How-To Tie a Palomar Knot

One the easiest and most effective knots for fishing, the Palomar Knot has a renowned reputation for its strength and effectiveness with a wide range of line types and sizes. A knot that every angler needs in their bag of tricks, it can be used for finesse fishing, throwing frogs, swimbaits, crankbaits, saltwater fishing, and anything in between. It has also proven itself at the highest levels of professional bass fishing competition. This article will give anglers a step-by-step guide on how to properly tie a Palomar Knot.

Double the line and run it through the eyelet of the hook or lure. Give yourself about six inches of line on both sides of the hook to work with in order to finish the knot properly. During this first step it is very important to NOT cross the lines. If the lines are crossed it can weaken the line and lead to knot failures.

Make an overhand knot around the main line and tag end with the looped portion of the line. Do not start cinching or tightening the knot at this point. If the knot is tightened too early, it can also lead to burned line and knot failures.

After the overhand knot, pull the hook through the same loop that was used to for Step 2.

Cinch the knot down. When cinching the knot try to get all the parts of the line to tighten at the same time. It is also a good idea to moisten the knot before cinching with water or a bit of saliva to prevent abrasions or burning your line.

Lastly, trim the tag end and you’re ready to fish.