Trilene knot keeps slipping!

[Steven Fowler]

I don't understand why the Trilene knot keeps slipping. Sometimes it holds perfectly for a long time. Other times, I will lose the lure just a few casts after tying it. 

 

Anyone have this happen to them? Any advice?

[T-Billy]

What kind of line? It's not the knot you want with braid. If it's mono or flouro, try cinching it down tighter? I've never had one slip with them.

[Deleted account]

7 hours ago, Steven Fowler said:

Any advice?

Uni.

[Ski]

17 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Uni.

This^^^^^^^ go through the hook eye twice then tie a uni.

[DaubsNU1]

5 hours ago, T-Billy said:

What kind of line? It's not the knot you want with braid. If it's mono or flouro, try cinching it down tighter? I've never had one slip with them.

 

I've been tying my braid with the Trilene knot since the 1990's...rarely ever a problem. Still use it today with all my my lines. I've found it strong and reliable. 

 

Looked it up again...and realized that I add one step to the knot below...After Step #3, I take the tag end and go back through the opening to the right. 

 

 

 

[Bass Rutten]

It sounds like it’s not being cinched down properly. Being a clinch style knot it relies on “pinning” the tag which should come out at the very base of the knot perpendicular to the main line and not pointing down toward the lure. This is achieved by pulling the tag back or away from the lure after clinching it, using your finger nails to push the wraps tighter helps too. I’ve found that the trilene has trouble when used on split rings as they’re not round and creates a slight gap at the base of the knot, I only use it direct to hooks or other terminal that’s solid and round.

[OkobojiEagle]

Trilene has been my knot of choice for tying nylon & fluoro monofilament lines.  In my opinion, many anglers clip their knot's tag end too short.  I leave 1/2"+ of tag with this knot.

 

oe

[mrpao]

I use the trilene knot all the time and usually holds pretty good. I've only had one slip recently because it wasn't clinched down good. I normally leave a longer tag end and it normally works well.

[Woody B]

Like others said, cinch it down good.  Also wet it (for lubrication) before cinching.   Are you sure it's slipping or is it breaking somewhere in the knot?   I use a trilene knot, or an improved clinch knot, depending on my mood.  I've never had either slip.  (mono only).  The only time I've had trouble (breaking "in" the knot) is when I get sloppy with my loops, and have wraps in my loops.  (I hope I explained this good enough)

[Captain Phil]

I used the Trilene knot for years with mono and had no issues.  When I first used it with braid, I started losing fish when the knot slipped.  I switched to the Jimmy Houston Three Leg knot and had no more problems.  There are many good knots.  Braid requires knots with extra hold or it tends to slip.

[Diggy]

15 hours ago, Steven Fowler said:

I don't understand why the Trilene knot keeps slipping. Sometimes it holds perfectly for a long time. Other times, I will lose the lure just a few casts after tying it. 

 

Anyone have this happen to them? Any advice?

This is my go to knot. Coincidentally I lost my Gan Craft Jointed Claw on a monster peacock bass yesterday. I was lazy with knot (cinching it) and I did not leave a good tag end on it. I usually leave a tag long enough to compensate for any slippage, just in case. I did a figure 8 after it followed my bait, hit it and it swam off with 70 dollars ??

I hope it shakes it free at some point, it's a floater so maybe someone will enjoy it if they find it. 

[BayouSlide]

After some knot failures I gave up on the Trilene knot and began using the Palomar exclusively: knot failures disappeared. YMMV

[Hulkster]

I was having problems with it using modern slick mono lines like Sufix Siege and Elite.

 

Once I switched to the palomar knot I can't break the stuff anymore.

 

I would just tie the palomar instead. its easier and stronger anyway. 

[Bankc]

I always leave about a 1/4-1/2" of tag end.  This knot will often slip, and if you have a lot of tag end left, it'll tighten itself as it does.  If you don't, it can untie itself.  And make sure your wraps don't overlap themselves.  

 

Also, as others stated, don't use it for braid or cheaper brands of fluoro.  I use the Fish N Fool for braid and Berkley Braid knot for Fluoro.  

[Unk]

What Ski describes above is , I believe , called a Fish-n-Fool knot . What DaubsNU1 describes is what I have been calling an "Improved Trilene knot" because the difference is the same as between a clinch knot and an improved clinch knot . Lubricated and snugged down properly either Ski's or DaubsNU1's knot should be secure . There's an informative list of knot strengths with different line types at

https://www.knotsforfishing.com/knot-strength-chart/ . They do not list DaubsNU1's knot but I would think it would be slightly more secure than the standard Trilene knot .

[WRB]

Until the OP answers the 1st ? What line, you all are just preaching to the choir. Any knot that slips is a poor knot.

Tom

[ErieCan]

I've been using the Orvis knot for a while now.  One of the easiest to tie and very strong. It's also hard to screw it up.  Someone on YouTube did a break test with it and it compared very well to the polmar knot it terms of break strength. 

[Steven Fowler]

13 hours ago, Bankc said:

This knot will often slip, and if you have a lot of tag end left, it'll tighten itself as it does.  If you don't, it can untie itself.

This is interesting. I think this is what I need to hear. I have trouble with throwing the lures off because the knot slips. 

If the knot tightens itself, then it would make sense to leave a lot of tag end left. Maybe that's the problem. I'm not leaving enough tag end.

[zell_pop1]

I have had no problem with the Trilene knot slipping, but the similar Clinch Knot would slip with Suffix Siege that I have used in the past.

[warefisher]

When using mono or FC, does anyone apply a flame to the cut off tag end?  I see some YouTube knot demos doing that to well up the end and prevent slippage.

[WRB]

14 hours ago, Steven Fowler said:

This is interesting. I think this is what I need to hear. I have trouble with throwing the lures off because the knot slips. 

If the knot tightens itself, then it would make sense to leave a lot of tag end left. Maybe that's the problem. I'm not leaving enough tag end.

What type of line??

Tom

PS, 1/8” tag end is all that’s needed.

[OkobojiEagle]

25 minutes ago, WRB said:

1/8” tag end is all that’s needed.

I re-tie when my tag end shortens to 1/8"...

 

oe

[Steven Fowler]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

What type of line??

Tom

PS, 1/8” tag end is all that’s needed.

14 lb monofilament. 

1/8" sounds too short. How often are you having to retie when it's that short?

[WRB]

The tag end shouldn’t slip at all.

Make sure you clinch the knot tight before clipping off the tag end.

Tying lures look at the San Diego Jam knot, when you clinch it tight it makes a addible click sound.

Tom

[Hytekrednek]

try a few more wraps if it is slipping. works for me