There are dozens of fishing knots you can tie with braided line. You probably don't need to know most of them. A better approach is to know a few dependable braided fishing line knots, understand what each connection is designed to do, and use the right one for the way you're fishing. For most anglers, the decision starts with one question: Are you tying braid directly to your terminal tackle, or are you connecting braid to a fluorocarbon or monofilamen...

You can tie the right knot and still end up with the wrong connection. That is especially true when tying fishing knots with braided line. An FG Knot, Double Uni Knot, or Palomar Knot may be perfectly suited to the job, but braid behaves differently from fluorocarbon and monofilament. Its thin diameter, low stretch, and surface characteristics put more emphasis on how you construct and seat the knot. This matters most when connecting braid to a fluoroca...

There are fishing knots that are built for one specific job, and then there are knots you can lean on for a little bit of everything. The Uni Knot falls squarely into that second group. It is simple enough to learn quickly, compact enough for a wide range of fishing applications, and versatile enough to work with monofilament, fluorocarbon and braided line. That is a big reason the Uni has stayed in so many anglers’ knot rotations. But versatile does no...

Most fishing knots are designed to cinch tightly against the eye of a hook or lure. That direct connection provides control, transfers energy during the hookset, and works well for a wide range of presentations. Loop knots for fishing take a different approach. Instead of tightening against the eye, a loop knot leaves a small, fixed loop between the line and the lure. That extra freedom can help certain baits swing, glide, walk, or pulse more naturally....

Every angler has had it happen. You make a cast, everything feels normal for about half a second, and then your bait stops like it hit a wall. You look down, and there it is: a random knot in your fishing line. Maybe it is halfway between your reel and your first guide. Maybe it is buried in your spool. Maybe it looks like your line tied itself into a little overhand knot just to mess with you. The frustrating part is that it always seems to happen at t...