The clinch knot and the improved clinch knot are nearly identical in strength: tied with 20-pound Daiwa J Fluoro off the same spool, the clinch broke at 16.85 pounds (84.25 percent) and the improved clinch edged it out at 17.03 pounds (85.15 percent). In this How 2 Tuesday I test the most basic fisherman's knot against its one-extra-step upgrade to settle whether that extra tuck actually buys you anything.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
Yes, but only barely. I tied both with 20-pound Daiwa J Fluoro off the same spool. The clinch knot broke at 16.85 pounds, which is 84.25 percent of the line's rated strength. The improved clinch, with that one extra step of passing the tag end back through, broke at 17.03 pounds, or 85.15 percent. So the improvement is real but it is less than one percent.
The clinch knot is the basic fisherman's knot most of us learned first. The improved clinch adds a single step: after you wrap and pass the tag end through the loop by the eye, you pass it back through the big loop you just created before cinching it down. That one extra tuck is the entire difference between the two knots.
That is the real question, and at less than one percent more strength it is close to a wash on breaking strength alone. The extra step does help lock the knot so it is less likely to slip on slick fluorocarbon, which is why a lot of anglers still tie it. I would say tie whichever one you can tie cleanly and consistently every time.
I tied and tested both knots with 20-pound Daiwa J Fluoro, pulling line from the same spool for each so the test was as uniform as possible. Using the same line off the same spool is the only way to make a fair head-to-head comparison, because line and spool variation can swing knot numbers more than the knot itself.
Absolutely. The clinch knot is the knot somebody's grandfather or father taught them the first time they ever went fishing. At 84 percent it is plenty strong for most everyday fishing, it is fast, and it is easy to tie. If you want to squeeze out a tiny bit more and lock it down, add the one extra step and tie the improved version.
It is how much of the line's rated breaking strength the knot holds before it fails. A clinch knot at 84.25 percent on 20-pound line breaks at about 16.85 pounds, meaning the knot gives up about 16 percent of the line's strength. The closer to 100 percent, the more of your line's strength the knot preserves.
The clinch knot is the knot most people's grandfather or father taught them the very first time they went fishing. It is the basic fisherman's knot. The whole question of this episode is simple: can it be made stronger by one extra step? I wanted hard numbers instead of opinions, so I put both on the tester. I break it all down in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Here are the steps I walk through in this How 2 Tuesday, with the full demonstration in the episode.
I unpack each of these in the episode. Press play in the player above.
The improved clinch came in at 85.15 percent against the clinch knot's 84.25 percent. That is less than a single percent of difference. The extra tuck does help lock the knot on slick fluorocarbon, which matters more than the raw number. I give you my honest take on whether to bother in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Both of these are strong, fast, beginner-friendly knots, and you will not go wrong with either one. If you can tie the extra step cleanly every time, it does not hurt to lock the knot down.
What matters most is tying it the same way every time and lubricating before you cinch. You can see how the clinch and improved clinch compare to every other knot I have tested in the free knot guide. Press play in the player above.
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.
clinch knot · improved clinch knot · Daiwa J Fluoro · fluorocarbon · 20-pound test · knot strength test · How 2 Tuesday · Saltwater Experience
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.
Tom Rowland Podcast — Episode 890: The Clinch Knot vs. The Improved Clinch Knot (How 2 Tuesday)
In this episode: “the clinch knot versus the improved clinch knot, which is stronger?” — “the knot that most people's grandfather taught them” — testing both with “20 pound Daiwa j fluoro” off “the same spool” — the results: “84.25%” vs. “85.15%” — and “is that one extra step worth it?” — in the exact words spoken.
Tom Rowland: If you want everything you need to take care of your boat, StarBright's got the solution. It's called boat care in a bucket. That's right. One three and a half gallon bucket packed with essentials, vinyl bright, deck cleaner, marine polish, a wash mitt, hull cleaner, and boat wash. That one kit will keep any boat clean and protected, but that's just the start.
Tom Rowland: I also use StarBright's salt off, which is incredible for rinsing salt off after a day on the water. Their brushes and cleaning products work just as well on your RV and patio furniture and anything else that lives outside.
Tom Rowland: It is a company that gives back. That's one of the things that I really like about StarBright. StarBright supports marine conservation through Project Sea Safe, and that means a lot to me personally. You're getting performance and purpose. Visit starbrite.com. That's starbrite.com, and get your boat dialed in for the season.
Tom Rowland: From The Seychelles to The Keys, I trust Nikon binoculars to find fish fast. Visit nikonusa.com and upgrade your line of sight.
Tom Rowland: I thought I was covered, but I wasn't. HH Insurance showed me that my old policy did not cover The Bahamas or nighttime navigation, two major gaps that could have cost me a lot. Jake and Landon fixed it fast. They know charter policies better than anyone I've ever worked with. Call (727) 498-5551 or visit hhinsgroup.com and tell them Tom Rowland sent you.
Tom Rowland: Trusted enough to go with me to The Seychelles, my Danco pliers are a staple in my kit. Check out dancopliers.com and build yours today. The clinch knot versus the improved clinch knot, which is stronger? What's going on, everybody? It's how to Tuesday on the Tom Rowland podcast brought to you by Danco.
Tom Rowland: The clinch knot is a knot that most people's grandfather taught them, their father taught them, somebody taught them the first time they ever go fishing. It's your basic fisherman's knot. But can it be improved or made stronger by one extra step? That's what we're testing today. It's the improved knot versus the clinch knot, which is stronger.
Tom Rowland: You can learn how to tie both of these knots with detailed instructions at our YouTube channel. The link is below. So we've tied and tested the improved clinch knot and the clinch knot, and the results are in. We tied both of these with 20 pound Daiwa j fluoro, and we use the same line of the same spool to test these knots.
Tom Rowland: The clinch knot comes in at 16.85, which is 84.25%, and the improved clinch with the one extra step comes in at 17 o three, just edges out the clinch knot at 85.15%.
Tom Rowland: You let me know in the comments. Is that one extra step worth it? Are you gonna tie the improved clinch knot or the clinch knot? Go to tomrolandpodcast.com to get your free knot guide.
Subscribe to get the latest episodes, show notes, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.