Have you ever hooked up with a big bass and all of a sudden *SNAP* your line breaks and the catch of a lifetime is gone? Sometimes it’s because of faulty line, or simply bad luck, but more often than not the case of losing a fish is because of the knot an angler used. Today we will be covering 5 of the best bass fishing knots that everyone should know, and maybe, just maybe one of these will save you from a trophy bass nightmare.
Best Bass Fishing Knot #1: Palomar Knot
Chances are if you’re a veteran or even a new angler you’ve at least heard of the Palomar knot. The Palomar knot is by far one of the most versatile and consistently good knots in the bass fishing industry, and in most scenarios is the strongest fishing knot in existence. Tying the Palomar knot is simple:
- Double 6 inches of line and pass the end of the loop through the eye of the hook.
- Tie a loose overhand knot with a hook hanging from the bottom.
- Holding the overhand knot between thumb and forefinger, pass a loop of line over the hook. Slide loop above the eye of the hook.
- Pull on both the standing line and tag end to tighten the knot down onto the eye. Clip the tag end close.
Best Bass Fishing Knot #2: Fisherman's Knot
Similar to the Palomar knot, the fisherman’s knot is another great knot to tie no matter what you’re fishing with. Most often the Fisherman’s knot is used to tie lines together and form a leader, but it can also be used for tying line to lures as well! The steps to tie a Fisherman's knot are as follows below:
- Tie a loose Overhand Knot with the working end of the line around the other line.
- Repeat with the working end of the second line around the first line and tighten both knots.
- Pull the standing parts of both lines in opposite directions to seat the two knots together.
Best Bass Fishing Knot #3: Uni Knot
Most new anglers haven’t heard of the Uni Knot, and despite its somewhat complex tying process, it is by far one of the most durable knots in fishing. With the “uni” configuration this knot cannot slip or break on itself like some of the others, and tying it is simple when you get the hang of it too!
- Run the line through the eye of the hook and double back parallel to the standing line.
- Make a loop by laying the tag end over the doubled line.
- Make 6 turns with the tag end around the double line and through the loop. Moisten lines and pull tag end to snug up the turns.
- Slide knot down to the eye or leave a small loop if desired
Best Bass Fishing Knot #4: Snell Knot
Unlike all of the knots listed above the Snell Knot is best used with monofilament and none of the other popular line types. Because of the stretch that monofilament line has, the Snell Knot is a great option if you have issues with knots breaking.
- Run tag end through hook eye toward the point of the hook, form a small loop, and bring tag end behind hook shank. You will want about four inches of the tag to work with.
- Begin wrapping the tag end around the hook shank and the line working from the point to the eye. Make 5 - 7 wraps and then feed tag out through a loop, from the underside to the topside.
- While holding wraps in place, pull the tag end to tighten. Make sure wraps are nice and neat on the hook shank and pull both ends very tight. Clip tag end.
Best Bass Fishing Knot #5: Improved Clinch Knot
The last knot on our list for best bass fishing knots is nothing short of a good one. The improved clinch knot is the better version of the original clinch knot which used to be the go-to for bass anglers around the world. This knot is also ideal for monofilament line but can be used for braid and fluorocarbon as well. Talk about versatility!
- Thread end of the line through the eye of the hook. Double back making 5 or more turns around the standing line.
- Bring the end of the line back through the first loop formed behind the eye then through the big loop.
- Wet knot and pull on the tag end to tighten down the coils. Slide tight against the eye and the clip tag ends close.
Overall, you truly can’t go wrong with any of the knots that we mentioned above. With practice, you can easily learn all of them and switch it up to see which knot you like the best! We hope you take this knowledge with you and apply it next time you’re rigging up. Who knows, it might just save you the heartbreak of a lifetime and help you land a personal best bass!
