FISHING LINE:  Fishing line used to be a piece of cotton string, but it has gotten fancier with time.  Braided lines are still sometimes used in saltwater for big fish, but most anglers use monofilament lines or the new super lines.  For bream fishing a light weight line (4-8 pounds) is best.  For bass, you may want to use 6-12 pounds normally, but if you have to pull the fish through plants or around tree stumps and rocks 12-24 pounds may be a good idea.  The weight of the line also corresponds to the weight of the lure you plan to use.

2-4 pound line > 1/64 to 1/16 oz lure
5-9 pound line > 1/32 to 1/8 oz lure
10-14 pound line > 1/8 to 3/8 oz lure

Tying a good knot in your line to hold the hook on is very important. 

Basic Knots for Anglers Include the following:

 

Clinch Knot

  1. Pass the line through the eye of the hook, or swivel.
  2. Double back. make five turns around the line.
  3. Pass the end of the line through the first loop, above the eye, and then through the large loop. Draw the knot into shape.
  4. Slide the coils down tight against the eye.
     

PalomarPalomar Knot

 The Palomar Knot is another very simple knot for terminal tackle. It is regarded by the International Game Fish Association consistently as the strongest knot known. It's great virtue is that it can safely be tied at night with a minimum of practice.

  1. Double about 5 inches of line, and pass through the eye.
  2. Tie a simple Overhand Knot in the doubled line, letting the hook hang loose. Avoid twisting the lines.
  3. Pull the end of loop down, passing it completely over the hook.
  4. Pull both ends of the line to draw up the knot.


 

 

 



 

Uni-KnotUni-Knot

A better connection can be made using one of the Hangman's Knots, known to the International Game Fish Association fisherman as the Uni-Knot.

This is a knot used for attaching lines together.

  1. Overlap the two lines for about 5 inches.
  2. Using one end, form a circle that overlies both lines.
  3. Pass the end six times around the two lines.
  4. Pull the end tight to draw the knot up into shape.
  5. Repeat the process using the end of the other line.
  6. Pull both lines to slide the two knots together.


     

LoopThe Loop Knot

This knot can be tied readily in the dark, and is equally readily attached to swivel and hook.

 

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