Even if you have the strongest fishing line in the world, a poorly tied knot means you risk losing fish. On top of that, any knot weakens your line by around 50 percent, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. However, choosing a suitable line-to-line knot can give you the best chance of keeping your fishing rig intact. Checking the weight and diameter of each piece of line helps you choose the right line-to-line fishing knot.
Similar-sized Line
Use the blood know if you're trying to tie two pieces of line of a similar size. For example, the blood knot is ideal for tying a piece of 15-lb. test leader to a 20-lb. test main line, according to the Maryland DNR. Avoid using this for line with a wider test weight difference. To do the blood knot, make five turns of the line around both lengths, then tuck the ends of each piece of line into the middle loop before you pull both sides to tighten.
Different Line Sizes
The Albright knot makes a suitable line-to-line fishing knot when both lines are of very different sizes, such as when you may have one 50-lb. piece of monofilament and another 10-lb. piece. In particular, the Albright is a popular choice for fixing the backing line to the fly line when fly angling. The Albright requires a looped end with the heaviest of the two lines. The lighter line runs through the loop and twists around both sides of the heavier line. The lighter line runs back through the loop before tightening.
Surgeon's Knot
The surgeon or double surgeon's knot provides anglers with a useful way to attach two monofilament lines, such as a fly tippet to a fly leader. The Animated Knots site notes that even though this knot is relatively easy to tie, it does create a small kink in the line. To tie the surgeon's knot, put both pieces of line alongside each other, effectively tying two overhand knots. The final knot is quite bulky, so trim the ends as closely as possible.
Considerations
Wet your line with a little saliva when pulling the knot tight to prevent friction from weakening the line. Because knots always reduce the line's strength, the more knots you have, the more you weaken your overall line. Before you cast, give your line a solid pull to ensure that the knots are reliable. It's better to have your line break before you start than halfway through landing a fish.
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