The 4 Knots Every Saltwater Angler Must Know
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
If you’re an inshore saltwater angler, your knots can make or break your success on the water. A weak knot? Say goodbye to that beast of a fish. A strong, well-tied knot? You’ll land more fish and avoid unnecessary break-offs.
In this video, Capt. Mike Goodwine and Luke Simonds break down the 4 best fishing knots for saltwater fishing. Whether you need a quick fix, a strong braid-to-leader connection, or the best knot for maximizing lure action, these knots will keep you in the game.
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1. Clinch Knot – The Quick & Easy Go-To
The Clinch Knot (also called the Fisherman’s Knot) is one of the simplest knots to tie and is perfect for when the bite is hot, and you need to retie quickly.
- Best for: Hooks, lures, and terminal tackle.
- Why Use It? Fast, reliable, and easy to learn.
2. Uni-to-Uni Knot – The Best Braid-to-Leader Knot for Beginners
Tying braid to a leader? The Uni-to-Uni Knot is a solid choice if you don’t want to mess with a swivel.
- Best for: Connecting fluorocarbon or monofilament leader to braid.
- Why Use It? Easy to tie and effective for most inshore fishing applications.
3. Loop Knot – More Lure Action = More Strikes!
When using lures that require erratic movement, the Loop Knot is the way to go. It allows your lure to move freely, which means more realistic action and more bites.
- Best for: Topwater plugs, jerkbaits, and soft plastics.
- Why Use It? Provides maximum motion and helps fool finicky fish.
4. FG Knot – The Strongest Braid-to-Leader Connection
If you want the strongest, slimmest, and most reliable braid-to-leader knot, the FG Knot is king. It’s 20-25% stronger than the Uni-to-Uni Knot and passes through rod guides smoothly.
- Best for: Long leaders, casting efficiency, and heavy-duty fights.
- Why Use It? Thinner, stronger, and better than other leader knots.
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Which Knot Should You Use?
The best knot is the one you can tie quickly and confidently. Practice these knots off the water, so you’re ready when it counts!
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Let’s Talk!
Got a go-to fishing knot you swear by? Drop a comment below and let us know! Whether it’s a classic or a hidden gem, we’d love to hear what’s tying your rigs together. 🎣👇
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Solid info but hey, a swivel for a Carolina rig keeps the weight away from your bait!
I use the Albright knot, but I will try the fg and double uni knot and see what I think.
Appreciate your tutorial
Do you ever use the double Davy knot?
The double Davy is a solid knot. But I use the Orvis knot in the rare instance that I use a snug knot with mono because it’s easier for me to tie and the strength/size is even.
After a stroke I am more challenged at tying knots. I find the Palomar manageable.
I’d add in the surgeon’s knot as well, particularly for tying surf rigs with drop hooks and heavy sinkers. It’s so easy and you can change out a new hook or switch sinkers almost as easily as with a swivel.
Thanks for adding the helpful suggestion Dean!
Great knot tutorial, but I’d still like to see how to tie the best knot for tieing mono to mono leader because I’m still stuck on mono fishing line. TIA
Here’s a link to a video in our Fishing School that shows the best mono that mono knot that I’ve tested so far (I use it for my bite tippets): https://www.saltstrong.com/fishing-school/advanced-module/knots/
Great video. I’m ‘using both the loop knot and the FG. I bought a Knot Assist 2. Really helps with tension for an FG.
My favorite is the loop knot Great video !!!
Love the fg Absolutely the best
Great video!
Can’t believe the Palomar knot wasn’t one of the four.
That’s a great knot given that it is both strong and quick. The biggest con is that it’s tough to tie with lures since one of the steps requires the hook/lure to pass through a loop… easy for a hook, but not so much for a full lure.