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April 2026

How to Tie Advanced Fishing Knots

By : Katie Rojas

advanced knots infographic 2.jpg

Once you've got the basics down, leveling up your knot game can make a real difference on the water. Advanced knots are designed for specific situations — like connecting two different types of line or getting the most action out of a lure. The three knots below are favorites among experienced anglers and worth adding to your repertoire.

The Alberto Knot

The Alberto Knot is one of the best knots for connecting braided line to a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader. It creates a slim, strong connection that slides smoothly through your rod guides on the cast.

  1. Double over 8-10 inches of your leader line to create a loop
  2. Pass the tag end of your braided line through the loop from the bottom
  3. Wrap the braid around both strands of the loop 7 times toward the closed end of the loop
  4. Then wrap back in the opposite direction 7 times toward the open end of the loop
  5. Pass the tag end of the braid back through the loop from the same side it entered
  6. Wet the knot thoroughly and pull both the main lines slowly to tighten
  7. Trim any excess tag ends close to the knot

The Snell Knot

The Snell Knot ties your line directly to the shank of the hook rather than the eye, which improves hook-setting leverage and keeps your line perfectly aligned on the pull. It's a go-to knot for anglers using live bait or fishing with straight-shank hooks.

  1. Pass 4-5 inches of line through the eye of the hook and hold it against the shank
  2. Form a loop with the tag end and hold it along the shank
  3. Wrap the tag end around the shank and through the loop 7-8 times, working from the eye down toward the bend
  4. Pull the tag end and main line in opposite directions to cinch the wraps tight against the shank
  5. Wet the knot and pull firmly to seat it
  6. Trim the tag end close to the knot

The No-Slip Loop Knot

The No-Slip Loop Knot ties a fixed loop directly to the eye of your lure or fly, allowing it to swing and move freely rather than being locked down tight. This gives your bait a much more natural, lifelike action in the water — especially effective with jerkbaits, swimbaits, and flies.

  1. Tie a simple overhand knot in your line, leaving 8-10 inches of tag end — do not tighten it
  2. Pass the tag end through the eye of the lure and back through the overhand knot, entering from the same side it exited
  3. Wrap the tag end around the main line 4-6 times (fewer wraps for heavier line, more for lighter line)
  4. Pass the tag end back through the overhand knot again, entering from the same side as before
  5. Wet the knot and pull the main line to slide the overhand knot down toward the lure eye, leaving a small loop
  6. Pull both the main line and tag end to lock the knot in place
  7. Trim the tag end close to the knot

As with any knot, practice makes perfect. Run through each one at home a few times before you head out and use the diagram above to compare what you did — a knot tied with confidence is always stronger than one tied in a hurry.