Fishing knots: how to tie the six knots NZ anglers use
Six knots cover nearly all New Zealand saltwater fishing. Use a uni knot or palomar to tie line to a hook or swivel, a snell for a straight pull on a hook, a uni-to-uni to join braid to a mono leader, and a dropper loop to add hooks to a ledger rig. Wet every knot before you pull it tight.
Six knots cover nearly everything you’ll tie for New Zealand saltwater fishing, from a ledger rig off the wharf to a braid mainline on a soft-bait rod. Each one below has a diagram you can step through or play, the steps in words, and what it’s for. For the rigs these knots hold together, see NZ fishing rigs.
Three habits make any knot stronger:
- Wet it. Friction heats the line as a knot pulls tight, and heat weakens nylon. Wet the knot first so the turns slide down without burning.
- Pull it down smoothly. A steady pull seats the turns. A jerk can leave them crossed.
- Trim the tag close, but not flush. Leave 2–3 mm so a knot that settles a little doesn’t pull undone.
Which knot should I use?
| Job | Knot | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Line to a hook, swivel or lure | Uni knot or palomar | Uni: any. Palomar: braid and lighter mono |
| A hook that pulls straight from the shank, or two hooks on one trace | Snell | Mono or fluorocarbon |
| Braid mainline to a mono or fluorocarbon leader | Uni-to-uni | Braid and mono |
| A loop off the middle of a trace for a hook | Dropper loop | Mono |
| A quick hook knot in light mono | Improved clinch | Light mono |
Uni knot
The most useful single knot. It ties line to a hook, swivel or lure, and two uni knots make a line join. It’s easy to tie in mono, fluorocarbon or braid.
Snell knot
Snelling ties a hook so the line comes straight out of the front of the shank. It gives a straight pull when you set the hook, and it’s the standard way to tie two hooks one above the other for a strayline or pilchard bait.
For a two-hook rig, slide the second hook on before the first, snell it in place a bait-length above, then snell the bottom hook.
Palomar knot
A strong, simple knot for tying line to a hook, swivel or lure, and a good one for braid. It’s harder with big lures, because the loop has to pass over them.
Uni-to-uni knot
The double uni knot joins two lines, most often a braid mainline to a mono or fluorocarbon leader. It’s two uni knots, each tied around the other line, pulled together.
Dropper loop
A loop that stands out at right angles from the middle of a line, used to attach hooks on ledger, dropper and surfcasting rigs. Make the loop longer than you need: it shrinks as the twists pull tight.
Improved clinch knot
A quick knot for tying mono to a hook or swivel, often called the fisherman’s knot in New Zealand. It suits light line. It’s hard to pull down neatly in heavy line, so use a uni knot there, and a uni or palomar in braid.
Questions
What is the strongest fishing knot?
No single knot is strongest in every line. The palomar and the uni knot are both strong, reliable choices for tying line to a hook or swivel, and the uni is easier to tie in heavy line. A poorly tied knot is weak whatever it is, so wet the line before you pull it tight and trim the tag end neatly.
How do you join braid to mono?
Use a double uni knot (uni-to-uni). Tie a uni knot in the braid around the mono leader with about twice as many turns as normal, tie a second uni knot in the mono around the braid, then pull the two knots together. Wet the line before tightening.
What knot should I use to tie a hook on?
A uni knot works in mono, fluorocarbon and braid and is the easiest all-rounder. A palomar is strong and recommended for braid, but the hook has to pass through its loop. Snell the hook when you want the line to pull straight from the shank, as on a two-hook strayline rig.
How many turns should a uni knot have?
Five or six turns in mono and fluorocarbon. Slippery braid needs more, about eight to ten when you tie it around a leader in a uni-to-uni join. Too few turns and the knot can slip; too many in heavy line and it won't pull down neatly.
Why do you wet a knot before tightening it?
Friction heats the line as a knot pulls tight, and heat weakens nylon. Wetting it with water or saliva lets the turns slide down into place without burning, so the knot seats properly and keeps more of the line's strength.