How To Tie The Uni Knot With Braid & Fluoro [Free PDF Cheat Sheet]
- By: Luke Simonds
- on May 20, 2018
- Found In: Fishing Knots, Fishing Tips, Mono to Leader, Terminal Knot (Snug)
The Uni Knot
Of all the fishing knots out there, the Uni Knot is one that all anglers need to know because it can be effectively used for so many different connections.
Many anglers refer to the Uni Knot as “The most useful fishing knot.”
Not only can it be used for tying directly to hooks and lures (traditional “uni knot”), but it also can be used for connecting two lines together (“double uni knot”)…
And it works on an assortment of different lines and sizes.
So knowing just this one knot, an angler can be ready handle almost all knot needs that come up while fishing.
Its breaking strength has performed well in our knot strength contests while it is surprisingly basic in nature to tie.
And since it’s easy to tie, it’s a fantastic knot for teaching to kids so that they can be ready to tie complete leader assemblies while only having to remember one knot.
➡ CLICK HERE to get a FREE PDF guide showing all of the essential steps on tying the Uni Knot so that you can have a printout whenever you need it.
This post will show exactly how to tie the Uni knot for the most common two connection needs:
- Line-to-Hook/Lure (known as “Uni Knot”)
- Line-to-Line (known as “Double Uni Knot”)
Plus, we’ll cover the simple adjustment needed when tying the Uni knot with braided line.
Important Note: Braided line has a much lower friction coefficient compared to mono/fluoro, so all knots need to be slightly altered to adjust for their lower friction.
Finally, you’ll be able to see a video showing exactly how to tie both connections and you can even download a free single-page guide that you can print out in case needed.
Traditional “Uni Knot”
When tying a hook or a lure to the end of fishing line, there are an absolute ton of options.
And the Uni Knot is a very popular choice because it’s quick to tie while also having a high breaking strength.
The fact that it can be applied to line-to-line connections is an added bonus.
Pros of the Uni Knot
- Quick to tie with high breaking strength
- Can be used on almost all types & sizes of lines
Cons of the Uni Knot
- More bulky than some other options (like the Palomar, Orvis, Davy knots)
- Not quite as strong as the Palomar Knot
Steps to tie the Line-to-Hook/Lure Uni knot:
1. Thread line through hook/lure eye
2. Lay ~6 inches of tag end over the main line and pinch lines right above the hook eye
3. Curve tag end around so that it forms a loop in front of the doubled lines leaving its tag end pointing upward
4. Wrap tag end around doubled lines going through the loop in each pass
5. Pull on tag until finger tight, and then pull on mainline until knot slides down against hook/lure to lock into place
6. Continue pulling until the knot forms directly above the hook
CLICK HERE to get a FREE PDF guide showing all of the essential steps on tying the Uni Knot so that you can have a printout whenever you need it.
Note: Scroll down to see the complete video showing how to tie the Uni Knot.
Double Uni Knot (Line-to-Line)
For saltwater anglers, the most important knot of all is the line-to-line knot used to connect the fishing leader to the main line.
This connection is so important because anglers typically use the lightest line possible on their reel to maximize their casting performance while using a heavier leader to be able to withstand the sharp mouths of the fish that they are targeting.
In many cases, the breaking strength of the leader is twice as strong as the main line, so the line-to-line knot is going to be the weakest link in the system.
And of all the line to line fishing knots, the Double Uni-knot is one of the most popular of all.
Pros of Double Uni Knot
- Quick to tie with high breaking strength
- Can be used to connect almost all types & sizes of lines
Cons of Double Uni Knot
Double Uni Knot Directions
1. Overlap leader and mainline with tags going in opposite directions
2. Grab onto the midpoint of the overlapped lines with left hand
3. Create a loop in mono leaving tag end pointing up
4. Wrap leader tag around the doubled line at the top of the loop (5 x for mono)
5. Pull on leader lines (main and tag) to tighten down the knot
6. Hold cinched knot with your right hand, and then form a loop with the braid similar to step 3 above
7. Wrap braid tag around the doubled line at the top of the loop (10 x for braid or 5 x for mono/fluoro)
8. Pull on the tag end of the braid to tighten Uni knot coils
9. Now that both knots are tied and mostly tightened on the line, let go of tags and pull until they slide together
10. Once the knots slide into one another, they’ll tighten up and lock into place forming a strong connection
11. Cut of tags and you have a strong line to line connection
➡ CLICK HERE to get a FREE PDF guide showing all of the essential steps on tying the Uni Knot so that you can have a printout whenever you need it.
How To Tie The Uni Knot Video
Click below to see exactly how to tie the line to hook and line to line uni knot for completing an entire leader assembly:
The Strongest Uni Knot For Braid
Given how slick fishing line made from braid is, there are some needed adjustments to the Uni Knot that need to be made to make sure you can maximize your knot strength.
This video shows exactly how to tie the uni knot with braid.
Conclusion
The Uni Knot is one of the most popular of all fishing knots given that it is easy to tie, leaves a strong connection for all line types, and can be used for both line-to-hook and line-to-line connections.
So this is a must know knot for anglers of all ages.
And best of all, teaching this knot to a young child can ensure that the child can be ready for almost all knot needs that he or she will face.
What is your favorite fishing knot? Let us know in the comments.
Fish On!
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I use a similar knot, but substituting a double (for heavier mono) or triple fisherman’s knot for the mono (double for heavier mono, triple for lighter). It is essentially a snell knot tied by making 2 loops around the line going toward the braid and passing the line through the loops. That way the tag points backwards, making a tapered knot the casts very well But the FG knot looks like it may cast even better, though it’s much more complicated to tie.
Use Loop Knot for Lures
Uni Knot and Double Uni Knot
So, you don’t ever use a snell not for hooks?
I personally don’t use the snell knot simply because I can tie the others quicker. The snell knot is likely one of the strongest knots for tying to a hook. But it requires a specific hook with the eye angled out, and I am always using a stronger leader line compared to my mainline so maximizing the strength of the knot on the stronger line isn’t needed.
What type of knot would you recommend for really light lines? Line to line & line to hooks? 1-2-4 # test.
The uni knot can work great with lines of all sizes.
When timing the double uni for line to line, I can feel the knot catching on the guide on the rod tip. Sometimes more than others but I do feel it. Is this common or is it more of my knot trying skills and not getting it small enough?
That is very common because the uni knot has it’s tag ends pointing out so they will often catch on the rod guides when casting.
I generally recommend against casting knots through rod guides because it’s not good for the knots nor the guides.
Instead, tie.a shorter leader so you can cast without having to reel the guides up into the rod.
Luke – Is this another way to tie the double uni? It seems a littke easier. Is it as strong?
Thanks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eu1bpaCYhE
Luke – Have you ever tried the double uni this way? If this is a good knot, it seems a lot easier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eu1bpaCYhE
I am retired and learning about fishing, curious about this knot , because, koreans/Chinese advise that you should use this knot for your weight on the end of your line, because when your weight gets really stuck ,you can give a steady hard pull and the knot will come apart , then you only lose the weight, :- trim the end of your line and attach a fresh weight
The advice you got about using the Uni for breaking off snagged weights is technically true with all knots because they all create load bearing points that will be the weakest link on the line unless the line itself is compromised… a properly tied uni knot won’t come untied (I’ve done many knot tests with it), but it will cause a break once enough pressure is applied right at the first turn in the knot which is pretty much what happens with all other knots too.
Here’s a link to see rankings of knots based on the head-to-head strength tests (for the most popular types of lines) we’ve done so far in case interested: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fishing-knots/
The tag end always needs to be pulled parallel to the main line for the knot toseat properly, otherwise the knot does not yeild its correct strength or may come loose
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful uni knot tip!