The Homer Rhode loop knot is an old-school loop knot, usually tied in heavier monofilament, that gives your lure a free-swinging loop instead of a fixed connection. You tie an overhand in the line, pass the tag through the hook eye and back through that overhand, then tie a second overhand around the standing line and pull it tight to form the loop. In my How 2 Tuesday test, three Homer Rhode loops in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro averaged 8.17 pounds, or 68.1% breaking strength.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
You tie an overhand in the line, leaving enough tag end to pass through the hook eye. You pass the tag through the eye, back through the overhand you created, then tie a second overhand around the standing line. Pull it tight and a loop forms above the hook.
In my test the Homer Rhode averaged 68.1% breaking strength. I tied and broke three identical loops in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro. They failed at 8.97, 7.42, and 8.14 pounds, for an average of 8.17 pounds out of a 12 pound rating.
A loop knot like the Homer Rhode trades strength for lure action. The free-swinging loop that gives your bait movement also concentrates load at the overhand turns, which is why it tested at 68.1% rather than up near the strongest knots. You accept that trade for the action it provides.
It shines when you want a lure to swing freely, which is why it is traditionally tied in heavier monofilament leader. If you want maximum strength, there are better choices. If you want movement on a heavy leader, the Homer Rhode is a classic for a reason.
I tested it in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro, the same line I use across these knot tests for a fair comparison, even though the Homer Rhode is traditionally tied in heavier mono. Holding the line constant lets me compare it to the other knots in the series.
Yes. Even at 68.1% it has a job that stronger knots cannot do as well, which is giving a lure a free-swinging loop. Knowing it, and knowing its real strength number, lets you reach for it when the action matters more than the last few percent of strength.
The Homer Rhode is a knot a lot of older guides taught me to respect, especially for giving a lure free movement on heavy leader. I wanted to test it honestly, because a loop knot trades some strength for action, and I wanted to see exactly how much strength this one gives up.
Here is the sequence I use to tie a Homer Rhode loop knot.
I walk through every step on camera in the episode. Press play in the player above.
Every loop knot makes the same bargain: a free-swinging connection gives your lure life in the water, but that open loop puts the load on the knot's turns instead of cinching tight to the eye. The Homer Rhode at 68.1% shows that trade in real numbers. I explain when that action is worth the strength you give up in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Even though it tested as my weakest knot in this run, the Homer Rhode does something the strong knots cannot. On heavy leader with a lure you want to dance, that loop earns its keep. I talk through exactly where I would still tie it in the episode. Watch the tie and the test, and press play in the player above.
A day after testing it, the Homer Rhode reminded me that a knot's strength number is only half the story. Sometimes the action is the point.
Know the 68.1% going in, then decide whether the free-swinging loop is what your bait needs that day. That is how you fish a loop knot with confidence. Press play in the player above.
Homer Rhode loop knot · loop knots · heavy monofilament · 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro · breaking strength testing · 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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