The Best Fishing Knots Of All Time [Ranked Strongest To Weakest]
- By: Luke Simonds
- on May 13, 2018
- Found In: Fishing Knots, Fishing Tips
It’s fishing knot time!
Do you want to know something that might shock you about fishing knots?
After testing hundreds of fishing knots over the past couple of years, I’ve learned one very important lesson…
The “100% fishing knot” is a myth.
Why?
Physics.
Yes, simple physics is the reason why. Pretty much all knots will create a weak point on the line given that it creates a point on the line where a max load is hitting it from more than just one direction.
And although there are some instances where the main line (or leader) will break before the knot fails, there is no single knot that can always do that with all types of lines.
So step #1 in using the strongest possible knots for your fishing needs is to understand that there is no such thing as a “100% knot”…
And if you hear someone say that their knot is 100% without any exclusions, then they likely have never tested it out in a controlled test with multiple lines, so I be wary of their recommendation.
Here’s the hard truth…
Your favorite fishing knot is weak, and so is mine…
This is simply due to the fact the contorting line and creating hard turns that get put under tension will always create a weak point in the line making it the weakest point in the system (assuming that the main line is not compromised).
Note: This weak point is almost always at the first hard turn in the top section of the knot coming from the main line, so it most often leaves a clean break which looks like the mainline simply snapped when an angler examines the line after a break-off.
Now that we’re past the first hurdle (acceptance), step #2 is to actually test our knots to make sure that you don’t lose the fish of a lifetime due using a knot that isn’t the absolute best for each connection in your line system.
To help save you time in testing knots, I’ll be displaying results from my continued testing on this page.
Best of all, the individual fishing knots will be ranked based on their strength & performance results for the following knot connection categories:
The results of these knot strength tests might surprise you! 
Do You Know The STRONGEST Fishing Knot For Every Situation?Click here to download the FREE “Ultimate Fishing Knot PDF Guide” (only takes a few seconds)
Knot Category Groupings
Feel free to use the links below to skip down to the knot connection that you’re most interested in. Otherwise, you can simply scroll down to see all of the knots.
And if you don’t see your favorite knot listed, just leave a comment on the bottom of this post (click here) and I’ll add it to my list of fishing knots to evaluate.
So let’s get started…
Definition of Bad, Good, & Great Fishing Knots
Before going on the knot strength results, it is essential that we first all understand the different categories of knots in terms of their strength:
- Bad Knot: unravels/slips when under heavy tension
- Good Knot: does not unravel or slip (it breaks before unraveling)
- Great Knot: does not unravel/slip and has a higher breaking point than “Good knots”
How To Determine A Bad Knot
A bad knot is very easy to see because it leaves behind the telltale sign of trouble… the curly tag end.
Yes, the curly tag end that you may have seen after a break-off means that the knot used was either a bad knot, or there was a poor job in tying a good/great knot.
So if you ever see the curly end after a break-off, do not tie the same knot the same way because it’ll likely happen again.
How To Determine A Good Knot vs. A Great Knot
The difference between a Good knot and a Great knot requires the act of intentionally breaking them under a controlled test to see how much tension they can hold before the break occurs.
This is the missing link that most anglers overlook because it requires time and effort.
I am the perfect example of this because I was even fishing tournaments with money and pride at stake and never even bothered to actually test my personal knots.
And when I finally did test my knots, I was shocked at the results… the very first test I did revealed that I was getting 30% less strength than I otherwise would have had I been simply using a different knot for my line to leader connection (replacing the Double-Uni knot with the FG knot… both shown below).
So I highly recommend testing out your knots. And if you’d like a shortcut, this page shows the results from my testing below to help guide you to the best knots from my many tests done so far.
And I’ll continually update this “best fishing knot” post as more and more knots are tested so that you can have the latest and greatest data.
So if you want to save time while maximizing your line strength, this post is for you.
What Are The Best Fishing Knots?
There are many different types of lines which in many cases have completely different textures, sizes, and friction coefficients.
So we’ll be evaluating knots based on the type of line used within these general line categories:
- Braid
- Monofilament/Fluorocarbon
- Wire (Coming soon)
- Flyline (Coming soon)
And to truly evaluate a fishing knot, it is essential to focus each test on a specific type of connection because a knot that is very good for line-to-line connections is often not good at all for line-to-lure connections (and visa-Aversa).
So we’ll break out the rankings shown below into the following connections types for each line category:
- Line-to-Line Knots
- Line-to-Hook/Lure Knots [Snug]
- Line-to-Hook/Lure Knots [Loop]
The results of these knot strength tests might surprise you! Do You Know The STRONGEST Fishing Knot For Every Situation?Click here to download the FREE “Ultimate Fishing Knot PDF Guide” (only takes a few seconds)
Best Fishing Knots for Braided Line
Braided line has quickly become an extremely popular choice for inshore anglers because it allows for longer casts and better feel of lures given that its strength to diameter ratio is so much higher than mono/fluoro lines.
Plus, it has very little stretch which enables the angler to feel even the lightest of taps on the other end of the line.
But braid requires much for friction within the knot compared to monofilament so it almost always requires a different knot than the traditional knots used on mono.
Best Braid to Leader Knots
To kick things off, we’ll start with the most important of all connections for most saltwater anglers who use a lighter main line to connect to a stronger leader.
This setup is becoming very common because it allows for the overall system to have optimal casting performance (due to the lighter line in the reel) while having a stronger leader line at the business end to hold up to the sharp teeth and/or rough mouths of the target species.
Fluorocarbon is the most commonly used monofilament leader these days since it’s known for being less visible in the water while also being more resistant to abrasions, so this analysis is focused on connecting a braided line to a fluorocarbon leader.
Here are the top 5 ranking knots based on the knot tests I’ve done so far:
- PR Bobbin Knot [requires tools]
- Pro: This is an extremely strong knot when tied correctly
- Con: Requires tools to tie and takes a long time (extremely tough to do while on the water)
- FG Knot*
- Pro: Thinnest knot I’ve ever seen while also having the highest breaking strength.
- Con: Requires a strong cinch before cutting the tags so that it fully locks into place.
- Note: Only use this knot if tying a braided line to a stronger mono/fluoro leader.
- 6 Turn Surgeon’s Knot
- Pro: Very quick to tie while having a shocking strong breaking point and can be tied using lines of any size
- Con: Bulkier and slightly weaker than the FG knot
- Doubled-Over Double Uni Knot
- Pro: Easy knot to tie and it can be used for all connections
- Con: Up to 30% weaker than the FG knot in my tests
- Crazy Alberto Knot
- Pro: Nice low profile knot with a strong breaking point
- Con: Up to 30% weaker than the FG knot in my tests
- Improved Albright
- Pro: Nice low profile knot with a strong breaking point
- Con: Weaker than the FG knot and the Crazy Alberto
- GT Knot
- Pro: The viral version is easy to tie
- Con: This knot isn’t nearly as strong as it’s touted for lighter lines
Click here to see the first contest I hosted for this connection.
Note: If your favorite knot isn’t included, leave a comment below and I’ll test it out and add it to the list.
Best Doubled Braid-to-Leader Knots
Many anglers like to double the braid by forming a loop at the end of the braid and then tying a line-to-line knot to connect the doubled braid to the leader.
In many instances, this does increase the overall line strength for anglers who are using a lighter braid relative to the leader.
However, the FG knot tied on a single line has proven to outperform the doubled knot connections in most of my testing. The only combination that consistently beats the single line FG knot is the use of the FG knot to connect a doubled line formed by the Bimini Twist to the leader.
Line Doubling Knots [Braid]
- Bimini Twist
- Pro: Extremely strong doubling knot
- Con: It often requires more twists (30+) with braid so that it won’t slip
- Spider Hitch
- Pro: Faster to tie than the Bimini Twist
- Con: Not as strong as the Bimini Twist
- Surgeon Loop (6-turn)
- Pro: Extremely fast to tie
- Con: Not quite as strong as the Bimini Twist
Doubled Line To Leader Knots [Braid to Fluoro]
- FG Knot
- Pro: Thinnest knot I’ve ever seen while also having the highest breaking strength.
- Con: Requires a very strong cinch before cutting the tags so that it fully locks into place.
- Note: Only use this knot if tying a braided line to a stronger mono/fluoro leader.
- No-Name Knot (aka- Bristol Knot)
- Pro: Quick and easy knot to tie
- Con: Not as strong as the FG knot
- Yucatan Knot
- Pro: Quick and easy to tie (very similar to Bristol knot)
- Con: Not as strong as the FG knot
Note: If your favorite knot isn’t included, leave a comment below and I’ll test it out and add it to the list.
Best Braid-to-Swivel/Lure/Hook Knots
This next category is focused for anglers who use braided line and like to use swivels.
But it could also be useful if you like to use connect your braided line directly to your terminal tackle (although I do not recommend tying directly to your lure or hook using braid because fish can see it so much better than mono/fluoro… instead, use a ~20 to 30 inch leader in between your braid and lure/hook).
- Braid Uni Knot
- Pro: Great knot that is very strong and easy to tie
- Con: Although an easy knot to tie, some are faster
- San Diego Jam Knot
- Pro: Strong knot that is easy and quick to tie
- Con: Not quite as strong as the Modified Uni Knot
- Palomar Knot
- Pro: Very fast and easy to tie
- Con: Not as strong with braid as it is with mono
- Orvis Knot
- Pro: Quick and easy to tie
- Con: Not as strong with braid as it is with mono
- Improved Cinch Knot
- Pro: Quick and easy to tie
- Con: This knot doesn’t perform well with braid (prone to slippage)
- Clinch Knot
- Pro: Quick and easy to tie
- Con: This knot doesn’t perform well with braid (prone to slippage)
Click here to see results from a contest I hosted for this connection.
Note: If your favorite knot isn’t included, leave a comment below and I’ll test it out and add it to the list.
Best Fishing Knots for Monofilament/Fluorocarbon Line
Monofilament line is used by almost all anglers in some capacity, so I’ve done many tests with knots using mono line.
For tests that I’ve done for my personal use, I focused on Fluorocarbon line, which is a specific type of mono.
Many anglers use Fluorocarbon for their leader material since it’s known to be stronger the less visible than traditional monofilament line.
Here’s what I’ve tested so far:
Best Mono-to-Mono Knots
Here are the top mono-to-mono knots that I have tested:
- 3 Turn Surgeon’s Knot*
- Pro: Extremely easy and fast knot to tie with very strong holding strength
- Con: Need to tie this before tying on a lure or hook
- SS Knot
- Pro: Versatile knot connection with an impressive breaking strength
- Con: Not quite as fast or strong as the Surgeon’s knot
- Double Uni Knot
- Pro: Easy knot to tie and it can be used for all connections
- Con: Not as fast or strong as the Surgeon’s knot
- Albright Special
- Pro: Easy knot to tie that looks very nice once completed
- Con: Not as fast or strong as the Surgeon’s knot
- Blood Knot
- Pro: Easy to tie with lines of similar size
- Con: Not as effective with lines of different diameters
Click here to see results from a contest I hosted for this connection.
Note: If your favorite knot isn’t included, leave a comment below and I’ll test it out and add it to the list.
Best Line-to-Hook Knots [Mono/Fluoro]
Now that we covered the very important line-to-line connection, let’s dig in to the best fishing knots for connecting our hooks and lures to the end of the line.
For this category, we’ll split it up into two sections to cover the two core different types of connections:
- Loop Knot – Leaves a loop so that the lure/hook has more range of motion in the water (less strength compared to snug)
- Snug Knot – Line hugs around hook/lure eye forming a strong connection (less range of motion)
Note: I’ve specifically focused on fluorocarbon line since it’s the most popular for saltwater anglers… if you want me to test these with standard mono, just let me know and I’ll add it to this post.
Best Loop Knot to Lure/Hook
When fishing with artificial lures, using a loop knot is an advantage because it allows the lure to have more motion in the water which most often leads to more strikes.
But the downside is that loop knots are not as strong as snug knots, so that needs to be taken into account when selecting your leader line size and when setting drag.
Here are my favorites:
- Rapala Loop Knot
- Pro: The strongest loop knot I’ve tested so far
- Con: Takes a bit longer to tie than many others and leaves a tag end facing up which can snag weeds/debris
- Non-Slip Loop Knot (aka. Kreh Loop)*
- Pro: Very quick and easy to tie and has a tag end that points down towards the lure (more weedless)
- Con: Just a tad weaker than the Rapala knot
- Figure 8 Loop Knot
- Pro: Tested to be very strong (very close to Rapala Loop Knot
- Con: Takes longer to tie than the Non-Slip Loop knot and does not have a weedless tag end
- Perfection Loop Knot
- Pro: Strong loop knot that is quick to tie
- Con: Tougher to tie since this knot requires the hook/lure to pass through a loop
- Canoe Man Loop Knot
- Pro: Extremely fast loop knot to tie
- Con: Strength test was great with traditional mono, but it didn’t perform nearly as well with fluorocarbon
Click here to see the first contest I did with this important connection.
Note: If your favorite knot isn’t included, leave a comment below and I’ll test it out and add it to the list.
Best “Snug” Knot to Lure/Hook
When going for maximum strength when having action in the water is not as important, then the snug knot is the way to go because a good snug knot will be a significant amount stronger than a good loop knot.
Here’s my ranking of the Snug knots that I’ve tested so far:
- Palomar Knot
- Pro: Very strong knot that is easy to tie when using bare hooks
- Con: Can become cumbersome when using larger lures because it requires the lure pass through a loop
- Uni Knot
- Pro: Good knot that is fairly quick to tie and can be used for almost any connection
- Con: Not quite as strong as the Palomar knot
- Orvis Knot*
- Pro: Very quick and easy knot to tie that is very strong
- Con: Not quite as strong as the Palomar knot
- Clinch Knot
- Pro: Quick and easy knot to tie
- Con: Not as fast and easy as the Orvis Knot nor as strong as the Palomar Knot
- Double Davy Knot
- Pro: Very quick and easy to tie (just 1 more twist vs. the Davie Knot)
- Con: Not quite as strong as the Orvis knot which is just as easy to tie
- Davy Knot
- Pro: Very quick and easy to tie
- Con: Not quite as strong as the Orvis knot which is just as easy to tie
Click here to see the first contest I did with this important connection.
Note: If your favorite knot isn’t included, leave a comment below and I’ll test it out and add it to the list.
More test data getting added soon, so be sure to bookmark this page!
Conclusion
Of the many factors that determine if you land the fish of a lifetime that you hook, the one that we have 100% control over is the quality of the knots that we use.
So it’s essential for us to select the absolute best fishing knot for each connection to get the most overall line strength.
You have certainly heard the saying, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link…” Well, a rod, reel, and an angler are only as strong as the knot between them and the fish.
Make it count.
There isn’t (and never will be) one fishing knot that can do everything with all line types and connection needs, so make sure to be mindful of the knot options you have for each connection need you have.
This post will continually grow over time as knot suggestions come in, so leave a comment below letting us know of any other knots you’d like us to add to this analysis.
Note: The * symbols next to the knots listed above are the ones that I personally use for each of the respective connections.
The tests have been done using 10 to 20 lb PowerPro braid tied to 20 to 30 lb Ande monofilament and Seaguar fluorocarbon.
The results of these knot strength tests might surprise you! Do You Know The STRONGEST Fishing Knot For Every Situation?Click here to download the FREE “Ultimate Fishing Knot PDF Guide” (only takes a few seconds)
Related Posts:
1. How To Tie The Perfect Leader Assembly For Inshore Fishing
2. What Is The Proper Drag Tension To Use For A Fishing Reel?
3. How To Get A Hooked Fish Out Of Structure Without Breaking Off
4. The Best Online Fishing Club…
P.S. – If you think your angler friends or fishing networks would enjoy seeing this, please Tag them or Share this with them. You Rock! Pa-POW!
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Thoughts on best connection for say 4lb to 60lb mono? Building leaders for tarpon to IGFA regs. More often 12 or 16lb mono to 40 to 80lb mono or flouro bite tippet. Hufanagel getting a lots of looks. Wondering about a loop to loop connection to switch flies out quickly.
I didn’t see Nail Knot on the list? I started salt water fishing in 2015 and was plagued with knot problems. One day I went something like 1 for 8 on snook, all b/c of knot failure. Ever since, I’ve been using the Fast Tie tool to tie nail knots and have yet to have a knot failure. The nail knot has some draw backs, but since I don’t fish a ton, it’s been a huge advantage to have one go to knot that works well in all applications. I’m interested in how it stacks up against the favorites (FG for example).
Luke, Thanks for the pinky wrap technique. I am setting up 4 trolling rigs for stripe bass and and yellow fin tuna. I have 85# braid tied to 12′ 50# floro with the FG knot and then a swivel clip using a palomar knot. the braid does seem to bite into the floro.. do you think that will be a good set up?
I wouldn’t trust the FG knot with 85# braid to 50# fluoro if it’s going through the rod guides. If I were targeting fish that can be caught with a 50 lb leader, I’d be using no more than a 50 lb braid so that the FG knot would work while also having thinner line that can cut through the water better (without losing any overall pulling power given that fluoro is much worse at knot strength compared to braid… the palomar knot will be the weak point in both scenarios).
I think the GT knot is much easier to tie and stronger than the FG knot. No need to snug up the knot as in the FG.
Be sure to check out this video about the GT knot because there are multiple versions of it floating around and some are very weak: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/gt-knot/
Hi Luke,
I am looking at using 10lb / 0.30mm diameter Berkley Trilene Fluorocarbon as a shock leader tied to 6lb / 0.24 diameter Daiwa Sensas brown mono using the Seaguar knot for distance feeder fishing.
I realise that Fluorocarbon is a material that has it’s pros and cons used with certain knots and was wondering whether you have used the Seaguar knot for joining the above materials and if so what is your opinion on knot strength and suitability for its use to go through the rings on a feeder rod with 2-3 oz tips ? Thanks a lot.
Kind Regards,
Ray.
The Seaguar knot is surprisingly strong for how simple it is. I still prefer the uni knot though since it enables more surface area to spread the tension load a bit better.
Hey Luke I wanted to give an update on my FG experience. Tying it using my pinky has definitely made all the difference for me. I now fish with it exclusively and have not had it fail. I have caught a bunch of fish on it including a 46″ and 47″ redfish. Also have thrown heavy topwater baits all day and not had it come apart. I still try and keep it from going threw the guides on every cast but now no more than I did with my old knot. I have also tied it on the boat in a variety of conditions with no problems.
I’m a freshwater angler. I use 20 lb braid and 12 or 14 lb fluoro leader. I don’t think the 12 lb. fluoro leader is thick enough to get burrowed into by the FG Knot. Am I wrong? What knot do you recommend for connecting a lighter pound test fluoro leader to a heavier pound test braid? I think this is how most freshwater guys fish.
You’re right about the thinner fluoro not being suitable for the thicker braids to dig in for the FG knot to be 100% trustworthy. If you’re using spinning tackle, then I highly recommend going down to an 8 or 10 lb braid so you can have MUCH better casting performance without losing any power (the FG knot will definitely work for those lines). If you need to stay with the 20 braid for some reason, then you should use a blood knot or crazy alberto.
Thank you all great info
Have you guys ever tried the “Knot Kneedle.” On cold or windy days or with old fingers this thing is a great help to me when attaching leaders or changing lures. I have no ties to this product, but I’m curious if you or others find it helpful when in a hurry out in a boat? It doesn’t magically tie knots for you, it simply makes it easier to feed a line through knot loops in a rocking boat.
We have not tried the Knot Kneedle. Looks like a helpful tool.
How about a video in knots. Who reads about them when a video is s more explanatory. Maybe I just have not found it yet as I am exploring the insider site
Pretty much all of the links in this post go to a video about the knot (or knot contest) they reference. This is text-based because it’s continually changing as new knots are tested… essentially a Table of Contents for the knot testing activities.
Luke have you ever tested the Pitzen knot, also called the Jimmy Huston knot?
Thanks so much for letting me know about this knot David! I have not yet tried this one, so I’ll add it to my list of knots to test out.
Hey Luke could you please test seeing if pinching the line vs threading line through and back on a palomar knot makes a difference on mono as with a few experiments i did it did make a difference
That’s going to be a tough factor to test out because I have to assume the difference (if any) would be very slight. What process did you use in your experiments?
Hey Luke, can you test the Miller knot out and see what numbers it puts up?
I have not yet tested the Miller knot, but I have tested similar knots with figure 8 stops and the uni knot type of stop seems to consistently test out better so I’m confident in saying that a uni knot finish after going through the hook eye twice will result in a stronger connection.
Please include the Trilene knot in testing
Hey guys hope everyone is having a great day. I was wondering if you have tested different ways to tie the FG knot to see if they are all just as strong? I have a hard time tying the knot while having to use my mouth to keep the line tight. I found a way on line that is much easier for me that does not have to keep the line tight and was wondering if its as strong. It would be awesome if you could do one of your knot comparison tests. If you want to check it out its on a YouTube channel called Rad Reeling Fishing. He titles it FG knot Fast and Easy. Thank you so much. Keep up the great work.
Hey Ron, I have tried every version of the FG knot that has been sent in, and they all end up with a very strong knot… much of it just comes to personal preference.
The manual wrap method that Rad Reeling featured results in a solid knot. That’s actually the first method I learned about 5 years ago and it def works.
I switched over to the tension method because I can tie it much quicker than the manual method. And an added bonus is that the resulting knot is more consistently strong because the coils all have equal tension in them (vs. the manual method which can have some tension gaps which can weaken the knot).
Here’s the latest way that I tied it now (tension method using pinky finger): https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot/
I recommend trying it out a few times to see how you like it.
cool thanks
. I will
Hey Luke I checked out your video on tying the knot using your pinky finger instead of your teeth. Definitely works better for me and is pretty simple. I have practiced today using multiple braid and leader sizes and seems easy to use no matter the size of line and leader. Thanks for the info and keep up the good work
Excellent news!!! I’m so glad to see that you’re liking this method too… it was a game-changer for me when I learned it.
So I have been fishing with it twice now and have not had one come apart on me. I even tied it on the boat in a fairly heavy wind. I’m still very nervous about it passing through the guides so I’m tying shorter leaders. It definitely is a game changer as far as tying it. I have found that its easier to tie with heavier lines and leaders. So thanks for the info!!!!
What lines were you using when it came apart?
10# powerpro and 20# fluorocarbon. That was tying it using my teeth. I have not had it come apart since using the pinky method. With the pinky method I have used 10# PowerPro and 25 and 30 pound mono. I have also now tied it multiple times in the boat and a couple times with a good wind. Have used with fairly heavy lures and definitely a lot of casting and so far so good. I try to keep it from going threw the guides with every cast but it goes through the guides quite a few times through out the day and again so far no problems. I think the one draw back is it uses more line to tie than my old method.
What about fluorocarbon? Do you tie it exactly the same or do you do more or fewer wraps? With winter coming on and the gin clear water (I hope) I will be using it more. I remember something in one of the videos about the FG and fluoro. Thanks
I’m a bass fisherman just getting into salt water inshore fishing after moving from Alabama to Florida. I long ago started using a very simple San Diego Jam Knot on my fluorocarbon bass rods. Put the line through the hook and back up parallel with the incoming line. Hold the two lines together while turning down the tag end. Three wraps of the down-facing tag end around the two lines, then turn tag end up again the through the loop made at the top where you were holding the two lines before turning tag end down to wrap. Once through, finger tight, wet, and cinch. Very easy to tie, will not slip, and strongest knot for fluoro to terminal tackle because the fluoro does not cut into itself (as often the case with a Palomar knot or improved clinch not). Try it!
The San Diego Jam knot is a solid choice. I did a knot contest with it a while back and it got to the finals but lost to the uni knot. Here’s a link to see the details: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/best-fishing-knot-for-braided-line-swivel-hook-lure/
Hey Luke great article. Tons of information. I was wondering if you could test the knot that I have used ever since I started using braid. I learned this knot from Sport Fishing Magazine before there were online videos. I don’t remember the name. It is a uni knot for the leader and an improved clinch knot for the braid. I wrap the line 11/12 times for 10 lb braid cause braid is so slick. The uni knot I wrap 6 times for 20 lb mono/fluoro leader. Less wraps for both if using heavier lines. I am very curios as to its strength. Thank you
Thanks Ron! That knot will surely have a very good hold. I tested the improved clinch knot vs. the uni, and the uni was slightly stronger when the coil count was kept constant. So based on that, I have to assume that changing the clinch part to a uni with the 11/12 turns would make a very slight improvement. Either way, it’ll definitely fall short of the FG knot because the FG spreads the tension load more evenly.
Have you guys tried superglue on the FG knot and, what are your thoughts about it
I do not use or recommend glue for any knots because it is very likely going to leave a negative scent trail (https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/underwater-scents-that-attract-repel-fish/).
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!
Not yet.
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.
Here’s the best braid to braid knot that I’ve tested so far: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/strongest-braid-to-braid-fishing-knot/
Did u try GT knot for braid to florocarbon?
The GT knot is only good for connecting strong lines (50 lb braid to 80 lb leader). It did not score well when testing on lighter lines… the FG knot beat the most popular version of the GT knot by 80% in this test: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/gt-knot-vs-fg-knot/
single or double trilene knot to hook or swivel. better than palomar.
I’ll be testing the Trilene vs. the improved uni next chance I get… it’ll likely be a very close battle.
Have you tied the uni with a Bimini twist?
Yes, it did better than the basic uni knot to a single line, but it didn’t beat the FG knot tied to a single line. Here’s a link to the test if you want to see the details: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot-vs-bimini-twist-knot-strength-test/
knots for 80plus pound mono to lure or swivel?
I haven’t done many tests on line that strong, so I can’t say for sure. Seems like the Uni knot is the most popular knot for line that thick.
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.
Yes, the both are solid knots. But the Uni knot beat them both. Here’s a link to the test: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/best-fishing-knot-for-braided-line-swivel-hook-lure/
The “Knotless Knot” Is the strongest for tying hooks that I’ve ever tried. Especially so for braid.
While chasing topwater yesterday I was telling my friend about the FG knot from your testing. He said that he needs to learn some braid to mono knots because he doesn’t know any. He always uses a barrel swivel because it’s easier for him and he likes that it will help reduce twist in his line. Which gave me an idea for a test. How about testing the FG knot against the best ( according to your tests ) braid to swivel and mono to swivel knots to see which is a stronger connection? Having an FG knot or a barrel swivel?
Great idea! I have tested a lot of FG knots and braid to swivel knots with 10 lb PowerPro, and it seems as if the FG knots are typically slightly stronger than the best braid knot I’ve found so far (Modified Braid Uni knot). But it’s worth testing directly to know for sure.
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.
There are an endless supply of fishing knots out there… the tough part is wading through the many choices to know which ones are best for which connections/lines.
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?
Which knot do you prefer to tie to jig heads when you have a fluorocarbon leader tied to braided line?
I use the Non-Slip Loop Knot for tying the jig head to the fluoro (https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/non-slip-loop-knot/). And the FG knot to connect the fluoro to the braid.
Have you tested the Berkley knot ( also know as the improved clinch knot, I think 😉 )? I’ve used it for over 30 years and would like to see how it stands up agaist your other mono choices.
Also, have you ever heard about putting a drop of super glue on the Alberto knot to keep it from slipping? What are your thoughts on it improving its performance?
I have not yet tested the Berkley knot, but it’s on my list of knots to test out.
As for the super glue, I have head that some people use it. I personally do not use it because it can do more harm than good because the knots will constrict under pressure which can cause the glue to crack and the create sharp edges that can end up damaging the knot. Plus, it’ll most likely give off a negative scent trail in the water which can cause fish to turn away before eating the lure.
Thanks. I never use the super glue either. Not for the reasons you said , which are good points ( I hadn’t thought of the negative scent trail before), but more because I just didn’t want to be bothered. 😉
Looking forward to your Berkley knot test.
I would like to see tests done against this grouper knot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks4Yzg-299s
Jim I believe that is the Centaury knot I use this knot for heavy mono/fluorocarbon. Comes from Australia very good knot!
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.
GT knot is supposedly stronger than the FG and easier to tie
There are several different knots listed as the “GT Knot” floating around the internet, and the ones that are easy to tie are definitely not stronger than the FG knot. Here is the one that compares to the FG knot: https://youtu.be/AjcFEKJEhHw
What I’ve seen is that the IGFA tested a bunch of knots(50) and gt came out the beat even over various fg style knots. Based on that data I’d have to go with gt knot plus easier to tie as well.
There are a multitude of knots call the “GT knot” floating around the internet, and most of them are not nearly as strong as the FG knot (especially the ones which consist of just a uni on one side and a figure 8 on the other).
The only one that I think can beat the FG knot is the one shown in the video I linked above which requires a Bimini Twist to be tied first before making some difficult wraps with the leader line before tightening it all down… but that’s an unfair comparison because they were likely testing the GT with a doubled braid vs. the FG knot tied with a single braid.
FYI – I just did a test on the “GT Knot” from the most popular video showing how it’s tied, and it’s avg. breaking strength was 10.1 lbs for connecting 10 lb PowerPro to a 30 lb mono.
It’s nice to see that it was above 10 lbs, but the FG knot broke at an avg. of 18.4 lbs with those exact same lines. So the FG knot has a breaking point that’s 81% higher than the GT knot tied with a figure 8 on the mono and a uni-style knot with the braid as shown in the most popular GT knot videos.
Here’s what I found about the GT Knot after doing some research and testing on it: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/gt-knot/
Here’s what I found about the GT Knot after doing some research and testing on it: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/gt-knot/
Have you gotten around to testing the Red Phillips knot. Google it! Simple, strong for attaching mono leader to braid. Slips through small top guides like butta
I haven’t tested that one in particular, but I’ve tested similar knots and they all are good, but not quite as good as a normal double uni knot. The reason is because having the uni coils on both sides helps spread some of the tension load.
The pro of the Red Phillips knot is that it’s quicker to tie than the double uni and it has a smaller profile.
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.
Where’s the love for the GT Knot for braid to mono? Out performed the FG in pull test
Plus easier to tie as well. That’s the knot I use now.
Here’s what I found about the GT Knot after doing some research and testing on it: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/gt-knot/
If you were fishing for snook from beach,would you use a snug or loop knot on lures?
It depends on what I was using for bait… if a lure or live bait that needs freedom of movement, then I’d use a loop knot (which is what I use most of the time).
If using something like cut bait or a lure that just has a direct straight motion, I’d go with a snug knot since I can get more strength without sacrificing any strikes.
Thanks. A friend said he was catching with artificial shad on jig head. So i thought I’d try that.
Thanks
Luke: Have you ever tested the Tactical Angler Power Clips vs. the non-slip loop knot? I generally use the knot, but if the clip is just as good, it would be simpler and quicker to change surface plugs/plastic baits on jigheads.
Dan
New Jersey
The power clip will definitely have a stronger hold because you can use a stronger snug knot to connect the line to the clip.
The reason I don’t use clips or any other metallic objects like that is because I do all that I can do to minimize the amount of non-essential metal and/or unnatural looking objects in my line, leader, and lure assembly so to increase the odds that the bigger/smarter fish won’t get spooked off by seeing something that doesn’t look right.
In this case, the loop knot gives me enough power to handle the fish I’m targeting because I always use a lighter mainline than my leader line (so maximizing the strength of the leader to lure knot isn’t a priority… the mainline to leader connection will be the weak point). Plus, the drag should ensure that the line won’t break while fighting a fish when it’s making a run.
Although the clips make lure changes quicker, the non-slip loop knot takes me only about 15 seconds do tie that the time benefit that I could get from the clips is minimal.
What is the testing procedures for testing of knot impact load.
I have done various head-to-head tests with a load applied quickly vs. slowly, and the winning knot wins in both cases.
So I now just test a slow load because the winner will be revealed and that is the load type that is most often what gets tested while fishing… a properly set drag should ensure that a fish can’t break the line, so pulling out of underwater snags is what will often put the line under enough tension to cause it to fail.
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
No, we have not tested a splice connection. Supposedly it’s the ultimate connection. But we are mostly using 10 lb braid and I have to imagine that it would be extremely difficult to splice lines when they are that thin. What size lines do you use when you’ve spliced them together?
You are correct. It would be hard and given how small the knots are in 10lb, it is probably not needed. I don’t fish that light very often. Typically I use a splice to add a heavier (say 80lb) braid to a 30 or 40lb mainline to avoid donating tackle to the ocean when casting with a ‘bionic finger’. Also to tie a knotless loop on the end of any weight of braid for purposes of a loop to loop connection to a fluoro leader. But I enjoy a challenge and have a method using the shaft of the needle to flatten the braid before each ‘stitch’, so will have a go at splicing some light braid 🙂
I heard the GT knot beat all other braid to mono knots in testing by the IGFA
You heard right, but there is a lot of confusion on exactly how to tie the GT knot… the one that supposedly won the contest was a complex knot that consisted of a bimini twist to double the braid followed by the GT Knot connecting the doubled braid to the leader in a way that’s not easily done. The “GT Knot” that’s been promoted lately consists of just a uni knot on one side and a figure 8 on the other… that combination is weaker than a traditional uni knot and well over 30% weaker than the FG knot.
Interesting. Is it possible tl test a double uni against the GT knot with a Fig. 8 amd a uni?
I’ve tested that before… the uni is better then the figure 8.
Thank you Luke. I only tie a fig 8 on a fluoro leader side because it is slightly slimmer than the uni.
Other knots that use different methods on the leader end are Red Phillips, variations on Alberto knot and an FG.
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!
Thanks for sending in the knot suggestion. I have tied a few knots (Davy, Double Davy, & Orvis knot) that are fairly similar, and they all worked well but just weren’t as strong as some of the more popular knots like the uni knot since they don’t spread the tension load evenly before the line makes its first hard turn coming from the rod.
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
I have tested the San Diego Jam knot and found that it was a good knot (it never slipped). But there are others that proved to be stronger while being just as easy to tie so I do not recommend it.
The Uni knot proved to be stronger for all line types. And the FG knot was much stronger than them both for connecting braid to a stronger leader.
Could you test the Shins knot ? Shin Fukae uses it. Thank you
I just watch a video of his knot and it appears to essentially be an albright knot but with the mainline being outside of the wraps. This deviation from the albright will most likely cause it to have a slightly worse breaking strength because the mainline would benefit from being inside of those coils since that pressure would help absorb some of the tension before it makes its first hard turn.
Either way, the FG knot will definitely be stronger than it because the FG proved to be over 30% stronger than the Albright when I tested those two against one another.
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
The palomar knot is great for mono, but it has consistently underperformed with braid simply because it doesn’t have as much surface area to spread the tension load.
For example, the Palomar was mostly losing against the normal uni knot. While this improved Uni for braid is a significantly better knot than the normal uni since it doubles the surface area spread: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/braid-uni-knot/
So I highly recommend this modified uni when using braid… it’s stronger, and you don’t have to thread the lure/hook through any loops to tie it.
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!
Alberto works with lighter leader also I recommend you look up tackle advisors modified version on YouTube
Thanks very much, Austin! I went with the Alberto and caught my first shad and it worked. Appreciate you taking time to help me 🙂
So I’ve fished on and off my whole life, but after being in Florida for almost 2 years I’m excited to dive into fishing. I have always struggled with knots and have lost my fair share of lures at the hook because of a bad knot.
But the other night I was fishing a bridge in Miami and had something on the line for a few minutes prior to the lure coming out. I was disappointed when the line went slack and reeled my line in. Looked at my leader and it was almost frayed from the fish running against the bridge.
Finally I realized that my knots didn’t fail for once with something big on the line. Pretty stoked on it. Thanks for the knowledge dudes. Can’t wait to nail what ever was the the end of the line soon.
Great work Matt! Now you’ll be ready for when the next big one is on the line.
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
Yes, the snell version of the uni knot is most likely going to be stronger than the normal one given that it gets some friction help from more expose to the hook shank.
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
Hey Rick, I have not yet tested the hangman’s knot. I understand your reasoning about it being a different knot in that the coils are wrapping around an additional strand of line, but my initial guess after testing a bunch of knots is that it won’t make much of a difference vs. the uni knot because they are still very similar when you follow the tension load from the reel to the lure/hook… the point where the knot constricts the line forcing a shart turn right above the eye of the hook/lure will be the weak point either way. I’ll add it to my list of knots to test out though.
Hi Rick.
Onother knot similar to a Hangman is a San Diego Jam.
There is a variation to a Uni called Fish-n-Fool knot. In essense, it is a uni which passed through the eye of the hook twice before tying the normal uni over.
What about the GT knot?
There are multiple versions of the “GT knot” floating around the internet. The true one that is known for having a very strong hold requires a bimini twist first before starting the GT knot. All other versions of it (without using a doubled line of the bimini) should not be trusted as being a super-strong knot.
I supposed, thanks!
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
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for that knot.
I think this knot is called a Doubled Clinch knot.
However, Gman called it different????
Sounds like the tuna knot
With a lot of time on my hands, like everyone else, I have reviewed this excellent knot guide . I fish braid to mono. If anyone can master the FG, Freh loop, the uni ( and double-uni), the surgeons,The palomar and the improved hitch, I don’t think you need anything else for inshore fishing.
A quick comment. I agree that a well tied above average knot will beat a poorly tied better knot.
How does a fluorocarbon leader inserted into hollow core braid with DaHo hollow threading and reverse latch needles compare to PR Bobbin Knot and the FG Knot? When it comes to hollow core wind on leaders (not to be confused with the loop to loop methods), it’s definitely smoother than the burnt ends, etc. What about line strength? The harder one pulls, the stronger and more uniform the squeeze. It works offshore and now there’s a source for 20 lb. and 30 lb. ultra thin hollow core braid. I just installed 30 lb braid (with .26 diameter; blue label fluoro 30 lb .21 dia) on a new Shimano Tranx 200 (6.2 gear ratio) and I’m confident the no knot connection will not slip. Another 100% braid to fluoro connection?
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?
As the diameter of the braid gets close to the diameter of the mono, the braid has a more difficult time digging in deep enough to ensure that it won’t slide off (especially if casted through the guides over and over again).
So only use a leader that is a thicker diameter then the braid correct? Thanks
Not just thicker… much thicker. The larger the difference in their diameter, the better the braid can dig into the leader and lock into place. So the rule of thumb I use is to always use a stronger leader than my mainline to be on the safe side… plus it enables me to maximize my casting performance and feel of the lure (thinnest possible mainline) while beefing up the business end to handle the section that get’s exposed to the most abrasion.
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.
Cool! Which version is it?
Can you test the GT knot. I hear its stronger than the FG but has a slightly larger profile. Is this true? I currently use FG knot ALWAYS!
The true “GT knot” is supposed to be slightly stronger than the FG knot, but I haven’t bothered with testing it because it’s MUCH more difficult to tie (requires a bimini twist and then more wraps than the FG knot).
There’s a fairly recent video floating around showing what was called the “GT knot that’s much stronger than the FG”, but the knot shown was not an actual GT knot and was undoubtedly much weaker than the FG.
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?
I will get to that one at some point, but I don’t like it due to the fact that it requires a bimini twist before starting and then requires more wraps/time than the FG knot after the bimini is tied to potentially get a slightly stronger hold.
Have you guys tested the Seaguar knot for tying leader to braid?
I have not yet tested the Seaguar knot for tying leader to braid. I’m curious to see how it does against the surgeon knot… will add it to my list of knots to test out.
You said that fg to Bimini consistently beat single line fg. Please explain. Good information.
Here’s the test that shows details into that finding… see the “big shocker” section towards the bottom: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot-vs-bimini-twist-knot-strength-test/
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.
If getting by is the goal, then those knots can be a fit. But if the focus is on maximizing strength and performance, then I don’t recommend either of those two options because there are other options that are more effective. Here’s a post that explains the connections that I’ve found to work best so far in case interested: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-tie-a-fishing-leader-for-snook-redfish-seatrout/
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.
I have not yet tried the Double Dragon knot… this is actually the first time I have heard about it. Just looked at a video showing how to tie, and it appears to be solid knot (just may be tough with monofilament line given the sharp turns needed in first setup of the knot).
The simplest demo of hand tying the Double Dragon Knot that I know of is by a backpacker in the YouTube video entitled “Double Dragon and Farrimond Knots” starting at 4:45. He shows 3 ways of tying the DDK: at the end of the line, in the middle, and to a lure. I use light mono (#4-10) in the Southern California surf, but his method should work OK for heavier line if you don’t mind wasting a little at the tag end. By the way, as a retired scientist I love your approach!
Thanks for the kind words Lee!
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.
have you tested the J knot against the surgeon 3 turn knot?
I have not yet tested the J-knot out yet… will add it to my list of knots to test. Thanks for making time to leave the suggestion!
I have not, what should I test for? Strength, practicality? I have often wondered how it’Compares. I do know this , I have tried this knot thousands of times and it thrills me every time. Never found a need to search for another , But interested
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
I would love to see you test different paternoster/dropper rigs. Here is another interesting one I think would be worth testing.
https://youtu.be/8tG5YIU2Of4
I would also like to see how the different ways to tie the snell knot test.
As always I am very appreciative of the info you provide.
Ben
Ben that paternoster rigs is essentially the same knot as the first video I posted except with the twists to prevent it getting tangled, still interesting as it’s alot simpler than the T Knot setup and does pretty much the same thing.
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.
“eye-crosser” with 3 loop Uni instead of two, for mono to swivel or hook. Faster and easier to tie than Palomar.
Thanks for leaving the knot suggestion Ter!
What about the double palomar knot “snug” with mono? Was that attempted since it was way up there in the braided line testing?
Here are the different tests we did on the Palomar Knot: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/strongest-palomar-knot/
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’ve used that knot before (or at least what I think you were describing), and I did have some instances when it pulled out when fighting some big snook. So I recommend using a knot that provides more surface area… for loop knots, my absolute favorite is the non-slip loop knot which is very similar to what you described, but it essentially replaces your 2nd overhand knot with a 3 turn cinch knot. It just takes an extra couple seconds to tie, but it provides much needed strength. I recommend giving it a try and then testing it against the one you use to see which one is stronger: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/non-slip-loop-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
Yes, I love the FG knot for tying to leaders which in my preference are always stronger than the mainlines. So after I’d first recommend that you use a lighter mainline relative to your leader (especially if you’re using spinning tackle), then the double uni is a great option.
Note: When the mainline braid is weaker than the leader, the FG knot is over 30% stronger than the double uni knot for all of the lines I’ve tested it on so far.
ya, but why do you recommend that? my braid is 30lbs and i like to switch beween 20 30 and 50 fluoro. will it fail?
also you didnt test snelling a hook?
I recommend the lighter braid mainline relative to the leader because the lighter mainline enables better casting performance and feel of strikes while the stronger leader protects the business end of the line assembly which what is most likely to get rubbed across underwater structure and/or the teeth of fish.
Yes, I have not yet tested the snelling of a hook… will add that soon.
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’ll gladly take that part out once I see a knot that doesn’t break when put under tension before the line does. The fish-n-fool knot and the duncan knot are both variations of the Uni knot… fnf is just the uni knot with an extra wrap around the hook, and the duncan is a uni knot that it pulled snug around the line to form a loop.
Those knots are all very good knots, but they consistently fail before the line when under max tension when testing their breaking strength.
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……
Please send me a link to the video once you make it (luke@saltstrong.com). I look forward to seeing the Newport Knot.
Hello Luke,
Your site is definitely one of the best fishing resources I have found on the Net. Much appreciated to you and all the staff.
Have you ever tested if there are different breaking strengths/reliability when tying different types of snell knots? Is one way better than another?
I would also really like to get your thoughts on the TN knot as a terminal tackle knot.
Kind regards,
Ben
Thanks for the kind words Ben! I have not yet tested the various snell knots. But that’s on my list of experiments to conduct.
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?
Thanks for the kind words Alastair! Can you please describe what a “mono backbone” is? That is a term I’ve never heard before, so I want to make sure I understand the functional need of this connection before recommending anything.
HI Luke – did you get my reply via email and the photographs I sent with it?
Sorry, but I did not see the email. Send it directly to me (Luke@saltstrong.com), and I’ll check it out when I get a chance.
I just saw your pics… looks like a great setup! My final question is to get an understanding of the “modified albright knot”. The “albright knot” is generally used for connecting a braid mainline to a mono/fluoro leader line (not a loop), so I can’t figure out how it’s being used in your rig.
From looking at the T knot, it appears to be a combination of a 4 turn surgeon’s loop tied first. And then a “dropper loop knot” tied next with the surgeon’s knot placed in the middle to form the T.
I’ve tested a 4 turn “Surgeon’s Loop Knot” against 4 turn “Dropper Loop Knot”, and the Surgeon’s won which lines up with your testing. My assumption for beefing up the strength of the Dropper Loop Knot would be to use more turns because they’ll help spread out the load across more surface area.
Note: The end result would be a T knot with the top and bottom of the T being longer than the coils from the dropper loop that shoot out perpendicular to the mainline.
Hopefully that makes sense.
I would like to see the worlds fair knot included, especially for braid line
I’ll add it to our list of knots to test out. Fish On!
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?
I personally would not ever match the diameter size of a braid and a mono because their strength differences are so great. If I’m targeting a fish that I believe I can catch with 10 lb line (which is what I typically use), I’ll use a 10lb to 20 lb mono line as backing before tying the 10 lb braid to it with the FG knot.
But if I was forced to connect a mono line to a braid of the same diameter, I’d go with blood knot because it’s strong and it leaves a clean knot that can easily pass through guides.
The reason the FG knot shouldn’t be used with a braid that has the same diameter of the leader is because its strength is dependant on the braid coils being able to dig small grooves into the outer layer of the mono… and as the braid’s diameter gets closer to the diameter of the mono, it has a tougher time forming grooves that are deep enough to hold it into place.
Thank you for the reply, I don’t plan on ever getting into the mono backing its just to save $$ on not spooling an entire reel with braid. I appreciate the way you promptly answer every question people have here.
how good is the hook nail knot? Strength of knot to hook direct?
The nail knot is known to be one of the strongest knots of them all. We haven’t done detailed tests on it yet because we’re prioritizing knots that don’t require any sort of device to tie…. but it’s definitely on our list for knots to test out sometime soon.
Trilene knot!
For mono to lure (snug) i would rate the Trilene on first place, then Palomar.
Thanks for adding your fishing knot tip. We’ll be sure to test out the trilene knot as soon as we get some open time.
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.
Forget it. Use the FG
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
Is that any different than the snell knot?
Hey will you test the worlds fair knot? For snug terminal tackle?
I haven’t tested that one yet, but it’s undoubtedly not going to be stronger than the uni knot or the palomar because it doesn’t do a very good job at spreading the tension load evenly. It’s core benefit is likely in its speed of tying… very quick and easy.
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.
What type of mainline are you using?
Berkley trilene transoptic 0.28 is main….and shock is same model just 0.33…yr advice?
With a mono to mono connection, the most streamlined option that I know of is the Blood Knot.
Please could you repeat the test series with small diameter flourocarbon lines? (ie 4-6lb)?
Particularly regarding terminal tackle knots…
Thanks!
I would like to see a strength and durability comparison between the FG knot and the Modified FG knot .