Five Knots Every Angler Should Know
By Jim Sadler · 10 February 2026 · 6 min read
Most lost fish come down to one of two things: a knot that slipped, or a knot that was never as strong as the angler thought it was. Learning a small number of knots properly beats knowing a dozen badly.
Start with the uni knot for tying hooks and swivels — it's forgiving, works on mono and fluorocarbon, and holds well over 90% of breaking strain when wetted and tightened properly. The blood knot or double uni knot will join two lines of similar diameter, useful for building leaders or joining backing to fly line.
For attaching line to a reel spool, the arbor knot is quick and secure. Loop-to-loop connections are worth learning for fly lines and leaders — no knot at all, just two loops pulled tight against each other, and easy to change in the field.
The last one is the palomar knot, arguably the strongest simple hook knot there is, and a good backup if a uni knot ever lets you down. Practice all five at home before you need them on the bank — cold fingers are not the time to learn.