The battle of the beginner knots part two pits the Palomar against the improved clinch, two of the first knots most anglers ever learn. I tied both and pulled them to failure on the testing machine, and the Palomar edged out the improved clinch, breaking at 91.36 percent against the improved clinch's 85.15 percent. Both are strong, dependable beginner knots, but if you want the slight strength advantage, the Palomar is the one I would reach for first.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
In my test the Palomar edged out the improved clinch. The Palomar broke at 91.36 percent of the line's rated strength, while the improved clinch came in at 85.15 percent. That is a meaningful gap, but both are strong, reliable knots that most beginners can tie well. If you want the slight edge in raw breaking strength, the Palomar is the winner, but you will not go wrong tying either one to your hook or lure.
I double the line over, pass that doubled loop through the eye of the hook, and tie a basic overhand knot with it. That leaves me a loop, which I pass over the hook or lure. Then, holding the doubled line, I pull everything tight so it cinches down right in front of the knot. It is best to lubricate the knot before you cinch it down for maximum knot strength. It is a fast, simple knot once you have done it a few times.
I pass the line through the hook, then pinch the line right in front of the hook to hold a loop open, which makes it easier to tie when you are in a hurry. I pass the tag end around the standing line five times, then run the tag end back through that big open loop, and once more through the loop I just created. Hold onto it, pull it tight, and cinch it down. That is the improved clinch.
Lubricating the knot before you cinch it down lets the wraps seat smoothly instead of grinding against each other as they tighten. Friction and heat during the cinch can weaken the line right where it matters most, so a little saliva or water helps the knot draw down cleanly and evenly. I mention it specifically on the Palomar in this episode because it is one of the easiest ways to get the most strength out of any knot you tie.
Yes. The Palomar is one of the best beginner knots because it has very few steps, it is hard to tie wrong, and it tests out near the top of the strength range. In this episode it came in at 91.36 percent, which is excellent for a knot this simple. If you are just starting out and want one dependable knot for tying on hooks and lures, the Palomar is a great place to start, and the improved clinch is a strong backup.
On the Tom Rowland Podcast we have broken and tested every knot I can think of, and I put all of those results into a convenient knot guide. You can go and download it for free at tomrowlandpodcast.com so you can see which knot is the strongest for your situation. It is the easiest way to compare the numbers side by side instead of guessing which knot to trust on your next trip.
The improved clinch and the Palomar are the two knots almost every angler learns first, and people argue about which one is better all the time. Rather than guess, I tie both and pull them to failure so the machine settles it. This is part two of the beginner knot battle, and I wanted a clean, head-to-head number on the two knots most likely to be holding your hook on day one. I walk through both knots step by step in the episode, so press play in the player above.
People assume one beginner knot is dramatically better than the other, but the gap here is closer than you might think. The Palomar came in at 91.36 percent and the improved clinch at 85.15 percent, both well within the range you can trust on real fish. What that tells me is that confidence and a clean cinch matter as much as the knot you choose. I break down exactly what I saw at the breaking point in the episode, so press play in the player above and follow along.
Here are the steps I walk through in this How 2 Tuesday. I cover the details in the episode, so press play in the player above and follow along.
I unpack each of these in the episode. Press play in the player above.
If you are starting out and want one knot you can trust, tie the Palomar. It is simple, it is hard to get wrong, and it tested at the top of this matchup.
That said, the improved clinch is right behind it and will serve you well too. Lubricate before you cinch, pull it down clean, and either one will hold. Press play in the player above for the full breakdown.
Palomar knot · improved clinch knot · beginner knots · knot strength testing · Danco · Tom Rowland Podcast · How 2 Tuesday
How 2 Tuesday is my weekly series where I break down one fishing skill at a time, from knots and casting to gear, tactics, and the habits that make you a better angler. Watch and listen to every How 2 Tuesday episode from Tom Rowland.
I'm Tom Rowland, a professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, and the longtime host of the Saltwater Experience television show. On the podcast's How 2 Tuesday series I break down one practical skill or lesson at a time, from fishing technique and gear to the habits that make you a better angler, in short, focused episodes you can put to use right away.
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