The Palomar knot beat the improved clinch in my test, holding 91.36 percent of the line's strength against the improved clinch's 85.15 percent. In this How 2 Tuesday I run the battle of beginner knots, tying both of these easy, everyday terminal knots step by step and breaking them to see which one you should reach for.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
Yes, and it is not particularly close. In this battle of beginner knots the Palomar came in at 91.36 percent of line strength while the improved clinch came in at 85.15 percent. That is more than a six percent edge to the Palomar, which makes it the stronger of the two everyday knots.
The Palomar is tied with a doubled line, which is a big part of its strength. You double the line over, pass it through the eye, tie an overhand knot, then pass the loop back over the hook or lure and cinch down on the doubled line. That doubled-line construction is what helps it hold over 91 percent of the line's rated strength.
Double the line over and pass it through the eye of the hook. Tie a basic overhand knot with the doubled line, leaving a loop. Pass that loop over the hook or lure, then pull the doubled line tight so it cinches down right in front of the knot. Lubricate before you cinch for maximum strength.
Pass the line through the eye and pinch it in front of the hook to hold the loop open. Wrap the tag end around the standing line five times, then pass the tag end back through the big open loop, and once more through the loop you just created. Hold it, pull it tight, and cinch it down.
Both are great beginner knots, which is why I call this the battle of beginner knots. They are easy to learn and quick to tie. If you want the stronger of the two, the Palomar wins at 91.36 percent versus 85.15 percent, but the improved clinch is still a dependable everyday connection.
Yes, it helps. I lubricate the knot before cinching it down for maximum knot strength on both of these. Wetting the line reduces friction and heat as the wraps seat, which lets the knot draw down evenly and hold closer to the line's full rated strength.
These are two of the first knots most anglers ever learn, so I wanted to know which beginner knot actually holds more of your line's strength. I tied the Palomar on doubled line and the improved clinch the standard way, lubricated both, and broke them. I walk through it all 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.
At 91.36 percent against 85.15 percent, the Palomar's doubled-line construction gave it a clear edge of more than six percent. That is a meaningful gap between two knots that are both easy to tie. I explain when that difference actually matters on the water in the episode, so press play in the player above.
If you want the stronger of these two beginner knots, the Palomar is the pick. It is simple, it is fast once you have tied a few, and it preserves more of your line's strength.
That said, the improved clinch is still a perfectly good everyday knot, and lubricating before you cinch helps both of them hold. You can compare these against every 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.
Palomar knot · improved clinch knot · beginner knots · terminal knot · 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.
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