How to tie the Uni Knot？

Use case: backing to reel

Ah, the Uni Knot—classic, right? I swear by this thing, especially when it comes to tying backing to the reel. You’d think it’s straightforward, but man, I’ve seen folks (myself included) mess it up royally the first few tries. Like that one time I was out on the water, all excited, and whoops—knot slipped. Lost a good chunk of backing before I even got started. Lesson learned: don’t rush it.

So here’s the deal. You’ve got your reel, your backing line (I usually go with 20-30 lb braid, but hey, whatever floats your boat), and you need ‘em to stay married. The Uni’s perfect ‘cause it’s simple but grips like a vice when you cinch it down. Start by threading the backing through the reel’s arbor—leave a decent tail, maybe 6 inches? Then make a loop, like you’re tying your shoelace but way less complicated. Wrap the tag end around both lines inside the loop, like… four or five times? I do five ‘cause I’m paranoid.

Now, here’s where I used to go wrong—wet the knot before pulling it tight. Sounds obvious, but when you’re hyped to fish, little things slip your mind. Literally. Spit on it, dunk it, whatever—just lube it up. Then pull slow and steady, not like you’re starting a lawnmower. The coils should nestle together neat, no overlaps. Trim the tag, but not too short. Leave a smidge, ‘cause nothing’s worse than watching your knot unravel ‘cause you got scissor-happy.

Why’s this work for backing? It’s all about the even pressure. The Uni distributes the load, so when some monster fish decides to bolt, your backing doesn’t just peace out. And it’s small—won’t bulk up your spool. I’ve tried other knots, but they either slip or take up too much space. Uni’s the Goldilocks zone.

Random tangent: once saw a guy use duct tape to secure backing. Duct tape. Look, I’m all for MacGyver solutions, but c’mon. The knot’s right there, folks.

Anyway, practice at home. Tie it while watching TV or whatever. Muscle memory’s key. And if it fails? Eh, happens. Just don’t be like me that one time, cursing at the riverbank with a bird’s nest of backing at my feet. Tight lines, and all that.