Tying the knot - bt Nic Norton

“Always make sure your knot is tight and the jig hangs parallel to the water.” That has been the mantra for crappie fishermen using jigs for a very long time. However, the use of loop knots has become increasingly popular among anglers because it has proven itself more effective in many situations.

Plenty of anglers still use – and catch fish with – tight clinch knots on their jigs. On the other hand, there are a couple of key reasons why everyone should give loop knots a try.

First, a loop knot allows jigs to “swim” more naturally. Though tying line directly to the jig does make for a nice, horizontal, baitfish profile in the water, this presentation can often appear unnatural as the jig is bounced up and down under the surface. Tying jigs on a loop knot gives them just a bit more jiggle and allows the “nose” to point up slightly on the upstroke and towards the bottom on the down-stroke. Subtle differences such as this often make the difference in an uninterested crappie and another slab in the bucket.