How to Tie the Palomar Knot
By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026
To tie the palomar knot, double the line, push the loop through the eye, tie a loose overhand knot with the doubled line, pass the hook or lure through the loop, then wet it and pull it tight. It is one of the quickest terminal knots to learn.
For palomar knot fishing with braid or mono it is a strong choice. It is not a “100% knot”, whatever some sites say. Independent Field & Stream tests by John Merwin put it anywhere from 63% to 96%, depending on the line and what it was tied to.
Below is how to tie a palomar knot step by step, the double version, and the faults that make it slip.
Step 1: Check the Palomar Is the Right Knot for the Job
The same knot scored 96% in one test and 63% in another. The difference was what it was tied to.
| Connection | Palomar result | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 30lb braid to 10lb mono via a small barrel swivel (Palomar each side) | 96% | Best Palomar result |
| 10lb mono to a lure | 89% | A Trilene knot scored 96% in the same test |
| 10lb fluorocarbon to a small lure | 82% | A non-slip loop knot scored 83% |
| 14lb braid to a lure | 63% | Tester preferred a braid knot (62%), as the lure must pass through the loop |
Field & Stream knot tests by John Merwin; breaking strength as a percentage of unknotted line.
The tests used US lines and lures, a few knots per combination and no published sample sizes, so read the figures as relative, not guaranteed.
It suits hooks, swivels, clips and jigheads on braid, mono or fluorocarbon: braid main line to a swivel for predators, a hook to a fluoro hooklength, swivels on sea rigs.
Skip it for bulky lures and large trebles, wire traces, very small eyes (see Step 2) and line-to-line joins (use the FG knot for braid to leader).
On lure set-ups, tie it to a clip so the loop only clears something small. For braid straight to a lure, pick another knot. To a swivel or clip, the Palomar is hard to beat.
Step 2: Double the Line and Pass the Loop Through the Eye
The easiest way to spoil a first Palomar is a loop too short to get the hook or lure through at Step 4. Fix that now.
- Double about 15cm (6in) of line for a hook or swivel, and more for a lure or clip. Guides range from 10cm (4in) to a 30cm loop, so err long.
- Push the loop through the eye so both strands lie side by side.
- If the doubled line won’t fit a small eye, pass the single line through the eye, then back through it in the opposite direction to form the loop. This is a small-eye workaround, not the double Palomar in Step 6.
By now you should have a loop sticking out the far side of the eye, long enough to go round the hook or lure with room to spare.
Step 3: Tie a Loose Overhand Knot Without Crossing the Strands
The overhand looks like the easy bit, yet a twist here can spoil a Palomar that otherwise looks fine.
- Hold the hook between finger and thumb.
- Tie a simple overhand knot with the doubled line, leaving it loose with the hook hanging below.
- Keep both strands flat and parallel. Don’t let them twist round each other.
Crossed strands bite into each other under load, which weakens the finished knot.
By the end of this step you should have a loose overhand, the hook hanging free, and the end of the loop clear and open.
Step 4: Pass the Hook, Swivel or Lure Through the Loop
This is the move that defines the Palomar, and the one that rules it out for bulky lures.
- Pass the whole hook, swivel or lure through the end of the loop, which is why Step 2’s loop needs to be generous.
- Slide the loop up past the eye so it sits above the overhand, not caught on the bend or a treble point.
- With trebles, keep the points clear of the loop as it goes over. This fiddly bit is exactly why a clip helps, as covered in Step 1.
You should now have the loop clear of the hook and the knot ready to tighten.
Step 5: Wet, Tighten Evenly and Trim the Tag
A Palomar can look perfect and still let go. The usual reason is visible if you know where to look.
- Wet the knot with water or saliva so it slides down smoothly.
- Pull the standing line and the tag end together, steadily, so the knot draws down onto the eye. With braid, go slow and firm rather than snatching it tight.
- Check how it has seated. The knot can fail if the loop rests against the bottom of the eye, so every part must cinch together. A good Palomar has the turns bedded down neatly and the loop pulled tight above the eye.
- Trim the tag to about 3mm.
Pulled fully down, the hook should rotate freely on the knot, which most anglers prefer.
Before you cast, give it a firm test pull against the hook. Better it fails in your hand than on a fish.
Step 6: Tie the Double Palomar Knot for Heavier Line
One extra pass through the eye changes when this knot makes sense. The double palomar knot is the same knot with the doubled line taken through the eye twice.
- Double about 15 to 20cm of line.
- Pass the loop through the eye, then back through a second time.
- Tie the loose overhand, strands parallel, as in Step 3.
- Pass the hook or lure through the loop.
- Wet it, cinch it evenly and trim the tag to 3 to 5mm.
Use it on heavier line and leaders, on braid where slippage worries you, and on set-ups where the knot takes more wear. Skip it on small hook eyes and fine line.
Is it stronger? Plausibly, but no independent test comparing it with the single Palomar turned up in research, so the extra strength is unproven.
In short: single Palomar for fine line and small hooks, double palomar knot for heavier braid and bigger eyes.
Step 7: Fix a Palomar Knot That Slips or Breaks
When a Palomar lets go, check the tying before you blame the knot.
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Slips on braid | Dry or snatched tightening | Wet it and seat it slowly, or switch to the double Palomar (Step 6) |
| Breaks at the eye | Loop resting on the bottom of the eye | Re-tie and check the loop cinches above the eye (Step 5) |
| Weak or kinked knot | Crossed strands in the overhand | Keep the strands parallel (Step 3) |
| Hook won’t go through | Loop too short | Double more line (Step 2) |
| Losing lures on braid | Wrong knot for the connection | Tie to a clip, or use another knot (Step 1) |
If the Palomar still won’t suit your set-up, the grinner knot or, on mono, the improved clinch knot are the obvious alternatives, because nothing has to pass through a loop.
For every other knot you might need on the bank, see the full list of fishing knots.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Palomar knot good for braid?
Yes, for hooks, swivels and clips. In the Field & Stream tests a Palomar knot on braid scored 96% joining braid to mono via a swivel, but only 63% tied straight to a lure. Wet it and tighten slowly so it beds down, and use a clip on lure set-ups.
How strong is the Palomar knot?
It depends on the connection. John Merwin's Field & Stream tests put it between 63% and 96% of unknotted line strength, using US lines and lures. None of those results reached 100%, so treat "100% knot" claims with caution.
Palomar knot or grinner knot: which is better?
Neither wins outright. The Palomar is quick to tie with braid and to swivels. The grinner doesn't need the hook passed through a loop, so it suits bulky lures and trebles better. See our grinner knot guide for the method.
Palomar or improved clinch knot for mono?
Both work. The Palomar scored 89% mono to lure in the Field & Stream tests. The improved clinch knot is a common mono choice that skips the loop step, which helps with larger lures.
Can you join braid to a leader with a Palomar?
Not directly, because it is a terminal knot. Tie both lines to a small swivel with a Palomar each side (the 96% test set-up), or use a line-to-line knot such as the FG knot.