The following knots are those that I have used for a good number of years without any problems. It is important to follow a couple of simple rules when tying any knot:

1. Make sure the line you are going to tie is clean and undamaged.
2. Do not tighten the knot without first lubricating it(I like to totally immerse the knot in water whilst tightening, if on the bank I fill a bait box with water to do this).
3. As you pull the knot tight make sure it pulls down neatly.
4. On completion ensure the knot is secure and the surrounding line has not been damaged.

Loop knots

Double Overhand Loop

1. Double about 150mm of line back on itself .
2. Form a circle in the doubled line.
3. Pass the doubled end twice through the circle.
4. Pull slowly tight, adjusting the loop size as you tighten(don't forget to lubricate well)

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Figure of Eight Loop This is my favoured loop knot as I believe it is stronger.

1. Double about 150mm of line back on itself.
2. Bring the doubled end back on itself, pass it around itself and back through the loop you have formed.
3. Pull slowly tight, adjusting the loop size as you tighten(don't forget to lubricate well).

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Loop to Loop Knot

Commonly used to attach the hoolink to the mainline. Has the benefit that you are able to change hooklinks easily.

1. Pass the loop on the mainline through the loop on the hooklink.
2. Pass the end of the hooklink through the loop on the mainline.
3. Carefully pull together.

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Water Knot

The Water Knot can be used to create a fixed paternoster or to attach a hooklink to the mainline.I use this knot to attach my hooklink when fishing at long range, as it helps to prevent the hooklink twisting. The disadvantage is that it is not so easy to change hooklinks.

1. Overlap the two lines by about 150mm(Red is mainline).
2. Bring the hooklink end back and form a circle in the doubled line.
3. Pass the end through the circle three or four times(I normally use three).
4. Pull the doubled ends to tighten the knot lubricating well.
5.         To use as a paternoster

attach hooklink
here

                                           attach the weight here

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Uniknot

This is the knot I use for tying swivels,leads,or feeders. This is a very reliable knot that is simple to tie.

1. Pass the line through the eye of the swivel and double back about 150mm.
2. Bring the end of the line back towards the swivel.
3. Pass the end of the line around the doubled line passing through the loop five or six times.
4. Holding the doubled line close to the swivel, carefully pull the end of the line making sure the loops sit neatly(do not over tighten at this stage).
5. Carefully pull the mainline and slide the loops to the swivel eye, then you may tighten properly making sure that it is still well lubricated

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Trilene Knot

This is not a knot that I use myself but I have included it, as it is an alternative to the Half Blood Knot that a lot of anglers still use.

1. Pass the line through the eye twice forming a small loop.
2. Then loop the end around the mainline five times and pass the end through the double loop by the eye.
   
3. Lubricate well and carefully tighten.
   

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Knotless Knot

I use this knot to attach the hook to hair rig a bait. I now also use this knot to attach any eyed hook(if you don't want to attach the bait on a hair just omit to tie a loop in the end) as the superior hooking this knot gives cannot be equalled. The only disadvantages with this knot are:

1. You have to use a separate hook length (unless tying a pole rig).
2. When targeting large fish with smaller hook sizes it is not always possible to get two bits of line through the eye, due to the thickness of the heavier line that you may have to use.(in this case check out the Dumhof Knot).

This is a very simple and reliable knot.

1. Tie a small loop in one end of the line and thread the other end through the eye from the back. Pull the line through until the hair loop is the required distance from the hook.
   
2. Holding the hair against the back of the hook, take hold of the line above the hook and whip the line neatly back down the hook trapping the hair.(use at least seven turns).
   
3. When you have the required number of turns trap the line whilst you feed the tag end of line back through the hook eye from the back of the hook.
   
4. Lubricate well and pull the line above the hook to tighten.

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Dumhof Knot

This knot is very reliable, can be used directly on the mainline and as the line only passes once through the eye you can use smaller hooks. The knot gives similar hooking benefits to the Knotless Knot when using smaller hook sizes but does not seem quite so efficient with larger hooks.

1. Pass the end of the line through the eye of the hook from the point side of the shank, pull through about 200mm of line and double it back up the shank of the hook forming a loop.
   
2. Wind the line back down the hook trapping the loop(use at least seven turns), when you have the desired number of turns thread the end of the line through the loop.
   
3. lubricate well and tighten by pulling the mainline whilst holding the tag end.
   

If you are as clumsy as me you will find it difficult to hold a small hook while you tie the knot. I have a solution to this problem, I use a spade end hook tyer, the only thing you have to remember is to thread the line through the eye before you start, completing the knot in exactly the same way as a spade end.
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Double Uni-Knot

This is a handy knot for joining two lengths of line. If you leave the tag ends of line about 20mm long they should pass fairly smoothly through your rod rings.

1. Take the two ends and hold them parallel to each other with about 450mm overlap.
   
2. Take one end and bring it back on itself to form a loop.
   
3. Pass the end around the doubled line passing through the loop four times.
   
4. Gently pull the doubled line and the tag end to tighten.
   
5. Take the other end of line and bring it back on itself to form a loop
   
6. Pass the end around the doubled line passing  through the loop four times.
   
   
7. Gently pull the doubled line and the tag end to tighten.
   
8. Pull the two lines in opposite directions to slide the two knots together and tighten, then trim the tag ends(about 20mm if you require them to pass through the rod rings).
   

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