Hooked on the Basics: Build Your Own Knocker Rig

Fishing can feel confusing when you are just getting started. If you walk into a tackle shop, you will see hooks, weights, line, lures, and all kinds of gear hanging everywhere. It can be a lot to look at!

That is why I want to start with something simple: leaders.

A leader is one of the most important parts of your fishing setup besides your rod, reel, and bait. You can buy a leader already made, but it is a lot more fun to learn how to make your own. It is also a great skill to have because you can make your rig the way you want it.

In this article, I am going to teach you about one of the easiest and most useful rigs to start with: the Knocker Rig. If you stick with it, before long you will be tying your own leaders, learning cool knots, and catching more fish.

First Lesson: Listen and Learn

Before we talk about tying rigs, I want to share something important I have learned about fishing: listen to adults and learn from people who have been doing this for years.

Some of the best fishing lessons do not come from books or the internet. They come from people who have spent a lot of time on the water.

I did not get to meet my grandpas, and I have heard they were both great fishermen. I wish I could have learned from them. Since I cannot, I make sure to listen to the people I do have around me.

I listen to my dad. I ask questions. I pay attention. I also try to make friends with people who know a lot and are willing to teach me.

One of those people is Toby Hogan. Toby’s business is next door to my dad’s business in Palacios, and he is a pioneer in the artificial bait world. I have the honor of calling him my friend and mentor.

He has spent time with me in his lure lab showing me how to make lures and how to paint them. That has been really awesome, and I just want to give him a shout-out for being such a great person to know in the fishing world.

If I had not taken the chance to talk to him, I never would have known how much I could learn from him.

So here is one big lesson: do not let age, or what you think someone knows or does not know, stop you from talking to them. Be respectful. Ask questions. Take a chance. Sometimes the best lessons come from places you never expected.

What Is a Knocker Rig?

A Knocker Rig is a simple bottom rig that works really well for lots of fish. It gets its name because the weight slides down the leader and “knocks” near the hook when you move it.

You can use a Knocker Rig to catch fish like Red Drum, Speckled Trout, Black Drum, and Flounder. It is a great beginner rig because you only need three main parts: leader line, a hook, and an egg sinker weight.

The 3 Main Parts

1. Leader Line — The leader line is very important. You want line that is strong but hard for fish to see underwater. I recommend 25- to 30-pound fluorocarbon. I personally like 25-pound-test Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon.

2. Hook — For this rig, I like using a circle hook. Circle hooks are great because they help hook the fish near the mouth and are also safer for the fish. That matters because good fishermen also care about protecting fish and wildlife.

3. Egg Sinker Weight — The weight helps your bait get down to the right depth and stay in place if there is current. For no current, a 1-ounce weight is usually fine. If the current is stronger, use a 2- to 3-ounce weight.

Step 1: Tie the Hook On With a Snell Knot

Now it is time to tie your first leader. Cut about 2 feet of leader line. The knot we use to tie the hook on is called a snell knot.

1. Run the leader line through the eye of the hook.

2. Leave about 6 inches of tag end.

3. Run the same end through the eye again to make a loop.

4. Pinch the loop against the hook.

5. Wrap the end of the line around the hook and loop 5 to 7 times.

6. Put the end of the line through the loop and pull it tight.

Once your hook is tied on, slide the egg sinker onto the line until it rests near the hook. You can add a bead before and after the weight. if you want. Congratulations — you just tied your first leader!

Step 2: Attach Your Leader to Your Main Line

The next step is to connect your leader to the line on your rod. There are several ways to do this, but this is a simple line-to-line connection. First, pull out about 4 to 5 feet of line from your rod so you have enough to work with. Then take the loose end of your leader and your reel line and put them together.

1. Hold both lines together and make a loop.

2. Wrap the leader line through the loop 4 times.

3. Pull both lines gently and tighten.

4. Do the same thing with the reel line, wrapping it through the loop 4 times.

5. Pull both lines tight.

Final Thoughts

Fishing takes practice. Your knots may not be perfect at first, and that is okay. Every fisherman starts somewhere.

The most important thing is to keep learning. Listen to your parents, your dad, your grandpa, a fishing guide, a friend, or someone in a tackle shop who knows what they are doing. Ask questions. Pay attention. Respect what they have learned.

And remember, sometimes the best lessons come from people you never expected. That is one reason I am thankful for people like my dad and Toby Hogan, who take the time to teach me.

If you keep practicing, pretty soon you will be tying leaders like a pro, catching fish, and maybe even teaching someone else one day. Tight lines!