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Salmon and Steelhead Knots

There are literally thousands of knots to choose from but only a few that are particularly well suited for salmon and steelhead fishing. It is important to understand that the knot in your line represents the weakest link between the fish and your reel and is the most common failure point. Like most other aspects of fishing, it's important to pay attention to detail when choosing the right knot for an application and making sure that you tie it correctly. Unfortunately, poorly chosen or poorly tied knots are the most common reason for losing a fish. The knots presented below will give you the confidence and results to bring that fish of a lifetime to shore.

Following is a common sense list of considerations when choosing the knot you will use for various applications:
  1. Learn how to quickly and easily tie the knots you will be using. Dont wait till you are on the river to try to figure out how to tie a new knot.
  2. Choose the right knot and tie it correctly. Recognize that there are only a few knots recommended for the new braided lines.
  3. Lubricate knots with water or saliva before drawing tight.
  4. Draw knots as tight as possible.
  5. Trim tag ends of your knot with scissors or nail clipper. – don’t use your teeth
  6. Inspect the knot to insure it is cinched up tightly, there are no kinks or over wraps if the knot has loops, and there is no damage to the line.


Following is a short list of of the knots that I use most often for steelhead and salmon fishing.

  • Improved Clinch Knot - Best knot for tying terminal tackle to your monofilament leader or main line.
  • Trilene Knot - This is a variation on the improved clinch knot with an extra wrap around the eye for added strength.
  • Palomar Knot - Very easy to tie, exceptionally strong knot. This is the best knot for tying braided line and works equally well on monofilament. Great for tying jigs to your line.
  • Uni Knot- Great knot for tying braided lines to terminal tackle.
  • Bobber Stop Knot - This is a specialty knot used when float fishing with an adjustable bobber.
  • Egg Loop Knot - This is a knot developed specifically to attach bait to your hook.
  • Uniknot-to-Uniknot Splice - This is a good way to tie braided line to monofilament line.

 

Improved Clinch Knot
This is probably the most widely used knot because it is simple to tie, retains 85%+ of the line strength, and can be used on all monofilament line. Use this knot to tie your terminal tackle to your leader or main line. Don’t confuse this knot with the regular clinch knot which leaves out the final loop-thru – it is an inferior alternative.

Insert 5 or 6 inches of line end through the hook eye, making 6 to 8 wraps around the standing part of the

leader/line. Insert the line end through the small loop near the eye, then bring it back through larger loop.Hold the tag end and standing line while pulling up the coils. Make sure the coils are in a spiral, not overlapping each other. Moisten the knot. Slide against the eye. Trim the tag end.

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Trilene Knot
This knot is a variation on the improved clinch knot and is used to tie your terminal tackle to your leader or mainline.The knot's unique double wrap design and ease of tying consistently yields a strong, reliable connection with 85%+ retention of line strength.

Run end of line through eye of hook or lure and double back through the eye a second time.
Loop around standing part of line 6or 8 times. Thread tag end between the eye and the coils as shown
Tighten knot with a steady, even motion without hesitation. Trim tag end leaving at least 1/8 inch.

 

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Palomar Knot
This knot is one of the easiest to tie and retains 95 percent of line strength. It is regarded by the International Game Fish Association consistently as the strongest knot known.

Double the line over to make a loop. Then feed the loop through the eyelet of the hook.
Hold the standing line and form an overhand knot as shown. Avoid twisting the lines and don't tighten knot.
Pass the hook through the end of the loop.
Then pull on the hook, the standing line, and the tag end of the line to tighten the knot. Snug down tightly around the eyelet. Trim tag end.

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Uni Knot
This is probably the most common knot for tying braided line. It can retain almost 100% of the line strength.

1. Run at least six inches of line through the eye of the hook, swivel, or lure, and fold to make two parallel lines. Bring the tag end of the line back in a circle toward the hook or lure.
2. Make six turns with the tag end around the double line and through the circle.
3. Hold the double line at the point where it passes through the eye, and pull the tag end to snug up the turns.
4. To create a loop connection: Adjust the loop size by sliding the knot up or down the standing line. Then pull the tag end with pliers to maximize tightness.
5. To create a snug knot: Pull the standing line to slide the knot up against the eye. Then continue pulling until the knot is tight. Trim the tag end.
Note: Leaving a loop in step 4 will give your bait a little more action but you must pull the knot very tight for it to hold. Under enough strain, this loop will close but that is not a problem.

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Uniknot to Uniknot Splice
The best way to connect braided line to monofilament of similar diameter.

1) Pass the braided line and monofilament at least 12 to 18" past each other so that loops can be formed. For a stronger knot, double the braided line.

2-3) Starting with the braided line, make 6 to 8 wraps through the loop and pull to tighten. Do the same with the mono except 4 or 5 wraps are enough. Pull on the tag end. Look to see that the wraps don't cross over each other.

4-5) Pull on the standing lines to jam the knots together. Trim.

Note: This information adapted from the Power Pro website

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Bobber Stop Knot
This is a specialty knot for bobber fishing. It has the advantage that the stops moves readily over the rod guides, but grips the monofilament line tightly enough that it will not slide over the line. It should be made with about 5 inches of line, usually the same or larger diameter as the line itself.

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Egg Loop Knot
This is the standard knot used to snell your hook to your leader with a loop to add your bait, usually, roe, shrimp, and/or yarn. We have extended the classic design by making 20 wraps in the first step which creates a larger gap in the loop. This gap tends to reduce the loop cutting through your bait. The key to making this knot correctly is to ensure that none of the wraps overlaps.


Note: This diagram has been published in several books and elsewhere on the Internet so I am not sure to whom the credit belongs.

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