Tom Rowland | The UNKNOWN Knot - Strongest Hook Knot Ever Tested? | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 866

Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, puts a mysterious knot he discovered on Instagram to the ultimate strength test in this solo how-to episode. Using 15-pound test line and a scale, Tom ties and tests what he calls the "unknown knot" three separate times, and the results are extraordinary. Each test breaks above 100% of the line's rated strength, with the line failing above the knot rather than at the connection point itself. This may be the strongest line-to-hook knot ever tested on the show, but there's more to the story than just raw strength. Tom explains when you'd actually want to use a 100% knot versus a weaker connection, and why context matters more than numbers alone.

The Instagram Discovery That Started It All

Tom stumbled across this knot while scrolling Instagram, and his first reaction was skepticism. Another "miracle knot" making big claims. But something about the configuration caught his eye. The way it looped through the hook eye twice, the specific wrapping pattern, the final threading through the loop—it looked both familiar and foreign at the same time. He'd tied thousands of knots over decades of fishing, tested hundreds on this show, and yet this one was completely new to him. The real mystery? Nobody seemed to know what it was called. No official name, no clear origin story, just a knot floating around social media with impressive claims. So Tom did what he always does: he tied it up with 15-pound test and put it on the scale. Watch the full tying demonstration and first test starting at 1:36.

How to Tie the Unknown Knot

The tying process is surprisingly simple for a knot that tests this strong. Tom breaks it down step by step: start by going through the eye of the hook, then loop around and go back through the eye again. This creates a loop that becomes critical to the knot's structure. Next, pinch that loop to keep it in place, then wrap the tag end around all the lines exactly five times. Finally, thread the tag end through the loop you created and carefully snug it down. The finished knot is compact and clean. Tom emphasizes the importance of snugging it carefully—rushing this step could compromise the knot's integrity. The whole sequence takes less than 30 seconds once you've practiced it a few times. See Tom's detailed tying demonstration at 1:57.

The Testing Results: Over 100% Every Single Time

Tom tied the unknown knot with 15-pound test and tested it three separate times. The result? Over 100% breaking strength on every single attempt. This isn't just impressive—it's exceptional. When a knot breaks above 100%, it means the line itself is failing before the knot does. You can actually see this in the test: the break happens in the line above the knot, not at the connection point. Tom points out that this is the hallmark of an extremely strong knot. Most knots create a weak point at the connection, causing the line to fail right at the knot. But when you're pulling the full rated strength of the line and it snaps somewhere else entirely, you know you've got something special. Tom declares this the best line-to-hook knot ever tested on the Tom Rowland Podcast. Watch all three test results starting at 2:54.

When You Would (and Wouldn't) Use a 100% Knot

Here's where Tom drops some real wisdom that most anglers never consider. You might think everyone would want the strongest possible knot, but that's not always true. If you're fishing tight to mangroves or heavy brush—especially bass fishing with less expensive lures—you might actually want a knot that tests lighter than 100%. Why? Because if you hang up, you want the break to happen right at the hook, not somewhere else in your leader system. Tom explains that if you've invested time in a complex leader setup, tying from braid to fluorocarbon with multiple connections, losing just the hook is way better than losing your entire rig. On the other hand, if you want the strongest possible connection throughout your entire system, this unknown knot is going into Tom's arsenal immediately. It tests right up there at over 100%, meaning if you're fishing 12-pound test, you'll be able to pull the full 12 pounds before anything breaks—and when it does, it won't be at the hook. Tom's full breakdown on when to use this knot starts at 3:27.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I've tested a lot of knots on this show, and I mean a lot. We've gone through everything from the classics to the weird ones that pop up online. This unknown knot caught me off guard because it looked almost too simple to be that strong. But the scale doesn't lie. Three tests, all over 100%. That's real performance.

What I love about this episode is it's not just about finding a strong knot. It's about understanding when you'd actually use it. That's the stuff that separates anglers who just tie knots from anglers who think through their entire system. Context matters. Your leader setup, your target species, the structure you're fishing—all of it plays into which knot is actually the right choice for that day.

If you're serious about your fishing, watch this one all the way through. See the tests yourself, learn the tying sequence, and think about where this knot fits in your arsenal. And help us name this thing—comment below with what we should call it. This one's going straight into my rotation.