Some knots are essential to learn how to tie, and the knotless knot with a bait band is one of them. Whether you're fishing shallow for F1s or chucking a Method to the horizon, this simple knot puts the bait exactly where you want it, right below the point, hanging naturally, in the perfect position to hook fish.
But there’s a right way and a wrong way to tie one, and it all starts with the bait band.
PUT YOUR KNOTLESS KNOT TO THE TEST WITH THE BEST F1 POLE RIGS.
Banded hair rig tied with a knotless knot
1 of 7Thread band on to line
Thread the band on to the line and create a loop
2 of 7Use a needle to tighten down loop
Now tie a simple overhand knot to create a small loop, trapping the band within it. Here’s the trick, don’t tighten it with your fingers. Grab a baiting needle or a pole float, pass it through the knot loop, and then pull the tag end slowly.
3 of 7Band in a small loop
This tightens the knot neatly down onto the band. This creates the smallest possible loop, just enough to hold the band without strangling it.
4 of 7Align band with bend of hook
Judge where you want the band to sit in relation to the bend of the hook. I find having the bottom of the band in line with the bottom of the bend of the hook is ideal for pellets or wafters. Hold it in place between your thumb and forefinger, ready to start the knotless knot.
5 of 7Whip around shank
With the hair and band held in position, begin whipping down the shank. Keep the turns tight, tidy and consistent. Whip as far down the shank as you can, ideally right down to where it starts to bend. This stops the hair folding back on itself, ensuring the bait stays in line with the hook point for maximum hooking efficiency. Pass the line back up through the eye, again from the back of the hook to the front.
6 of 7Finished knot
Pull it tight, and the knot will lock in place.
7 of 7Add silicon for extra security
Optional but worth it, a small piece of 0.3mm silicone tubing slid onto the shank can be used to trap the hair in place, especially useful on bigger baits or longer hairs. It keeps everything aligned.