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Tying Knots For Bass Fishing & When To Use Each Knot

Tying Knots For Bass Fishing & When To Use Each Knot
May 21, 2022

By: Dylan Hayward

The ability to tie a strong and reliable fishing knot is something that is all too often forgotten. Tying knots used to be something that every kid was interested in learning. In fact, it was one of the most common lessons taught in boy scouts.

Nowadays, people just want to tie some basic over-under knot and start casting. The craziest part is, hardcore anglers will spend hundreds of dollars on top of the line rods and reels, but then overlook ensuring they have a good knot tied.

All knots are not created equal. There are certain knots that will perform better depending on what lures you’re using, which species of fish you’re going after, and the area that you’re fishing in. There are four basic knots that I love to use that can be interchanged no matter where you are fishing and what you are fishing for.

The Clinch Knot

The Clinch Knot is probably the most universal knot out there. This was actually the first knot that my father taught me how to tie and I have used it for largemouth, tarpon and even trout. It’s extremely easy to tie, just five or six twists and back through the eye and clinched down. I call it Ol’ Faithful for a reason.

The Palomar Knot

This is another knot that is commonly used for bass anglers. It’s a quick and strong knot that I have used in freshwater and saltwater. You can essentially use this knot for any line and be guaranteed no slip. Although if I am using anything above 15lb line, I’ll generally opt for a different knot.

The Snell Knot

The Snell Knot is a great knot to use, especially when used on a Texas-Rig lure. I prefer to use braided lines with my snell knots, this isn’t essential, it just ensures a stronger hold in my opinion. One of the great things about this knot is that when used on a Texas-Rig, is that there won’t be any unnecessary aggressive contact with the slip sinker, which will allow for longer usage. This knot also creates a hook angle that increases my catch success, especially when the bass aren’t as aggressive as I would like.

The Uni Knot

The Uni Knot is another reliable knot that can be used universally for most of your fishing outings. This knot is very similar to the Clinch Knot although I have found that it’s best to use braided lines for the Uni Knot. Whenever I am using JerkBait, I prefer to use a Uni Knot as it’s not as tight around the eye, allowing for a more lifelike movement of the lure. The Clinch Knot seems to create a somewhat stronger hold than the Uni Knot, but both are great.

Conclusion

There are several knots that are great to utilize depending on the situation you are fishing in. However, with these four basic knots, you should be able to apply them interchangeably for all of your fishing outings. Take some time to practice each knot before you go out. Before you know it, you’ll be able to quickly and effectively tie each knot whenever you need to.

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