Palomar Knot - A Simple and Strong Fishing Knot

The Palomar Knot is one of the fishing knots that gets a lot of attention by anglers across the globe.

This knot is quick to tie, incredibly strong, and holds up to abuse. It works great for mono and fluorocarbon. However, depending on the type of braided fishing line you’re using, you might want to increase the number of overhand knots to prevent slippage. With a bit of practice, you’ll have this knot seating perfectly above the hook eye and ready for the biggest fish.

In this guide, we’ll show you a step-by-step guide to tying the Palomar Knot:

Table of Contents

Tying the Palomar Knot

Time needed: 1 minute.

When tied, this knot will not fail. Here are the steps you need to follow to tie the Palomar knot:

Make a bend in the line
Double about 8 to 12 inches of line to make a loop and make it go through the hook eye, swivel, or the lure you are using. If the eye is small, pass the tag end of the line through it again from the other direction making sure there are about 6 inches of the doubled line outside the eye of the hook.
Tie an overhand knot
Tie a loose overhand knot making sure that the hook is hanging from the bottom.
Pass the hook through
Hold the knot you just made between your forefinger and your thumb and then pass the loop over the hook and slide it above the eye.
Cinch and cut the tag end
Pull the standing, and the tag end in opposite directions. Use scissors or a clipper to cut the tag end off close the knot.

How to tie a Palomar Knot — Practice your Palomar Knots so you can do it in any situation.

Tips

Make sure that all parts of the Palomar knot cinch up when the lure or the hook is passed through the loop, or it may fall apart.
If the loop goes up against the bottom of the lure or hook eye, the simple knot will fail.
The Palomar knot is perfect if you are using the ElaZtech bait with a Ned Rig.
The Palomar knot can work so long as the item that is passed through the loop is small enough to pass through at least twice.
When using braid, you can tie this knot directly to the main line if you’re fishing in heavy structure (you now have one of the best fishing knots securing your hookup)

Advantages

With enough practice, you can tie this simple fishing knot in the dark, even if your fingers are cold.
The Palomar fishing knot can be used to attach lead core lines to swivels.
This simple fishing knot strength is near 100% of the original strength of the line.
This strong knot is almost impossible to unravel once it is tied. This is why it is considered to be one of the most reliable fishing knots any angler can use.

Disadvantages

Tying the knot while passing the fly or hook through the loop can be challenging at first since these require a larger loop. In other words, practice tying the Palomar knot before heading out, or you will spend more time trying it and less time fishing.
The Palomar knot is not ideal for hair rigs. You should use a knotless knot for that.

Uses

Anglers popularly use the Palomar knot for securing a fishing line to a lure, swivel, or hook eye. You can even use it for tying your lure to your main line, especially when bass fishing.
This knot works well for line lines.

Alternatives

Double Palomar knot – Also known as the improved Palomar knot, this variation can be created if you use a double rather than a single overhand knot. This is one of the best fishing knots for braid.
Trilene knot – As far as fishing knots go, this one is almost as strong as the Palomar knot. It is typically used to join a monofilament fishing line or fluoro line to fishing hooks, swivels, snaps, and lures.
Uni knot – This fishing knot is perfect for terminal and monofilament tackle connections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Palomar knot good for fluorocarbon?

Yes, the Palomar is good for fluorocarbon.

Why is the Palomar knot good for braided lines?

The Palomar knot is good for braided lines because of its strength and ease of tying when using a double or triple overhand knot to prevent slippage.

Which knot tightens when pulled?

The Figure 8 knot tightens when pulled.

Which knot is the best for tying two lines together?

The knot that is best for tying two lines together is the FG knot. An easier variant would be the Alberto, Albright, or Blood Knot.

What is the eye of a fishing hook?

The eye of the hook (hook eye) is the loop at the end of the shank. It’s used as a place to attach your line.

How can I tie a fishing knot fast?

You can tie fishing knots fast by practicing. Try tying the same knot hundreds of times while watching TV to simulate being distracted until it becomes second nature.

Jon Stenstrom

Founder & Angler

Jon Stenstrom is a fishing enthusiast. He has over 25 years of fishing experience, and 6 years of spearfishing experience, and is currently learning how to boat. Jon has his Open Water PADI Certification and FII Freediver Level 1 Certification. Jon has traveled the world to fish and dive, most notably in the Great Barrier Reef, Baja Mexico, Thailand, and Malaysia. More Articles