Typically when we think of Florida, we think beach days, waterside restaurants, and sunset weddings. Although these are great ways to spend your time in the sunshine state, what most people are surprised to know is the majority of our travelers are here to fish. And being that we’re the Fishing Capital of the United States, we’re going to teach you how to tie the knot Florida style with these classic fishing knots.
Fishing in the saltwater is a different beast. Not only will everything you own get taken back by rust and erosion, but the fish have sharp gills, spines, and teeth to protect themselves. That being said, your typical ten to fifteen-pound monofilament line on a light freshwater reel probably isn’t going to cut it. In fact, it will land you with a cut line most of the time.
In order to avoid this fishing catastrophe, we recommend gauging up the test limit of your line and investing in some good monofilament or fluorocarbon leader at your local bait shop. We also recommend fishing with scented, fresh, or frozen bait, and coming to terms with the following realities.
- Learning how to tie excellent fishing knots is the number one way to increase your catch rate.
- Having an arsenal of fishing knots to rely on will increase the size of your catch.
- Knowing how to use knots to build a variety of rigs will increase the number of species you bring in.
Now that we know these truths, let’s get to the top knots we’d recommend practicing for your upcoming Florida fishing adventure.
Simple Snell
First and foremost you’ll want to know the simple snell knot. This is a great knot for tying your hook to your leader line. Because it allows your line and your hook to become one, it will create great tension, feedback, and an easier set depending on the type of hook you choose.
To watch a video tutorial on the simple snell knot go here. To read a step-by-step tutorial you can visit this website.
Clinch Knot
Anyone who’s going to fish is going to want to learn this knot. This knot can be used for a variety of things like tying lines to swivels, lines, flashers, and lures. Some people even use this knot to tie the line to their hook. It’s a diverse fishing line knot because it jams up really good and doesn’t have a chance for slippage.
To watch a video tutorial on the clinch knot go here. To read a step-by-step tutorial you can visit this website.
Surgeon’s Loop
The Surgeon’s Loop is essentially a Double Overhand Knot. It’s technically a surgical knot and is used in situations where it’s important to maintain tension on a suture.
There are many applications for this knot which makes it worth adding to your knot-tying arsenal. The Surgeon’s Loop will come in handy on any occasion where you need to tie a loop at the end of a line. It is also a great knot for hooking two lines together.
To watch a video tutorial on the surgeon’s loop go here. To read a step-by-step tutorial you can visit this website.
When you fail to tie the knot with strength and ease, you end up with a knot that comes undone under pressure. This is not something you want to happen with the fish of your dreams is on the other end of that line. The solution comes in tying great fishing line knots and a little knowledge plus a few practice rounds will have you ready to tie the knots needed for these renowned waters in no time.
We look forward to seeing you, and your knot-tying skills, soon!
