Tackle Tips

I often get emails from members asking about various aspects of tackle, knots and bait so I thought it would be a good idea to start a page with a few tips that may be useful to the new or novice angler.

If you have any tips and tricks to share - or any questions please email them to me for inclusion.

Knots

    Every angler has their own favourite knots which they prefer to use.

Here are a few useful knots that I have found to be reliable .There are many more knots but these i have presented as the most common in use in freshwater angling.

Of all of them, the most useful is the uni-knot it can be applied to most situations.

Before tightening any knot, the lines need to be lubricated-usually with saliva.

This is to reduce the friction between the line which would otherwise kink and damage the line thus weakening it.

Palomar Knot

An easy knot to tie that is useful for attaching line to swivels ,etc.

It is not suitable for high-tech pre-stretched lines such as those used for pole rigs.

Form a loop in the line and pass it through the eye of the swivel/hook. Form a simple overhand knot and pass the swivel/hook through the loop.

Pass a loop of line through the eye of the hook or swivel	Form a simple overhand knot    and pass the hook through the loop	lubricate , tighten and trim.

4-Turn Waterknot.

A very useful knot used for joining two lengths of line. Properly tied it achieves very high knot strength and produces a small neat knot. It is very suitable for high-tech lines such as joining a hook length to the main line on a pole rig.

Figure of 8 knot.

Although the "granny knot" is suitable for normal lines, pre-stretched lines really require a more suitable knot for forming loops such as is used to attach pole rigs to connectors and for loops for hook lengths.

With doubled-over line form a loop	Pass the doubled-over line round    the back of the  loop and push it through (from the front) of the   original loop.	As you tighten the knot, a figure-         of-eight should   form-hence its  name.

Uni-Knot.

The uni-knot is slightly more tricky to tie than the other knots mentioned but it it well worth the trouble of learning .

It is one of the most useful knots being equally suitable for all line types and can be used for attaching hooks, swivels and even leaders (using two uni-knots butted together).

Pass the line through the hook or swivel and form a double loop.	Take the tag end and pass it through both loops six times.	Gently start to tighten the knot-slide the knot down to the hook and tighten

Knotless Knot.

This knot has only one use-for producing hair rigs. It is not in the strictest sense a knot but a form of "whipping" or snelling.

It is reliable and easy to tie but only suitable for hooks with a large enough eye to allow the line to pass through it two times.

Form a small knot at one end of a piece of line-this will be the hair-loop. Pass the other end through the hook eye from the TOP of the hook.	Adjust the hair to the required length and hold the hook and line between thumb and forefinger ( make sure the line remains on top of the hook) bring the tag end of the line back and whip it round the hook to about where the bend starts.	Pass the tag end back through the hook eye from the top and slowly tighten ensuring that the whipping lays evenly.

Line Twist and spin-up when using double Maggot

Often, when using double maggot for hook bait, you will notice that the hook length after a while, becomes twisted giving poor bait presentation.

By hooking the two maggots back-to-back this can be eliminated.

Quick Tips

When filling a spool with line if the line is left to soak in water previous to spooling up you will get better line lay on the spool. Braid needs to soak overnight for best results.

When hair-rigging luncheon meat or any other soft bait if you find that normal hair stops pull through the bait try using a piece of stiff grass instead.

Also if a short length of rig tube is put on the hair this helps to stop soft baits flying off on the cast.