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Merwin: The Perfect Knot
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July 01, 2009
Merwin: The Perfect Knot
I’m going to stick my neck out a little here and say the world’s best knot for general freshwater fishing is the Palomar knot. This is contrary to some things I’ve written previously, but after a lot of thought I’ve changed my mind.
Other knots such as the San Diego Jam are slightly stronger. And still other widely used knots such as the improved clinch are somewhat weaker. But the Palomar is more important because it’s simpler and easier to tie. And because it typically averages at about 90 percent of unknotted line strength, it’s adequately strong.
Because the Palomar is simple, it’s more accessible to more anglers who have trouble with or otherwise dislike complicated ties. You can find online Palomar knot directions here. If you’re tying on a hook or something else with a small eye, just pass the end of the line through the eye and then back again to create the necessary loop.
The Palomar is not a good flyfishing knot because it consumes too much leader tippet in tying. On the other hand--and for everything else--it’s the only terminal knot widely recommended for superlines, and it works just as well with common freshwater nylon monofilaments. For tying on everything from crankbaits to worm hooks, it’s just about perfect.
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Comments (12)
Palomar is my second choice after the Uni-Knot (AKA Duncan Loop). I agree that Palomar is a favorite for braids/superlines but the applicability of the uni-knot to more situations wins out with me.
My brother swears the improved clinch is the only way to go and a very good friend went to great lengths to test knot breaking strength and landed on the Trilene Knot. We all have our favorites, most likely depending on what we learned early and have practiced until our hands can tie them in the dark. A fluke success or failure can make or break (pun intended) our choices as well.
Didn't know the name, but i use the Palomar Knot extensively
The Palomar knot is indeed a great and simple knot, and I agree with two main points above: It is simple and strong, and it uses too much tippet for fly-fishing.
I'll add my own third point: The best knot is the one you tie consistently and with confidence. When you're looking to catch the big brown under that log jam, it is not the time to experiment with a new knot. Go with the one you know.
The Palomar is just fine for flyfishing. You should have used a barrel knot to tie an extra 2 feet of terminal tippet material on your leader in the first place.
I think the palomar knot is a good knot as well, but I never use it. I think maybe I should consider it on my superlines, but I guess I'm just stuck on a simple clinch knot. If you ask me, the clinch knot (not the improved clinch) is one of the best knots there is, and I can tie it in about 4 seconds...
I like to flyfish, but spin and baitcast as well. I do not always use the palomar knot, because there are obvious applications that are better suited with the duncan loop, and the cinch knots and ,many others- but I tie on with the palomar more than any of the others. It has never let me down!
My favorite knot is a George Harvey Dry Fly Knot. Other than that I'm a palomar, trilene and the knot that is a loop when your done. I can't remember it's name.
Yeah I was starting to use it a lot starting about 5 years ago, then on my last fishing trip I FORGOT HOW TO TIE IT. Nice. I got it now. Too bad I didn't have this blog or the internet at the time.
I stated before... I love the Palomar knot. Like you said, it works for about anything you want to use from crankbaits to worm hooks or whatever. It is easy to tie and strong, what more could you want?
I've always used the Palomar Knot for as long as I can remember.
But the best knot I ever tied, was the one I tied when I married my beautiful wife ;O}}}
I love the palomar but as I've said it's tough to tie in a rocking boat. I'll stick with the improved clinch.
My grandpop taught me the improved clinch when I was 6 or 7 and I use it for nearly everything ever since. I've learned some others, but always revert back to the good old improved clinch knot. I've tied it so many times that I'm not sure which is faster, that or my shoelaces.
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The Palomar knot is indeed a great and simple knot, and I agree with two main points above: It is simple and strong, and it uses too much tippet for fly-fishing.
I'll add my own third point: The best knot is the one you tie consistently and with confidence. When you're looking to catch the big brown under that log jam, it is not the time to experiment with a new knot. Go with the one you know.
Palomar is my second choice after the Uni-Knot (AKA Duncan Loop). I agree that Palomar is a favorite for braids/superlines but the applicability of the uni-knot to more situations wins out with me.
My brother swears the improved clinch is the only way to go and a very good friend went to great lengths to test knot breaking strength and landed on the Trilene Knot. We all have our favorites, most likely depending on what we learned early and have practiced until our hands can tie them in the dark. A fluke success or failure can make or break (pun intended) our choices as well.
Didn't know the name, but i use the Palomar Knot extensively
The Palomar is just fine for flyfishing. You should have used a barrel knot to tie an extra 2 feet of terminal tippet material on your leader in the first place.
I think the palomar knot is a good knot as well, but I never use it. I think maybe I should consider it on my superlines, but I guess I'm just stuck on a simple clinch knot. If you ask me, the clinch knot (not the improved clinch) is one of the best knots there is, and I can tie it in about 4 seconds...
I like to flyfish, but spin and baitcast as well. I do not always use the palomar knot, because there are obvious applications that are better suited with the duncan loop, and the cinch knots and ,many others- but I tie on with the palomar more than any of the others. It has never let me down!
My favorite knot is a George Harvey Dry Fly Knot. Other than that I'm a palomar, trilene and the knot that is a loop when your done. I can't remember it's name.
Yeah I was starting to use it a lot starting about 5 years ago, then on my last fishing trip I FORGOT HOW TO TIE IT. Nice. I got it now. Too bad I didn't have this blog or the internet at the time.
I stated before... I love the Palomar knot. Like you said, it works for about anything you want to use from crankbaits to worm hooks or whatever. It is easy to tie and strong, what more could you want?
I've always used the Palomar Knot for as long as I can remember.
But the best knot I ever tied, was the one I tied when I married my beautiful wife ;O}}}
I love the palomar but as I've said it's tough to tie in a rocking boat. I'll stick with the improved clinch.
My grandpop taught me the improved clinch when I was 6 or 7 and I use it for nearly everything ever since. I've learned some others, but always revert back to the good old improved clinch knot. I've tied it so many times that I'm not sure which is faster, that or my shoelaces.
Post a Comment