Uni Knot
The Uni knot is easy to tie, and you can do it almost with your eyes closed. It holds well in all kinds of lines and will hold at about 95 percent of the break test of the line you are tying it in.
When to Use the Uni Knot
Use the Uni Knot for attaching terminal tackle that doesn't swing freely to the end of the line. Although this knot can be tied to leave a loop at the end, the knot will slide tight when you hook a fish and this can weaken it. It's best to pull it tight while tying it and use a snap or split ring if the plug needs to swing freely. The Uni Knot works well in both saltwater and freshwater applications.
On all knots, trim the tag end of the line about one-eighth inch from the knot. Don't try to cut it too short but don't leave it long enough to cause problems. You don't want to leave it so long that it catches trash in the V where it enters the knot.
How to Tie the Uni Knot
To tie the Uni knot:
Hold the hook or plug in one hand and pass the end of the line through the eye of it.
Run the tag end along the main line for about two inches then loop the tag end back to the eye of the hook.
Start wrapping the tag end around the double line inside the loop formed when you bring it back to the hook eye.
Wrap it six times; then pull the tag end tight.
Wet the knot and pull it down tight against the eye of the hook and firmly pull on it to make sure it's snug.
FIGURE 8-5
Tying a Uni knot.
FIGURE 8-6
A finished Uni knot.
All three of these knots — Improved Clinch, Palomar, and Uni — pull up tight on the eye of the hook or plug. They're all very similar and do the same job. Learn to tie any one of them and use it all the time; by using one of them all the time you'll learn to tie it better.
