Tom Rowland | Blood Knot Testing: How Many Turns Make the Strongest Connection? | Ep. 683

Tom Rowland tests blood knot strength with varying numbers of turns using Daiwa J Fluoro 15 pound to 12 pound fluorocarbon leader material and a Nextech Force Tester. In this How 2 Tuesday episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, Tom reveals something surprising: adding more turns doesn't always make your blood knot stronger. Testing configurations from 2 turns all the way up to 12 turns, Tom discovers a dramatic strength difference that could change how you tie your trout and bonefish leaders forever. The weakest configuration broke at just 6.86 pounds, while the strongest held nearly double that force. If you've been tying your blood knots the same way for years without testing them, this episode will make you reach for a scale immediately.

Why This Testing Matters for Your Leader Connections

After Tom's recent uni knot testing episode, messages flooded in asking him to test other knots using the same methodology. The blood knot emerged as the most requested, and for good reason—it's one of the most common knots for connecting leader sections in both freshwater and saltwater applications. Tom explains that he uses this knot quite often when trout fishing and also in saltwater for bonefish leaders, permit leaders, and anytime he's connecting similar pound test together. But here's the thing: most anglers tie their blood knots based on what they were taught years ago, without ever testing whether their particular configuration actually maximizes strength. Tom set out to answer a deceptively simple question that could have major implications for your next day on the water. The testing methodology and setup begins right at the start of the episode.

The Dramatic Strength Differences Between Turn Counts

Tom prepared seven different blood knot configurations, all tied with the same Daiwa J Fluoro 15 pound to 12 pound connection, ranging from 2 turns to 12 turns. The results weren't what you might expect from a simple linear progression. The 2-turn configuration broke at a disappointing 6.86 pounds—pretty weak when you're tying 12 to 15 pound test, as Tom notes. Adding just one more turn to make it 3 turns improved things to 7.66 pounds, still breaking in the knot. The progression continued with 4 turns at 8.14 pounds and 5 turns at 8.81 pounds. But then something interesting happened at 6 turns: the knot held 12.88 pounds and didn't even break at the blood knot itself—it broke at the connection to the scale. The 7-turn configuration produced similar strong results, and here's where it gets really interesting: jumping all the way to 12 turns actually reduced strength back down to 10.31 pounds. Tom walks through each test result and what it means for practical knot tying in the main episode.

The Sweet Spot for 12 to 15 Pound Connections

Tom's conclusion is clear and actionable: for tying 12 to 15 pound fluorocarbon, the strongest number of turns was seven. Seven turns gave the best balance of strength without unnecessary bulk. But here's the critical nuance that Tom emphasizes—and this is where most anglers make a mistake. He points out that if you use blood knots, you should test it with the type of monofilament or fluorocarbon you're actually using. Use a scale and test exactly what you're tying. The number of turns that creates the strongest knot may be different for 20 to 30 pound than it would be for 12 to 15 pound. This isn't a one-size-fits-all answer; it's a methodology you need to apply to your specific leader building setup. Tom's testing reveals a principle, but you need to verify it with your own materials. Tom explains why testing your specific line is crucial and how to do it properly.

Control the Controllable: The Philosophy Behind Testing

Tom frames this entire testing exercise within a larger philosophy that applies far beyond knot tying. "Control the controllable," he says. "This is the easiest way to become a better fisherman." The math is simple and brutal: if your knots are breaking at 4 pounds versus 12 pounds, you're gonna lose a lot more fish. But here's the empowering part—this is completely within your control. You don't need better weather, more expensive gear, or secret fishing spots. You just need to take the time to test these out or at least listen to these podcasts and get an idea of what a stronger knot would be. Tom suggests you may be able to increase the strength of your knots just by taking one more turn or two more turns. It's that simple. The difference between losing a fish of a lifetime and landing it might come down to whether you tied 4 turns or 7 turns in a blood knot you connected at the boat ramp. Tom's full philosophy on controlling the controllable and practical next steps for testing your own knots.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I love these How 2 Tuesday episodes because they're so practical. You can literally implement this information on your next trip. After we did the uni knot testing, I got flooded with messages asking me to test blood knots the same way, and I'm glad I did because the results surprised even me.

The difference between 2 turns and 7 turns is the difference between breaking off at 6.86 pounds and holding nearly 13 pounds. That's massive. And here's what really gets me—it takes maybe 5 extra seconds to add those additional turns. Five seconds of work could be the difference between landing or losing the fish you've been chasing all season.

If you build your own leaders for trout, bonefish, permit, or any species where you're connecting similar pound tests together, this episode is worth your time. Test your own setup, find your sweet spot, and if you do, text me at 305-930-7346 and let me know what you discover. I want to hear what's working for you. Now get out there and test those knots.