Marlin, I didnt test my knot, the folks at The North American Fisherman did the tests on a Burkley line tester in a segment of the TV show called "Knot Wars". Watch the Knot Wars segments here at http://www.fishingclub.com/ExtraContent/ExtraContentDetail.aspx?id=14607... and you will agree. Watch the 2008 Knot Wars for info on the San Diego jam knot and others that lost to the Palomar the winner for 2008. Next year my knot will go up against a host of new knots to try to find a better knot then the Fish-N-Fool knot.

Just put the line through the hook eye twice then tie your uni knot with at least 5 up to 7 wraps and you have the Fish-N-Fool knot. Super quick, super strong and good with all line types and weights that I have tested. It should be the only knot you need to knot for tying a hook to a line or terminal tackle.

I've always called the first not the "fisherman's knot" I have never lost a fish because the knot didn't hold with this knot.

There are few things more frustrating then losing a good fish or a lure on a snag because of a shady knot. Attention to detail in knot tying is the difference between heart break or trophy. I've always stuck to the clinch and palomar but will give the san diego a shot.

I've had lures stuck up in trees with this not and yanked on them until the line broke. The knot never broke during these times, it's easily the best knot for lures.

That article in your mag. was great info for all of us fisherman!!! These knots can mean a big difference in our catch ratio.

Good illustration. I just realize that I have not been looping the line at the hook end. I haven't had any problems tying it like that, but its nice to know the right way.

A couple more comments. You list the J knot as best for equal sized line splicing at 67%, but in the unequal lines, the Slim Beauty is listed at 94%. It works well for similar sized line, wastes little of your leader (if fly fishing), easier to tie than the J knot, as you don't have to drag 3 feet of tippet through the knot, and much higher knot strength.
Also, in the Unequal line knot category, while the Yucatan knot is stronger than the Slim Beauty, you have to also tie either a bimini twist or spider hitch first, which are rated similarly to the Slim Beauty, the final rating of the whole set up is about the same as the Slim Beauty, and you only have to tie one knot.

Well Mr.John Merwin, you got this totally wrong. There is no way the San Diego jam knot could beat the Trilene knot, the Miller knot or the Palomar knot. No knot that has the line pass through the hook eye only once is as a good knot that has it pass through twice. The figures that he quoted are also pie in the sky. If you want some real data go look up Knot Wars. The 5 strongest knots for tying a hook to a line are in my opinion. #5 the eyecrosser knot #4 is the Miller knot #3 is the Trilene knot, #2 it the Palomar knot. I know of what I speak about knots as I invented the strongest knot ever tested, The Fish-N-Fool Knot at #1. It tested well above 100% line strength for Mono and Braid and was above 100% with fluorocarbon. The 14# Trilene tracer braid in the test didn't break until 19.44Lb. That's is 138% line strength. The 14# Trilene XT red mono held till an amazing 20.54 lbs. That's 146% line strength and last in 15# Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon it held till 15.21 Lbs. or 101% The best knot tested with F.C was at 103% for the Miller knot. I would suggest Mr. Merwin go over his facts again and get it right.

I have used this knot for years. I use it for large game fish as well as jigging for small game fish and I have never had this knot to break or fail me. It's the best knot, that I have ever used.You might break your line,or staighten your hook, but it won't break the knot.

Works great!

Okay, heres the deal...there might be strong knots out there, but how easy are they to tie?...especially when youre on the water...or just lost a rig and the pressure is on to get your line back out there on the water...??? A complicated knot thats strong wont get used...chances are, most anglers will go with whats quick and easy...and somewhat strong...deny it all you want...

I see the complete list of the knots you compared. If you didn't test the Doubled line Clinch Knot (DLCK) by simply tying the knot after doubling the mainline, you missed one of the best. Use 4.5 to 5.5 wraps depending upon line diameter.) I've used the DLCK ever since comparing it to single-line clinch knots, Palomars, most of the common flyfishing knots, and the Berkley knot with a borrowed Berkley line-test machine many years ago. It proved to be a 100% knot, as tough as a machine can test, and it lasts longer in use than any single-stranded knot I've ever tried.

the downside is that it is a bit hard for old arthritic fingers to manipulate, but less so than the San Diego Jam-knot, IMHO.

Never knew there were so many knots.