FS Digest

Ive just started fishing within the last few months, and since im inexperienced, I tied and snap and swivel to the end of my line and just attached everything to that. Now that I'm a bit more comfortable trying knots, I'd like to get away from that. YouTube told me that crank baits should be tied with a snap to increase action. Spinners with a swivel to avoid twisting the line. Hook tied right to the line. Please let me know if this is right and which knots I should use for these. I've seen videos explaining that the knot you tie is based on which type of line you use, but other than that would you tie different knots to different lures? Also if someone could explain to me how to avoid my line moving up and down my spinner bait theres no ring on the top section where I tie to so it occasionally goes up to the part that spins. Is this just me casting poorly? If I missed anything or you want to share anything extra Id really appreciate it.

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by kylepotter

FS Digest

A good all around knot is the Palomar knot and everything seems to be correct

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by Kaype6

FS Digest

Great knot!! Yea its nice to have the swivel so the lure really flows in the water without bunching up the line. Tight lines!

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by JOINTZMUSIC

FS Digest

I’ve had the same issue with my line knot on spinnerbaits moving to the blades, but I’ve only had that problem with braid. I haven’t tried this myself but I’ve seen people use rubber stoppers (those plastic looking tubes, and placed them on both ends of the knot to keep it in place. There’s also a few spinner baits being sold that have line stoppers built on, looks like a red little clip that intersects the wires

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by KhalCarlos

FS Digest

For me personally -- and I will likely be in the minority on this -- I don't love the Palomar, simply because the tag end is facing forward and has a tendency to snag on grass and weeds when used on swim jigs, punch rigs, etc... at least on my lakes. I use the Palomar to tie spinners onto the main line and frogs directly onto braid and that's it.

I also don't like using snaps on lures of any kind, especially cranks. Yes, they let the lure swing free -- well, kinda free, depending on the shape of the snap -- but snaps are unnatural looking in the water and their weight affects the action of the lure no matter how light or tiny it might be. I tie virtually all lures on with a Kreh Loop Knot to let them swing freely on the end of the line.

The one exception is, as you mentioned, spinnerbaits. If you're using mono line, a standard clinch knot should hold tight enough to keep the line from slipping up or down. If you're using fluoro, you should probably use the improved clinch knot or the San Diego Jam Knot since a regular clinch knot can possibly slip loose in fluoro. Yeah, the tag faces forward, but it's a spinnerbait so who cares :)

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by Racklefrack

MadMac Loc: Marion (in Grant County) Indiana

I don't like snaps either. I use either the Rapala knot or a knot the name of which I do not know. You start out with an overhand knot in the main line 3 or 4 inches from the end, don't tighten all the way, put tag end thru eye of lure then thru that overhand knot and tighten the overhand knot and then using the tag end of the line tie another overhand knot around the main line and pull everything tight. You wind up with two overhand knots touching/ jamming against each other and forming a non slip loop. I hope i didnt confuse you too badly. With my shaky paws I tend to tie knots that are easy to tie but still strong.

MadMac Loc: Marion (in Grant County) Indiana

Now that I think about that knot is like an arbor knot tied around the lure eye but it leaves a non slip loop instead of tightening up.

DeeJay Loc: Southwest Virginia

Using a clinch knot, start by running your line through the eye twice creating a double loop. Finish the knot with the tag end through both loops and tighten. I use this knot on any heavy bait, it dont slip. Be sure to moisten be for tightening. Works for me.