In light 15-pound fluorocarbon, the non-slip mono loop is the stronger loop knot, breaking at 13.04 pounds versus 8.84 for the Steve Huff double figure-eight, but the Steve Huff pulls far straighter, so each wins for a different job. In this How 2 Tuesday I put two of my favorite loop knots head-to-head on the scale and explain why the weaker one is still the right choice for heavy leaders and tarpon flies.
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In light 15-pound fluorocarbon the non-slip mono loop is stronger. It broke at 13.04 pounds while the Steve Huff double figure-eight broke at 8.84 pounds on the same line and scale. Lefty Kreh popularized the non-slip mono loop and claimed it tests close to one hundred percent, and this test backs that up for light leader. So if raw strength on light line is your priority, the non-slip mono loop is the winner.
Use it for heavier leaders and shock tippets where pulling straight matters more than peak strength. The Steve Huff double figure-eight is by far the straightest-pulling loop knot I have seen, which is exactly what you want for tarpon flies or any heavy leader, so the fly does not swim off to the side. On light line it is not as strong, but on heavy line that extra strength is less critical and the straight pull is the bigger advantage.
Light-leader flies. I use it for bonefish flies, permit flies, and redfish flies, anywhere I want a strong loop knot on lighter leader. It is very strong and tests near one hundred percent on light fluoro, which is why it has been my go-to loop knot for those applications for years. On heavier leader it can kink off to the side a bit, which is where I switch to the Steve Huff instead.
The non-slip mono loop was popularized by Lefty Kreh, who called it the strongest loop knot there is and claimed it tested close to one hundred percent. The Steve Huff double figure-eight is named for the legendary guide Steve Huff, and I use it specifically because it is the straightest-pulling loop knot I know of, which makes it ideal for heavy leaders and tarpon work where fly tracking matters.
To make the comparison purely about the knot. By tying both the Steve Huff and the non-slip mono loop as bare test loops in the same 15-pound fluoro, the only thing I am measuring is the loop knot itself, not the hook or fly. That keeps the head-to-head fair, so the 13.04 versus 8.84 result reflects the knots and not some other variable in the rig.
Because stronger knots land more fish, and that is ultimately what defines a good fisherman. If your knots break light, you can switch to one you trust more or one that has proven itself on the scale, or learn to tie your favorite better with one more turn. Testing at home with a scale is the easiest way to get better, since it turns guesswork about your weakest link into something you actually control.
We are back on knots, and today it is loop knots. I am taking two of my favorites and testing them in 15-pound J-Fluoro by Daiwa to see which is strongest. I will be upfront that I do not actually use these two for the same jobs, because I have never tied them the same way. The Steve Huff double figure-eight is the straightest-pulling loop knot I have ever seen, so I run it on tarpon flies and heavier leader. The non-slip mono loop is one Lefty Kreh popularized and claimed tested near one hundred percent.
I pulled the non-slip mono loop first, and it broke at 13.04 pounds, which is strong. Then the Steve Huff on the same fluoro and scale broke at 8.84. So on light line the non-slip mono loop is clearly stronger. But here is the good news: the Steve Huff is not designed for that purpose. It is built for heavier line, and its real value is how dead-straight it pulls.
For light-leader flies, bonefish, permit, redfish, I reach for the non-slip mono loop because strength matters most there. For a 15-pound leader running into a 30, 40, or 60-pound shock tippet for tarpon, the Steve Huff pulls so straight your fly will not swim off to the side, which is worth more than the extra pounds. The lesson, as always, is to test your own knots on a scale at home, because stronger knots land more fish. The full test is in the episode above.
Watch or listen above to get the full breakdown in my own words.
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 lifelong fishing guide, tournament angler, and the host of the Tom Rowland Podcast. I spent decades guiding in the Florida Keys and competing at the highest levels of saltwater fishing, and I've fished everywhere from the Seychelles to Louisiana. How 2 Tuesday is my weekly tutorial series where I pass along the skills, gear choices, and small refinements that have made the biggest difference in my own fishing.
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