The Pitzen knot is a fast, tiny-profile knot for attaching flies and lures that I first saw from Matty Rich on Instagram. He calls it a two-second knot with a small profile and big knot strength, so in this How 2 Tuesday I put that claim to the test. I tied three of them in 15 pound fluorocarbon and broke each one. They averaged 64% breaking strength, very fast and very small, but not as strong as many other knots I have tested.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
The Pitzen knot is a fast, small-profile knot for attaching flies and lures. I first saw it from Matty Rich on Instagram, who describes it as a two-second knot with a tiny profile and big knot strength. It is genuinely quick to tie and leaves a very small profile at the connection.
In my test the Pitzen averaged 64% breaking strength. I tied and broke three knots in 15 pound fluorocarbon. They failed at 8.42, 11.16, and 9.42 pounds. That is not as strong as many other knots I have tested, like the non-slip mono loop or the Steve Huff double figure eight.
It depends on what you value. If you want speed and a tiny profile, the Pitzen delivers both and ties in about two seconds. If you want maximum strength, my 64% result says there are stronger options. I lay out the trade-off so you can decide for your fishing.
I do not know its true origin. I came across it from Matty Rich on Instagram, who has a great account full of cool tying content and calls it the Pitzen knot. I tested it to find out whether the strength lives up to how fast and small it is.
I tested the Pitzen in 15 pound fluorocarbon. The three knots broke at 8.42, 11.16, and 9.42 pounds, which works out to a 64% average against the 15 pound rating.
In my testing it came in well below knots like the non-slip mono loop and the Steve Huff double figure eight. Its strength is its weakness here at 64%, but its speed and tiny profile are real advantages for fast fly and lure changes.
I do not know the origin of this knot. I saw it on Instagram from Matty Rich, who has an awesome account and calls it a two-second knot with a tiny profile and massive strength. That claim is exactly what pulled me in. It is genuinely fast and small, but the massive strength part is a claim, and claims are what I put on the tester.
The Pitzen is a fast, small knot for flies and lures. Here is how I framed testing it after learning it from Matty Rich.
I walk through every step on camera in the episode. Press play in the player above.
The pitch was a two-second knot with a tiny profile and massive strength. After tying three and breaking them, two of those three claims held up. It is fast and it is small. The massive strength claim is where my tester told a more honest story. I get into exactly what I saw in the episode, so press play in the player above.
A lower breaking strength is not an automatic disqualification. For fast fly changes with a tiny profile, sometimes speed and stealth matter more than the last few pounds. I talk through where a knot like the Pitzen could earn a spot in the episode. Watch the test, and press play in the player above.
A day after testing the Pitzen, my honest take is that it is a great fast knot with a real strength limitation. Sixty-four percent is the number to keep in mind.
Would you use this knot, or not? I put that question to you. Try it, weigh the speed against the strength, and tell me in the comments. Press play in the player above.
Pitzen knot · Matty Rich · non-slip mono loop · Steve Huff double figure eight · 15 pound fluorocarbon · 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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