The Best Fishing Knots Of All Time [Ranked Strongest To Weakest]

Have you guys tried superglue on the FG knot and, what are your thoughts about it

Just pointing out typo i noticed. Your Palomar Knot step 1 says Staring with 5 to 6 instead of Starting with 5 to 6. Just incase you wanna change, i’ll try not to notice any others if there is any.

Have you done any tests on the Dropper loop? Would be very interested to know how much strength loss there is with that. Thanks and enjoy all your stuff!

How about a braid to braid knot. Why? If you break your braid or for some reason have to cut it and need to add some but don’t want to respool the whole thing.

Did u try GT knot for braid to florocarbon?

single or double trilene knot to hook or swivel. better than palomar.

Have you tied the uni with a Bimini twist?

knots for 80plus pound mono to lure or swivel?

Have you tested the San Diego Jam knot and Improved Clinch for use as snug knots in mono for terminal tackle? It seems that those are the most common knots tied by Southern California saltwater fishermen. I don’t think the Improved Clinch is particularly strong, but I believe the San Diego is.

The “Knotless Knot” Is the strongest for tying hooks that I’ve ever tried. Especially so for braid.

It’s interesting that you have more knots because most fishermen that I know think there are only 2 good knots for fishing,m One is the old 13 twist knot and the other is known by several different names, the one I know of is the Stren line knot. That’s what it was being called when I first saw it at a boat/fishing show back in the mid 1970s.

Can you test the centauri knot? I’ve read that it is a good snug knot for tying heavy mono or fluorocarbon directly to a hook. Any other recommendations for tying heavy (80#+) leaders directly to the hook or do you recommend crimping?

I would like to see tests done against this grouper knot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks4Yzg-299s

you talk about the nail knot needing a tool but this is the one that people call the nail knot in st pete
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QufTialXjtw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57JgC8S5dAc
Could you do a test with this one

I started to a figure 8 loop knot. Must of my fishing is from a kayak. How would you rate this knot…?

I’d like to see a section with tests on dropper knots whenever you have time.

I noticed that the Berkley knot isn’t listed in your testing. It was the knot I learned first as a child and still use for 90% of my mono concoctions today. Have you done any testing of it?
Also, I learned the Crazy Alberto from Crazy Alberto himself ( I, by chance, walked into a tackle shop while he was giving a seminar and he showed everyone his knot at the end). He taught it with only 3 wraps up and back. I’ve used it since and have never had it fail. I also try to use the same diameter braid to mono most of the time. I don’t know if that makes a difference.

If you were fishing for snook from beach,would you use a snug or loop knot on lures?

What is the testing procedures for testing of knot impact load.

Be interested to know your thoughts on my dad’s knot (he was a well known fishing journalist) – it’s called the “Jim Gibbinson knot” – if you google it you will see some images of it.
To describe it – take hook/swivel – pass line twice through eye – double line back on itself and then go back over the doubled back length 5/6 times (going back towards the eye/swivel) – pass the line through the loop formed at the eye/swivel – whilst holding the unfinished knot together between your fingers. Then pass the line though the loop formed at the top of the knot (i.e furthest away from the eye/swivel) and pull tight.
It’s shown on the below link below under the book images (I have nothing to do with the book ..neither did my father..)
Works on any material, and super strong and reliable – a consistently v good knot.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FCarp-Fishing-Knots-Wire-version%2Fdp%2FB0743C7T39&psig=AOvVaw1AUxMALMFdL4l5J_53prSS&ust=1597227584541000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCKjSrtP2kusCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

Hi Folks. Have you tried and or strength tested braid to braid connected via a splice? Or a double created in braid with a splice? I use both approaches to connect mainline braid to a much heavier braid shock leader. Yup I know a splice is not actually a knot and you won’t splice anything easily on a beach/ boat, but it is easy enough to do before a fishing trip and sure beats casting a knot through your guides. I have never broken a splice, but have not scientifically tested one either 🙂
Regards
Barry

I heard the GT knot beat all other braid to mono knots in testing by the IGFA

Have you tested the Mono/Fluoro to lure/hook knots with very heavy (1mm) fluoro line? Some knots may not be feasible to tie in the same manner or with the same number of loops with heavy line. Others may not hold at all due to line stiffness. Considering a lot of people use heavy fluoro as a pike leader, it would be very good to know which knot is best.
Thank you.

With the Yucatan knot, it seems most tie it like the suffix video these days, which is not a Yucatan.
I double the braid, no knot needed, then wrap braid twelve times around leader, tag end through loop, pull tight. Which is a true Yucatan.
Did you test this version? It is what I use for retying leaders on the kayak. At home I use the FG.

Thanks!

Give the Jacks Knot a try. It’s not well known but in my testing it’s a strong knot. You’ll probably have to Google it or follow this link: https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/videos-tie-jacks-knot

Great stuff!

My local saltwater tackle shop recommend the improved San Diego knot with mono/flouro leader. What say you? I come from a freshwater bass background and had no idea how much to learn about saltwater fishing, and the wide range of line a connections/hooks strength for what looks pretty much the same. I am sticking to Owner so far. Thanks for any reply

Could you test the Shins knot ? Shin Fukae uses it. Thank you

Hey Salt strong idk if you saw my email but my theory is when you tested your braid palomar against the braid uni it won the first time because the loop was on the knot but the rest of the time you had the loop above the knot and was wondering if you could test if having the loop on the knot increases strength and may outperform your braid uni

What lbs line and which knot to use for the fluorocarbon leader if using PowerPro braid 10lb as the mainline? 1000 or 2500 reel and fishing mostly for trout up to 5 lbs and stripers maybe to 10 lbs? FG and Alberto knots are only for heavier fluoro line as compared to the braid. I planned on using 6 lb fluoro. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 

You should put down the snell version of the uni knot it’s much better and tighter because it goes around the hook instead of the outside, making it more efficient and tighter.. I’m talking about the “Best “Snug” Knot to Lure/Hook” 2nd best knot. It’s basically the same instead of wrapping around both the lines you wrap around the line and the hook so you make the loop go to the opposite side. just a thought

Hi Luke.

Something has always bothered me about the Uni Knot. It’s the way the whole thing crushes when you dress the knot. Yes, it’s easy to tie, even in the dark, which is why I use it, but it seems to me, the Hangman’s Knot is a much “prettier” knot, that does not crush. I see that there is some misinformation out there on the internet, stating that the hangman’s knot and the uni-knot are the same, but that is not true. They are completely different knots. The hangman’s knot wraps all 3 lines as you wind it up, whereas the uni-knot wraps 2 lines. So my question is, has the Hangman’s Knot ever been tested for strength as a fishing knot?

Thanks!
Rick

What about the GT knot?

Hi I was watching Bass guy Gman Gerald Swimdle show his knot, he doubles line thru jig then wraps around the main line several times and passes this doubled line thru the loop and tighten it leaves 3 tags to cut ,a double and a single ,he says best knot for flourocarbon. I will forward the video, hope it comes through. You guys are tops good luck

JA

A quick comment. I agree that a well tied above average knot will beat a poorly tied better knot.

I’ve been using the FG knot for a while and always use a heavier Braid (15lb) to an 8lb mono and I have no issues. Most of the bass anglers I’ve seen use a heavier braid main line and a lighter leader. Any reason for the warning you put on the knot to only use a heavier leader?

There is a version of the improved clinch knot that is stronger than a palomar. I’ve won a contest during a marlin tournament against 100 other professional crews with this knot.

Could you please evaluate the Penny Knot. Used frequently in Australia.

What about the TN Knot in mono connection to metal ring or hook?

Hi, can u include GT knot too?

It seems to me like one could get by in many situations with just the easy-to-tie Palomar and surgeon’s knot/loop and not sacrifice much knot strength. As a result, I’d like to see a discussion about the limits of such versatile knots and the situations which absolutely require knowing some of the less versatile, more specialized (and usually more-difficult-to-tie) knots.

I suggest one more knot to test (Double Zeppelin Bend) for line-to-line connection of similar diameters, then I’ll stop. I tied two pieces of #6 mono together. At one junction I tied a 3 Turn Surgeon’s. At the other I tied a Zeppelin Bend or a Double Zeppelin Bend (2-wrap collars). I placed hammer handles in the mono circle at 3 and 9 o’clock with the knots at 12 and 6 o’clock, then pulled the two handles apart until a knot broke. The Double Zeppelin Bend was stronger than the 3 Turn Surgeon’s (3 out of 3 tries), but the Zeppelin Bend was weaker (1 out of 1 try). The single Zeppelin Bend may do better with larger diameter line. FWIW, on the International Guild of Knot Tyers Forum a guy wrote that he tested the Zeppelin Bend against the Albright Special with #10 mono and the Zeppelin Bend (single not double) won 5 out of 5 tries. That said, it is my understanding that the Albright Special works will with dissimilar lines both in material and diameter and the Zeppelin Bend probably doesn’t.

For a loop knot did you test the Double Dragon? By the way, there are ways to tie the Perfection Loop to a lure/hook without passing the lure/hook through the knot.

Im surprised Sandiego jam was not close to the top of mono/flouro to hook connections.
Can you add the chain knot to you future tests. This is very popular with japanese jiggers to connect their leader to jigs.

Been using improved locking figure eight knot for 50 years. Easy to tie , very strong, dose in my belief everything from line joining to tackle construction.

Hey Luke thanks for testing these knots accurately this page is great.
Im interested in finding the strongest setup to make paternoster rigs, up until now I have just been tieing them very simply like this,

https://youtu.be/zlAen8jUc3c

But then I watched this video where he tieing what he calls the “T Knot” for creating paternoster droppers;

https://youtu.be/_KL8ej_8jMs

Could you please test the difference in these setups?

Also when once you have a dropper do you think that it would be stronger to tie a hook onto it with the palamot knot or just putting the hook through the loop and back onto itself like in the video.

Thanks

Check out YouTube at the SOLIS knot. It starts as an Albright but it finishes with a locking half hitch which allows it to be tied with only a few wraps. It’s tying all materials together for me. Works great,very nice.

What about the double palomar knot “snug” with mono? Was that attempted since it was way up there in the braided line testing?

I found a knot once in a fly fishing pamphlet, no idea what it’s called, it uses two simple overhand knots pulling against each other, and I’ve never seen it break. I got back a “curly end” once, because I didn’t tie it well enough. Every other time I’ve gotten my lure back, the line broke above the knot, the knot and loop still attached to the hook. It makes a small loop and allows a fly or lure to have more natural action rather than following the line.

I don’t have pictures, I’ll try to describe it.

Start just like Rapala knot, simple overhand knot then put the tag end through the hook eye. Pull snug against hook eye but not tight. Tie a 2nd overhand knot above that one and around original line. Pull that one snug, close to the other overhand knot, by pulling the tag end. Both knots will separate. Then pull the main line to tighten, which will pull both against each other, and cut off a short tag end. Fast and strong, and according to the fly fishing pamphlet, also stronger than the line. I trust it on weightless worms to pull in any bass. Caught a 5.6lb bass on 6 lb line using this knot. In a brushy area.

My results have been excellent, I’ve used it for over 30 years exclusively as a knot for lures and hooks, both fresh and salt water, and it stood up to a redfish longer than the 48 quart ice chest. Numerous bass in the 3 to 6lb range.

One good tip, always cut off about 3 or 4 feet of line and retie after catching a fish or after about an hour of not catching a thing. Fish always drag your line against anything they come near, which abrades the line and creates weak spots. I think 80% of all broken lines are because of abrasions in the line caused by either catching a fish or from dragging the line across all sorts of weeds, rocks and tree trunks for an hour

EDIT – Just found Homer Rhode Loop, looks quite similar. I don’t use the double wrap for the 2nd knot, just a second simple overhand knot.

I see you recommend the FG when leader is stronger than the mainline, but what do you recommend when the main line is stronger than the leader? I’m working on my FG knots but do well with the double uni and wondering if that test stronger with a weaker leader than the FG

I’d be careful about your physics bit… Some knots like the fish-n-fool isolate the hard turns above the stressed points, doubles the most stressed point after that and creates a cushion like the rubber bit that holds the cord coming out of a power tool. The friction of the Duncan loop over the main line reduces its force over a (relatively) long chunk of line and the extra turn through the eye provides friction that keeps the stability of the knot from collapsing or allowing the line to slip around the eye and stretch at its weakest point. And this creates a knot that almost never breaks before the line when tied with care. Physics.

I learned a knot from a tackle shop in Newport Oregon….We call it the Newport Knot…Randy the inventor has been challenged for 20 years by guides commercial fishermen….and never lost. Something this knot does, is the line breaks above the knot every time ,never seen another knot do this, I have 2 books on fishing knots this knots beats ever single one of them with all type of line….I’ll try to make a video……

I think this page is excellent – I make commercial dropper rigs for recreational fishermen and women and I learned a new and useful knot today when looking through the site. What I didn’t find was a reasonably reliable knot for joining a single strand of mono to a mono backbone. I sometimes use a T knot which I form from a modified Albright and dropper loop combo. However, when testing this in various ways I found the dropper loop failed before the modified Albright part. I was getting better strength when I made a dropper rig using just the modified Albright knot. The problem then became the look of the rig – the branches no longer stand at right angles to the backbone. Do you have any suggestions that could be explored?

I would like to see the worlds fair knot included, especially for braid line

What knot would you use for tying braid to a lighter mono line but same diameter, say for example you want to fill half the spool with mono and half with braid. I like to match the diameters to prevent bulges from a big knot? You say the FG knot should only used if tying a braided line to a stronger mono/fluoro leader why?

how good is the hook nail knot? Strength of knot to hook direct?

Trilene knot!
For mono to lure (snug) i would rate the Trilene on first place, then Palomar.

Seagaur knot

Hi Luke, Interesting thread. I got a little bleary eyed reading all the comments and responses. One knot I did not see mentioned was the Slim Beauty knot. I have been using this knot for braid to flouro leader and found it to be reliable and small profile so it does not pick up grass etc. It may be known by a another name, which case, I am not familiar with it. It is easy to tie and makes a nice connection.

I just found this tool called the Tie-Fast Knot Tool, I ties a Nail Knot; really easy for my 8 year old to learn. Would you be able to compare this knot to some of the others like the Palomar and Trilene Knots? You can also use the Nail Knot to attach line to line.

I would very much like to see the Trilene knot tested. Thank you for all the information.

Thanks for these knots, Im going to put some of these vids on my phone if that’s ok.

Wow this is great information thanks for sharing this. Have you tested the Miller knot? It was created by Joe Miller

Hi have you tired the knotless knot I use it a lot and it has never failed on me. I never tested it. It’s one of the easiest knot to tie thanks

Hey will you test the worlds fair knot? For snug terminal tackle?

Hi guys…I need advice. Im using as SL mono 0.33, and its connected to main line 0.28. Which knot is the thinnest one?Cos of easier gliding through the glides for long cast.

tnx a lot.

Please could you repeat the test series with small diameter flourocarbon lines? (ie 4-6lb)?

Particularly regarding terminal tackle knots…

Thanks!

I didn’t see the J-knot for braid to mono/flouro. I tested against the blood knot I have been using and the J knot won 3 out of 3 for me. Reminds you of a 4turn surgeons knot but you make the loop and pass the braid tag and entire leader thru the loop alternating top and then around bottom. Hard to explain.

I don’t see that you have a braid to braid knot?

I fish the Sea of Cortez for billfish. Here, marlin bigger than 250# are rare; we generally catch more stripes and sails. My biggest is a 650# black but we catch so few big fish that we do not gear up for fish that big day to day. I am a “knot freak” and have spent years of testing the breaking strength of knots both on the water and on a jig which I built for that purpose. My issue is that, although I read every “knot test” I can find, those tests never test the braid-to-leader connection we use. First, I use 80# braid for mainline–300 yds. on most reels. After using 50# and 65#, I settled on 80# because the breaking strength of braid is much more inconsistent than mono. This gives me a bit more margin for error when those rare big fish come along and, as you will see below, the braid rarely gets in the water anyway and only then when there’s a lot of line out and line friction through the water adds to the needed increase in breaking strength. I then splice on a 50# mono top shot about 150 yds. long–the actual length varies by reel depending on how much the reel will hold on top of the braid. Since the splice knot will usually be the weakest point, I want to avoid the splice altogether when possible and this combination means that the splice does not come off the reel most of the time. But when it does with a bigger fish, I have 300 yds. of braid mainline as backup. This also results in a stretchy mono section which serves as a “shock” leader which helps prevent hook pulls. I know other fishermen who use this set up also, or variations thereof, and do not think it is all that unusual. But all the splice knot tests which I have read involve lighter braid to heavier leader which is the reverse of what we use. I have evolved over the years from Albrights, Improved Albrights, Bristols and Improved Bristols–now I’m using a 13 wrap FG knot finished with a Rizzuto. I would love to see a knot test for such a setup using the IGFA testing machine which, I’m sure, would be more accurate than my home-made rig which incorporates a spring scale. Thanks.

I have used the Red Phillips knot now for several years for both light and heavy braided lines joined to fluorocarbon leaders. I do modify the original knot by finishing it with 4 alternating half hitches in the braided line. I don’t think you have ever tested this knot.

trilene knot for whatever

Check out the stren knot for braid-to-mono/fluoro.

A suggestion the Mahseer Knot. Mahseer Knot

Mahseer knot

This knot orginated in India by fishermen trying to catch the Mahseer. This fish is reowned as the ultimate freshwater fish. It is said to be the hardest pound for pound fighting species on the planet. For this reason the knot that takes its name is one of the strongest knot around and if tied right will not let you when you need it.