2. Essential knots

Before any knot

Wet the line (with saliva or water) before tightening the knot -- otherwise the monofilament heats up from friction and weakens. Tighten slowly and evenly, and trim the tag end to 2-3 mm, not flush.

Palomar knot (hook, snap, swivel)

• Double the line and pass the loop through the hook's eye.
• With the doubled line, tie a simple overhand knot without tightening it.
• Pass the hook through the remaining loop, then wet it and tighten by pulling both ends.
• The simplest and safest knot for beginners; it works on braid too.

Improved clinch knot (eyed hook)

• Pass the line through the eye and wrap it 5-7 times around the main line.
• Pass the end through the small loop next to the eye, then through the big loop you've formed.
• Wet it and tighten slowly. Good for thin and medium monofilament.

The hair rig -- for carp

• The bait (sweetcorn, boilies) doesn't sit on the hook but on a 'hair' tied to the hook's shank, leaving the point free.
• It's tied with a knotless knot: a loop for the bait, then 6-8 wraps around the hook's shank, with the line coming out through the eye.
• Why: the carp sucks in the bait, and the free hook sets itself in the lip -- hence the effectiveness of modern rigs.

Double loop (surgeon's loop) -- for joining and rigs

• Double over the end of the line, tie a double overhand knot with the loop and tighten: you get a solid loop.
• Two loops are joined 'loop to loop', without an extra knot -- you can change rigs in seconds.