TIPS N'TALES

This week we feature knots & how to tie them

A good knot is essential to successful fishing. Only the best knots were selected for listing in the categories below. While an average knot will reduce line strength by 10 percent or more, the very best knots will provide for 100 percent of the stated line strength.

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Simple Clinch Knot - Probably the most often used knot in fishing. Used to tie just about anything.

Blood Knot - One of the simplest methods of attaching two lines of similar diameters.

Double Surgeon's Knot - Excellent for joining lines of differing diameters.

Offshore Swivel - Great for attaching swivels or snap swivels to double-line.

Spider Hitch - The fastest and easiest knot to create a double-line leader.

Bimini Twist - Classic method of doubling your line to create leaders.

Surgeon's Loop - A strong and simple loop knot.

Jig Loop - Very popular and effective for attaching lines to jigs.

Perfection Loop - Used at the ends of the leader belly and tippets for attaching two lines together.

Crawford Loop - A versatile knot for tying hooks, swivel, etc.

Dropper Loop - Most popular to make bottom fishing and bait catching rigs.

Snell Knot - The Snell Knot provides a strong connection directly to the hook.

Palomar Knot - Easy to tie, the Palomar is consistently the strongest knot known to hold terminal tackle.

Two-Wrap Hangman's Knot - A great loop knot to attach to jigs, lures and feathers.