Next step: once the knot is sound, build the rig around it —
12 Australian fishing rigs, step by step.
FG Knot
Braid to fluorocarbon or monofilament leader~95% of line breaking strainAdvanced
- Hold the braid under tension — around the reel handle, your teeth or a knot tool.
- Weave the leader over and under the braid twenty times, alternating each pass.
- Pinch the weave and lock it with a half hitch over both tags.
- Add five to seven more half hitches over the leader tag only.
- Finish with a three-turn rizzuto or double half hitch, trim both tags close.
Why it matters: The thinnest leader connection you can tie — it slides through guides on long casts, which is why it dominates land-based and lure fishing.
Improved Clinch Knot
Line to hook, swivel or lure eye~85–90%Easy
- Pass the tag through the eye and make five to seven twists back up the main line.
- Feed the tag through the small loop above the eye.
- Feed it back through the big loop you just created.
- Wet the knot and pull the main line slowly to seat the coils.
- Trim the tag to 2 mm.
Why it matters: Drop to four twists in heavy mono over 30 lb — too many coils will not seat properly and the knot slips.
Uni Knot
Terminal tackle, and joining two lines as a double uni~85–90%Easy
- Pass the tag through the eye and lay it back alongside the main line.
- Form a loop and wrap the tag through it five or six times.
- Wet and pull the tag to close the coils into a barrel.
- Slide the barrel down to the eye and lock it with the main line.
Why it matters: Stop the barrel short of the eye to leave a loop knot — a free-swinging lure gets far more action on the pause.
Non-Slip Loop Knot
Hard-bodied lures, jerkbaits and soft plastic jig heads~85%Moderate
- Tie a loose overhand knot 15 cm from the tag.
- Pass the tag through the lure eye and back through the overhand knot.
- Wrap the tag around the main line four to five times.
- Bring the tag back through the overhand knot, wet and cinch both ends.
Why it matters: The single biggest free upgrade to lure action — the lure pivots instead of being locked stiff by the knot.
Snell Knot
Bait fishing with octopus or suicide hooks~90%+Moderate
- Pass the leader through the hook eye from the point side, leaving a long tag.
- Run the tag back down the shank and form a loop against the shank.
- Wrap the loop around the shank and leader seven to ten times, working toward the eye.
- Pull the standing line to draw the wraps tight against the eye.
Why it matters: The pull comes straight down the shank, which rotates the hook into the corner of the jaw — deadly for mulloway and snapper on baits.
Double Uni Knot
Joining braid to leader when you need it fast~80–85%Easy
- Overlap the two lines by about 20 cm.
- Tie a uni knot with the first line around the second — six wraps for braid.
- Tie a uni knot with the second line around the first — four wraps for mono.
- Wet both, pull the standing lines and slide the knots together.
Why it matters: Not as slim as an FG, but you can tie it in a rolling boat at night in under a minute.
Palomar Knot
Braid straight to hooks and jig heads~90–95% with braidEasy
- Double 15 cm of line and pass the loop through the hook eye.
- Tie a loose overhand knot with the doubled line.
- Pass the loop completely over the hook.
- Wet and pull both the standing line and tag to seat it.
Why it matters: The strongest simple knot for braid — if you fish plastics on braid with no leader, use this.
Bimini Twist
Creating a shock-absorbing double for heavy leaders and game fishing~100% (a true double)Advanced
- Form a two-metre loop and put twenty twists into it.
- Spread the loop over your knees to force the twists to pack down.
- Feed the tag back down over the column of twists.
- Lock with a half hitch on each leg, then a five-turn hitch over both.
Why it matters: Essential in front of a heavy leader for kingfish and tuna — the double takes the shock a single strand won't.
Albright Knot
Joining lines of very different diameter, such as braid to heavy shock leader~85% of line breaking strainModerate
- Form a loop in the heavier line.
- Pass the lighter line through the loop, leaving a long tag.
- Wrap the lighter line back over both strands of the loop ten to twelve times.
- Feed the tag back out through the loop the same way it entered.
- Lubricate, pull all four ends slowly, seat the knot and trim.
Why it matters: Finish with two or three half hitches over the heavy tag to stop the knot from slipping under sudden load.
Perfection Loop
A fixed loop at the end of a leader for quick rig changes~90% of line breaking strainEasy
- Form a loop with the tag behind the standing line.
- Make a second, smaller loop in front of the first.
- Bring the tag between the two loops.
- Pass the second loop through the first loop.
- Lubricate and pull the new loop and standing line apart to seat, then trim.
Why it matters: The loop sits perfectly in line with the leader, so a loop-to-loop connection stays straight instead of kinking.
Dropper Loop
Building paternoster and reef rigs with hooks standing off the main leader~80% of line breaking strainModerate
- Form a loop in the middle of the leader.
- Twist the loop five to seven times to create a twisted section.
- Push the bottom of the loop up through the opening in the middle of the twists.
- Hold the loop and pull both standing ends apart evenly.
- Lubricate as it seats so the twists do not burn the line.
Why it matters: Keep droppers 12–20 cm long. Longer and they tangle around the main leader on the cast.
Palomar Knot
Braid direct to hooks, swivels and jig heads~90–95% of line breaking strainEasy
- Double about 15 cm of line and pass the loop through the hook eye.
- Tie a loose overhand knot with the doubled line.
- Pass the loop over the hook or lure entirely.
- Lubricate and pull the standing line and tag to seat the knot above the eye.
- Trim the tag close.
Why it matters: The strongest simple knot for braid. If you only learn one terminal knot for braid, learn this.
Rapala Knot
Hard-bodied lures where a wide free-swinging loop is wanted~85% of line breaking strainModerate
- Tie a loose overhand knot in the leader, leaving a 12 cm tag.
- Pass the tag through the lure eye and back through the overhand knot.
- Wrap the tag around the standing line three times.
- Bring the tag back through the overhand knot, then through the new loop just created.
- Lubricate, seat evenly and trim.
Why it matters: Best on suspending and diving minnows — the free loop lets the bib do all of the work.
Blood Knot
Joining two lengths of monofilament or fluorocarbon of similar diameter~85% of line breaking strainModerate
- Overlap the two lines by about 20 cm.
- Wrap the first tag around the second line five or six times, then pass it back through the gap between the lines.
- Wrap the second tag around the first line the same number of times, in the opposite direction.
- Feed the second tag back through the same gap, from the opposite side.
- Wet thoroughly and pull the standing lines apart in one steady motion. Trim both tags.
Why it matters: The slimmest mono-to-mono join there is, which is why it is the standard for building tapered surf leaders that must pass through guides.
Double Surgeon's Knot
Fast leader join, including lines of unequal diameter~80% of line breaking strainEasy
- Lay the leader and main line side by side with a long overlap.
- Treat the pair as one line and tie a simple overhand knot.
- Pass the same ends through the loop a second time.
- Wet the knot and pull all four ends at once so the knot seats evenly.
- Trim both tags close.
Why it matters: The one knot you can tie with cold hands at 4 am. It is not the strongest, but it is close enough for estuary leaders under 20 lb.
San Diego Jam Knot
Heavy jigs, metal slugs and tuna lures on mono or fluoro~90% of line breaking strainModerate
- Pass the tag through the eye and run it back alongside the standing line.
- Wrap the tag up the doubled line seven times, working away from the eye.
- Pass the tag back down through the loop at the eye.
- Then pass it through the large loop formed by the wraps.
- Wet and pull the standing line to seat the wraps neatly, then trim.
Why it matters: The go-to among Australian tuna casters — it holds heavy fluorocarbon far better than a clinch and will not slip under sustained runs.
Arbor Knot
Attaching line to the spool of the reeln/a — spool attachment onlyEasy
- Pass the line around the spool arbor.
- Tie a simple overhand knot around the standing line.
- Tie a second overhand knot in the tag end itself, as a stopper.
- Pull the standing line so the first knot slides down and jams against the stopper.
- Trim the tag close.
Why it matters: Put a strip of electrical tape or a mono backing under braid — braid alone spins on a bare alloy spool no matter how good the knot is.
Haywire Twist
Single-strand wire trace to hook or swivel for mackerel and wahoo~100% of wire strength when tied correctlyModerate
- Pass the wire through the eye and cross the tag over the standing wire at about 30 degrees.
- Make five even twists where both strands wrap around each other equally.
- Follow with five tight barrel wraps of the tag around the standing wire.
- Bend the tag into a small handle at 90 degrees.
- Rock the handle back and forth until the tag fatigues and snaps flush — never cut it with pliers.
Why it matters: A cut tag leaves a spike that will open your hand at the worst moment. Always break it off with the handle method.
Snood (Stand-Off) Knot
Locking a dropper in place on a surf or bottom-bouncing rig~75% of line breaking strainEasy
- Slide two beads and a swivel onto the leader if you are using a stand-off boom.
- Tie a three-turn overhand stopper above and below the swivel.
- Wet each stopper and seat it firmly so it will not slip under load.
- Attach the snood — 20 to 30 cm of lighter leader — to the swivel with a uni knot.
- Test by pulling the snood hard sideways; it should hold position.
Why it matters: Run the snood one line class lighter than the main leader so a snagged hook breaks off and you keep the rest of the rig.
Yucatan Knot
Doubled braid to a very heavy mono shock leader for game fishing~90% of line breaking strainAdvanced
- Create a doubled section of braid with a Bimini twist.
- Lay the doubled braid alongside the heavy leader with a long overlap.
- Wrap the doubled braid around the leader ten to twelve times, working back toward the tag.
- Feed the braid loop back through the gap beside the leader tag.
- Lubricate heavily and pull slowly so the wraps slide together without burning.
Why it matters: Pull it up slowly with plenty of lubricant. Braid under speed will cut braid, and a burnt Yucatan looks perfect and breaks at half strength.
Snelled Gang Hooks
Rigging whole pilchards and garfish for tailor, salmon and mulloway~85% of line breaking strainModerate
- Snell the first hook to the leader with seven wraps, tag exiting the eye toward the point.
- Pass the leader tag through the eye of the second hook and snell it the same way.
- Space the hooks so the gap roughly matches the width of the bait's body.
- Repeat for a third hook if you are rigging whole pilchards.
- Check every snell rotates freely on its eye before baiting up.
Why it matters: Rigged gangs with freely swinging joints let the bait swim naturally in the wash — a locked gang tumbles and spins the leader.
Spider Hitch
Quick double in mono when there is no time for a Bimini twist~90% of line breaking strain in mono under 30 lbEasy
- Form a long loop and pinch a small reverse loop between finger and thumb.
- Wind the doubled line around your thumb and the reverse loop five times.
- Pass the end of the big loop through the reverse loop.
- Slide the wraps off your thumb one at a time under tension.
- Wet and pull the doubled line and standing line to seat.
Why it matters: Fast and strong in light mono, but it fades badly in braid and heavy line. Use a Bimini once you are above 30 lb.
