The strongest of the five most popular hook knots is the Palomar at 97 percent, with the improved clinch right behind at 90.5 percent, the uni at 86.4, the non slip mono loop at 82.6, and the plain clinch last at 65.6. I tested all five with 12 pound fluorocarbon, basing the numbers on the line's real strength of 9.54 pounds. In this How 2 Tuesday I break down which fishing knot is actually worth tying.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
In this test the Palomar was the strongest at 97 percent breaking strength. I tested five of the most popular hook knots with 12 pound Daiwa J-Fluorocarbon, tying each knot three times for an average and basing the percentages on the line's true breaking strength of 9.54 pounds, not the label. The Palomar came out on top, followed by the improved clinch at 90.5 percent, the uni at 86.4 percent, the non slip mono loop at 82.6 percent, and the plain clinch in last at 65.6 percent.
Coming in fifth and weakest by far, the clinch knot at 65.6 percent. Fourth, the non slip mono loop at 82.6 percent. Third, the uni knot at 86.4 percent. Second, the improved clinch at 90.5 percent. And first, the Palomar at 97 percent. The big lesson is that one extra step, passing the tag end back through that one loop to turn a clinch into an improved clinch, jumps the knot from 65.6 to 90.5 percent, a remarkable difference for one small move.
The improved clinch is exactly the same knot as the five turn clinch with one extra step: after passing the tag through the loop above the hook, you pass it back through the other loop you created, then pull tight on the standing line. That single extra pass took the knot from 65.6 percent up to 90.5 percent in my test. It is the clearest example in the whole episode that small details in how you finish a knot make a huge difference in strength.
You have to put it on a scale, because YouTube videos full of claims that a knot is strong tell you nothing without a number. Before testing the knots, I tested the line itself by tying a Bimini and breaking the spool, which broke consistently at 9.54 pounds. All my percentages are based on that real line strength, not the label on the spool. Then I tied each of the five knots three times and broke them for an average, so the results reflect repeatable performance.
Most fish are lost because of bad knots, and most knots fail because people do not tighten them down properly. A knot will slip before it breaks every time, so the fix is to lubricate the knot with spit or ChapStick, take a good turn with your hand, and pull it down really tight with pliers while you are still in the boat. Getting the knot as tight as you can before you ever cast is what gives you your strongest connection.
I tested the five turn clinch, the five turn improved clinch, the Palomar, the uni, and the non slip mono loop. I chose them because they are five of the most popular fishing knots there are, and they are often the first knots you learn, the ones that stick with you through your whole fishing career. They each get tied for different reasons, but people always ask which is strongest, so I put them head to head on the machine to find out.
I chose these five because they are the most popular hook knots there are, and usually the first ones you learn, the ones that stay with you your whole career. People always ask which is strongest, so instead of guessing I put them head to head on the machine. I explain my reasoning in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Here is the process I follow to get honest numbers and stronger knots. I cover the details in the episode.
I unpack each step in the episode. Press play in the player above.
The improved clinch is just the regular clinch with one extra pass of the tag end back through the second loop, and that single move took the knot from 65.6 percent up to 90.5 percent. It is the clearest proof that how you finish a knot matters as much as which knot you pick. I show the difference in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Most fish are lost to bad knots, and most knots fail because they were not tightened properly. Since a knot slips before it breaks, I lubricate with spit or ChapStick and pull everything down hard with pliers in the boat. I walk through exactly how I cinch each knot in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The results were clear: the Palomar at 97 percent is hard to beat, and a properly tied improved clinch is right there with it.
Whatever you tie, test your line, lubricate the knot, and cinch it down hard before you ever make a cast. 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.
Palomar knot · improved clinch knot · clinch knot · uni knot · non slip mono loop · Daiwa J-Fluorocarbon · Bimini twist · Danco pliers · Star brite · Nikon · 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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