Knot guide · Beginner
Palomar Knot: How to Tie It
The palomar knot ties hooks, swivels and lures to mono, fluorocarbon or braid, and it is the one knot to learn if you only learn one. It is quick, nearly impossible to tie badly, and it is the knot that finally stops braid slipping at the hook.
Published by the GilledIt editorial team · Last reviewed 2026-07-07 · Part of the fishing knot library
Step by step
How to tie the palomar knot
- 1
Double the line through the eye
Double about 15cm of line and pass the loop through the hook eye.
- 2
Tie a loose overhand knot
Tie a loose overhand knot with the doubled line, keeping the hook hanging in the middle of it.
- 3
Pass the hook through the loop
Pass the hook (or swivel) all the way through the remaining loop of doubled line.
- 4
Wet and tighten
Wet the knot, then pull both the standing line and the tag end slowly until the knot seats neatly against the eye.
- 5
Trim the tag
Trim the tag end to about 2mm and give the knot a firm test pull before casting.
Two rules apply to every knot: wet it with saliva before pulling it tight, because dry friction weakens mono and fluorocarbon at the exact point you need strength, and tighten slowly, then test with a firm pull before you cast.
How strong is it?
Retains around 95% of line strength, with some tests on braid putting it higher still. Exact figures vary with line type, diameter and how well the knot is tied, so treat any percentage as a guide, not a guarantee.
When to use the palomar knot
Any time you tie a hook, swivel or snap link to mono, fluorocarbon or braid. Its only real weakness is practical rather than structural: the whole hook or lure has to pass through the loop, which gets awkward with big lures and treble hooks.
Palomar Knot: common questions
For tying a hook or lure to your line it is widely regarded as the strongest simple option, retaining around 95% of line strength and sometimes more on braid. The snell knot can match or beat it on eyed and spade-end hooks because it whips around the shank rather than relying on the eye.
Yes, and that is one of its biggest advantages. Braid is thin and slick, and knots designed for mono, especially the improved clinch, have a reputation for slipping on it. The palomar grips braid reliably, which is why it is the default hook knot for braided line.
Because the final step passes the whole hook or lure through the loop of doubled line. With a small hook or swivel that is trivial; with a big lure or a treble hook it gets fiddly. For those, a grinner knot avoids the problem while giving up very little strength.
Yes, every time, as with any fishing knot. Pulling a dry knot tight creates friction heat that weakens mono and fluorocarbon at the exact point you need strength. Wet it with saliva, tighten slowly and steadily, then test with a firm pull before you cast.
Keep learning
Related knots
Grinner Knot (Uni Knot)
Hooks, swivels and leads on any line type, especially when you need a dependable knot tied by feel in the dark or in heavy mono. Tie two grinners facing each other on overlapping lines and you have the double grinner, a sensible alternative to the FG knot for joining braid to a leader.
Read the guideImproved Clinch Knot
Everyday hook and swivel connections on mono and fluorocarbon, especially lighter lines. Use 7 wraps on light line under 6lb and 5 wraps on heavier mono. Skip it on braid, where it has a reputation for slipping; that is palomar or grinner territory.
Read the guideSnell Knot
Spade-end hooks, where it is the only option, and any time you want the pull of the line aligned straight along the hook shank, which improves the hooking angle on bigger baits. Worth knowing on eyed hooks too.
Read the guideFor all ten knots in one long read, see the fishing knots guide, or browse the full knot library. Ready to put it to work? The carp rig library shows what to tie next.
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