It's been a while . . . how about some knot talk!

[Shadow1]

I went back almost 15 pages and haven't seen any talk about knots.  Things change so much in the world of fishing, I was wondering if anyone has any different things they've tried.  I primarily use the improved Alberto knot.  It has never broken on me, and I was fishing off the coast of North Carolina five years ago on a charter and the guide used this knot.  He told me there might be stronger out there, but he has used the knot for over ten years with no known failures.  Fire away . . . 

[flyfisher]

Lefty loop or Palomar for me 99% of the time.  I primarily fly fish and neither of these knots have let me down over the years.

[gim]

I also use the palomar knot a lot.

 

I struggle with braid to fluoro.  I generally use the alberto or double uni but my knot skills in that department are lacking.

[A-Jay]

For FC, I use the The Pitzen knot or the San Diego Jam knot.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/256483-who-is-my-double-san-diego-jam-knot-expert/?do=findComment&comment=2997889

The Uni-to Uni knot takes care of all connections regardless of line type.

And I use a Uni knot to secure line to lure with mono or braid.

A small blood knot connects my reel backing to my mainline of choice

on reels that have backing.

And remember, if ya can't tie a knot, just tie a lot.

We call it the mite knot.

Might hold, might not.

Signed, the self proclaimed Knot Ninja . . . 

A-Jay

 

[casts_by_fly]

For anyone not a subscriber, Ty Berger just did a big series on knots on his youtube channel.  I've seen braid and fluoro tied to the hook and braid to fluoro connection knots.  Not sure if he did a mono to hook video.  He uses a range of knots and a couple different diameters of line, all tied a couple times and averaged.  He uses a digital scale to measure the breaking force for a given knot on a straight pull.  I forget the exact results, but the palomar didn't fare so well for line to lure.  The SD Jam I think tested out the highest.  For leader knots, the FG came in pretty well ahead, but the Alberto wasn't too bad.  The double unit didn't fare well.  That marries with my own experience.  I'll tie an FG at home and feel good about it but if I need to tie one on the water the alberto is easier and more reliable and just about as good.

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

For FC, I use the The Pitzen knot or the Deigo Jam knot.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/256483-who-is-my-double-san-diego-jam-knot-expert/?do=findComment&comment=2997889

The Uni-to Uni knot take care of all connections regardless of line type.

And I use a Uni knot to secure line to lure with mono or braid.

A small blood knot connects my reel backing to my mainline of choice on reels that have backing.

And remember, if ya can't tie a knot, just tie a lot.

We call it the mite knot.

Might hold, might not.

Signed, the self proclaimed Knot Ninja . . . 

A-Jay

 

 

I've also gone to the double pitizen this past year.  dead simple to tie and tie reliably on the water.  easier to tie on a big bait like a spinnerbait or long 3-trebled jerkbait than a palomar and getting that loop over the whole thing cleanly.

[Derek1]

My father taught me to tie the improved clinch knot when I was a kid. He called it the fisherman’s knot, not sure if that’s accurate. I can tie it with my eyes closed. I firmly believe the knot you can tie properly is the best one to use. I don’t think it’s ever broke. 

[A-Jay]

9 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

I've also gone to the double pitizen this past year.  dead simple to tie and tie reliably on the water.  easier to tie on a big bait like a spinnerbait or long 3-trebled jerkbait than a palomar and getting that loop over the whole thing cleanly.

Passing a jerkbait through a Palomar knot loop on a rocking rig and in the wind

is like doing Rubik's Cube for me.  

And let's just say, I'm not a top performer in either.

🤓

A-Jay

[Derek1]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

Passing a jerkbait through a Palomar knot loop on a rocking rig and in the wind

is like doing Rubik's Cube for me.  

And let's just say, I'm not a top performer in either.

🤓

A-Jay

I can’t tie up a jerkbait without it getting caught up in the line my shirt or the bush next me while standing on the bank. Regardless of the knot. Getting stressed out just thinking about it. 

[flyfisher]

24 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

For anyone not a subscriber, Ty Berger just did a big series on knots on his youtube channel.  I've seen braid and fluoro tied to the hook and braid to fluoro connection knots.  Not sure if he did a mono to hook video.  He uses a range of knots and a couple different diameters of line, all tied a couple times and averaged.  He uses a digital scale to measure the breaking force for a given knot on a straight pull.  I forget the exact results, but the palomar didn't fare so well for line to lure.  The SD Jam I think tested out the highest.  For leader knots, the FG came in pretty well ahead, but the Alberto wasn't too bad.  The double unit didn't fare well.  That marries with my own experience.  I'll tie an FG at home and feel good about it but if I need to tie one on the water the alberto is easier and more reliable and just about as good.

 

I've also gone to the double pitizen this past year.  dead simple to tie and tie reliably on the water.  easier to tie on a big bait like a spinnerbait or long 3-trebled jerkbait than a palomar and getting that loop over the whole thing cleanly.

Interesting on the Palomar as all the tests I have seen it usually ranks pretty highly.  There is a little bit of nuance with it, especially when not using it for braid as you can burn the line and if it isn't laying down right it can cut into itself. 

[Jig Man]

I have used the Pitzen for over 20 years.  One of my friends uses the palomar.  I can tie the Pitzen and make a cast or two while he is tying his knot.

 

On line to line I have settled on the FG.  It has never broken at the knot and all of the others have.

[flyfisher]

5 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

I have used the Pitzen for over 20 years.  One of my friends uses the palomar.  I can tie the Pitzen and make a cast or two while he is tying his knot.

 

On line to line I have settled on the FG.  It has never broken at the knot and all of the others have.

Interesting because the palomar is super easy to tie.  

[Shadow1]

I like the talk about the Pitzen knot.  I've used that knot for years now.  Super easy to tie, and very strong.  I have tried the FG knot.  I think it is very strong but hard to tie with small braid and leader.  I could tie it with larger diameter braid and leader, but when I went smaller it was very difficult especially on a boat. I didn't have confidence in it.  

[Skunkmaster-k]

I’ve been using the fishnfool knot, a uni with an extra loop through the eyelet, for a while now. Ty’s test on braid to hook showed it’s a great terminal knot. I wish he would have tested it with fluorocarbon. 

[Catt]

Palomar...he done 😉

[Mike L]

Snell for all bottom contact

Palomar for braid on top

SDJ for everything else. 
 

Never use a leader 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[JediAmoeba]

Been playing with the Crawford knot a bunch. Very strong.

 

Otherwise it's always SDJ or Palomar. 

[WRB]

OP search using “knot” upper right hand corner of this page reveals 764 pages regarding this subject.

knot tying is a big part of fishing and learning to tie knots correctly under Fishing conditions takes practice. If you can’t tie the knot correctly in the wind, rain, poor light and rocking boat in the waves don’t.

I use 6 knots starting with the arbor to fasten the line to the reel spool.

The Palomar knot, without twisting the loop, to fasten hooks and snaps.

San Diego Jam knot for lures.

Alberto for leader to braid.

Braid knot, double line clinch, for braid to lure.

Perfection loop knot for loop on leader or to hooks.

Tom

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Jig Man said:

I have used the Pitzen for over 20 years.  One of my friends uses the palomar.  I can tie the Pitzen and make a cast or two while he is tying his knot.

 

On line to line I have settled on the FG.  It has never broken at the knot and all of the others have.

 

that was the consensus of his testing on the FG.  Only once did it break inside the knot itself and looking at the video I'm not sure that the braid caused the break in the first place.  I think the weak spot in the fluoro leader was just inside the knot.  All of the rest of that test the leader broke outside fo the knot.

 

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

Interesting because the palomar is super easy to tie.  

 

The double pitzen is faster for me now.  I used to tie the palomar (or the trilene knot for open eyed lures like R-bend spinnerbaits) and I can tie one pretty fast.  But the slowest part of a palomar is tightening it down and making sure the loop doesn't roll over the knot.  Tighten too fast and you can heat the line or get the loop out of place as you said.  Do either and when you test the knot it will pop.  With the double pitzen you can still have those problems, but you're pulling a doubled line through a doubled line and also you're pulling most of the knot with no tension on the standing line (that goes back to your reel).  So the likelihood of burning it is much less.  It also seems to slide easier, maybe because of the doubled line.  The only thing that slows me down aon a double pitzen is if I get stingy with the loop in the first place and leave too tiny of a loop to feed back into at the end.  Then it can be tough to get a loop through the loop.  That's on me, not the knot.

 

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

Interesting on the Palomar as all the tests I have seen it usually ranks pretty highly.  There is a little bit of nuance with it, especially when not using it for braid as you can burn the line and if it isn't laying down right it can cut into itself. 

 

Compared to an improved clinch, basic clinch, or a bunch of other knots then sure.  Its not the worst knot in the world.  But there are better still.  Whether you need it for what you're doing is up to you.  I still tie an imrpoved clinch knot at times, though not for bass or anything I'm putting any real pressure on.  Its maybe the fastest knot to tie for a #10 single hook for trout.

[slowworm]

Not knots again.  It's a very knotty topic and people get all tied up in knots over it, arguing that knot is not better than this knot.  This is not the best way to address the knotty problem of which knot not to use when.

 

Of course, I have my own opinions on when to use this knot and not that knot, but because of these knotty discussions I'm not going to share knots, whether you like it or not.

 

 

[Jig Man]

1 hour ago, Shadow1 said:

I like the talk about the Pitzen knot.  I've used that knot for years now.  Super easy to tie, and very strong.  I have tried the FG knot.  I think it is very strong but hard to tie with small braid and leader.  I could tie it with larger diameter braid and leader, but when I went smaller it was very difficult especially on a boat. I didn't have confidence in it.  

I am using 15# braid with 8# fluorocarbon leader.  It’s working fine but I don’t tie it in the boat.

[bulldog1935]

Improved Allbright knot.  

Never needed another

@Shadow1

I'll add here my leader is 2' to 5', depending on my rod guides and what they pass quickly.  

The business end of my leader always gets perfection loop, and I loop-on paper clips, micro-swivel snaps, or micro-swivel titanium-wire bite trace.  The linear contact in loop-to-loop is always stronger than any single-bend knot.  

 

[Shadow1]

Not exactly knot talk but, what length of leader are some of you using with braid?  Does is vary with the lure you are using?  I've been at about 7 feet.  A fishing friend of mine swears by 12 feet or more of leader.  What say you guys . . . 

[Hulkster]

Palomar knot for me.

 

I have straightened the hook out on a #2 Mepps with 6 pound test Sufix Siege mono using this knot.

 

its crazy strong and so simple to tie. 

[casts_by_fly]

About 20' on my spinning rods.  I want the knot on the reel when landing a fish.  Also gives plenty of cuts and reties.  

[Jig Man]

1 hour ago, Shadow1 said:

Not exactly knot talk but, what length of leader are some of you using with braid?  Does is vary with the lure you are using?  I've been at about 7 feet.  A fishing friend of mine swears by 12 feet or more of leader.  What say you guys . . . 

I’m not too particular as long as the leader is longer than the rod.