How to Tie Fish Lure: A Step-by-Step Guide for Anglers

If you want to catch more fish, it's important to know how to tie your lures the right way. This guide will show you how to make simple and strong knots that won't come undone in the water. It doesn't matter if you're just starting out or if you've been fishing for years – these tips will help everyone.

What Are the Different Types of Fishing Lures?

Lures are the bread and butter of angling-they're what you fasten onto the end of your line, cross your fingers, and pray brings that tug-of-war sensation and finally that fat fish aboard. In a sea of choice, which to tie on? Okay, let's go ahead and break down the primary types of lures and which best suits your fishing adventure.

Jig Lures

The jig is probably the most versatile lure, having a weighted head on one side and a hook on the other, usually enveloped by a soft body to imitate some sort of prey. They work great in both fresh and saltwater, taking a lot of species. You'd normally jig them up and down in a sort of vertical movement, hence the name.

Plugs

Plugs or crankbaits are hard-bodied lures that look like baitfish or other prey fish. Most have a lip that makes them wobble or dive when reeled in - which usually attracts predatory fish. Use these if you want to imitate the action of a fish's natural forage.

Spinnerbaits

Then there are spinnerbaits. With one or more metal blades spinning like a propeller when pulled through the water, these flashy lures vibrate and reflect light to any fish in its vicinity. They really do work for fishing in murky water or for simply covering a lot of areas in search of active fish.

But when do you use each type? It all depends on where you're fishing and what you're hoping to catch.

• Heading to a lake known for its largemouth bass? A plug might be your go-to.
• Fishing in waters with lots of vegetation? Spinnerbaits can be pulled over lily pads and through weeds without snagging.
• Trying to coax a walleye out from its rocky hideaway? A jig could be just the thing.

Why is Choosing the Right Knot Important for Fishing?

Tying the proper knot is probably the most important thing an angler does in fishing. Why so important? The knot is the critical link from you to the fish—a weak or improperly tied knot means the difference between catching that lunker or watching it swim away with your favorite lure. The strong points of a good fishing knot are strength, durability, and sustaining tension in a fighting fish.

Now, let's learn some of the common fishing knots and where a particular knot does apply:

• The Improved Clinch Knot: The most likely line knot used to attach lures, hooks, and swivels to your line due to its strong and reliable nature. Quite easy to tie, it functions well with most types of fishing lines.
• The Palomar Knot: Known for its strength, the Palomar knot is great for securing a hook to your line, especially if you're working with braided fishing lines, which will otherwise slip with some other type of knot.
• The Uni Knot (or Duncan Knot): The Duncan knot is versatile and strong, for it can be used for attaching hooks and lures or in joining two lines together. It's a go-to knot for many anglers.
• The Loop Knot: As such, there is the Perfection Loop or Surgeon's Loop, but all loop knots in general allow more freedom of motion to the lure or bait and therefore can move more naturally in the water.

Practice makes perfect—the more you tie these knots, the faster and more confident you will be when tying them with a fish on or in rough weather.

What Tools Do You Need for Tying Lures?

Before you start tying lures, it's important to have the right tools and materials on hand. These tools not only make the process easier but also ensure that your knots are tight and secure. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fishing Line: This is obviously essential. Whether you prefer monofilament, fluorocarbon, or braided lines will depend on the fishing conditions and your personal preference.
• Scissors or Line Cutters: A clean cut is important if you are over the amount that will be removed from your finished knot. Scissors should be sharp enough to slice through your fishing line without fraying the ends.
• Needle Nose Pliers: These are useful for pulling knots tight and can also help remove hooks from fish or untangle snarled lines.
• Hook File: A dull hook is a lost catch, so keep yours sharp with this small file.
• Lure Retriever: In case your lure gets stuck, it helps in releasing it without necessarily cutting your line.
• Lighter: Sometimes, especially with synthetic lines, a little heat can be used to fuse the cut end of a line to prevent fraying (be cautious with this technique).

Now, as for setting up your workspace, here are some tips to keep things organized:

• Use a Tackle Box with Compartments: Keeping your tools and materials neatly organized in a tackle box means you'll spend less time searching for what you need and more time fishing.
• Pre-Cut Line Lengths: If you often use specific lengths of line for certain knots or rigs, having these pre-cut can save time.
• Keep Essential Tools within Easy Reach: Arrange your workspace so that the most frequently used items are closest to you.
• Portable Workspace: Consider using a small tray or portable mat where you can tie your lures. This can be particularly helpful if you're switching lures often while out on a boat or riverbank.

Having the right tools at your disposal and an organized space to work in can greatly improve the experience of tying lures. It allows for swifter changes and adjustments to your setup, which ultimately can mean more time with your line in the water, where the fish are waiting.

How to Tie a Basic Lure to Your Fishing Line

One of the first things most anglers will learn is how to tie a lure to their fishing line. Here's how to tie an Improved Clinch Knot-one of the simpler yet strong options for your fishing needs:

• Thread the Line: Thread the line through the eye of the lure, then pull about 6 inches of line through to give yourself enough to work with.
• Twist the Line: Holding the lure in one hand, take the free end of the line in the other hand, and twist the tag end around the standing part five to seven times. Smaller children may find it easier to turn the lure rather than the line.
• Insert Through the Loop: Now there is a small loop just above the eye of the lure, through which the free tag end of your line needs to be threaded.
• Final Loop Creation: As you pull the free end out of the first loop, it will create a second larger loop. Now pass the free end through this second loop.
• Tighten the Knot: Moisten the line with either saliva or water for lubrication of the knot. The friction will reduce and hence the knot will easily sit. Just tug on the free end while holding the lure until it snugs the knot.
• Trim the Excess Line: Using your scissors or line clippers, cut the free end of your line as close to the knot, but leaving about 1/8 inch tag so that it should not unbuckle the knot.
• Test the Knot: Gently tug on the line and lure to make sure the knot is secure and holds firm.

How to Tie More Complex Lures for Enhanced Performance

It begins to get a little more complicated as you advance beyond simple lures. Complicated lures, such as fly lures or those that have hooks in multiples, require precision and a few advanced techniques.

Tying Fly Lures:

• Create a Loop Knot: This principally gives lures more action that may make a difference in fly fishing. First, make an overhand cross about 5 inches from the end but do not pull it tight.
• Passing the line through the eye - thread the line through the eye of the fly lure, then back through the loop of the overhand knot.
• Wrap the Tag End: Holding the lure, the tag end of the tippet wraps back away from the lure four to six turns around the standing line.
• Back Through the Loop: Take the tag end back through the first overhand knot and then through the little loop beside the eye.
• Moist, Pull, and Tighten The knot initially by wetting it. Hold the fly and the standing line and pull the tag end to tighten the wraps; pull the standing line to slide it toward the eye until snug.

Tying Multi-Hook Lures:

• Choose the Proper Knot: A Palomar or some other strong knot would be good to work out because multi-hook lures need a strong nonslip connection.
• Double Line: Take a folded line about 6 inches, having a loop at the end of one of the lines passing through the eye of the lure.
• Tie an Overhand Knot: Simply tie an overhand knot in the doubled line to create a large loop in it.
• Presentation: All of the lures should be passed through the big loop the overhand knot created.
• Pull to Tighten: Slobber the lines with saliva or water and pull both the standing line and the tag line while holding the lure to tighten the knot against the eye.
• Secure other hooks: If the fly has trailing hooks, it is best to knot a few more or avail the special rigging arrangement in order to avoid tangles.

Tie Better, Fish Smarter: Perfect Your Lure Knots

Tying your lure on correctly is pretty paramount, ranking right up there with selecting the right place to fish. In this book, we have covered what you need to know about lures themselves, the helpful tools to make a tie easier, and how to master simple and fancy knots. Practice makes perfect, so don't worry if it's all a bit fiddly at first. Just follow these tips when it all gets confusing, and before you know it, you'll be tying knots like a seasoned angler.