The uni knot and the San Diego Jam are both excellent terminal knots, and in my test they were nearly dead even: tied in 20-pound Daiwa J Braid fluorocarbon off the same spool, the San Diego Jam broke at 20.08 pounds and the uni knot just edged it out at 20.24 pounds. In this How 2 Tuesday I put two of the most popular hook-and-lure knots head to head in an East Coast versus West Coast battle to find out which is actually stronger.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
Just barely. I tied the uni knot with five turns and the San Diego Jam with seven turns, both in 20-pound Daiwa J Braid fluorocarbon off the same spool. The San Diego Jam broke at 20.08 pounds and the uni knot broke at 20.24 pounds. The uni edges it out, but the gap is so small it comes down to personal preference.
Both are terminal knots for tying on a hook or lure, and both are extremely popular. I think of it as an East Coast versus West Coast battle. The uni knot I tied uses five wraps and the San Diego Jam uses seven. They are built differently but in my test they delivered almost identical strength.
For this test I tied the uni knot with five turns, which is a common count for a terminal connection on the hook or lure. Five wraps gave me 20.24 pounds on 20-pound line. The uni is versatile and you can adjust the turns, but five worked great here.
I tied the San Diego Jam with seven turns for this test, and it broke at 20.08 pounds on 20-pound line. Seven wraps is a standard count for the San Diego Jam, which is a favorite of a lot of West Coast anglers throwing iron and live bait.
Honestly, you cannot go wrong with either one. Both broke right around the full rated strength of 20-pound line, 20.08 versus 20.24, so it really is a matter of personal preference. Tie the one you can tie cleanly and confidently every time and you are in great shape.
I used Daiwa J Braid fluorocarbon in 20-pound test, pulling line off exactly the same spool for both knots so the comparison was uniform. Testing both knots on identical line is the only way to know the difference you are seeing is the knot and not the line.
I know a lot of anglers who only tie the San Diego Jam and just as many who only tie the uni knot, and both swear theirs is stronger. Rather than argue about it, I tied the uni with five turns and the San Diego Jam with seven and broke them both. I break down what I found 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 San Diego Jam came in at 20.08 pounds and the uni knot at 20.24 pounds. Both knots essentially held the full rated strength of 20-pound line, so the difference is razor thin. I explain why that means you really cannot lose here in the episode, so press play in the player above.
When two knots break this close together, the decision comes down to which one you can tie cleanly and confidently every single time. Both of these are strong, proven connections.
We have now tied and tested over 40 knots on the podcast, and they are all in the free knot guide with the numbers side by side. Tie the one you trust and go fishing. 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.
uni knot · San Diego Jam knot · Daiwa J Braid fluorocarbon · 20-pound test · terminal knot · 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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