Essential fishing know

The Essential Fishing Knot for Beginners

June 2, 2023
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The Improved Clinch Knot

A good knot for tying lines to swivels, lures and hooks.

Step 1: Pass the tag end of the line through the eye of the hook or swivel, allowing 10 centimetres (four inches) of line beyond the eye to complete the knot. Double the line back and make five to seven coils around the line going back to the rod.


Step 2: Hold the coils in place by pinching with your thumb and forefinger. Avoid pinching the eye of the tackle or the first loop created by the coils. With the opposite hand, thread the end of the line through the first loop over the eye, and then back through the large loop created by this action.


Step 3: Before tightening, moisten the knot with some water or a little saliva. Hold the tag end and the line going back to the rod, and simultaneously pull slowly and smoothly. The coils will form tight spirals. Use your fingers to slide the spirals back against the eye of the terminal tackle, making sure that the spirals are not overlapping each other. Give a final, smooth pull to securely tighten the knot, and then clip the excess tag end.



Quick tip: Moistening the line before completing your knot prevents the friction of tightening from burning the line and weakening it.