Testing your knots

[ROVERT]

I highly suggest learning the improved clinch knot. I started using it 3 or 4 years ago now and it just cinches down SO MUCH BETTER. Its only one more quickstep check it out, you will like.

I believe the improved clinch has been proven to be weaker than the clinch knot by both Orvis and Rio.

 

[riverwhy]

I have found that the improved clinch knot created a hinging effect that eventually weakened the knot with a lot of false casting. Therefore I use the improved clinch for streamers and nymphs and the regular for dry flies.

 

[5footfenwick]

When that piece of tippet I just added is way too long, (almost always) I find the Palomar knot helps a lot. (when I’m not fishing with flies with small hook eyes of course)

Not only is it strong, like really really really strong, but it’s the best knot I know for easy fly tie-in location and easily selecting extra excess line to cut off.

Plus it the fastest, easiest knot to tie. Like a couple seconds fast.

~ 5footfenwick

 

[jifigz]

When that piece of tippet I just added is way too long, (almost always) I find the Palomar knot helps a lot. (when I’m not fishing with flies with small hook eyes of course)

Not only is it strong, like really really really strong, but it’s the best knot I know for easy fly tie-in location and easily selecting extra excess line to cut off.

Plus it the fastest, easiest knot to tie. Like a couple seconds fast.

~ 5footfenwick

Palomar knot is a good one. I don't use it fly fishing for some reason though.

 

[KeviR]

If you want stronger knots, practice tying them (at home) and testing the result until you get a consistent breaking strength. Testing a knot streamside by hand (or stick) is quite limited because you are somewhat guessing how much tension your tippet can handle. What percentage of tippet breaking strength are you trying to stress the knot? 25%? 75%? If you are good at tying knots, you should be able to consistently get a breaking strength of >90% of the tippet strength. Sure, you tug on them after you tie them, but the actual breaking strength is mainly assured by technique, not testing. (I think quality control folks have a similar observation - you can't build crap and get good quality by testing the result. You get high quality stuff by using a high quality build process. Quality control is just there to make sure you didn't break the process unexpectedly.)

 

[5footfenwick]

Palomar knot is a good one. I don't use it fly fishing for some reason though.

I mostly like it as my first knot of the day while my tippet is long. Or first retie after adding a new piece of tippet as a time saver.

I’ll also add it’s the quickest way I know of to make a simple drop shot rig.
Leave the tag end really long and add a split shot a little bit up from the end of the tag line. Wrap the slip shot fully once before biting closed ( I mean Hemostat pinched) and then tie a few overhand knots in the very end of the line below the shot. This way if the shot or two slides, it hits a knot and stops.

I’ll admit it certainly has its weaknesses in the world of fly fishing. Small hook eyes on tiny dry flies are out of the question and it eats up leader quick. But man is it strong. Not quite as strong as a non slip mono loop. And not quite as much action as a non slip mono loop. But darn close for about 1/10th the tie time invested. Maybe I’m fast at a palomar and slow at a non slip mono loop though 🙂

~5footfenwick