Knot testing

A knot on the water is one of the most over looked thing. All of us are in such a hurry to get that hook in the water we really don't take the time needed to tie a proper knot. Most fishermen tie a clinch or a double clinch with 6-8 twist in it. A clinch has about a 60% knot strength (eg. w/ 10lb leader the knot will probably break around 6lbs.).

Most fishermen run heavier line to make up for the loses in the past, thinking it was their line and not the awful knot. A clinch is not that bad as it sounds but there are better and more proper knots that can be used. For example, a up eye hook needs a different knot, which most tie a Turle knot which looks allot like the one below after its tied. The reason a UE hook needs a different knot is simple, you need something that send the energy from the line straight with the shank of the hook. This is a huge factor in the way the spear travels and is often over looked.

The knot above is a Husby Noose which has 100% knot strength, this means the line will break before the knot. So if you drag is set proper, I like about 65%-75% of line test, you will land your fish. If you know how to play a fish.

The Husby Noose is one alternative to a UE hook knot the other is a turle which has its problem as well. These knots create the burden on the shank of the hook and not the eye. This in makes a change of force in how the spear of the hook travels. Most fishermen that are still using a turle knot create two loops and call it a Double Turle, this does not make much of a difference in it's performance as a UE knot.

The pinch of a knot, from what I have found, is what breaks line inside of the knot. This is why the clinch breaks so easy because it does exactly what it's name entails, clinch, which then snaps the line. It is all most impossible to eliminate pinch of a knot, unless you direct this main strain of the knot towards something besides to line its self, like the hook shank. Hook shanks can also do pinching damage to mono line and create unexpected breaks.

This is a World Fair Knot, it is one of the strongest and smallest knots you can tie.

Proper lubrication is also a must when tying a good knot, don't use spit when Steelhead fishing, water works great. So wet you line and hook before you start.

Trimming you tag ends is not the most important part of a knot, you could leave them un-trimmed and still catch fish. I done it many times on days I forgot my nippers. Butt small nice knots do make the fishermen have more confidence in your knot and abilities. So here are some knot test results.