How to Tie a Palomar Knot

A simple method to tying a secure knot

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 30, 2024 References

A Palomar knot, used for securing fishing line to fishing hooks, is a sturdy and reliable knotting technique. Palomar knots can also be used on both braided fishing line and thin, monofilament fishing line, which makes them versatile. When done correctly, this easy to tie knot is considered one of the most dependable variations of fishing knots.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Threading the Line

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Hold the fishing hook vertical with your thumb and pointer finger. Poke the fishing line through the eye of the hook, and pull about 12 inches of line through.^{[1]
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2
Thread the line back through the hook eye. With the tag line pulled through the eye of the hook, poke the fishing line back through the hook eye. Leave room for about 6 inches of line on both sides of the hook eye; the tag end of the line and the looped end through the hook eye. This will ensure that you have enough line to make your overhand knot and pass the hook completely through the loop.
- Try not to pinch the line and push it through the hook eye. If you’re working with very fine line, pinching it will create a kink that can cause a break in your line later when you’re fishing.^{[2]
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- Make sure that the tag line and reel line are not crossed over each other or twisted before you tie the overhand knot.^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Knotting the Line

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With both doubled up lines, make a simple overhand knot. Cross the looped line over the tag line and line leading back to the fishing reel. Turn the looped line underneath the tag and reel lines, and loosely pull it. Make sure that the hook is hanging at the bottom of the loose knot.^{[4]
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Hold the overhand knot with your thumb and pointer finger, and place the finishing hook though the looped end of the line.^{[6]
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Research source} Gently pull all the lines back to make sure nothing is caught on the hook or around the sometimes rough area of the bottom of the hook eye.^{[7]
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Pull the knot tight. Use your mouth and tongue to lubricate the line and the knotted area near the hook eye.^{[8]
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- Lubricating the knot with saliva or water reduces friction in the line, which in turn reduces the chances of having the line break later on.^{[9]
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- The final knot should be secured on the top of the hook eye, not on or near the bottom of the hook eye or the hook shank.^{[10]
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Separate the tag line and the line going back to the reel, and pull them in opposite directions to make sure the knot is tied tight. Use scissors to trim off the excess end of the hanging tag line. Leave a centimeter or two of leftover tag line.

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Why do Palomar knots fail?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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A Palomar knot may fail if you kink the line or cross the lines while tying the knot. If you’re using a fluorocarbon line, you’ll also need to use line lubricant to prevent friction, which can cause the line to overheat and fail.

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Which is stronger, the Palomar knot or the uni knot?

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The uni knot is a bit stronger than the Palomar knot, but the Palomar knot is a little faster and easier to tie.

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How many pounds can a Palomar knot hold?

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A well-tied Palomar knot on mono can hold about 30 pounds. Palomar knots on braid aren’t as strong, and will only hold about 15 pounds.

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