Fishing Knots

Fishing knots can be divided into at least two distinct categories:  Sailing or boating knots, and actual fishing knots used for and while fishing.  All knots are designed to securely connect a line - whether a rope or fishing line -  to something else whether a dock, a fishing lure, another line, or the arbor of a fishing reel.  In some cases knots may be used in both settings.

Fishing Knots

For the purposes of further defining these categories the following is offered:
  • Sailing Knots - Boating Knots - those types of knots used when making boat knots, mooring rope knots, securing a rope to a boat, securing that line to a dock, and connecting rope to anchors.
  • Tying Fishing Knots - those most suited to be used with hooks, lures, fishing line, securing a line to reel arbor and including fly fishing knots. Click on this link to read about knots used with hooks, lures, and fishing line.
Sailing Knots are identified by their usefulness in boating situations including tying up to the dock, holding the anchor, safety rope connected to a life ring floatation device, sail rigging and more. These applications require ropes that are strong, resist kinking, resist water damage and resist wear and tear..
Anchor Bend Anchor Bend
Specific Boat Knots used most often in freshwater fishing are listed below. Each knot will have a separate page and instructions how to tie the knot. The knots discussed here are those most often used by the staff at PFT. If you have a larger boat, ship, or sailboat you may find you will need a few other knots for additional applications.
  • Cleat Hitch - Used to secure a line or rope to a dock or boat cleat
  • Cleat Hitch with a Round Turn - Same as cleat hitch with an additional turn at the beginning
  • Mooring Hitch - Used to secure a line or rope to a rail, cleat, post with a quick release feature to remove the rope.
  • Highwayman's Hitch - Used to secure a rope to a rail, cleat, ring with a quick release feature to remove the rope
  • Anchor Bend - Used to secure a line or rope to the ring of an anchor, or other ring or post.
  • Bowline-Knot - Makes a fixed loop in the end of a rope or line.

Mooring Rope, Dock Rope

Mooring Rope How Big is Your Mooring Rope?
Because there are a variety of types of ropes designed for this usage a separate page is warranted. Called Dock Rope, or Mooring Rope, or dock line you will find specific guidelines related to how to correctly choose the dock rope that is right for your specific boat based on length of your boat, weight of your boat and the type of water you will be mooring your boat. Most rope used as dock or mooring rope is made from nylon and consists of braided strands.
Mooring Rope How Big is Your Ship?

Rope Storage and Handling

Flemish Flake Flemish Flake
Once you have selected the type, size and length of rope for your boat here are five important things to do and/or remember about Rope Storage and Handling are: