The Strongest Way To Connect Wire To Fluorocarbon | H2T Ep. #930

Tom Rowland shares the two fastest knots every angler needs to master: the clinch knot and the blood knot. Drawing from his experience as a freshwater guide rowing clients down whitewater rivers, Tom reveals the exact knots he relied on when tying leader and flies while spinning in circles, oars under his knees, approaching rocks and rapids. These aren't necessarily the strongest knots in your arsenal, but they're the ones you can tie in under 30 seconds when conditions are terrible. Tom puts himself on the clock and shares his actual times, explains why speed sometimes trumps strength, and challenges you to practice until you can tie them in the dark with frozen hands.

Why Speed Matters More Than Strength

If you look at the Tom Rowland Podcast knot guide, you'll notice something surprising: the clinch knot isn't ranked as the strongest knot. So why does Tom tie it almost exclusively? Because when you're rowing a drift boat down a river with two clients waiting, rocks approaching, and whitewater ahead, you need a knot you can tie fast. Tom shares a specific scenario from his freshwater guiding days where he had to tie tippet to leader and then fly to tippet while the boat spun in circles, oars jammed under his knees. In those moments, a knot that holds 95% but ties in under 10 seconds beats a 100% knot that takes 45 seconds. The key is practicing these knots until they become automatic—until you can tie them in the dark or with frozen, wet hands. Tom explains his philosophy on speed versus strength and shares his actual timed results at 0:02:22.

The Clinch Knot: 9.31 Seconds

Tom put himself on the clock to prove just how fast these knots can be tied with practice. His clinch knot time: 9.31 seconds. This is the knot he uses to attach line to a hook or fly, and while he acknowledges there are people who can tie knots faster than him, his times aren't world records. What matters is that both his essential knots come in under 30 seconds—that's the benchmark every angler should aim for. The clinch knot may not top the strength rankings in the knot guide, but when you're in the field and conditions deteriorate, being able to tie a reliable knot in under 10 seconds can mean the difference between capitalizing on a fishing opportunity and watching it pass by. Tom reveals his exact timed results and explains the 30-second goal at 0:03:11.

The Blood Knot: 19.64 Seconds

For joining two lines together—like tying tippet onto leader in fly fishing—Tom relies on the blood knot. His timed result: 19.64 seconds. This is another knot that prioritizes speed and reliability over maximum strength, and for good reason. When you're guiding or fishing competitively, every second counts. Tom's experience in freshwater tournaments and as a river guide taught him that having a couple of knots you can tie blindfolded in rough conditions is worth more than knowing a dozen knots you have to think about. The blood knot, like the clinch knot, can be mastered with repetition until it becomes muscle memory. The goal isn't just to tie these knots correctly—it's to tie them correctly and quickly under the worst possible conditions. Tom shares his blood knot time and discusses why you need to practice these until they're automatic at 0:03:15.

The 30-Second Challenge

Tom issues a clear challenge to every angler: pick two knots and practice them until you can tie both in under 30 seconds each. These become your go-to knots—the ones you default to when the wind is howling, your hands are cold, or fish are busting bait and you just broke off. The specific knots you choose don't have to be the clinch and blood knot, but they should cover the two most common needs: attaching line to a hook and joining two lines together. Tom mentions that the Tom Rowland Podcast knot guide ranks knots by strength percentage, and listeners might be surprised to see where his favorites rank. But tournament anglers and guides know that real-world fishing demands practical solutions, not theoretical perfection. The knot you can tie quickly and confidently will catch more fish than the strongest knot in the world if you can't tie it when it matters. Tom lays out the challenge and explains where to find detailed instructions for these knots at 0:03:23.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I'm not trying to win any speed knot-tying competitions here. These times—9.31 seconds for the clinch knot and 19.64 seconds for the blood knot—are just benchmarks to show you what's possible with practice. When I was guiding in freshwater, I didn't have the luxury of taking my time. I had clients who needed their rigs ready, I had rocks and rapids coming at me, and I had a boat to control. Those two knots became automatic for me because I tied them hundreds, probably thousands of times.

If you download the Tom Rowland Podcast knot guide, you'll see knots that test stronger than these. But strength isn't everything. Consistency, speed, and confidence matter just as much when you're actually on the water. I want you to pick two knots—one for attaching line to a hook and one for joining two lines—and practice them until you don't have to think about them anymore. That's when you know you've truly mastered a knot.

This episode is short, but the lesson is huge. If you want the step-by-step instructions for these knots, the links are in the description. Practice them, time yourself, and see if you can beat my times. This one's worth your time.