Every knot in this guide has been tested on Tom's line-testing machine, with three pulls each to establish an average breaking strength. No guesswork — just data and proven technique.
The FG Knot
The gold standard for braid-to-fluorocarbon. Slim, strong, and slides through guides cleanly. Tom's go-to for tarpon and bonefish leaders.
The Bimini Twist
A 100% knot — meaning it never breaks before the line itself. The foundation of every IGFA-class leader.
Palomar Knot
The strongest line-to-lure knot for braid. Two seconds to tie, near-100% breaking strength.
Non-Slip Mono Loop (Lefty's Loop)
The loop knot Lefty Kreh built his reputation on. Lets the fly move freely — bonefish flies, streamers, topwater plugs.
Alberto Knot
A faster braid-to-leader alternative when the FG is too slow. Strong, low-profile, easy to tie cold-fingered.
Improved Clinch Knot
The classic terminal knot every angler should know. Quick, reliable, works with mono and fluorocarbon.
Slim Beauty
A heavy-leader-to-tippet connection used widely by tarpon guides. Tom's preferred Florida Keys class-tippet rig.
Steve Huff Double Figure 8
The loop knot Steve Huff uses on every saltwater rig. Proven on hundreds of records.