Which Knots To Know?
 

In a lake cabin for the coming week, figure I should cut some cord from the hank I keep with the kayaks and practice knots. And learn knots. But which knots?

So, here is my PRIMARY question for you all:

If you could only know FIVE knots, which knots would they be, and for each knot you’ve chosen, what task(s) is it used for and why did you choose that knot as best for that task?

And if you will, a SECONDARY question:

What are the five knots you would know for
- General daily life
- Outdoors
- Fishing
- Boating

I ask this as someone who can only seem to remember a few knots. When I was a kid I had a knot book and learned many knots, but they’ve all gone like dust in the wind. As I sit here today, I could probably tie a bowline, a figure eight, a clove hitch, a trucker’s hitch, a fisherman’s knot, a dropper loop of some sort. If I had to splice two lines . . ., I’d probably do repeated overhand loops with each line around the other; I don’t know a splicing knot. If I had to make an emergency rescue sling . . . I’d probably make a big bowline on a bight and watch the victim fall to their death; I don’t know a real sling knot. If I had to tie a fly on a leader . . . i’ve got that covered. If I had to tie a package . . . I’d make a big old mess.

Barrel knot for connecting two ropes of the same size.

.

Double barrel or " fisherman's bend"

We use these all the time in rope rescue

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1755998197.jpg

If the Chapman Book of Knots is still around I'd suggest getting a copy.
John Rogers

I taught knot tying to Scouts. Have owned a sail boat or two. Went fly fishing today. So you might think I knew something about knots.

Not really. (pun intended.)

I think you have a very nice inventory listed above.

I do like a prussic knot / loop (foggy memory here...) to make a recovery line with 2:1 advantage. (talking out my backside. No idea the actual advantage.)
I use a surgeons knot, nail knot, and Albright knot for my fly line leader.

Square knot is essential...

I have pretty much faked it this far. Don't plan on learning more.

You are good!

Oh I recognize that knot, used for building a tapered leader for fly fishing.

I use this one alot

<iframe width="263" height="467" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TR6Zt44JwAg" title="Tying Two Half Hitches" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

and this one too

https://www.animatedknots.com/clove-hitch-knot-rope-end

I was a boyscout and knew a bunch of knots. I maybe remember 4 now, square, clove hitch, 2 half hitch, and maybe bowline (the fact that I'm not 100% on that one surprises me). I am also a little surprised that I can picture a sheepshank, but not sure if I could tie one.

Probably 15 years ago, I stumbled across a website on knots and got some line and started practicing. I had a bunch down, but stopped and have forgotten all of them. THere are a bunch of cool knots out there. I think this was the site. It is an excellent site with categories of knots and how-tos on how to tie them all.
https://www.animatedknots.com/

^^^I have used that website. It is fantastic!

Can't go wrong with a good ol Bowline.

https://youtu.be/Q9NqGd7464U?si=z3xCKPrMidm2CyQm

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

Square knot
Half hitch
Trucker's hitch
Bowline
Clove hitch

And always remember, after tying you need to proclaim "That's not going anywhere".

That one was considered super important in the Boy Scouts because with that one you could put a loop around someone and pull them up a cliff or let them down from someplace high without the rope tightening around them.

I'm from FL. I moved to the gulf coast of Texas. Both places are damn flat. About the highest place that I'd ever have to raise or lower someone from is a curb. I've NEVER needed a bowline. But I can't get out of my mind that it's a good knot to know. LMAO!

The rabbit comes out of the hole, goes around the tree and then goes back into the hole, or something like that.

fify

Anybody have one of these? Specs about anything and everything…love looking through it!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1756034189.jpg

About 10 illustrated pages of knots and their usage.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1756034278.jpg

For tapered leaders blood knot is the cleanest, on the water a double or triple surgeons knot is easier to tie.

Someone gave me one about 20 yrs ago. I was hooked. Always got the updated versions after that.

.

Just like kids with their velcro shoes I've forgotten my knots because of my ratcheting straps

Story about the most impressive knot tying I've ever seen.

My Dad got involved with some guy who was buying a mothballed ship from the Navy. It was up in the mothball fleet up in SF area.

As we got it to a dock in SF right under one of the freeway bridges going into SF, we tossed a line to a guy drinking a cup of coffee on the dock. The line was easily 3-4" in diameter, maybe bigger. He caught the line with his free hand, and while holding the cup of coffee proceeded to toss the line up and around with the other hand. He ended up with a perfect bowline which he dropped over a cleat on the pier.

He didn't spill a drop of coffee.

I use a Palomar knot to tie on hooks and lures. I had to look up the name and I tie it my own way .... but ya do gots to wet it an cinch it properly :).

And a few of the others already mentioned....

I cheated and had to ducksearch for the name too :D

A Bo-line ain't goin' nowhere...

Do you tie up the stern with a bow-line?

A Bolin might just go somewhere :D

How do y'all pronounce it?