Fishing success often depends on the little things that most people overlook. Many anglers focus on expensive gear or secret fishing spots. But knowing how to tie unusual fishing knots can make a significant difference in your catch rate.
The right specialized knot can provide better bait presentation, stronger connections to your hooks, and fewer lost fish when the big one strikes.
Beyond the standard improved clinch knot that most fishermen learn first, there’s a whole world of specialized knots designed for specific fishing situations.
These unusual tying techniques give you advantages that other anglers simply don’t have.
Whether you’re fishing in freshwater or saltwater, having these knots in your arsenal prepares you for almost any fishing scenario.
When you master knots like the dropper loop for multiple hooks or the non-slip Kreh knot for better lure action, you’ll see immediate improvements in your fishing results. These techniques might take a little practice at first, but the rewards are worth the effort.
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Key Takeaways
- Mastering specialized fishing knots dramatically improves your hook-up ratio and reduces lost fish when fighting larger catches.
- Different fishing scenarios require specific knots, from bait presentation to strong connection knots for heavy fish.
- Learning just 5-7 unusual knots beyond the basic improved clinch will prepare you for virtually any fishing situation you encounter.
Englishman’s Knot (Fisherman’s Knot)
The Englishman’s Knot, also known as the Fisherman’s Knot, is a simple yet effective knot that every angler should have in their toolbox.
This knot is surprisingly easy to tie but offers great strength for its size. It’s made by tying two overhand knots that wrap around each other’s standing line.
You’ll find this knot particularly useful when you need to join two pieces of fishing line together. Its compact and symmetrical design makes it quite reliable in many fishing situations.
When to use it:
- Joining similar diameter lines
- Working with thin fishing lines
- Emergency repairs to broken lines
When to avoid it:
- With very slippery modern nylon monofilament
- When joining lines of significantly different diameters
- In situations where you need maximum knot strength
The beauty of the Fisherman’s Knot lies in its simplicity. You don’t need fancy tools or complicated techniques to master it.
To tie it properly, make sure you pull both lines firmly as you tighten. This helps the knot set correctly and prevents slipping.
While practicing, you might also encounter the Fisherman’s Eye or Englishman’s Loop, which is a related knot that forms a fixed loop instead of joining two lines.
For best results, always wet your knot before fully tightening it. This reduces friction and helps prevent damage to your fishing line.
Double Fisherman’s Bend Knot
The Double Fisherman’s Bend is a remarkably reliable knot when you need to join two pieces of rope or fishing line together. This knot consists of two strangle knots tied on opposite ropes, creating a strong connection that rarely slips.
You’ll find this knot especially helpful when connecting lines of different diameters. This makes it perfect for fly fishing when you need to attach your tippet to your leader.
Why fishermen love this knot:
- Very secure connection
- Works with different size lines
- Holds well even when wet
- Rarely comes undone under pressure
To tie a Double Fisherman’s Bend, you’ll need to wrap each rope end around the other rope and then through its own loop. Then repeat this process to create the second wrap that gives the knot its strength.
The Double Fisherman’s is sometimes called a Grapevine Bend, and both names refer to the same reliable knot. Many anglers consider this knot essential for their fishing adventures.
When tying this knot, make sure to tighten it carefully by pulling all four ends. Then, trim the excess line, leaving short tails to prevent slipping.
You can practice this knot at home with two pieces of cord before trying it with your fishing line. Soon you’ll be connecting fishing lines like a pro!
Reverse Yucatan Knot (No Name Knot or Bristol Knot)
The No-Name Knot or Bristol Fishing Knot might be one of the most interesting connections you’ll add to your fishing toolkit. Unlike standard knots, this one creates a perfect 90° angle between your line and lure.
This knot is essentially the opposite of the traditional Yucatan knot. Instead of threading the main line through the leader, you’ll be wrapping the leader around your doubled main line.
Key Benefits:
- Quick and easy to tie
- Creates a strong perpendicular connection
- Works well for connecting leaders to main lines
The process is straightforward. You start by making a double loop with your main fishing line. Then wrap your leader around this doubled section multiple times before threading back through.
When properly tightened, the Bristol knot causes the leader to wrap around your line. This creates a connection with three leader thicknesses plus two braid thicknesses for impressive strength.
Many anglers appreciate this knot because it’s surprisingly strong yet not widely known. In fact, some fishing experts suggest that 90% of fishermen aren’t familiar with this technique.
The main drawback? It’s not quite as strong as the FG knot. However, its simplicity and speed make it perfect for situations where you need to retie quickly on the water.
Try practicing this knot at home before testing it during your next fishing trip. You’ll appreciate having this unusual but effective connection in your fishing knowledge base.
Bumper Knot (Egg Loop Knot)
The Bumper Knot, also known as the Egg Loop Knot, is one of the most useful fishing knots you’ll ever learn. This knot creates a small loop near your hook that holds soft bait securely in place.
When you’re fishing with delicate baits like salmon eggs, fish roe, or chicken liver, this knot is a game-changer. The loop keeps your bait from sliding off even during aggressive casting or when targeting hard-hitting fish.
Why you’ll love this knot:
- Keeps soft bait secure
- Works great with salmon eggs
- Perfect for liver and other loose baits
- Maintains bait presentation
Learning to tie the Egg Loop Knot might seem tricky at first, but with practice, you’ll master it quickly. Many anglers consider it one of their favorite fishing knots for adding various types of bait.
This knot is especially popular among salmon and steelhead anglers who need their bait to stay put during long drifts or when targeting aggressive fish.
The design is clever – it creates a small loop along the side of your hook where you can tuck in delicate baits. Once secured, your bait stays in place much better than with standard knots.
If you’re tired of losing expensive or hard-to-find bait, give this unusual but effective knot a try on your next fishing trip!
Three Turn Water Knot
The Three Turn Water Knot is one of the most handy knots you’ll encounter in your fishing adventures. This special knot is perfect when you need to attach a dropper line to your main fishing line.
Hywel Morgan demonstrates how to tie this useful knot in his instructional videos. It’s particularly valuable when you want to add multiple flies to your cast.
To tie this knot:
- Cut about 10 inches of leader line
- Overlap the two pieces of line where you want your dropper
- Make three turns with one end around the other line
- Bring the end back through the created loops
- Tighten carefully
The beauty of the Three Turn Water Knot is how it connects lines of different strengths. You can easily join a thinner line to a stronger one, making it incredibly versatile.
This knot creates a cleaner connection than the typical loop-to-loop method. Many anglers prefer it for its neat appearance and reliability.
When setting up droppers for fly fishing, this knot holds the flies securely while maintaining proper presentation in the water.
Some fishing enthusiasts debate about knot strength. In forum discussions, some anglers suggest the J-knot might have better strength for droppers compared to the water knot.
Kreh Knot (Non-slip)
The Kreh Loop Knot, also known as Lefty’s No-Slip Loop, is an amazing tool for your fishing arsenal.
This knot creates a loop that allows your lures and flies to move more naturally in the water.
When you’re fishing for trout, bass, pike, or even saltwater species, this knot gives your bait that extra bit of movement that can make all the difference.
The loop lets large flies move freely, even when attached to heavy monofilament.
Why choose the Kreh Loop:
- Creates natural movement
- Maintains most of your line’s strength
- Works with various line types
- Perfect for both freshwater and saltwater fishing
Learning to tie this knot is straightforward.
You’ll start by making an overhand knot, then threading the tag end through the eye of your hook or lure.
Next, wrap the tag end around the standing line several times before passing it back through the overhand knot.
According to breaking tests conducted by Lefty Kreh himself, this knot maintains impressive strength when tied correctly.
This makes it reliable even when battling larger fish. You can find helpful video instructions online that show exactly how to tie it.
Many anglers consider a good line cutter an essential tool when tying this knot. Remember, this knot works best when you need your bait to have natural movement.
For situations where you want a solid connection without movement, you might want to consider other options.
Haywire Twist Knot
The Haywire Twist is one of the most reliable connections you can use when fishing with wire leaders. It’s especially useful when you’re after fish with sharp teeth that might cut through regular fishing line.
When you’re targeting toothy predators, this knot becomes your best friend. The knot creates a super strong connection between your wire leader and hooks, lures, or swivels.
Big game fishermen consider the Haywire Twist to be extremely effective, providing an almost 100% secure connection.
This makes it perfect for those challenging fishing situations where strength matters.
How to tie a Haywire Twist:
- Thread your wire through the eye of your hook or lure
- Create 5-7 tight barrel wraps around the main wire
- Make 3-4 finish wraps perpendicular to the main line
- Trim any excess wire carefully
You can watch a helpful demonstration by Captain Mark “Hollywood” Johnson to master this technique. The visual guidance makes learning much easier.
Some anglers add a small piece of shrink tubing over the finished knot for extra protection and smoothness.
This helps prevent snagging and gives a cleaner look.
With a bit of practice, you’ll find this knot becomes second nature.
The Haywire Twist isn’t just functional—when tied correctly, it also looks neat on your fishing rig.
Conclusion
Remember, the right knot can be the difference between landing your dream catch and telling a story about “the one that got away.”
Practice tying these knots at home before your next fishing trip.
Your fishing success often depends on the small details. The knots you use, how you tie them, and when you choose each type.
With these unusual knots now in your fishing toolkit, you’re better equipped than most anglers on the water. Keep practicing, keep learning, and most importantly, enjoy your time fishing!
