The non-slip mono loop beat the double figure 8 on raw strength, breaking at 100.13 percent of line strength against 77.2 percent, but the double figure 8 is still my winner for the loop knot that pulls the straightest. In this How 2 Tuesday I tie both loop knots, which give your lure or fly more action, and break them head to head so you can decide which trade-off you want.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
The non-slip mono loop won on raw strength, breaking at 100.13 percent of line strength while the Steve Huff double figure eight came in at 77.2 percent. That is a big gap, so if breaking strength is your only measure, the non-slip mono loop is the clear winner.
Because strength is not the only thing that matters in a loop knot. Even though the double figure eight broke lower at 77.2 percent, it is still my winner for the knot that pulls the straightest. A loop that tracks straight keeps your lure or fly swimming true, and that is worth a lot to me.
Start with an overhand knot six or eight inches down from the end. Pass the tag end through the eye of the hook, fly, or lure, then back through that overhand and bring it close to the eye. Wrap the tag around the standing line three times, pass it back through the overhand, snug it with the tag first, then finish by pulling it down with the standing line.
Tie an overhand and pass the tag through once more to make a figure eight. Run the tag through the hook eye, up one side and down the other, snug it to the eye, then hold the tag beside the line, wrap twice, pass through both loops, pull the figure eight tight, and draw both figure eights together with the standing line.
A loop knot that pulls straight keeps your lure or fly aligned with your line so it tracks and swims correctly. If the loop sits off to one side, the bait can run crooked and lose its action. That is why I still favor the double figure eight for straight pull even though the non-slip mono loop is stronger.
In this tie I wrapped the tag end around the standing line three times before passing it back through the overhand. Three wraps gave me a knot that broke at 100.13 percent, essentially the full strength of the line, which is exactly what you want from a loop connection.
Sometimes you want a loop knot to get more action out of your lure or fly, and two I like are the non-slip mono loop and the Steve Huff double figure eight. I wanted to know which one holds more strength and which one tracks straighter, because both matter. I break it down 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.
The non-slip mono loop broke at 100.13 percent, basically full line strength, while the double figure eight came in at 77.2 percent. There is a real difference in breaking strength. But the double figure eight still pulls the straightest for me, which keeps a lure swimming true. I explain how I weigh that in the episode, so press play in the player above.
If you want maximum breaking strength from a loop knot, the non-slip mono loop is hard to beat at 100.13 percent. If you care most about a loop that tracks dead straight, the double figure eight still earns its spot.
I tie both depending on what I am after that day. You can compare both of these to 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.
non-slip mono loop · Steve Huff · double figure 8 knot · loop knot · lure action · fly fishing · 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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