The Palomar knot is a simple, very strong knot for tying any sort of fishing lure or hook to your line, made by doubling the line through the eye, tying an overhand around the standing line, passing the loop over the hook, and pulling tight. In this How 2 Tuesday I tie it on camera again and put it back on the 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 double the line, put the doubled line through the eye of the hook, tie an overhand around the standing line, pass the loop over the hook, and pull tight. It is a short sequence, which is one of the reasons it is so easy to tie quickly on the water.
In this test the Palomar averaged 91.3% breaking strength. I tied and broke three identical knots in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro. They failed at 11.49, 11.05, and 10.35 pounds, for an average of 10.9 pounds out of a 12 pound rating.
Yes, it is one of the easiest strong knots there is. Double the line, through the eye, overhand, loop over the hook, pull tight. Once those five moves are muscle memory you can tie it fast even in tough conditions, which is a big part of its appeal.
You can tie a Palomar to any sort of fishing lure or hook with an eye. The doubled loop just needs to pass over the terminal tackle. That versatility makes it one of the most useful all-around connection knots.
I used 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro, the same fluorocarbon I run through these knot tests so the numbers stay comparable across episodes. Keeping the line constant is the only way to fairly compare one knot to another.
Because consistency matters. Getting the same 91.3% average on a fresh set of knots tells me the first result was not a fluke and the knot really does deliver over 90% reliably. That repeatability is what gives me confidence in it on the water.
I come back to the Palomar often because it is the knot I trust most for a fast, strong connection. Revisiting it on camera gave me a chance to slow the tie down step by step and confirm, with fresh numbers, that it still holds the strength I rely on when a fish is pulling.
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.
Some knots are worth tying again on camera because they are that good, and the Palomar is one of them. Coming back to it and landing on the same 91.3% average tells me the strength is repeatable, not lucky. I slow the tie down step by step this time in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The reason this knot keeps testing the same is that the doubled line shares the load the same way every time you tie it correctly. There is not much room to do it differently. I show the small details that keep your Palomars consistent in the episode. Watch the tie closely, and press play in the player above.
A day after retesting the Palomar, my confidence in it only went up. The same number on a fresh batch of knots is exactly what I want to see.
If you already trust the Palomar, this is your confirmation. If you do not tie it yet, this is your reason to start. 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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