How to tie a Palomar knot
The strongest knot for attaching a hook, lure, or swivel to a single line. Five steps, 30 seconds. Retains close to 100% of line strength.
Step by step
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1
Double the line.
Fold about 15 cm of line back on itself to form a doubled loop. Pinch the loop closed where it joins.
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2
Pass the loop through the hook eye.
Push the doubled loop through the hook eye. Leave a 5-cm tail of loop sticking past the eye — you will need that slack for the next step.
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3
Tie an overhand knot with the loop.
Take the loop and the main line and tie a simple overhand knot, leaving the loop dangling free. Do not tighten yet — the hook needs to pass through the loop.
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4
Pass the hook through the loop.
Open the dangling loop and pass the hook (or lure or swivel) completely through it. The line ends up wrapped around the hook eye.
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5
Wet and pull both ends.
Wet the knot. Pull the main line and the tag end simultaneously to cinch the knot down to the hook eye. Trim the tag to 3 mm.
When to use this knot
The Palomar is the strongest single-line knot tested in independent breaking-strain comparisons. It beats the uni knot, the improved clinch, and the trilene knot. If raw strength is what you need, Palomar is the answer.
It does have one tradeoff: the doubled loop must physically pass through the hook eye. On hooks with small eyes (size 12 trebles, small fly hooks), the Palomar will not fit and you will need a uni knot or a clinch instead.
For braid the Palomar is the standard. For fluorocarbon under 30 lb the Palomar holds well, but on heavier fluoro the line memory can stop the loop closing tight — go to a uni knot or an SLT knot above 40 lb.
Used on every lure that does not need a free-swing action: soft plastics, jigs, blade baits, vibes, micro-jigs. For hardbody lures and stickbaits that need to swing, switch to a loop-style uni knot — leave the wrap loose around the eye for free movement.
