KNOT TO KNOT
BY ALEX ROBERTSON
FIGURE OF EIGHT
A great connection knot for the end of your hooklink allowing you to use quick links and quick change swivels.
USES Forming loops Attaching quick links Situations where you need to change your line quickly Stick and bag fishing
LINE TYPES Mono Braid Coated braid
01
01
02
Double your line back on itself.
Bring the end round and over itself to form a loop.
03
04
Go over the main line and then back through the loop.
Gently draw tight at both ends, moistening before you do so.
02
GRINNER KNOT This knot is a very well known and reliable knot and one of those essential basic knots that will prove useful in a wide variety of carp fishing situations. It is also known as the Uni-Knot. It is a very reliable knot and should be used if possible in preference to a half blood knot for attaching hooks, swivels and terminal tackle. It can be used on a wide range of line diameters. It maintains a high percentage of the lines strength and can be used on monofilament and braided lines.Make sure that once you make enough turns on each side at least 5 to ensure it works effectively.
USES Attaching eyed hooks Attaching swivels Attaching terminal tackle
LINE TYPES Mono Braid coated braid
03
01
02
Take your line and thread it through the eye of the hook or swivel.
Make a loop by retuning the tag end back over the mainline.
03
04
Now make five or six turns around the mainline and through the loop.
Bring the tag end out parallel with the mainline.
05
06
Moisten the knot and gently bring the turns down neatly.
Gently draw the knot down to the eye of the hook or swivel and trim the tag end.
04
KNOTLESS KNOT
Possibly the most popular and useful knot in carp fishing. Used to make a rig to attach boilies to an eyed hook to make a safe and reliable rig that works.
USES For creating a hair rig
LINE TYPES Mono Braid Coated braid
05
01
02
First thread the line through the eye of the hook.
Tie a simple overhand loop to form a hair loop.
03
04
Adjust the position of your line to get the correct length then hold the line at the eye firmly with you finger.
Whip the main line five or six times around the shank of the hook. The direction of the whip should be away from the hook eye closure.
05
06
Hold the whipped section down tight and go back over it in the opposite direction and through the eye of the hook.
Draw down tight slowly moistening the line before doing so.
06
PALOMAR KNOT
This knot is one of the best known and most useful knots in a carp angler’s armoury and will work equally effectively with braided lines as it does with mono. It is easy to tie and can be used for attaching all kind of terminal tackle. When tied correctly this knot should achieve close to 100% knot strength. Make sure that once you have passed the hook or swivel through the loop that all parts of the knot are drawn down neatly together.
USES Attaching eyed hooks Attaching swivels Attaching spinners Attaching lures and plugs Attaching all kind of terminal tackle
LINE TYPES Braid Mono Coated braid
07
01
02
Take your line and double it back on itself to give you around a six inch double length.
Pass the doubled length through the eye of the swivel.
03
04
Form a loop and pass the end back through the loop.
Pass the end loop over the top of the Hook or swivel.
05
06
Gently draw down the tag end and mainline to form the knot an moisten as you do so.
Ensure the knot is firmly drawn down tight and then trim off the tag end.
08
TUCKED HALF BLOOD KNOT
As its name suggests, this knot is simply half a bloodknot. It is used to attach line items such as hooks and swivels, and is reliable and easy to tie. The knot shown here has been tucked, meaning that the free end is passed through the loop which is formed between its coils and the hook or swivel.
USES Attaching eyed hooks Attaching swivels Attaching leads
LINE TYPES Mono Braid Coated braid
09
01
02
Pass the end of the line through the eye of the hook or swivel, or through the loop of the line to which it is to be joined.
Twist the end round the standing part four or five times.
03
04
Pass the free end through the loop by the eye.
Pass the free end through the larger loop now formed to produce the tucked half bloodknot.
05 Draw the knot together by moistening and pulling on the standing part.
10
SHOCKLEADER KNOT
The Shockleader Knot also known as the Shore Leader Knot is used to join a thinner casting line to a much thicker leader line. It makes a neat tapered knot that will cast smoothly and will be unlikely to snag on anything and will cast easily through the rod guides if tied properly The use of a shock leader is essential to minimize break-offs while casting. Break- offs usually result in severe backlash on casting style reels. Break-offs are also dangerous to bystanders. A rule of thumb is to use at least 0.10mm of Nylon for every 1 oz of lead being cast. So if you are using a 6oz lead you should use a diameter of 0.60mm or more. It is also advisable to use a high quality shockleader to ensure you are safe.
USES Joining lines of unequal diameters Joining leaders to mainlines
LINE TYPES Mono Braid
11
01
02
Align main line and leader.
Pass the thicker leader around the main line between one and three times.
03
04
Lubricate and draw slowly to close the knot. Do not tighten too much at this stage.
Take the tag end of the running line and wind it five time around the shockleader and then out through its own loop.
05
06
Lubricate and slowly draw down this part of the knot. Do not tighten too much at this stage.
Lubricate and draw the knot together by pulling on both the Shockleader and the mainline down slowly to bring both parts together as a small neat tapered knot.
12
HANG-A-BOILIE KNOT
This is a knot to be used when using cork-balled or pop- ups. For those who think it essential to keep your hook baits as buoyant as when you first cast them out, or if you use D-type rigs with your bait close to the ring, then this knot is for you. A simple, quick-to-tie knot that won’t undo. If you make your own pop-ups, run them along the back of a knife before cooking. This will leave a little gully around the bait which makes gripping a bait in place so much easier.
USES To be able to put pop-ups boilies on a D-type rigs
LINE TYPES bait floss
14
01
02
Make a ‘V’ sign with the first two fingers of your left hand (if you are right handed) and face them across, but around 12 inches away from, your body. Drape a length of dental floss over both fingers to form an untied loop. Carry on around your fingers with the tag end and wrap it around your top finger, forming one big loop and one smaller loop.
With your right forefinger and thumb, remove these two loops from your fingers and use your left hand to pass the tag end through the small loop three times, as shown in the diagram above. Gently pull both tag ends and you will find you have formed a slipknot.
03 Pass the loop around your pop-up or bottom bait and pull it up so that it grips the bait. Next, tie three simple overhand/granny knots to tie the bait to whatever you are fastening it to.
15
BASIC COMPLICATED RIG This is a rig that you can use anywhere. It is easily tied, making it ideal if you need to get bait out quickly. Take 14 inches of hook Link line and tie a simple Overhand knot to keep the boilie in place. Cut the tag end. For this particular rig you will need a Choddy type hook and you will need to straighten the eye slightly. Put the link through the back of the eye and wrap three times around the top of the hook. Wrap six times underneath the hair and feed back through the eye. When tied correctly the hook will sit at 45 degrees. At the other end put a swivel onto the loop.
IMPORTANT When casting, secure the hair to the hook with PVA tape or string. This rig is really beneficial when used with stringers or a PVA stocking bag.
COMPONENTS hook link Line: Braid, mono or coated braid Out Turn Eye Hook Slightly Straightened PVA Tape or foam
16
HINGED STIFF RIG The Hinged Stiff Rig is a good alternative to the Chod rig and a great rig for catching carp. It is currently not used very often as the Chod rig is considered to be more fashionable. For this rig you need to use Chod filament. Cut of the line to the required amount and tie with a knotless knot onto the a Choddy type hook . Attach a rig ring onto the tag end and complete with a tiny D rig and cut the tag. Blob the tags so it does not pull out of the eye. You will fish this between 1 and 2 inches in length. Tie an overhand knot onto the other end and put on a small ring swivel. Make sure you take the swivel through the eye and then take the tag end through the overhand knot. After this, wrap the Power Stiff around twice and then finally back through the overhand knot. Pull tight so you have a tiny loop. Basically you will now have a Chod rig. The next step is to tie another piece of Power Stiff to the Micro Swivel Ring with a three turn grinner. Slowly moisten the knot before you pull it tight. At the other end tie a ring swivel. Finally steam the boom part straight and curve the Chod part of the rig. Tie a pop up on and there you have a completed Hinged Stiff Rig.
IMPORTANT Remember do take care whilst steaming as fingers can get burnt.
COMPONENTS hook link Line: Chod filament Chod style hook Rig Ring Micro Ring Swivel Ring Swivel Bait Floss Rig Putty
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LEARN THE LINGO Teflon Teflon is dull grey finished coating that improves the overall performance of a hook. It help keep the point sharp, aids penetration because of the slick surface and that dull colour makes it a lot less reflective.
Micro bard The advantage of this style over conventional ones is that the point is far more likely to penetrate past the barb in the initial stage of the fish picking the bait up.
Tempered This is a process the hook goes through to achieve optimum strength from steel without it being brittle or soft.
The Gape The measurement from the point of the hook to the shank. Gape size varies depending on the style of the hook.
Flat Forged The hook is flatted on both sides to add strength without increasing the weight. Flat metal is stronger than circular.
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TEMPERED TEFLON
MICRO BARB
THE GAPE
FLAT FORGED
19
NOTES
INDEX OF KNOTS, RIGS AND HOOK LINGO
B Basic compicated rig
16
F Figure of eight
01 02
G Ginner knot
03 04
H Hang-A-boilie knot Hinged sriff rig
14 15 17
k Knotless knot
05 06
P Palomar knot
07 08
S Shockleader knot
09 10
T Tucked half blood knot
11 12
KNOT TO KNOT
BY ALEX ROBERTSON Here are the top essential knots that every carp or coarse angler needs to know. This compact little book (ideal for slipping in the fishing bag) shows you in clear, step- by- step drawings exactly how to tie the knots and when to use them. This is a clear step-by-step book that no angler should be without it.