Fish N Fool Knot

Tying procedure — Fish N Fool Knot

1. Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Fish N Fool Knot itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.

   Step 01 / 4

   Run the end of the line through the hook eye twice in the same direction, leaving a tag of about 15 cm (6 in).

   You should now see: Two turns of line through the eye lying side by side, with about 15 cm (6 in) of tag beyond them.

   If it goes wrong: The second pass riding over the first turn in the eye. The two turns stack on top of each other instead of lying side by side.

   Fix: Pull the tag back out of the second pass and feed it through again beside the first turn.

   Why: NetKnots describes this knot as a Uni knot tied with two turns through the eye instead of one. The doubled contact at the eye is the difference.

   If wrong: Second eye pass crosses the first — Weak side — barrel walks off the eye.

2. Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Fish N Fool Knot itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.

   Step 02 / 4

   Lay the tag back along the standing line to make a double line, then bend the tag into a loop that hangs below the standing line and hold it there.

   You should now see: The tag alongside the standing line forming a double line, with a loop of tag hanging below it, held between thumb and finger.

   If it goes wrong: The tag crossing to the far side of the standing line, or the loop dropping over the hook. The loop twists and the wraps will not lie evenly.

   Fix: Let go, lay the tag straight along the standing line again, and reform the loop so it hangs clear below the line.

   Why: The loop is what the turns pass through in the next step. Holding it steady keeps the double line straight so the turns lie side by side.

   If wrong: Loop captured the hook instead of the eye passes — Wrong structure.

3. Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Fish N Fool Knot itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.

   Step 03 / 4

   Make five or six turns with the tag around the double line, passing the tag through the loop on every turn.

   You should now see: Five or six even turns around both lines inside the loop, lying side by side, with the tag end coming out past the last turn.

   If it goes wrong: Wrapping outside the loop instead of through it, or wrapping only the standing line. When the tag is pulled the turns unravel instead of coiling.

   Fix: Unwind the turns and make them again around both lines, taking the tag through the loop each time.

   Why: Each turn passes through the loop, so pulling the tag closes the loop and draws the turns into a coil around the standing line.

   If wrong: Barrel closed mid-line, short of the eye — Unfinished — walks on braid.

4. Diagram in reviewA drawing of the Fish N Fool Knot itself is being made. Until then, follow the written steps.

   Step 04 / 4

   Wet the lines and pull the tag to snug the turns into a coil. Then pull the standing line to slide the knot down to the eye and tighten it. Trim the tag.

   You should now see: A neat coil tight around the standing line, sitting right against the two turns at the eye, with a short tag.

   If it goes wrong: Leaving the coil partway up the line, or trimming before the knot reaches the eye. A gap stays between the coil and the eye and the knot can slip.

   Fix: Hold the hook and pull the standing line until the coil is down on the eye. If it will not slide, cut it off and tie it again.

   Why: Snugging the turns first makes them coil neatly around the standing line. Sliding the coil down then draws the two turns at the eye tight against it.