The Palomar knot is a simple, very strong fishing knot used to attach a hook or lure to your line, tied by doubling the line through the eye, tying an overhand around the standing line, and passing the loop over the hook. In this How 2 Tuesday I tie it on camera and then put it on the knot tester. Three Palomars in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro averaged 10.9 pounds, or 91.3% of the line's rated strength.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
You tie a Palomar by doubling the line, putting the doubled line through the eye of the hook, tying an overhand knot around the standing line, passing the loop over the hook, and pulling everything tight. It is a short sequence that becomes muscle memory fast, which is one reason I lean on it so often.
In my test the Palomar averaged 91.3% breaking strength. I tied three identical knots in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro and broke each one on the tester. They failed at 11.49, 11.05, and 10.35 pounds, for an average of 10.9 pounds out of a 12 pound rating.
I used 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro, the same fluorocarbon I use across these knot tests so the comparisons stay fair. Using one consistent line lets me compare knots against each other instead of guessing whether the line or the knot made the difference.
You can tie a Palomar to almost any sort of fishing lure or hook. As long as your terminal tackle has an eye the doubled loop can pass over, the knot works. That versatility is a big part of why it earns a spot in most anglers' core knot list.
It is popular because it pairs high strength with an easy, fast tie. A lot of knots give you one or the other. The Palomar gives you both, and my test backs that up with a real number over 90% rather than just a reputation.
In my testing it held up very well in 12 pound fluorocarbon, averaging 91.3%. Fluorocarbon can be stiff and slick, so a knot that still retains over 90% in that material is a knot I trust on the water.
The Palomar is one of the first knots I reach for when I want strength and speed in the same package. I have tied it in the dark, on a rolling boat, with cold hands, and it still holds. That is exactly why I wanted to put it on the tester instead of just trusting the reputation.
Here is the five-step sequence I use every time I tie a Palomar.
I walk through every step on camera in the episode. Press play in the player above.
The doubled line is doing a lot of quiet work here. Instead of a single strand taking all the load at the eye, you have two strands sharing it, and that redundancy is part of why the Palomar tests so high. When I broke three of them and watched them all land near 11 pounds on 12 pound line, it confirmed what I have felt fighting fish for years. I explain exactly where the load sits as the knot seats in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The step anglers rush is passing the loop over the hook. If that loop catches or twists as it goes over, the knot seats unevenly and you lose strength you did not have to lose. I show the hand position I use to keep that loop clean on a small hook in the episode. Watch how I manage the line so the loop drops over without snagging, and press play in the player above.
A day after running these numbers, the thing that stuck with me is how little you give up for how much you gain with the Palomar. Over 90% breaking strength from a knot you can tie in seconds is a great trade.
If you only commit one knot to memory this season, this is a strong candidate. Practice the five steps a few times at home and it will be there when a fish is waiting. Press play in the player above.
Palomar knot · 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro · fluorocarbon · breaking strength testing · knot tester · 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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