Sometimes you want a loop knot so your lure or fly can swing freely and get more action. Two of my favorites are the non-slip mono loop and Steve Huff's double figure 8, so I tied both and tested them head to head. The non-slip mono loop won on raw strength, breaking at 100.13 percent against the double figure 8's 77.2 percent. But there is a catch: the double figure 8 is still my winner for the knot that pulls the straightest, which matters a lot when you want your lure tracking true.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
The non-slip mono loop is clearly stronger. In my test it broke at 100.13 percent of the line's rated strength, while Steve Huff's double figure 8 came in at 77.2 percent. That is a big gap. So if pure breaking strength is your only concern, the non-slip mono loop is the winner. But strength is not the only thing that matters in a loop knot, which is why I still tie the double figure 8 in certain situations.
Because it pulls the straightest. The double figure 8 lines up beautifully with the standing line, so your lure or fly tracks true instead of being pulled off to one side. For a lot of presentations that straight pull and clean action is worth more than the last bit of breaking strength. So I weigh the job: if I need maximum strength I tie the non-slip, and if I want the straightest, best-tracking loop, I reach for the double figure 8.
Tie an overhand knot in the line, then pass the tag end through one more time so it becomes a figure 8. Run the tag end through the hook eye, then go up one side of the figure 8 and down the other. Pull it snug to the eye, not all the way tight. Then hold the tag next to the line, wrap around twice, and pass the tag through both loops. Pull the figure 8 tight, then snug the two figure 8s together with the standing line.
Start with an overhand knot in the line about six to 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 down close to the eye. Wrap the tag end around the standing line three times, then pass it back through the overhand. Pull it down with the tag end first, then finish by snugging the knot down with nothing but the standing line.
A loop knot leaves an open loop at the hook eye so your lure or fly can pivot and swing freely instead of being locked in a fixed position. That extra freedom gives many lures and flies a livelier, more natural action in the water, which can trigger more strikes. I reach for a loop knot any time I want to maximize that movement, and the two knots in this episode are among my favorites for the job.
I have broken and tested every knot I can think of on the Tom Rowland Podcast and gathered the results into a free knot guide. Download it at tomrowlandpodcast.com to see the breaking strengths side by side, including loop knots like these. It is the easiest way to choose the right knot for your situation instead of guessing which one will hold.
Loop knots are how I get more action out of a lure or fly, and these two are both staples in my kit. The non-slip mono loop is a classic, and Steve Huff's double figure 8 is one I trust for how cleanly it tracks. I wanted to know what each one actually gives up, so I tied both and pulled them to failure. The numbers told one story and my on-the-water preference told another. I walk through both knots in the episode, so press play in the player above.
The non-slip mono loop won the strength test outright, but I did not walk away ready to retire the double figure 8. The reason is how it pulls. The double figure 8 lines up so straight with the standing line that your lure tracks true, and for a lot of presentations that is worth more than the last few percent of breaking strength. Deciding between them comes down to the job in front of you. I explain how I make that call in the episode, so press play in the player above and follow along.
Here are the steps I walk through in this How 2 Tuesday. I cover the details in the episode, so press play in the player above and follow along.
I unpack each of these in the episode. Press play in the player above.
If you want the strongest loop knot of these two, tie the non-slip mono loop. It broke at over a hundred percent of the line's rating, which is about as good as it gets.
But I am not giving up the double figure 8, because it pulls the straightest and tracks a lure beautifully. Pick the one that fits the job. Press play in the player above for the full breakdown.
double figure 8 knot · Steve Huff · non-slip mono loop · loop knots · knot strength testing · Danco · Tom Rowland Podcast · How 2 Tuesday
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.
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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