Page 87 - Peter Randall - The Craft of the Knot

Chapter 7

FISHING KNOTS

The history of fishing has been the history of a continuous evolution and improvement
of lines and the knots tied in those lines. Fishing dates back to at least the Paleolithic
period; hooks have been found from the Stone Age, so our ancestors clearly had some
form of cord and a method of tying the hooks into it. (Fishermen also used various types
of spears, which is possibly one reason why Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, is

depicted holding a trident.) Ancient fishing lines were made from shredded papyrus
leaves, leather, or animal hair, and must have been clumsy and difficult to knot
properly.

In the fifteenth century an English abbess, Juliana Berners, wrote a book, A Treatyse
of Fysshynge wyth an Angle, which included some advice about tying knots. (Lest you

think it weird that the head of a religious establishment would write a book about
fishing, remember that convents and monasteries depended on fish for a good deal of
their food.) Back then, fishing lines were largely made of braided horsehair, which was
clumsy and often broke.

Since then, fishermen have refined their lines to be thinner and stronger and their
knots, whether for rod-and-reel fishing or net fishing, to be sturdier and more effective.

The invention of nylon in the 1930s initiated the modern era of fishing.

For the enthusiastic pliers of the art and craft of fishing, here is a selection of popular
knots.

ANGLER’S LOOP

Both strong and secure, the Angler’s Loop is a great general-purpose knot. Because it is
difficult to untie, this knot is meant to be permanent, usually tied in small cordage or
fishing line. When tightened down evenly, it makes an excellent knot to use with

bungee cord.

STEP 1 Form an Overhand Knot, and tuck the running end back through it.