Tom Rowland | How Many Turns Makes the Strongest Spider Hitch? | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 710

Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast and expert angler, tests the spider hitch knot to determine the optimal number of turns for maximum strength in this How 2 Tuesday episode. Through hands-on testing with a Boga Grip and precise measurements, Tom discovers that the conventional wisdom about spider hitch construction might need revision. The results reveal surprising insights about knot efficiency, breaking points, and the relationship between wrap count and tensile strength that every serious angler should understand before their next trip.

Why the Spider Hitch Test Matters

The spider hitch is one of the most popular doubled-line knots in saltwater fishing, creating a loop that theoretically doubles your line strength at the connection point. But how many wraps actually optimize the knot's performance? Tom noticed that different sources recommend anywhere from three to six turns, with no clear consensus on which delivers maximum strength. Rather than accept conventional wisdom, he decided to test each configuration systematically using 20-pound monofilament and a Boga Grip to measure exact breaking points. The methodology is straightforward but revealing, and the results challenge some commonly held beliefs about knot construction. Tom explains his testing setup and methodology at the beginning of the episode.

The Three-Turn Baseline

Tom began his testing with the minimum recommended configuration: three turns through the loop. This represents the lower end of most instructional recommendations and serves as the baseline for comparison. Using his Boga Grip attached to a fixed point, he pulled steadily until the knot failed, recording the exact weight at failure. The three-turn spider hitch broke at 16 pounds on 20-pound test line, representing 80% of the line's rated strength. While this might seem like a significant loss, it's actually within the normal range for most fishing knots, which typically retain between 70-95% of line strength. But the question remained: could adding more turns improve these numbers? The three-turn test results and Tom's initial observations start early in the episode.

Four Turns Show Improvement

Adding one additional wrap to create a four-turn spider hitch produced measurable improvement in Tom's testing. The four-turn configuration broke at 17 pounds, a one-pound increase over the three-turn version. This represents 85% of the line's rated strength and suggests that additional wraps do contribute to knot integrity, at least initially. The increase might seem modest, but in fishing situations where you're working at the edge of your tackle's capacity, every pound of breaking strength matters. Tom notes the incremental gain and prepares to test whether the pattern continues with additional turns. The four-turn test and comparison to the three-turn results appear in the middle section of the episode.

Five Turns Hit Peak Strength

The five-turn spider hitch delivered the strongest performance in Tom's entire test series, breaking at 18 pounds on the 20-pound test line. This represents 90% of the rated line strength and a two-pound improvement over the baseline three-turn configuration. The result suggests that five turns provide optimal friction and load distribution within the knot structure, allowing the doubled line to perform closer to its theoretical maximum. For anglers who want the strongest possible spider hitch, five turns appears to be the sweet spot. But Tom's testing didn't stop there—he wanted to see if even more wraps would continue the upward trend or if diminishing returns would set in. Tom reveals the five-turn results and discusses what they mean for practical fishing applications later in the episode.

Six Turns and the Law of Diminishing Returns

In a surprising turn, the six-turn spider hitch actually performed worse than the five-turn version, breaking at just 16 pounds—the same as the three-turn baseline. This result demonstrates that more isn't always better when it comes to knot construction. Tom theorizes that excessive wraps may create internal friction that causes the knot to fail prematurely, or that the additional bulk prevents the turns from seating properly under load. The finding has practical implications: anglers who've been maxing out their spider hitch wraps thinking more is better might actually be weakening their connection. The optimal configuration balances sufficient friction with efficient load transfer, and in this case, that sweet spot is five turns. The six-turn test results and Tom's analysis of why more turns decreased strength come near the end of the episode.

Final Thoughts from Tom

This is exactly the kind of testing I love doing on How 2 Tuesday. We hear recommendations all the time—three turns, five turns, six turns—but rarely does anyone actually put them to the test and measure the results. What surprised me most wasn't just that five turns won, but that six turns actually made the knot weaker. That tells me there's a real engineering principle at work here, not just personal preference.

The spider hitch is one of those knots that can save your day when you need a quick doubled-line connection, whether you're rigging for bimini-style leaders or just want extra insurance at your terminal connection. Knowing that five turns gives you optimal strength means you can tie with confidence and not second-guess yourself on the water. The two-pound difference between three and five turns might not sound like much, but when you're fighting a fish that's testing your drag, every bit of strength matters.

If you tie spider hitches, watch this one. The visual demonstration makes it easy to see exactly how to count your turns and what the finished knot should look like. And if you've been doing six or seven turns thinking more is better, you might want to scale back. This is practical knowledge you can use on your very next fishing trip.