Need some newbie advice

[Bait Runner]

So I started bass fishing earlier this year and one of the hot topics I researched was which knots to learn. I came across a website (can't remember what it was though) and it recommend "three knots all fisherman should know." They were:

 

1) Palomar Knot

2) Improved Clinch Knot

3) Arbor Knot

 

So I have a few questions about this: Most importantly, is this good advice? I had an older fisherman I work with tell me the best knot was the one that gave you the most confidence. Are there other "beginner" knots I should learn as s newbie?

[thebillsman]

What type of line(s) are you using most often?

[Bait Runner]

1 minute ago, thebillsman said:

What type of line(s) are you using most often?

I have some 8lb test and 10lb test mono on my spinning gear. That's pretty much it. I didn't want to overload myself too soon so I just stuck with the basics.

[BigGame0892]

For mono and fluorocarbon I pretty much only use a Reverse Clinch knot or San Diego Jam knot.  They're basically the same, save one extra step with the SDJ.  I use these because I can tie them quicker than anything else and they've never failed me.

 

 

 

[Steveo-1969]

IMO, your older fisherman gave you great advice.  Use the knot you can tie perfectly and you have confidence in. For me that's the Trilene knot.

[Bait Runner]

I've used the Palomar and I haven't had any slippage or breaks at the knot. If I get hung up on some rocks, well, that's another story entirely.

[WIGuide]

The older gentleman was correct about the knot you should tie. Personally I tie the Palomar knot for everything  mono, fluoro, braid and as long as you tie it well (without crossing the lines and wetting your knot) I've never had an issue with it. I'm sure there are others that have had the same experiences with another knot as well, but whichever one you have confidence in will be your best. 

[The Bassman]

1 hour ago, Steveo-1969 said:

IMO, your older fisherman gave you great advice.  Use the knot you can tie perfectly and you have confidence in. For me that's the Trilene knot.

I've been using the Trilene knot in mono for many years and have had real good luck with it.  When I'm teaching others I always show them how I keep the two eye loops around my index finger until I finish it off.

[Bait Runner]

34 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

The older gentleman was correct about the knot you should tie. Personally I tie the Palomar knot for everything  mono, fluoro, braid and as long as you tie it well (without crossing the lines and wetting your knot) I've never had an issue with it. I'm sure there are others that have had the same experiences with another knot as well, but whichever one you have confidence in will be your best. 

It could be I'm just misunderstanding you, but I thought you were supposed to lubricate or wet the knot before you cinch it down. Or is this kind of thing for another type of knot?

[WIGuide]

1 minute ago, Bait Runner said:

It could be I'm just misunderstanding you, but I thought you were supposed to lubricate or wet the knot before you cinch it down. Or is this kind of thing for another type of knot?

You misunderstood. You definitely want to wet the knot before you cinch it down. Had I "grammared" better and put a comma in there it may have been easier to understand. haha

[Bait Runner]

3 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

You misunderstood. You definitely want to wet the knot before you cinch it down. Had I "grammared" better and put a comma in there it may have been easier to understand. haha

Haha. No worries. Thanks for the clarification. I had already been doing that and for a few seconds I was nervous I was doing something wrong!

[BigShew2]

Guess I'll be one to throw another knot at ya. I've been using the uni-knot - for about the past 20 plus years now. I don't remember it ever failing. its easy, fast and can be used to connect line to lures, line to line, and the like.

[The Bassman]

1 hour ago, BigShew2 said:

Guess I'll be one to throw another knot at ya. I've been using the uni-knot - for about the past 20 plus years now. I don't remember it ever failing. its easy, fast and can be used to connect line to lures, line to line, and the like.

 

Double the eye loop and it becomes the Fish'n Fool knot.  Virtually slip proof with braid.  By the way welcome aboard.

[MickD]

The palomar takes a lot of line to tie it compared with others, and you have to put the lure through a loop.  This makes it hard to tie with multi-hook lures.  It is only an advantage with braid.  With mono, while the palomar works fine, other knots work well too and are easier to tie with multi-hook lures and don't take as much line to work with.  

 

The advice above regarding the other knots is goodf for mono and FC,  in my opinion.

[wdp]

Palomar knot. I use it for braid & fluoro. Don't really fish with mono anymore, but plan on trying mono again soon. 

 

Def wanna wet it really good before cinching the knot, especially with fluorocarbon. I slober all over my fluoro knots before cinching down. Lol. 

[fishnkamp]

The Arbor knot has one purpose for the most part. I use it to attach my line to the reel's spool.  After that I use the double uni knot to connect two lines together. I always use mono on my reels before loading any fluorocarbon or braid, or if I add a mono, fluoro, or copoly leader to my main fishing line ( most often braid)I will use that knot. Since you are progressing slowly into deep waters (very smart by the way ) I would learn both knots, you can wait on learning the second knot till you advance a bit in the sport. As for tying on lures I use the palomar knot, and the single uni knot as well as the trilene knot most often. Pick two of these and learn them well. The Palomar is a great knot but as said already it is harder to tie with treble hook baits.  

Welcome to our addiction ( oh I meant sport LOL) and to this board. You will find a bunch of good members willing to help you. 

[Turkey sandwich]

The arbor knot is the only knot you need for tieing line to a spool. If you are fishing straight monofilament like you mentioned, the Palomar and Trilene knots are both knots I swear by.  I use the Trilene 80% of the time because it's very fast, requires very little line, and is a very strong, durable knot.  

 

As you progress, learning Uni to Uni (aka double Uni)/blood knot/double surgeon's knot/etc for connecting leader to main running line, a variety of loop knots (Lefty's Loop, Perfection Loop, etc), snell knot, and a handful of others will come in handy, but for now, focus on making things very simple.  The goal early on is just tieing a lure to your line quickly and effectively, and for that the Trilene knot is very hard to beat. 

[Bait Runner]

So many great replies!

 

Thank you all for the information you provided. Here's what I got out of this:

 

1) Continue taking your time

2) Palomar is good, but use the Trilene or Uni-knot for starters (Palomar is difficult with treble hooks)

3) Arbor is good for tying line to a spool

4) Later on, learn line-to-line knots and some loop knots (double-uni, Lefty's Loop, etc)

 

Am I missing anything gents?

[roadwarrior]

Duncan Knot, also known as a 16/20 and Pitzen Knot, for all treble hooks.

 

[Bait Runner]

12 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Duncan Knot, also known as a 16/20 and Pitzen Knot, for all treble hooks.

 

Road Warrior, the Pitzen knot looks like the clinch knot (or is it improved clinch knot?) to me. Are these the same thing with slight variations I'm just not seeing?

[roadwarrior]

The knot is basically a "noose" and tightens down under pressure much like Chinese Finger Trap.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_finger_trap

What I particularly like is that there are no pressure points except at the connection to the eye of the hook.

[Bait Runner]

Ahh, OK, I see. The Finger Trap did the trick for me. Thanks for the input!

[Oklahoma Mike]

If you're only using mono, the improved clinch knot is fast, easy to tie, and works great. Same for the Palomar on single hook baits, but it does become problematic on treble hook lures.

 

For FC and braid, I prefer either the Palomar or Sand Diego Jam knot. As mentioned above, if using the Palomar with FC it is critical that you do not let the line cross itself. I always use an Alberto knot for tying leaders.

 

Here is a great site with animated instructions for knot tying that you may find helpful: http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php#ScrollPoint

[Bait Runner]

1 hour ago, Oklahoma Mike said:

If you're only using mono, the improved clinch knot is fast, easy to tie, and works great. Same for the Palomar on single hook baits, but it does become problematic on treble hook lures.

 

For FC and braid, I prefer either the Palomar or Sand Diego Jam knot. As mentioned above, if using the Palomar with FC it is critical that you do not let the line cross itself. I always use an Alberto knot for tying leaders.

 

Here is a great site with animated instructions for knot tying that you may find helpful: http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php#ScrollPoint

What exactly do you mean by "do not let the line cross itself"?

[Oklahoma Mike]

7 hours ago, Bait Runner said:

What exactly do you mean by "do not let the line cross itself"?