Fishing knots you can actually tie on the water.

Hook or lure

Palomar knot: a repeatable connection

This can be a useful connection for many braided and other lines when tied correctly. Large lures may be awkward to pass through the loop; consult line-maker guidance for your specific setup.

1. Double the line

   Fold a length of line into a loop and pass the doubled line through the hook or lure eye.

2. Tie loosely

   Form a loose overhand knot in the doubled line, leaving enough loop to fit the entire hook or lure through.

3. Pass the tackle through

   Bring the hook or lure completely through the loop without twisting or snagging the lines.

4. Seat and inspect

   Moisten, then pull the tag and standing line smoothly to seat the knot. Check for crossing or damage and trim the tag.

Hook or swivel

Improved clinch: pay attention to the wraps

This knot is not automatically the right choice for all slick braids or heavy line. Berkley cautions that it becomes difficult to tie above 30-pound test.

1. Thread the eye

   Pass the tag end through the hook or swivel eye, leaving enough tag line to work with.

2. Wrap the standing line

   Twist the tag around the standing line about five to seven turns for a commonly used light-to-medium line setup.

3. Make the two passes

   Thread the tag through the small loop nearest the eye, then through the larger loop you just made.

4. Tighten without crossing

   Moisten and draw the wraps into place smoothly, checking that they lie neatly and do not overlap.

Leader connection

Double uni: a line-to-line option to practice

Very different diameters and slippery materials may need a different connection. Practice and pull-test your exact pair of lines.

1. Overlap the lines

   Place the main line and leader alongside one another with enough overlap to form both knots.

2. Make the first uni

   Loop one tag back over the two strands, wrap it repeatedly through its loop, and snug its coils.

3. Make the second uni

   Repeat with the other tag in the opposite direction. Adapt wrap counts to line type and diameter following the line maker’s instructions.

4. Bring them together

   Moisten and pull the standing lines until the two knots meet. Inspect carefully and trim both tags.

Before your cast

A ten-second knot check

• Look for overlapping, burned, or uneven wraps.
• Inspect the line right above the knot for fraying after a snag.
• Pull-test securely with the hook pointing away from fingers and faces.
• Retie a suspicious connection instead of hoping the next fish will forgive it.
• Practice at home with your actual line diameter, especially before a cold-weather trip.