How to tie a haywire twist

When asked what the most-important skill was in learning to catch king mackerel is, Robbie Byrne of The Charleston Angler didn’t hesitate in his answer.

“Learn how to tie a figure 8 and haywire twist,” Byrne said.

To construct a king rig, you’ll need a 2- to 3-foot section of wire or Seven Strand leader. On one end, tie on a No. 4 treble hook or a treble that matches the size of your bait — bigger for bigger baits, smaller for smaller baits.

To tie the treble to the leader, use a Figure 8 knot if you’re using Seven Strand leader or a Haywire Twist for single-strand wire.

Next, attach your leader to a swivel that connects the line. Again, use a figure 8 knot or haywire twist.

Tying a figure 8 knot is fairly simple. Loop the leader through the eye of the hook with enough tag to tie an overhand loop, and then add a half twist and pull the knot down tight. It’s better to make the loop smaller than the hook gap to prevent one of the trebles from fouling in the loop.

A haywire twist is a bit more complicated. Here it is, broken down into five easy steps:

-Run the tag end of the single-strand wire through the hook eye. Double back about 6 inches. Place the tag across the main strand and pinch the crossing between your thumb and forefinger.

-Holding the twist tightly, rotate the hook 3 ½ times so the main wire and tag twist at right angles. End with the tag end perpendicular to the main wire.

-Make three to four tight barrel wraps with the tag end so that the coils touch.

-Fold the tag end close to the last coil, then bend the wire back and forth several times to friction break the excess tag. Fold the broken end tight to the last coil.

-Ensure the friction break is clean. Avoid using cutters to trim the tag as this creates a sharp point in the knot that can injure the angler or nick the main line.