Easy Fishing Knots

Easy Fishing Knots Every Angler Should Know

One of the first things new anglers need to know about fishing knots is that there are literally dozens of different types, even hundreds by the time you add in all the variations. The second thing new anglers need to know is that they can enjoy a great day of catching fish just by learning the four basic fishing knots listed below: 

Palomar Knot

The Palomar Knot is, hands down, the most popular of the easy fishing knots. Not only is it one of the strongest on the list of knots, it is also one of the easiest fishing knots to master. This type of knot is best suited for securing your hook with braided fishing line. Learn how to tie a Palomar Knot:

Fishing Knots: How Tie a Palomar Fishing Knot

1. Double around six inches of line and thread it through the eye of your fishing hook.
2. Tie an overhand knot in the doubled fishing line and let your hook hang loosely. Don't twist the lines.
3. Pull the end of your loop down and pass it over your hook.
4. Moisten the line and pull both ends to draw up your knot and trim your excess line.

Rapala Knot

The Rapala knot is best of the easy fishing knots for attaching lures to fluorocarbon lines. Named for the company that invented this knot, it can be expertly tied with just five simple steps:

1. Tie an overhand knot five to six inches above the tag end of your fishing line.
2. Run the tag end through the eye of your lure or hook, and then through the overhand knot.
3. Wrap around your standing line three times, and push your tag end through the back of your overhand knot.
4. Run the tag end through the loop you just formed in the previous step.
5. Pull on the main line, tag end, and hook or lure to tighten the knot down.

Hangman’s Knot

This style of knot is best for monofilament and terminal tackle, but it’s a versatile knot and can be used in a range of fishing scenarios. Hangman is one of the easy fish hook knots and it’s great for attaching your line to your reel.

1. Run your line through the eye and double it back. This should form a circle.
2. Wrap the tag end around the double line six times and then pull through the loop.
3. Next, moisten your line and pull your main line to tighten.
4. Finish by pulling the main line to slide your knot down to your eye of the hook or swivel.

Surgeon’s Knot

If the Palomar knot is the easiest knot for securing line to hoot, the surgeon’s knot (or double surgeon’s knot) is without question the easiest fishing knot to use when joining lines of different weight.

5. Put your leader line next to your main line.
6. Create an overhand knot by pushing the long piece and leader of your main line through the loop.
7. Make a second overhand knot by moving the previous ends through your loop.
8. Wet the line and slowly tighten by pulling all of the ends.
9. Finish by trimming up your tags.

With these knot-tying tips, you should now know how to tie fishing knots easily. Which of these easy knots will you use on your next fishing trip? Learn about other types of fishing knots and fishing rigs in our next section.