Non-Slip Loop Knot: How Many Turns Should You Do? [Knot Experiment]
- By: Luke Simonds
- on September 23, 2020
If you maximize a lure’s action, you’ll maximize the strikes you can get with it it.
This is why it’s best to use a loop knot when using a lure you need to put action on, like a soft plastic on a jig head or a topwater lure.
But here’s the bad thing about loop knots: they’re not as strong as snug knots.
Because of this, it’s important that you tie a strong loop knot.
My favorite loop knot is the non-slip loop knot and to make sure I’m getting the most out of it, I decided to test the optimal number of turns to make when tying it.
I tested two turns vs. three and four turns and the results were not what I was expecting!
Check out the experiment in the video below and see how many turns leaves you with the strongest knot.
Optimum Number Of Turns For A Non-Slip Loop Knot [VIDEO]
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This experiment was done with 20 lb. Ande monofilament and, except for the number of turns, I followed the steps for how to tie the non-slip loop knot in this video.
Here are the results (measured in pounds of force it took to break the knot:
2 Turns:
Test #1: 21.59 lbs
Test #2: 20.22 lbs
Test #3: 19.75 lbs
Average: 20.50 lbs
3 Turns:
Test #1: 21.06 lbs
Test #2: 21.38 lbs
Test #3: 22.73 lbs
Average: 21.72 lbs
4 Turns:
Test #1: 19.15 lbs
Test #2: 19.38 lbs
Test #3: 19.54 lbs
Average: 19.35 lbs
Discussion
This was a little surprising!
There was an expected strength increase from two turns to three turns, but I did not expect a decrease between three turns and four turns.
It appears that there’s something about the extra turn that renders the knot weaker.
The good news about these tests is that they were all relatively consistent and there weren’t any outliers that would make me question the validity of these results.
Now although the knot with three turns is strongest, I will still be using the knot with two turns.
It makes for a cleaner knot (less visible to the fish and less opportunity to snag weeds) and, at over 20 lbs. of breaking strength, it’s stronger than the FG knot I’ll be tying at the line to leader connection.
I’m using with 10 lb. braid there, so I don’t need a knot much stronger than 20 lbs. of breaking strength.
Conclusion
As it turns out, there is a difference in strength between the number of turns you put in a non-slip loop knot.
Three turns yields an average of 21.72 pounds of breaking strength, two turns yields an average of 20.50 pounds of breaking strength, and, most surprisingly, four turns yields the weakest knot at an average of 19.35 pounds of breaking strength.
I’ll still be using the non-slip loop knot with two turns because it’s cleaner and I don’t need a knot that has more than 20 lbs. of breaking strength when my braided line is only ten pound test, but I’m glad to finally see these objective results.
Were these results what you expected?
Have any questions about the best way to tie the non-slip loop knot?
Let me know in the comments below.
You can learn how to tie the non-slip loop knot here.
And if you know someone who puts more than two turns in their non-slip loop knot please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
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Expect the unexpected. Another myth debunked. Keep up the great work.
Thanks Sam! I was definitely not expecting those results.
Wow…I’ve been doing 6 to 7 turns and it turns out for nothing. Will be going to 3 turns.
Well, we don’t know. He didn’t test 6 to 7 turns. Maybe it reverses itself again and gets stronger.
I remember reading an article when I was a child in one of the many outdoor magazines I subscribed to that stated any knot you tie in mono that uses twists should always have an odd number of twists. I have lived by that statement for over 55 years of fishing.
Interesting! I have never heard that before.
Nice review. Your tests are a good gauge on many options that we have with many issues. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Glenn!
What inshore reel for lures should I get under 70 dollars
The Penn Fierce III is one of our favorites under $70: https://fishstrong.com/collections/saltwater-spinning-reels/products/penn-fierce-iii-series-spinning-reel?variant=32664241078357
Thinking about the pursuit 3 Le combo. Could you take a look and tell me what you think? Sorry if it is a waste of time
Thanks!
How does the non-slip loop compare to a uni? Couldn’t you tie a uni but not snug it up, and then it will get pulled snug when the fish hits?
The uni is stronger. And it can be used as a loop knot, but it’ll slide down every time it gets some tension so can be a hassle to deal with. Plus, if you’re using a stronger leader than your mainline to beef up the business end while keeping the mainline as light as possible, there is no need to max out the knot at the end of the leader because the braid to leader knot is going to be the weakest point either way.
Love these tests! I’ve been using the triple kreh for years now, but when my leader is over 20# I drop to 2 turns.
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Corey!
This has been my go to loop knot for 50+ yrs. I’ve always tied it with only 2 turns, and never recall it breaking before a main line-leader connection failed. I might go to 3 turns now. A word of caution is that this knot should not be used on heavy lb. test lines. Some may find this an interesting read https://themissionflymag.com/2013/05/30/two-loop-knots-you-should-be-using
Another video lesson test that separates SaltStrong! Who else gives you this type of info? I’ve always used 2 turns but I’m going 3 turns from now on. If those fish don’t see the hook I’m not concerned about the slightly cleaner look of the 2 turns. Thanks Luke as always.
How do knot strengths compare when the line has been wetted as when fishing compared to dry as tested. I would assume slightly lower breaking strengths but would the ranking of the number of twists be maintained?
There is very little difference in strength from when a knot is wet vs dry. I dunked these knots in water for about 30 seconds each before breaking them in this test, and the general breaking points were close to the normal breaking point when dry.
I think you need to soak the knots longer. Monofilament absorbs water over time, and it actually becomes more elastic after it has absorbed water.
Wet or dry, I think the point is consistent knot strength.
Great information. Who’da thought the 3 turn would be weaker. One suggestion though. Mount your apparatus to a piece of wood, be it plywood, or a 2 by and clamp it to your table.
Thank you Luke, I always wondered how many loops I really needed, I’ll stick with two from now on. By the way, I always use the double-double uni-knot now, it hasn’t ever failed me.
How is it tied?
Here’s a link to see how it’s tied: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/non-slip-loop-knot/
Luke, Thanks for performing another experiment that I have always been curious about. I like two turn suggestion myself. Keep doing what you guys are doing!
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Steve!
Thanks for the info in this video Luke. You wrote that the non-slip knot is weaker than the FG knot. Recently, you sold me on the FG knot so that’s what I’ve been using my last 2 times out. Would you do a break strength test on the FG knot?
The FG knot is only for connecting a braid mailing to a stronger mono/fluoro leader line. And the non-slip loop knot is only for connecting a mono/fluoro line to a lure/hook. So these two knots should never be used for the same application.
I most often am using a 10 lb braid for my mainline and a 20 or 30 lb mono for my leader, so I use the FG knot to connect my leader to the braid. And then the loop knot to connect my leader to the lure. Both of them have a breaking point that is in the same general range (19 to 21 lbs), so it’s not worth using a stronger knot for the lure because the weak point will be the braid to leader connection.
Thanks for the data. All your conclusions make sense, think I’ll go with 2 twists as well.
Regards!
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Dan!
Good to know..thanks for providing test result
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Dave!
Luke, your info is always great and your test clearly show the the results. I am interested though in just one turn on your machine? I have always only used one 1 wrap and back through and have never had an issue with a knot failing. (slipping out).
I often throw lures on 10lb leader, so will stick with 3 turns for <20lb line until we see test results telling us otherwise. It’s great to have this information, since most descriptions of the Lefty Kreh knot outside of Salt Strong show 4 or 5 wraps. Even the tutorial here says 3 wraps for >40 and 4 wraps for <40lb.
Also curious what to use for 60lb loops for beach and offshore. There must be an alternative that doesn’t have such a sharp turn at the far end of the wraps? Maybe a king sling or something more “figure 8” ish? I suppose a bigger knot would be acceptable in that weight range.
I reference your “fishing-knots” article all the time. But would love to see some differentiation in those lists for heavy vs light light line.
Back to the lab for you!
I use this not for 60 lb line too… just do the two twist method and it gets the job done with 100+ lb tarpon.
The figure 8 knot is well known for tarpon too, but it takes longer to tie and didn’t test will with the lighter lines so I don’t bother using it.
Have you tested flurocarbon leader
Yes, this loop knot works great for fluoro too (fluoro is actually a type of monofilament line, so most knots work equally well for them both… fluoro just typically has a lower breaking point due to it being more dense and less malleable)
Like have you tried comparing the non-slip loop know to the canoe man loop knot. Would be interesting to see that. Canoe man is much faster to tie
I’ll make sure to test them out.
Consider testing with direct attachment to braid, no leader.
After seeing a difference in catching pinfish for bait (10 lb braid lost handily in catching pinfish to a 20 lb mono leader), I now always use a mono/fluoro leader.
Plus, mono is much more abrasion resistant which is very important when targeting fish with rough mouths (like snook, bass, etc). Here’s a test showing the abrasion difference: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/braid-vs-mono-abrasion-strength-experiment/
Luke, thanks for the use of science. Snags are a part of fishing. When I have to break a line, due to a snag, I don’t want to lose my whole rig. I would rather just lose the lure. Why don’t you use, say, 30lb braid with a 20lb leader and the loop knot tying on the lure. That way you have to break points before losing your whole rig. The break points should be first the lure, second the leader. The last thing I want to do while fishing is tying a FG knot.
My pleasure Gregory! I do sometimes use a 20 lb mainline, but only when I’m fishing for bigger fish near hard structure (mostly docks) so that I have the added pulling power.
Otherwise, I prefer to use the 10 lb mainline because it has much better casting and retrieving performance.