First Coast Fishing

Knot Tying

Strong knots for leaders, lures, hooks, and rigs.

Practice at home, wet the line before tightening, and trim clean. A good knot beats expensive tackle every time.

Improved Clinch Knot

Great for tying mono or fluoro to hooks, swivels, and smaller lures.

Improved clinch knot diagram wraps hook eye

Step-by-step

  1. Run 6 to 8 inches of tag end through the hook eye.
  2. Hold the hook and standing line, then wrap the tag end around the standing line 5 to 7 times.
  3. Pass the tag end through the small loop right above the hook eye.
  4. Pass the tag end back through the larger loop created by step 3.
  5. Wet the knot, pull the standing line until the coils stack neatly, then snug the tag end.
  6. Trim the tag close, leaving a tiny safety nub.

Loop Knot

Good for giving topwaters, soft plastics, and plugs more natural action.

Non-slip loop knot diagram standing line free loop

Step-by-step

  1. Tie a loose overhand knot 4 to 6 inches above the tag end.
  2. Run the tag end through the lure or hook eye.
  3. Pass the tag end back through the overhand knot from the same side it exited.
  4. Wrap the tag end around the standing line 3 to 4 times.
  5. Run the tag end back through the overhand knot again.
  6. Wet the knot, set the loop size, pull the wraps tight, and trim.

Double Uni Knot

A reliable braid-to-leader knot when you want something simple and repeatable.

Double uni knot diagram braid leader

Step-by-step

  1. Overlap the braid and leader by 8 to 10 inches.
  2. With the leader tag, form a loop over both lines.
  3. Wrap the leader tag through that loop 4 to 5 times, then snug it lightly.
  4. With the braid tag, form a second loop over both lines.
  5. Wrap the braid tag through its loop 6 to 8 times, then snug it lightly.
  6. Wet both knots and pull the standing lines apart until the knots slide together.
  7. Trim both tag ends close.

Surgeon's Loop

Fast loop for bottom rigs, dropper setups, or leader loops.

Surgeon's loop knot diagram doubled line finished loop

Step-by-step

  1. Double the line to form the loop size you want.
  2. Use the doubled line to tie a loose overhand knot.
  3. Pass the loop through that overhand knot a second time.
  4. Wet the knot so both strands can seat evenly.
  5. Pull the loop and both standing strands at the same time until the knot cinches down.
  6. Trim the tag end.

Palomar Knot

One of the strongest and easiest knots for braid, hooks, jig heads, and swivels.

Palomar knot diagram doubled line pass loop over hook

Step-by-step

  1. Double 6 to 8 inches of line and pass the doubled loop through the hook or swivel eye.
  2. Tie a loose overhand knot with the doubled line, keeping the hook hanging below.
  3. Pass the doubled loop over the hook, lure, or swivel.
  4. Wet the knot and pull both the standing line and tag together until it seats.
  5. Pull the standing line firmly, then trim the tag end.

Uni Knot

A dependable all-purpose knot for hooks, lures, swivels, and light leader work.

Uni knot diagram standing line wrap tag through loop

Step-by-step

  1. Run the tag end through the eye and lay it alongside the standing line.
  2. Make a loop with the tag end over both lines.
  3. Wrap the tag through the loop and around both lines 5 to 7 times.
  4. Wet the wraps and pull the tag to snug the knot.
  5. Slide the knot down to the eye with steady pressure on the standing line.
  6. Pull tight and trim the tag.

FG Knot

A slim braid-to-leader connection that casts cleanly through guides for plugs and long leaders.

FG knot diagram braid wraps bite leader finish with half hitches

Step-by-step

  1. Keep the leader tight and lay the braid across it under tension.
  2. Wrap the braid over and under the leader, alternating sides 16 to 22 times.
  3. Pull the braid and leader hard so the wraps bite into the leader.
  4. Tie two half hitches around both lines to lock the wraps.
  5. Trim the leader tag close, then add 3 to 5 more half hitches on the braid.
  6. Pull-test before fishing; the knot should be slim and smooth.

Snell Knot

Excellent for live bait hooks, circle hooks, and rigs where a straight pull helps hooksets.

Snell knot diagram line exits toward hook point wrap shank

Step-by-step

  1. Pass the leader through the hook eye from point side toward the shank.
  2. Lay the tag end along the hook shank, forming a small loop near the eye.
  3. Wrap the tag around the shank and both lines 5 to 7 times.
  4. Pass the tag end back through the loop near the eye.
  5. Wet the knot and pull the standing line until the wraps seat tight on the shank.
  6. Trim the tag end close.

Dropper Loop

Useful for pompano rigs, bait rigs, and adding a loop that stands away from the main line.

Dropper loop knot diagram main line bait loop

Step-by-step

  1. Form a loop in the line where you want the dropper to sit.
  2. Twist the loop around the standing line 5 to 7 times, leaving the center opening clear.
  3. Push the loop through the center opening.
  4. Wet the knot and pull both standing lines evenly.
  5. Pull the loop last so it stands out cleanly from the main line.
  6. Attach the hook or leader loop-to-loop.

Blood Knot

A clean mono-to-fluoro or leader-to-leader knot when the two line sizes are close.

Blood knot diagram wrap one tag wrap the other

Step-by-step

  1. Overlap the two line ends by 6 to 8 inches.
  2. Wrap one tag end around the opposite standing line 5 times.
  3. Bring that tag back through the center gap between the two lines.
  4. Wrap the other tag end around the opposite standing line 5 times.
  5. Bring the second tag through the center gap from the opposite direction.
  6. Wet the knot and pull both standing lines until the wraps draw together.
  7. Trim both tag ends close.