The secret to catching fish apart from the skill and location of the angler is with the fishing knot. This is the link between the fisherman and the fish. It can become a disadvantage if a weak knot is used, a good knot will be ease fishing. Here are some fishing knots you should know, it includes details of how to tie them, when and why you should use each knot.

The Nail Knot

This knot can be difficult to learn. It is a type of knot that joins the fly line to leader. It uses a small plastic instead of a nail tube. These plastic hollow tubes can be found at any fly fishing shop. Use this knot when you would like to join your fly to your leader for an easier fishing.

Blood Knot

This is by far the most popular knot. Tie this knot by tying two pieces of fishing lines together. You can tie 5 turns around each each other and let the two ends project in opposite directions. You have to make sure that the two lines are of the same diameter. Draw the knot up tightly after you finish tying. The blood knot is perfect when you want to tie two pieces of fishing lines together.

Scaffold Knot

This is a much simpler version of a knot. Simply pass a loop through the eye, lock the loop, and make two more loops over the double part as you hold them between the forefinger and thumb. After this, pass the end through the two loops made into the ones in the second step. The loops formed can be drawn to shape and worked against the eye of the swivel. This loop is simple and you can be sure it will not fail you. You can also use for a long many years and it will never fail you.

Clinch Knot

To tie this knot, insert a 6-8 inch of tippet through the eye of your hook. Hold its fly to your left and with the right hand wrap its end around the standing part for about 5 times. Make sure that you leave a small loop near the hook’s eye open. You can have this loop open by pinching it with your forefinger or thumb. Your knot will be ready for use. This knot’s strength lies in its ability to secure the hook or prey to the rod. It is sturdy, firm and reliable enough.

Polmar Knot

Once you have mastered on making the clinch knot, you should give the polmar knot a try. It is similar to the clinch but you have to make more loops and make the knots a bit tight. This makes it stronger than the clinch knot. Use this knot if you would like a very strong knot that will not let you down.

The Eye Clinch Knot Twice Through

This knot is tied similarly to the Clinch knot. Its difference is that as you pass the tippet through the hook eyes, let it pass through a second time. This creates a double loop near the eye, make your loops around the standing part of the line. Make sure that you keep your loops open. This knot will be important when used on bigger flies, especially when used with saltwater flies.

Orvis Knot

Tie this knot by pulling enough tippet through the hook eye from its bottom then bring back its tag through the standing part of the tippet. Form a second loop which is away from the fly. Fold the tad end with turns starting at the far side. Make two wraps around the second loop you formed. This knot will be useful when used for freshwater angling.

Surgeon’s Knot

This knot is quite similar to the blood knot. It is also important when you would like to attach two fishing lines together. The difference with the blood knot is that you can connect lines of different diameters. Simply tie them like the blood knot but adjust the turns according to the length of the fishing lines. The perfect application of this knot is when fishermen have broken pieces of fishing lines which will not be of the same length.

Turle Knot

Tie this knot by threading a fly onto tippet and leave some inches of tag end to form the knot. Make a double line back to itself towards the fly then bring a tag end behind the double line. This creates a loop, pass a tag twice the loop created. Tighten the knot created and loop it over the fly and trim the tag ends to finish creating the knot. This knot is important to connect a fly with a turned up or a turned down eye to a line.

Hangman’s Knot

This knot is made by passing a loop of line through its eye and bringing its end to pass it under the doubled part. Make about five loops to work your knot into shape. The knot is usually sent down a line, against the eye of swivel or hook. The standard hangman’s knot should hold five turns if tied in a monofilament nylon. You can tie it in rope where it takes about eight turns.

The ability to tie a good fishing knot could be the difference between landing the fish or explaining to your friends how that fish got away. Practice making these knots and you will be sure to always catch your fish.