig relative to the dropper loops. Learning the knots takes time.

Tying the knots and locating them on a rig takes some practice as well.

First, bend the line back upon itself to form a loop. Then twist the loop twice over around the doubled leader. Pass the end of the loop thru the first loop formed to get the figure of eight configuration. Pull the knot tight and cut off the tag.

 

 

Snelled Knot

This knot is ideal for hooks with up or down turned eyes in a ganged configuration. It would have to be one of the hardest knots I learnt in my repertoire of knots. Tying of the actual knot is relatively easy, just the placement of fingers on the hook and monofilament was difficult to master, especially when dealing with small ganged hooks, to get a comfortable feel to tying it.

The objective of a ganged rig is to bind or gang several hooks in line, for use with bait such as white bait, pilchard, squid and garfish.

The eye of the hook can be threaded as shown, but its not always preferred. Make a loop with the tag, then wrap the loop around the tag and shank of the hook 8-10 times. As you pull on both lines to tighten the knot, any excess of loop will be taken out when the tag is being pulled. Cut any excess tag off.

I learnt this knot by actually studying and unsnelling a pre-made rig I purchased from a local tackle store. When rigging, keep in mind the type of fish your going for because it is this which governs the size of hook and strength of line your going to use for your bait.

For example, I use 25kg monofilament line with chemically sharpened 4/0 hooks for Salmon, Mulloway, Snapper and Trevally. This line is somewhat thick and easy to work with. For smaller fish such as garfish, Tommies and sand whiting, I use 4-6 kilo line.

When tying a ganged rig, leave plenty of line out from your first hook to allow tying the rest of the rig. Snell Hook 1, "A", then tighten the line at "B" which is part of the tag, and repeat the process on Hook 2 and treat Hook 1 as if it wasn't there.

Repeat the process for Hook 3. Just be careful you don't prick yourself. Some bait like garfish can be long and you may need 4 ganged hooks. When finished, cut any excess tag off.

 

Dropper Loop

The Dropper Loop is used to form several loops in a line above the sinker. When correctly made the loop should stand out at right angles to the line. The loops can also be made long enough to loop a hook directly onto it. This may not be a good idea when fish are not on the bite.

Make a loop in your line. A handy tip is to put a match stick to one side of the crossover. Rotate the match, putting a twist in the line. Make about 5 rotations of the match stick so that a series of twists are made on each side of the match stick.

Remove the match and pull the doubled section of the loop thru exactly the same hole the match stick was in.

As you pull the knot tight, you will notice the sequence of twists reverse so that the loop feeds from the center of the knot, rather than outside as you might expect.

 

 

 

Double Loop Clinch Knot

This knot is used chiefly for tying on various types of swivels when trolling. This knot takes a little more time to tie, so it is most practical when using the same terminal tackle over a long period of time.

Firstly, turn the line end through the hook eye twice.

Then wrap the line end around the standing part of the line three times, then put the end back through the two loops in front of the hook eye, as shown in Step 2.

Finally, pull gradually to make the final knot.

 

The blood knot is probably the most successful knot ever invented when it comes to joining fishing line. This knot is useful for attaching leaders with 3 to 5 turns required depending on the weight of the line (lighter line can be tied with more turns, heavier line with less turns).

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Basic Angling Knots - Double Over-Hand Knot

A useful knot for tying to a ring or swivel.

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Basic Angling Knots - Double Over-Hand Loop Knot

A strong knot for tying loops in fishing line.

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Basic Angling Knots - Nail Knot
Used to attach fly line to fly line backing.

The Nail Knot is generally used to attach fly line to fly line backing. This knot can also be used to attach a leader to a line. This makes a strong smooth knot that rolls out when casting. The nail knot is good for attaching two lines of different diameters.

1 - Hold nail or needle, tip of fly line and backing material between thumb and forefinger. Wrap backing 6 or 7 turns. Wind carefully for a tight, smooth knot. Stick end of backing between nail and fly line.

2 - Remove nail. Holding coils carefully between thumb and forefinger, alternately pull both ends of backing with free hand to tighten.


3 - Snip off excess backing and end of fly line.

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Basic Angling Knots - Snell Knot
For fishing with bait and using a separate leader.

The Snell Knot provides a strong connection when fishing with bait and using a separate length of leader. You can only use a snell with a leader.

1 - Insert one end of the leader through the hook's eye extending one or two inches past the eye. Insert the other end of the leader through the eye in the opposite direction pointing toward the barb of the hook. Hold the hook and leader ends between thumb and forefinger of your left hand. Leader will hang below the hook in a large loop.

2 - Take the part of this loop that is closest to the eye and wrap it over the hook and shank and both ends of the leader toward the hook's barb. Wrap for 7 or 8 turns and hold wraps with left hand. Grip the end of leader that is through the eyelet with your right hand and pull it slowly and steadily. Hold the turns with your left hand or the knot will unravel.

3 - When the knot is almost tight, slide it up against the eye of the hook. Grip the short end lying along the shank of the hook with a pair of pliers. Pull this end and the standing line at the same time to completely tighten the knot. Trim the tag end.

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Basic Angling Knots - Palomar Knot
A general-purpose connection.

The Palomar Knot is a general-purpose connection used in joining fishing line to swivels, snaps, hooks and artificial lures. The double wrap of line through the eyelet provides a protective cushion for added knot strength.

1 - Double the line and form a loop three to four inches long. Pass the end of the loop through the hook's eye.

2 - Holding standing line between thumb and finger, grasp loop with free hand and form a simple overhand knot.

3 - Pass hook through loop and draw line while guiding loop over top of eyelet.

4 - Pull tag end of line to tighten knot snugly and trim tag end to about 1/8 inch.

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Basic Angling Knots - Surgeon's Knot
Easy way to tie a loop in the end of a leader.

The Double Surgeon's Loop is a quick, easy way to tie a loop in the end of a leader. It is often used as part of a leader system because it is relatively strong.

1 - Double the tag end of the line. Make a single overhand knot in the double line.

2 - Hold the tag end and standing part of the line in your left hand and bring the loop around and insert through the overhand knot.

3 - Hold the loop in your right hand. Hold the tag end and standing line in your left hand.

4 - Moisten the knot in water and pull to tighten. Trim tag end to about 1/8 inch.

 

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Basic Angling Knots - Trilene Knot
For joining line to swivels, snaps, hooks and artificial lures.

The Trilene Knot is a strong, reliable connection that resists slippage and premature failures. This knot can be used in joining line to swivels, snaps, hooks and artificial lures. The knot's unique double wrap design and ease of tying consistently yields a strong, dependable connection.

1 - Run end of line through eye of hook or lure and double back through the eye a second time.

2 - Loop around standing part of line 5 or 6 times. Thread tag end between the eye and the coils as shown.

3 - Tighten knot with a steady, even motion without hesitation. Trim tag end leaving at least 1/8 inch.

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Basic Angling Knots - Three-Turn Half Blood Knot

This knot is regarded as the strongest knot for tying line to a ring or swivel. Note that any half blood knot is much safer if clinched, see below.

Basic Angling Knots - Clinched Three-Turn Half Blood Knot

The clinched and often safer version of the know above.

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Basic Angling Knots - Return Knot

An easy and effective knot with which to attach hooks, especially hooks with turned up or turned down eyes.

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Basic Angling Knots - More Loop Knots

These knots are generally used when tying leaders to the main line. The Tucked Sheet Bend is perhaps the more reliable. Start with a Double Overhand Loop Knot (see knots on left, below).

Reef Figure of 8 Knot:

Tucked Sheet Bend

Perfection leader Loop
Here a looped leader is linked through the bound or whipped loop on a fly line.

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Basic Angling Knots - Snooding Hook to Line

While tedious at first, this is a relatively simple knot, once mastered, and is popular with many bream anglers.

Tips: If using a turned-up or down hook eye, the line from the final snood should pass straight through the eye and not be twisted. If the hook eye is straight with the hook, bypass the eye altogether.
1. The line is laid along the shank and the loop should be half as long again as the hook, so that is can be slipped over the hook a number of times. Hold the hook, line and back end of the loop between your thumb and forefinger.


2. The lower end of the loop is passed up and over the shank, the bend of the hook passing through the loop as this is done. The turn formed must go around the free end of the line and the shank - not between them.


3. Twist the free end of the loop and repeat for process of passing it over the hook and the free end of the line.


4. Depending on the weight of the line, make 4-6 turns of the loop, passing it over the hook and the free end of the line for each turn.


5. Close the snood by first pulling on the connected end of line to take up the loop. Make sure the loop does not slip under the free end of the line as it must not end up between the line and the shank. Then pull the free end of the line to take up any remaining slack in the loop.


6. Before finally pulling the snood tight, arrange it neatly so that the straight bits of line are flat against the shank and not twisted around it.

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Basic Angling Knots - Tying to Spool of Reel

A good knot to ensure strength when that big one has taken every last inch of line from your reel!

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Flathead Drift Rig

On the top hook I use octopus or squid as it is very long lasting and it can be used a few times over. The lure on the bottom acts as a sinker as well and seems to only get hits from bigger fish. If your drift gets too fast just put a bigger lure on to get it down, or thread a sinker on above the swivel.

The best colour I have used is a black bodied lure with any colour head you like. This works very well .

This is really simple with a twisted dropper and long shanked hook on the top about 30-50cms from a snap swivel - a mister twister lead head lure sits on the bottom.

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Snapper drifting rig

This is a rig that can be used when drifting for snapper. The length of the dropper can be made as long or short as you like. Just remember the longer they are the more likely you will get a tangle.

Depending on the speed of the drift your boat is in you can raise the rig off the bottom presenting your baits at varied depths. This method enables you to cover a huge amount of water giving you the best chance of finding some fish.

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Whiting rig

Here is my whiting rig. If you look closely you will see that this is almost identical to the flathead rig, but this is tied strait to the main line.

This can be used in drifting or anchored. A red bead or tubing is placed above the hooks to act as an attractor, although I seem to recall that the colour red is one of the first to dissapear in water. I have taken just as many fish with or without these attractors on the line.

Two droppers can be used but I prefer to use one... fewer tangles! The hook and sinker positions can be alternated to cater for pickers and bottom feeders.

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Paternoster Rig

What is a paternoster ? A paternoster is any style of hook rig where the leader is tied to a fixed lead, the hooks then are on droppers above the lead. Usually one to three hooks are used on a paternoster rig depending on the species you are after. The droppers can be either blood loops tied directly in the leader or more often a stop knot, bead, swivel, bead, stop knot arrangement is used.

Paternoster is a Latin name, meaning "Our Father", and its origin is said to be that St. Peter used a similar rig to catch a fish that was mentioned in a New Testament story. Whether this is so or not, the rig has been widely used in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions for centuries and its use has since spread world wide.

It is believed that years ago, the Australian pioneers use to string up a Paternoster rig that was several hundred metres long with hundreds of hooks, lay them out in the Murray River, and catch Murray Cod.

Using Paternoster style running rigs are the best choice for many types of fishing situations. For shy fish such as Bream, Snapper and Mulloway, the Running Paternoster rig is an excellent choice as it allows the bait to be taken some distance freely without pressure. In addition, by varying the length of the drops to the sinker and the hook respectively alters the rig to suit a variety of fishing situations from estuary to surf casting, to bottom fishing from a boat in a fast current.

For this rig used in surf casting, the leader attached to the sinker is longer than the leader for the hook. This style of of running sinker rig extends the casting range and reduces tangles with the bait. Alternatively, an extended leader to the hook and a short dropper to the sinker is more commonly used in tidal situations where casting requirements are modest, as in estuary fishing.

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The basic Paternoster rig consists of a sinker tied to the end of a line, often with a loop which allows the sinker to be removed or changed easily. Hooks are attached to short droppers on the main line. Variations of the Paternoster rig include tying the hook at the end of the main line with the sinker attached to a dropper loop.

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Variations of the Paternoster rig include tying the hook at the end of the main line with the sinker attached to a dropper loop, in fact the reverse of the example on the left.

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The use of a dropper loop to attach hooks and sinkers is an easy rig to prepare and is adequately strong for most fishing situations. The use of a swivel or a ring as a tie off point results in the strongest possible rig of this type. This is definitely an that is preferred by most anglers.

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Using a swivel or a ring as a tie off point results in the strongest possible rig of this type. This is an option preferred by many anglers.

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If u would like to submit some knots or Rigs to this section Email :Trublu

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