palomar alternative

[bradster]

What are other knots for tying braid to lure? I know most recommend palomar, but my old eyes and shaky fingers find it almost impossible to tie palomar. Any alternative knots? Thanks in advance. 

[Todd2]

A uni knot is a fairly easy knot that's strong.

[The Bassman]

I use a modified version of the uni called the fishn' fool  which is simply a uni with the eye loop doubled.

[NHBull]

Doubled uni with the tag end back through the loop at the hook, keeps it more weedless 

[Jig Man]

I use the Pitzen (16/20) Knot for everything.  I can tie it with gloves on in just a few seconds.

[keagbassr]

Uni for everything for me with the doubled uni for pitching and punching rig.

[roadwarrior]

4 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I use the Pitzen (16/20) Knot for everything.  I can tie it with gloves on in just a few seconds.

I use this knot for all treble hook lures.

 

[J._Bricker]

San Diego jam

[J Francho]

I can't think of a simpler knot than the Uni.

[FrankN209]

Another vote for Uni. Double pass through..

[islandbass]

I have a mental problem with uni and the double uni. I have it memorized at home and by the time I'm on the water, I forget how to tie it. It's a rare but a true disconnect. But I can tell you that I saved a whole lot of money by switching to Geico, lol.

 

Definitely a strong knot. I use it more for in the salt.

 

Another vote for the uni. If it were a line other than braid, I think the improved clinch knot is a viable alternative.

 

To the OP: What part of the palomar is making it difficult? For shakey hands and eyesight IMHO, it has got to be the simplest knot to tie.  The other recommended knots, while good seem to have more loops and coils and more steps, which might be difficult for shakey hands.  May I ask how you are threading the line through the hook eye when you tie the palomar knot? 

 

I've seen some people choose not to use the palomar because they have a hard time fitting the loop of line into the eye, and this becomes increasingly difficult the thicker the line and the smaller the eye of the hook get.  I chuckle internally when they tell me this, but I do smile. I show them that it is far easier to insert the line into the hook eye first and then bring the line back through the hook eye, which there by creates the loop.  It is truly an "aha" moment when they see it that way. There are videos out there showing people to tie the palomar inserting a loop into the hook eye so maybe that's where they pick up that strange method.

 

If that is not the source of your difficulty, I regret that I cannot be of further assistance.

[snake95]

7 hours ago, bradster said:

What are other knots for tying braid to lure? I know most recommend palomar, but my old eyes and shaky fingers find it almost impossible to tie palomar. Any alternative knots? Thanks in advance.

I'm focusing on the issue being the fine diameter of the braid.

Obviously, you are tying direct braid-to-bait.

 

Another crazy suggestion for you is to try using a fairly long fluoro or mono leader.

 

The downside is you'll have to tie one knot with the braid: braid to leader.

 

The upside is it will be one knot, and you can tie the knot in the comfort and light of home.

 

After that, all your knots will be using the thicker mono or fluoro.

 

As for leader connections, I use the Alberto personally.

 

For simplicity, you can choose a uni-uni for a simple line/line connection.  Another simple alternative is the J knot.

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I always felt the Palomar was one of the easiest to tie. Uni is probably close. 

[bradster]

THESE ARE ALL GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS!  THANKS MUCH

BRADSTER

[Boomstick]

Another +1 for the uni. I usually give it 5 or 6 turns, and it works with any line type as well.

The only time I ever use the palomar is with braid, because it does cinch down nice and tight with braid, but the uni still works fine too.

[NHBull]

On 9/7/2018 at 11:13 AM, roadwarrior said:

I use this knot for all treble hook lures.

 

Not to hijack, but why wouldn’t you run the tag through the bottom loop before the top making the San Diego jam........just courious?

[Bass Junke]

I have been tying the uni for a while, it truly is  versatile. It is easy to tie but what I believe is so great about it is the way it finishes perfect every time as it cinches up to the eye of the hook. Other knots you sometimes have to fiddle with to get the knot to set up right. 

 

Lately I have been using the Orvis knot. It is tiny but strong. Incredibly easy to tie and finishes like the Uni, clean and perfect every time.

[FishTank]

Maybe the in the improved clinch knot would work?

 

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/Berkley-ae-how-to-tie-the-improved-clinch-knot.html

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Another for the Fish-N-Fool knot it's stronger than the Palomar anyways and uses much less line to tie.

[The Bassman]

5 hours ago, FishTank said:

Maybe the in the improved clinch knot would work?

 

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/Berkley-ae-how-to-tie-the-improved-clinch-knot.html

Braid will slip out of the improved clinch real fast.

3 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Another for the Fish-N-Fool knot it's stronger than the Palomar anyways and uses much less line to tie.

Agree on the less line used. I mentioned in another thread that i minimize waste by carefully pushing my untightened knot up the line first.  Leaves me with very little tag.  If I get it just right I don't even have to trim.