The Uni Knot

Slip knot how to tie a Hangmans Uni Knots

NOTE:When tying this knot as a double uni fishing knot pull the coils up first before letting them run together.

Knot tying tutorial-how to tie fishing line knots

This saltwater fishing knot is very similar to a conventional uni knot but it has the advantage that it can be pulled up around an expanded hand to form a stable hangmans noose.

It is a kind of slip knot, tying pictures are below.
This knot is a hardwearing leader knot and is one of the best fishing knots for swivels. It is also perfect for fishing line to reel knots and for fishing lure knots.

As it is a slip knot it is one of the few fishing knots jigs can move freely on if the noose is not overly tightened.

This knot can be tied as a double uni knot or a uni to uni knot the same as a conventional uniknot. Diagrams on how to tie a slip knot are below.
Allow yourself plenty of line in the first loop and start as you would for a four turn clinch knot.

I have made the long tail (tag end) red so you can follow the next step.
Put the tag end back through the front of the loop and do another four turns up the inside of the loop following the lay of the original four twists.

To tighten as a noose put your fingers in the loop the swivel is shown on, and pull the knot up slowly.

If any of the loops jump ot of place give the tag end a light pull.
Rotating the hand you are using to hold the loop open while setting the knot will make it set much more eaisily.

The new uni knot can then be cats pawed to a clip or swivel and the noose tightened. This results in a very strong join that seldom if ever needs retying. See the finished knot here

Paul's Fishing Kites uses this knot extensively for those critical joins in kite fishing rigs that have to be both strong and hardwearing. It is also one of the better surf fishing knots.

Up to seven turns can be used but make sure to put the same number of turns in both sets of twists or the knot will not pull up correctly

by:www.fishing.sh

How to Handle Fish

Handling fish properly protects both you and the fish. Some fish have sharp fins or teeth that can cut you if you don’t hold them correctly. Thus, different fish species need to be handled in different ways. Hold some fish by the jaw, such as bass or trout, and others along the body, such as a catfish. Learn by watching an experienced angler, but keep the following rules in mind:

1. Always wet your hands first before handling fish. Wet hands are less likely to damage the protective coating of mucous on the outside of the fish. This slimy layer helps protect the fish’s skin from disease and makes it glide easily in the water.

2.Don’t allow fish to flop around on the bank, the dock, or the floor of the boat. If keeping fish, put them on ice or in a bucket of cool water.

3.If you are not keeping the fish, take the fish off the hook as soon as possible. Gently lower it into the water until it begins to swim away. If it isn’t ready to swim, you may need to slowly swish it in the water first. Remember, no fish is a “junk” or trash” fish. All fish play important roles in the aquatic ecosystem.

4.If you are not keeping the fish, using barbless hooks can make it easier to take the fish off the hook.


Contributed By: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/

What The Basic Angler Needs

Fishing Rod

• Try a cane pole or fishing rod with a closed-face, spincast reel.
  

Fishing Line

• Use monofilament fishing line. It's rated by strength. Start out with an 8 or 10 pound test.
  

Tackle

1.Casting plugs help you practice casting in your yard. Tie these weights on the end of your line. You "cast" to swing your fishing line out to land at a certain spot in the water.

2.Hooks come in several sizes. Long hooks like #6 hold worms and are good for catching bass or catfish. Hooks such as #8 and #10 hold worms or crickets and are good for bluegill and other panfish. Small #12 hooks can hold salmon eggs for catching trout.

3.Bobbers and Sinkers help you control where your bait hangs in the water. Some fish like to feed near the top of the water, some in the middle, and some, like catfish, like the bottom. You want your bait to be where the fish feeds. The bobber floats on top of the water and holds your hook and bait off the bottom of the water. It also bobs to alert you when a fish is nibbling on your bait. Sinkers are metal weights that clamp onto your fishing line near the hook. Sinkers help control your line under the water so it hangs where you want it. Split-shot sinkers are popular, and are little gray metal balls that are squeezed on to the fishing line.

3.Pliers help you squeeze the sinkers on your fishing line and help you get the fish hook out of the fish's mouth.

Bait and Lures

• Bait is what the fish will bite.
  
• Many people have success with bait from the kitchen, such as:
  bread, cheese, bits of hot dogs
  
• Below are some favorite live baits.
  Crappie: Minnows
  White Bass: Minnows
  Sunfish: Worms
  Black Bass: Worms
  Catfish: Worms or Stinkbait
  Sunfish: Crickets
  Trout: Salmon eggs
  
• Lures get the fish's attention. There are many types of colorful or shiny lures to use instead of live bait to catch a fish. ( I will explain later the method of Bait and Lures).

Contributed By: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/

How To Replace Your Fishing Line

Now that you have learned what to look for in a new rod, you're ready to attach a reel and tie on some new line. If your reel is not new, then you must first remove the old line. After that, feed the new line from the tip of the pole down through the eyelets and tie the line around the reel. Note that it always pays to buy the highest quality line. Cheaper line has a tendency to coil up and cause a lot of knots. If your reel is a closed reel, slide a pencil through the center of the fishing line spool, and have someone else hold the spool to keep tension on the line as you begin to reel it in.

Never place too much tension on the line as you are reeling it in or it can cause the line to stretch, twist and cause knots. If you have an open-faced reel, then just put the spool on the floor and let the reel keep the proper tension. Be sure to have the spool facing in the direction so that the line is feeding off of it in a counterclockwise manner. All you need to do, is let the line feed through your fingers as it goes on to the reel. Crank 20 times or so and then check to see if the line is twisting or not. If it is, try turning the spool of line over. Then continue reeling in the line until it fills the spool on the reel within 1/8 of an inch from the edge.

Periodically check your line to see if it is still in good shape. A good way to do this is to strip off a lot of line and then reel it in through your finger tips. This way you can feel if there are any tiny knicks or knots in the line. Over time, rocks and sticks in the water knick the line and cause these weak areas. Also, visually inspect the line as you are reeling it back in. Note that when stripping off a lot of line you run the risk of creating a rats nest out of your line. One way to avoid this is by tying your line on to another fishing reel and reeling it on to that one. Or, if you are fishing in a river, just use a floating bobber and let your line be taken downstream until you reel it back in. This way it won't get tangled.

If you find some of these weak spots, either replace your line, if the knick is way down the line, or just cut the line at that point. If you cut off too much line, then you could have trouble casting long distances, as the line won't feed off the reel as smoothly. For this reason, it's wise to keep the spool on your reel full up to 1/8 of an inch from the edge. Since fishing line is cheap, as a precaution, replace your line every year. It's better to avoid having your line break just when you have caught that gigantic salmon, bass or catfish!

Don't forget, when stripping off your old line, clip it up in to tiny pieces and throw it away. Too many fishermen leave it on the shore to entangle the local wildlife.

How To Buy a New Rod

Over the years, fishing rods have been made out of just about everything, from bamboo to fiberglass and graphite. When choosing a rod you really need to find one that feels good to you. The material it is made from, the length, the weight, and the flexibility all determine its 'feel'. But first, you need to determine what type of fishing you want to do. Different types of fishing and different conditions require different types of equipment. Longer rods, over 6 1/2 feet are better suited for heavier bait, and more aggressive fish, like catfish, salmon and bass. They are also easier to cast longer distances than short rods. Short rods, however, are better suited for fishing in heavy cover, like bushes and tall grass. They also work well for smaller fish like perch and crappie.

Start by asking a salesperson for a reel. You should always try out new rods with a reel attached to get an accurate feel for the rod’s performance. Then take a couple rods off the rack and act as if you were casting them. Move the rod tip back and forth to see if it feels flexible or stiff. Try longer ones and shorter ones. See how the grip fits into your palm. Lighter, more flexible rods allow you to 'feel' the fish more. Increased sensitivity can help you strike more fish. Also, lighter rods reduce fatigue and stress. If you’re fishing from sun up to sun down, you’ll feel the difference in your muscles by the end of the day.

Spinning rods allow for greater casting distance when using lightweight lures. They have a different action than other types of rods. They are also better for landing fish on light line, since there is significantly less friction caused by the guides. The guides on a spinning outfit are located on the underside of the blank.

Contrast the action, or amount of movement the rod has when casting. You should notice that a good spinning rod has very little movement in the tip. Most of the movement should be contained to the middle of the rod and the butt end.

Always be sure to ask one of the shop’s experts to help you choose a rod that is right for you, based on your budget, and the type of fishing you want to do.