How To Tie The Trilene Knot (Easy & Strong Snug Knot)
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
The Trilene knot is a great knot to use when you need a snug knot that’s quick and strong.
It’s great for fluorocarbon and monofilament because these materials have a tendency to slip, and this knot prevents that.
And if you make the right modifications to it (explained in the second video below), then it can be a good knot for braided line as well.
Learn how to tie the trilene knot step-by-step below.
Enjoy!
How To Tie The Trilene Knot [VIDEO]
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Here’s how to tie this knot step by step:
Step 1: Put the line through the eye of the hook.
Step 2: Double the line back through the eye of the hook, forming a loop.
Step 3: Wrap the tag end around the main line 4-6 times.
Step 4: Put the tag end through the two loops at the eye of the hook.
Note: Don’t go through the eye of the hook.
Step 5: Cinch the knot down and push the coils of the tag end wrapped around the main line up towards the eye of the hook.
How To Tie The Trilene Knot With Braided Line
The tips above will help you tie the trilene knot with fluorocarbon or monofilament.
But if you’re using braided line, there’s a slight modification you’ll need to make because it’s even more prone to slipping than mono or fluoro.
See what the modification is in the video below.
Tying The Trilene Knot With Braid [VIDEO]
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Although the steps are nearly identical for tying the trilene knot with braid as with mono or fluoro, wrapping the tag end around the line five times just isn’t enough.
Braid is much more smooth and has a greater tendency to slip, so you’ll need to make 7-10 wraps around the line.
Conclusion
There you have it!
Step by step instructions on how to tie the trilene knot with fluorocarbon, monofilament, and braided line.
Have any questions about this knot?
Have you used it before?
Let me know in the comments below.
And if you know someone who should try this knot out, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Thank you for the video. I recently started steelhead fishing in a Milwaukee-area tributary, and all the local wisdom says use 8-lb. (or even 6-lb.) fluoro when the water is low and clear. I wanted to find the strongest knot I can tie reliably, and so far, so good with the Trilene knot.
I had tried the Orvis knot with 10-lb. fluoro last year and lost a good smallie (as with the steelhead, low, clear water and highly pressured fish is my reason for using fluoro). I probably made a mistake, but that’s the thing about knots. “Tie a knot you know won’t come undone” is about the best advice I ever got about which knot is best, so I go with the confidence knots. It has been the Uni for 50 years. Now I can add the Trilene.
TYING THE TRILENE KNOT WITH BRAID [VIDEO]
So says the title, but your link went askew and shows it tied with mono.
Inquiring minds want to know what the modification is.
Is it just twisting the tag around the leader more times?
visual “representation”- neatly, clearly demonstrated. thx much
Thank you for the great feedback Joe!
Was hoping to see the “loop knot” you were talking about. I prefer to use the Palomar knot but always up for an easier knot to tie. Thanks for the info. I’ll try it.
Hey Earl!
Here is a link to the non slip loop knot:
https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/best-knot-topwater-lures/
I thought the Orvis knot was the latest greatest terminal knot y’all recommend for mono and flouro
Hey William!
I don’t do “strength tests” like Luke does with an actual machine. I’m more of an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” kinda guy. I’ve used this knot for years without any failures so I’ve stuck with it.
“Grinner” is better. Look it up. Richard Walker “Still Water Angling”.
No locking coil to be a weakness.
Double turn around the eye is generally a good idea.
Always tighten down to a cone. Delays the line cutting itself.
Do Not overtighten the tag end. Misshapes the knot and weakens it considerable.
If it slips, not enough coils. Why Grinner is double coiled in the first place.
Enough coils so natural friction holds everything.
Trim carefully to be weedless or leave 1/4″ as a bait holder.
Above 30lbs, crimp. Crimped Flemish Twist is the ultimate as used by Long liners.
Biminnis for braid. Then tie the doubled line.
Better still, use hollow braid and splice it.
All testing, should be after a 24hr. soak.
Very revealing.
You can use a rig but an archery spring balance with tell tale works just as well.
Flobbing on the knot not only helps the coils to slide into place, it prevents the friction causing heat damage.
Repeat. Knots should be slightly conical. Do not overtighten the tag end.
Rgds.
Great info Malcolm!
It’s no different than a uni-knot, except you pass through the eye 2x
So there is a difference haha
I’m having issues with my trilene knots slipping when I hook up with larger reds. Any suggestions on an alternative? Having the issue with both braid and mono sometimes slipping. With braid I’m doing 7-8 twists vs 5 with mono or flouro. Have switched to the Palomar temporarily but I know the knot strength is not as good
Hey Robert!
This knot is not effective with braid because of how slick braid is. When i’m tying braid directly to a hook or lure I have always used the Palomar Knot. It’s actually one of the strongest for braid. Ive never had any issues with the trilene knot on mono or fluoro.
Well Tony its 8 months later now, and since I’ve switched to palomar, have not had a knot slip on larger fish yet!
Awesome!
Thanks for the helpful video, Tony! This is one of two snug knots that I know where the tag doesn’t point back to the rod, and is therefore more weedless. The other knot I learned from Tackle Advisors YouTube channel. Search tackle advisors weedless uni knot. It’s a simple extra step to the uni knot. However, the weedless uni knot doesn’t go around the hook eye twice like the Trilene knot does. Maybe I could try making the fish n fool knot weedless…anyway, thanks again!
Good stuff Adam! Thank you for the great feedback!
Hi Tony; thanks for all your posts and videos. They are very helpful. After seeing the knot test results from Luke, I have been using the Palomar and Uni knots for mono/fluro and braid, respectively. They have worked very well for me since changing over from the improved cinch for both (added over hand knot to tag end for braid to prevent slipping).
However, a couple of questions about the Trilene knot:1) Has Luke tested the Trilene knot in comparison to the Palomar for mono/fluro and braid? and 2) Have you ever tried feeding the tag end back into the loop after “Step 4: Put (ing) the tag end through the two loops at the eye of the hook”. It did work for me when I did use the Trilene knot in the past for mono and braid.
Hey Ron!
The trilene knot does hold up much better than a palomar knot on mono and flouro. The palomar knot is more suited for braid.
I haven’t tried feeding the tag end back up. Haven’t had the knot fail the original way so don’t see the need for anything extra to it.
My uncle showed me this knot 25 years ago. I either use it or a San Diego jam. But this knot has caught me my biggest fish.
Good stuff Matt!