Which knots do you use when fishing?

[menhaden_man]

So it's that time of the year again where I have to relearn my 2 knots. I use the Alberto knot to do fluorocarbon leader to braid, and I use a Palomar knot to tie on lures. Are there any other knots needed or recommend?

Those two plus improved clinch knot and occasional surgeon know make up 99% of all my knots.

Alberto knot is badass.

 

[5am_Maverik_Burrito]

I need to relearn the Alberto again. I tried FG for a bit, but I need 3 hands to even have a chance at trying it in the field

 

[Traveler]

Fly fishing: double surgeon and eugene bend

All others: palomar knot

 

[GSPHUNTER]

FG for braid to fluro or mono leader, Palomar to hook; sometimes a Trilene knot to hook depending on brand of line as I've found the Palomar is weaker with some brands of fluro. Starting to use the Rapala knot more for hard baits. Perfection loop for loops.

Definitely going to learn and try the San Diego jam mentioned earlier, looks easy and strong.

Should mention I learned the Bimini Twist 27 years ago and the first time it went in the water my brother hooked and landed a 40.5 lb flathead on a med heavy walleye rod, antique Mitchell 300 and 20 lb Stren Original. Only used it a few times later and now have forgotten how to tie it.

I still have my Mitchel 300 I got when I was 14. That was 61 years ago. I've caught untold number of fish with that reel.

 

[ChrisA]

I still have my Mitchel 300 I got when I was 14. That was 61 years ago. I've caught untold number of fish with that reel.

I didn't get a 300 until I was about 24 but grew up with a 308 as they were sized best to our fishing. I still use them ice fishing, great reals.

 

[Ferrulewax]

After tactical bassin recommended a blood knot to attach braid to leader, it’s all I use. I am already quick with them from tying fly leaders. It doesn’t seem like it should work, but I haven’t had any issues with it.

Screw the FG knot, that thing took me forever to tie back when I still used it.

Other Frequently used knots
palomar for straight braid to lure
Improved clinch for mono to lure
Non-slip mono loop for when I want more action (streamers and fixed eye lures with no split ring)
Triple surgeon for trout sized tippet

 

[ohoopee]

for trout, occasional barrel knot and nail knot. Clinch and triple surgeon’s constantly. Improved clinch if I’m fishing a pool with 17” trout.

I also found myself missing more fish with barbless hooks this year. Just not agile enough to keep the fish up river now on the freestones I fish.

 

[Scotto]

Uni, Uni-Uni and Bimini Twist

 

[KsRancher]

Uni-Uni for leader to mainline. And palomar for leader to lure.

 

[Cliff Gray]

good ole alberto for leader to braid. i snell all my circle hooks. for some reason the uni-snell is most intuitive to me.

improved clinch is one of the weaker knots but it should be call the "dad knot". When you are chasing kids around, dealing with constant break offs, one kid snagged yelling for help... that is the go to on everything.

 

[HuntHarder]

Typically Alberto for Braid to fluoro. Palomar for attaching hooks or jigs.

Uni-uni looks easier than alberto. Anyone have a reason why 1 is better than the other? I've heard alberto has a smaller footprint is all.

 

[JBradley500]

good ole alberto for leader to braid. i snell all my circle hooks. for some reason the uni-snell is most intuitive to me.

improved clinch is one of the weaker knots but it should be call the "dad knot". When you are chasing kids around, dealing with constant break offs, one kid snagged yelling for help... that is the go to on everything.

That's funny. I didn't know improved clinched was a thing. That's the knot my dad used when I was a kid and taught me. Probably for the reasons you stated.

 

[ckleeves]

I need to relearn the Alberto again. I tried FG for a bit, but I need 3 hands to even have a chance at trying it in the field

The key to the FG for me is wrapping the braid around my pinky on my right hand so that I have full use of the other fingers. When I first started I would hold the braid in my mouth and it took me about 5 minutes to tie one. With the pinky wrap I can tie one in probably less then a minute on a boat on a windy day.

 

[Mike Islander]

I don't use leaders, so it's essentially braid. Palomar knot.

FG on the extremely rare leader (adding a leader for a friend who wants one but doesn't know knots, for example). For mono, Trilene or improved clinch.

 

[Cliff Gray]

Typically Alberto for Braid to fluoro. Palomar for attaching hooks or jigs.

Uni-uni looks easier than alberto. Anyone have a reason why 1 is better than the other? I've heard alberto has a smaller footprint is all.

man i have found that the alberto is all about how you tension the two lines and hold them. then it is cake. this guys has a great way in the first part of the video

if i do it haphazardly I turn into an squinty eyed foul mouthed old man.

 

[Corvus Corax]

Uni to uni, Palomar, and improved cinch are the ones I use most. I hand tie a lot of mooching rigs as well.

 

[tonydl3]

I have never progressed to any other knot beside the one I learned as a kid... Still rocking the improved clinch knot

 

[Macintosh]

Alberto for braid to leader, either mono or floro. Works great on any line size I ever use (bass and pike from drop-shot up to flipping weight, or on a heavier spinning rod for stripers), I have had better luck using it over the other knots Ive tried for this use. Have never had this knot fail, ever. I tie it very similarly to the video, once you get the hang of it its pretty fast and easy to tie. @HuntHarder biggest reason is it’s lower-profile so it goes thru guides very well, while still being quite strong.
Palomar for floro to lure, double palomar for braid to lure for frogs and jigs and such.
Still use improved clinch for mono.

I really dont see a need for any other knots for the fishing line I use.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Since it hasn't been mentioned yet, the spangler knot is great for heavy mono lines to hooks/swivels, 40# and up, when it's otherwise tough to get a san Diego jam knot to tighten properly.

 

[Rich M]

For leaders
Triple surgeon knot
Uni to uni

For lures and hooks
Improved clinch
Palomar
Loop knot

Fresh and saltwater

I do use one other for 80-100# line but forget name. Twice thru eye then 3 times thru the double loop. Tough.