As the summer heat increases, so does algae, slime, and grimy water conditions. When trolling for walleye, these conditions can cause slime to collect and slide down your line onto your crankbait, especially if it’s tied directly to the main line. In this video Jason Mitchell shares a knot tip that limits the amount of slime and algae foul ups while trolling.
When trolling a bottom bouncer, the slime and algae will get caught up in the bottom bouncer itself, leaving the crankbait free and running true. But if tied to the main line, the slime will collect on the fishing line and slide down to the crankbait causing it to foul up. Bobber stops, connecting knots like the FG or uni knots, can help limit this. But Mitchell takes it a step further by tying a surgeon’s knot.
A surgeon’s knot sticks out perpendicular to the main line and because of that, will easily collect the slime that can accumulate on your line. Take the mainline and leader line and hold them side by side. While holding both, tie an overhand knot, then wrap it around each other 6 or 7 times (this is an extra step to make the not larger), then pull tight. Trim the tag ends and it should leave a knot that sticks out 90 degrees off the mainline allowing it to collect slime and weeds, keeping your crankbait clean.
If you find your crankbaits collecting slime and fouling up while trolling, give the surgeon’s knot a try and spend less time cleaning your lure and more time catching walleye.
*For an example of how to tie the surgeon’s knot watch the video above
