Learn four fishing knots first: the uni knot for hooks and swivels, the double uni for joining two lines, the dropper loop for paternoster rigs and the palomar for braid. Add the FG knot once you run braid with a fluorocarbon leader. Wet every knot, pull it tight slowly and test it before you cast.
Most “snapped lines” are really failed knots. After a bust off, check the end of your line. A tight little curl, the pigtail, means the knot slipped. A frayed end points to reef or teeth. A clean break at the knot usually means it was tied dry or jerked tight.
You don’t need fifty knots, just the right one for each job, tied the same way every time. These eleven fishing knots cover almost everything, from a Perth jetty herring rig to a popper leader off Exmouth.
Which Fishing Knot Should You Use for Each Job?
Pick the knot by the connection, not by habit. Line type and line class decide whether a knot holds or lets go.
Go-To Knot for Every Connection
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Hook or swivel, mono or fluoro | Uni, 5 turns, or improved clinch up to about 30lb |
| Hook or swivel, braid | Palomar, or a uni with 7 to 8 turns |
| Bait hook on a long leader | Snell, 7 or 8 wraps around the shank |
| Side loop on a paternoster | Dropper loop, about 6 twists |
| Lure that needs to swing | Non-slip loop, turns set by line class |
| Fixed loop at the end of a leader | Perfection loop |
| Braid to leader for casting | FG knot, 12 to 15 pairs of wraps |
| Braid to leader, quick | Double uni: 8 turns in the braid, 5 to 6 in the leader |
| Braid to a much heavier leader | Albright, 10 wraps, locked with half hitches |
| Doubling the main line | Spider hitch for speed, Bimini twist for strength |
Why those choices:
- Braid is slippery. It needs more turns than mono, or a knot that doubles the line through the eye.
- Heavy line is stiff. It won’t bed down under lots of turns, so turn counts drop as line gets heavier.
- Matched lines join best. The FG and double uni like braid and leader of similar strength. For a big jump, say 15lb braid to 60lb leader, use the Albright.
How Do You Tie Line to a Hook, Swivel or Lure?
Learn the uni knot first. It ties the same way on a hook, swivel or snap and holds in mono, fluorocarbon and braid.
The Uni Knot
I tie more uni knots than all other knots combined. It ties easily in poor light and becomes the double uni. It’s the swivel knot on the salmon rigs at Bunker Bay.
How to Tie the Uni Knot
- 1
Thread the eye
Pass about 15cm of line through the eye and lay the tag alongside the standing line.
- 2
Form the loop
Bend the tag back towards the eye to form a loop over both strands.
- 3
Wrap inside the loop
Wrap the tag around both strands, working inside the loop, 5 times in mono or fluoro and 7 to 8 times in braid.
- 4
Snug the wraps
Wet the knot and pull the tag so the wraps close into a neat barrel.
- 5
Slide, seat and trim
Pull the standing line to slide the knot onto the eye, pull firmly to seat it, then trim the tag to 2 to 3mm.
The Improved Clinch Knot
The improved clinch is fine for mono and fluorocarbon up to about 30lb. Above that it’s hard to tie neatly, and in braid it can slip, so the uni is the better knot there. On a 6lb jetty rig, tie whichever you tie better.
How to Tie the Improved Clinch Knot
- 1
Thread the eye
Pass about 15cm of line through the eye.
- 2
Wrap
Wrap the tag around the standing line 5 times, or 4 times in heavier line.
- 3
First tuck
Pass the tag through the small loop just above the eye.
- 4
Second tuck
Pass the tag back through the large loop you have just formed. This tuck is the improved part.
- 5
Tighten and trim
Wet it, hold the tag and pull the standing line until the wraps spiral down tight. Trim.
The Palomar Knot
The palomar puts a doubled strand through the eye, which makes it one of the strongest terminal knots and a natural fit for braid. The catch: the lure must pass through the loop, which is fiddly with two trebles.
How to Tie the Palomar Knot
- 1
Double the line
Double about 15cm of line and push the loop through the eye.
- 2
Overhand
Tie a loose overhand knot with the doubled line, with the hook hanging in the loop.
- 3
Over the hook
Pass the loop over the whole hook or lure.
- 4
Tighten and trim
Wet it, pull the standing line and tag together so the knot draws down above the eye, then trim.
The Snell Knot
A snell binds the line to the hook shank so the pull runs straight down the hook. That helps the point turn and set, which is why it suits circle hooks and long bait leaders for mulloway at Mallacoota Inlet. Two-hook live bait rigs use the same knot on each hook, and the bait guide shows how to hook live baits.
How to Tie the Snell Knot
- 1
Pass through twice
Run the leader end through the eye, then through again in the same direction, leaving a loop hanging beside the shank.
- 2
Pinch
Pinch the eye, shank and both strands between finger and thumb.
- 3
Wrap the shank
Wrap the loop around the shank and the strands lying along it 7 or 8 times, each turn snug against the last.
- 4
Close the loop
Pull the standing line to shrink the loop, holding the turns under your fingers so they bed down.
- 5
Seat and trim
Wet it, pull both ends hard and trim the tag.
Which Loop Knots Do You Need?
Three loops cover most rigs: a dropper loop for paternoster hooks, a perfection loop at the end of a leader and a non-slip loop so lures swing freely.
The Dropper Loop
The dropper loop stands out at right angles from the middle of a line, which is exactly what a paternoster rig needs, including the heavy reef version for blue bone in the Whitsundays. Tie it in mono or fluoro, because their stiffness holds the loop off the trace. Keep finished loops to about 10cm so they don’t tangle.
How to Tie the Dropper Loop
- 1
Make a big loop
Form a loop where you want the dropper, bigger than the finished loop, because the twists use up line.
- 2
Twist
Hold the point where the lines cross and wrap the loop around that crossover about 6 times, so the twists sit evenly on both sides.
- 3
Push through
Open a gap in the middle of the twists and push the bottom of the loop through it.
- 4
Pull tight
Hold the loop in your teeth or on a pen, wet it and pull both ends steadily until the loop stands out square.
- 5
Add the hook
Push the loop through the hook eye, pass the hook back through the loop and pull it snug.
The Perfection Loop
The perfection loop sits neatly in line with the standing part. Use it for loop-to-loop joins and the sinker loop on a paternoster.
How to Tie the Perfection Loop
- 1
First loop
Form a loop in the end of the line with the tag passing behind the standing line.
- 2
Second loop
Take the tag around again to make a second loop on top of the first, with the tag passing under the standing line.
- 3
Tag between
Bring the tag across between the two loops and hold it there.
- 4
Pull through
Reach through the first loop and pull the second loop through it.
- 5
Tighten and trim
Wet it, pull the new loop against the standing line until it locks, then trim.
The Non-Slip Loop
The non-slip loop, or Kreh loop, leaves a fixed loop at the lure’s eye, so a soft plastic or popper swings more freely than one cinched tight. That extra action is covered in our techniques guide. GT anglers at Exmouth use loop knots on poppers, though many switch to crimps past 100lb leader.
How to Tie the Non-Slip Loop
- 1
Overhand first
Tie a loose overhand knot about 10cm from the end of the line.
- 2
Through the eye
Pass the tag through the lure eye, then back through the overhand knot.
- 3
Wrap
Wrap the tag around the standing line: 7 turns in 6 to 8lb, 5 in 10 to 12lb, 4 in 15 to 40lb, 3 in 50 to 60lb and 2 in anything heavier.
- 4
Back through
Bring the tag back through the overhand knot, entering from the same side it exited before.
- 5
Set and tighten
Adjust the loop now, because it's fixed once tight. Wet it, pull the tag to snug the wraps, then pull lure and standing line apart hard. Trim.
How Do You Join Braid to a Leader?
Use the FG knot for casting lures, the double uni when you need a join fast, and the Albright when the leader is far heavier than the braid.
A swivel suits bait rigs where the leader is shorter than the rod, but it won’t pass through the guides.
Braid to Leader Knots Compared
| FG Knot | Double Uni | Albright | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile through the guides | Slimmest of the three | Bulkier, can tick the guides | Slim, small leading edge |
| Difficulty | Hardest, needs steady tension | Easy | Moderate |
| Relative strength | Strongest when tied well | Lowest of the three | Good, better when locked |
| Leader it suits | Similar strength to the braid | Light to medium | Much heavier than the braid |
| Best use | Casting lures on braid | Bait rigs, quick fixes, low light | Heavy leaders, mono main lines |
The FG Knot
The FG has no knot body. Braid wraps grip the leader like a finger trap, so it zips through micro guides. It’s the standard join for bass at Wyaralong Dam and greenback tailor at Kalbarri. Tension is everything. If the braid goes slack while you weave, the wraps won’t grip.
How to Tie the FG Knot
- 1
Set up tension
Hold the main braid and a long braid tag tight in a V, say main line anchored to the rod and tag in your teeth. Keep it tight from here on.
- 2
Weave
Lay the leader across the V and weave it under one side of the braid, then under the other, so the braid crosses over it on each pass. Each back and forth is one pair.
- 3
Build the wraps
Make 12 to 15 pairs, pushing them together every 5 or 6 pairs as they spread.
- 4
Lock and bed
Tie a half hitch around both lines with the braid tag. Wet the wraps and pull hard on the main braid and leader to bed them in.
- 5
Trim the leader
Add another half hitch around both lines, then cut the leader tag as close as you can.
- 6
Finish
Tie several half hitches around the main braid only, alternating sides, or a multi-turn finishing hitch. Trim the braid tag.
Never Bed an FG With Bare Hands
Wrap the main braid around a pen or gloved hand for the hard bedding pull. A half-hearted pull is the usual reason an FG slips. Animated Knots’ FG sequence steps through the weave frame by frame.
The Double Uni Knot
The double uni is two uni knots, each tied around the other line, slid together until they jam. It’s bulkier and weaker than an FG, but you can tie it with cold hands on a dark jetty.
How to Tie the Double Uni Knot
- 1
Overlap
Overlap the braid and leader by about 20cm.
- 2
Uni in the leader
With the leader tag, make a loop back over both lines and wrap both lines inside the loop 5 to 6 times. Snug it, don't fully tighten.
- 3
Uni in the braid
Repeat with the braid tag pointing the other way, using 8 turns because braid slips.
- 4
Tighten each
Wet both and pull each tag to tighten each uni onto the other line.
- 5
Slide and trim
Pull the standing lines apart so the knots jam together, then trim both tags.
The Albright Knot
The Albright binds the lighter line around a loop in the heavier one, so it copes with a big jump in diameter. The slim beauty is a good alternative.
How to Tie the Albright Knot
- 1
Loop the leader
Bend a loop in the end of the heavier line.
- 2
Insert the braid
Push about 20cm of the lighter line through the loop.
- 3
Wrap
Pinch everything and wrap the light line back over itself and both legs of the loop 10 times, working towards the closed end of the loop.
- 4
Exit
Pass the tag back out through the loop on the same side it went in.
- 5
Draw it up
Wet it and pull slowly on both standing lines so the wraps slide snug without slipping off the loop, then pull all ends tight.
- 6
Lock it
In braid, tie two or three half hitches with the tag around the main line, then trim.
How Do You Double Your Line Before a Leader?
Tie a spider hitch when you want a double quickly, or a Bimini twist when you want the strongest, most forgiving double.
Two strands in the leader knot spread the load and cushion hard strikes.
The Spider Hitch
How to Tie the Spider Hitch
- 1
Double the line
Double the end of the line as long as you want the double to be, at least 30cm.
- 2
Small loop
Where you want the knot, twist the doubled line into a small loop and pinch it between thumb and forefinger, thumb extending past the loop.
- 3
Wrap the thumb
Wrap the doubled line around your thumb and the small loop 5 times in mono, or about 15 times in braid, working towards your thumb tip.
- 4
Through the loop
Pass the end of the doubled line through the small loop.
- 5
Unwind
Pull slowly on the doubled line so the wraps come off your thumb one at a time.
- 6
Tighten
Wet it, pull all four strands evenly until it seats, then trim the tag.
The Bimini Twist
The Bimini needs at least 20 twists in a long doubled loop. Keep the loop spread so the tag winds back down over the twists, then lock it with a half hitch and a multi-turn hitch. Animated Knots suggests about 30 twists for mono, more for braid. Learn it at home.
How Do You Wet, Seat and Test a Fishing Knot?
Wet it, draw it tight with one slow pull, then load it harder than a fish will. That catches bad knots on the bench, not on a fish.
The why is heat. Friction heats the line as wraps slide together, and nylon and fluorocarbon weaken when hot. Saliva or water lets the wraps slide without cooking the line.
- Wet it. Every knot, every time.
- Pull slowly. Snatching a dry knot tight damages good line.
- Look at it. Crossed wraps, a kink or chalky, crinkled mono means retie.
- Load test it. Hook it to something solid and pull harder than your drag.
- Trim smart. Leave 2 to 3mm of tag in mono, and don’t melt tags with a lighter right against the knot.
Braid and Bare Hands Don't Mix
Never wrap braid around your fingers to test a knot or pull a snag. Under load it cuts skin. Use a glove or a stick, and point the rod down the line on a snag so a breaking leader doesn’t spring back at your face. More in our fishing safety guide.
When to Retie
Retie after every good fish, snag or bust off, and at the start of each session. Run the last metre of leader between your fingertips and cut off any nicks. Learn new knots on the couch with thick line until you can tie them with your eyes shut.
Your Questions About Fishing Knots
What is the strongest fishing knot?
A well-tied palomar or uni for hooks, and a properly bedded FG for braid to leader. How well you tie it matters more than which knot you pick.
What is the easiest fishing knot for beginners?
The uni knot. It ties the same way on hooks, swivels and snaps, in mono or braid.
Why does the improved clinch slip on braid?
It holds by friction, and braid is too slick to grip, so the wraps pull through. Use a palomar or a uni with 7 to 8 turns.
Can I tie braid straight to a hook or lure?
Yes, with a palomar, but add a metre of leader if you can. Braid is easy for fish to see and frays on rocks and teeth.
What knot joins braid to a fluorocarbon leader?
The FG for casting, the double uni when you want easy, and the Albright for much heavier leaders.
Should I use a swivel instead of a leader knot?
On bait rigs with a leader shorter than the rod, yes. Use matte black swivels around tailor and mackerel, because shiny ones draw bites.
Why does my FG knot keep failing?
The braid went slack during the weave, the wraps weren’t bedded with a hard pull, or the half hitches were skimped.
What knot do I use for a paternoster rig?
Dropper loops for the hooks, and a perfection loop or a uni to a swivel for the sinker.
Should I put glue on my knots?
A dab of superglue stops an FG’s braid tag fraying, but it won’t save a badly tied knot.
How often should I retie my knots?
After every good fish, every snag and at the start of each session.
Pick line and leader weights in tackle basics, or start with fishing basics if you’re new. Then put them to work at our fishing spots or on a target from our species guides, and check your state’s fishing regulations before you keep a fish.
More Essentials
- Fishing Basics: A First-Trip Guide for Australian Beginners
- Fishing Tackle Basics: Rods, Reels, Line, Hooks and Sinkers
- Fishing Rigs Explained: 8 Essential Rigs for Australian Waters
- Fishing Bait Guide: The Best Baits for Australian Fish
- Fishing Techniques: Bait, Lures, Reading Water and Tides
- Fishing Safety in Australia: Rocks, Beaches, Boats and Bites
- Fishing Regulations in Australia: How to Check Licences and Rules