A successful fishing trip isn’t just about finding the perfect spot or using the right bait—it also depends on tying a strong and reliable fishing knot. A poorly tied knot, or the incorrect knot, can mean the difference between landing a big catch or watching it swim away. A simple knot, such as the one used to tie your shoelaces, will not work. It isn’t strong enough to stop a fish from pulling your knot apart.
Two of the best fishing knots are the Trilene and Palomar knots. They’re very strong and easy to tie, and with a little practice, you can learn to tie both! Here’s how:
Trilene Knot
STEP 1A: Start by passing about 10 inches of line through the eye of the hook.
STEP 1B: Next, repeat the first step by running the end of the line through the eye of the hook in the same direction that you started, forming a half-inch loop
STEP 2: Wrap the tag line around the main line about six times.
STEP 3: Pass the end of the line through the double loop you formed in the first step.
STEP 4: Wet the knot with saliva from your mouth (very important). Wetting the knot prevents damage to the line and makes it easier to snug the knot tight. Pull the tag line (short piece of line) and the main line to form a knot. Using your thumb and index finger, hold the top of the knot and slide it down against the eye of the hook. Last, cut the tag line about a quarter of an inch above the eye of the hook.
Palomar Knot
STEP 1: To begin, thread about 15 inches of line through the eye of the hook. Next, take the end of the line and double back, threading the line back through the way you just came out. What you should wind up with is a 6-to-8-inch loop on one side of the eye of the hook and a double line with approximately 6 inches on the other side. See the picture to the left. Be careful when you cinch or tighten your knots. Hooks are sharp!
STEP 2: Take the end of the line with the loop and tie a loose-fitting overhand knot. The loop at the end of the overhand knot should be approximately 4 inches in length.
STEP 3: Pass the hook through the 4-inch loop. Next, holding the hook and the two lines above the overhand knot, pull the line so it begins to close around the eye of the hook. Before fully tightening the knot, wet the line with a little saliva from your mouth to prevent damaging the line, and then pull it tight. Finally, trim the extra line to about a quarter of an inch above the knot.
About Hooked
“Hooked” is a comic strip based on characters taken from the book “Learn To Fish, A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginning Anglers.” It features a multicultural cast of teens who love to fish and decide to form a fishing club in Cleveland. See “Hooked” monthly right here on the Signal Cleveland website produced in partnership with Dennis James Knowles and Gail Ann Grizzell of Cleveland’s The Fishing Foundation.
Ohio does not require those under 16 to have a fishing license. Read more on Ohio fishing laws here.
About The Fishing Foundation
“Hooked” is produced by longtime Cleveland anglers Dennis Knowles and Gail Grizzell, founders of The Fishing Foundation (TFF), a non-profit organization in Northeast Ohio that takes teens fishing. Through events, mentorship programs, and hands-on training, TFF provides unique opportunities for individuals from underserved communities to connect with nature and each other.
Beyond instruction, the foundation provides participants with rods, reels, bait, tackle and even a souvenir T-shirt. At each event, attendees enjoy lunch and refreshments while building skills and confidence. And as a lasting memento, each child gets to keep their rod and reel. TFF’s flagship project, “Learn to Fish: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginning Anglers,” is a guidebook that equips beginner anglers with the knowledge they need to succeed at fishing.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a complete beginner, The Fishing Foundation, and the adventures of “Hooked,” can help. Spend time in Cleveland’s beautiful parks, lakes and rivers and experience the benefits of connecting with nature.
The great outdoors is waiting for you—make 2025 the year you get “hooked” on fishing!
The Fishing Foundation
