Skill drill
How to Tie an Improved Clinch Knot
The standard knot for tying fishing line to a hook, lure or swivel: five turns round the line, a tuck by the eye, and a second tuck back through the big loop.
7 steps, about 3 minutes
Tie it in 3D one decision at a time. Choose wrong and you will watch the knot fail.
When to use it
Tying monofilament or fluorocarbon to a hook, lure or swivel. Take Me Fishing calls it best suited to line up to 20-pound test, and Berkley does not recommend it over 30-pound test because it gets hard to tie.
The steps
- Thread the eye
- Make the turns
- Tuck it by the eye
- The improved tuck
- Wet it
- Pull it tight
- Trim the tag
A drill is practice. Tie each knot a few times at home before you fish with it, and retie any knot that looks wrong.
The written guide
Step by step
- 1
Thread the eye
Pass the end of the line through the eye of the hook and pull through about 6 inches. That loose end is the tag end.[4, 11, 13]
Five turns and two tucks use up several inches of tag end. Start short and you run out of line before the knot is finished.
- 2
Make the turns
With the tag end, make 5 turns round the standing line, working away from the hook. Keep the turns neat and side by side.[1, 3, 4, 13]
The turns are what grip the line. Minnesota DNR's guide says tackle makers found five works best: with fewer a fish might pull the knot out, and with more the line may break.
- 3
Tuck it by the eye
Bring the tag end back toward the hook and pass it through the small loop that formed between the eye and the first turn.[1, 2, 6]
Every clinch knot has this tuck. It also leaves a second, bigger loop running along the turns, which the next step uses.
- 4
The improved tuck
Pass the tag end back through the big loop you just made, between the turns and the tag end's own return.[1, 3, 9, 11]
This second tuck is what makes it an improved clinch. Minnesota DNR's guide calls it the part of the knot that keeps it from slipping.
- 5
Wet it
Wet the knot with water or saliva before you tighten it.[1, 5, 6, 7]
Moisture helps the knot seat fully and cuts the friction heat that can stretch and weaken the line as the turns tighten.
- 6
Pull it tight
Hold the tag end and pull the standing line slowly and steadily until the turns draw down into neat coils against the eye. Finish with a firm pull on the standing line to seat it.[1, 2, 3, 12, 13]
A slow pull lets the coils stack neatly. Loose or overlapping turns can snag and break, Minnesota DNR's guide warns.
- 7
Trim the tag
Trim the tag end, leaving a short stub. Never cut it flush against the knot.[5, 8, 9]
A long tag catches weeds and snags. Cut it flush and the clippers can nick the line, and the knot can come undone.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
Too few turns, or too many
Fewer than five turns and a fish might pull the knot out; more than five and the line may break.[3]
Skipping the second tuck
Without the tuck back through the big loop it is a plain clinch, and the tuck is what keeps the knot from slipping.[3, 9]
Tightening it dry
Friction heat from a dry knot can stretch and weaken the line. Wet it first.[6, 7]
Crossed or loose coils
The coils should lie side by side. Overlapping or loose turns can snag and break.[3, 13]
Tying it in braid without a second thought
Vermont Fish & Wildlife does not generally recommend the clinch for braided line, while Utah's guide says it works on all lines. Test it in your own braid before you trust it.[6, 10]
Watch & learn
Improved clinch on video
Picked from our video library. These are other creators' videos, so where one differs from the drill, the drill's sourced steps are the ones to follow.
How to: Tie two EASY fishing knots - Improved clinch Knot & Palomar Knot
Matty Wong Fishing
0Fishing Knots you NEED to Know! How to Knot Tying Tutorial (Improved Clinch, Palomar, & Alberto)
1Rod1ReelFishing
0The Four BEST Fishing Knots HOW TO | Fishing Knot Tutorial MADE EASY that every angler should know
1Fish2Fish
0
Keep practicing
Other knots
Technique 2PalomarA strong, simple knot tied in a doubled line: push a loop of line through the eye, tie an overhand knot in it, and pass the loop over the hook.6 steps
Technique 3Uni knotA versatile knot for tying line to a hook, lure or swivel: double the line back, lay a loop over it, and wrap six turns through the loop before sliding it down to the eye.6 steps
Technique 4Double uniJoins two lines: overlap the ends, tie a uni knot with each tag end round both lines, then pull the standing lines apart so the two knots slide together.6 steps
Technique 5Surgeon's loopA quick, strong fixed loop in the end of a line or leader: double the end back and tie a double overhand knot with both strands.6 steps
Learn it hands-on
Nothing beats a day on the water with someone who ties these all day long. Browse fishing guides near you and ask for a lesson.
Find fishing guidesSources
Where the checkable claims above come from. Rules and figures change, so confirm anything you are about to rely on against the source itself.
- The Improved Clinch KnotU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)
- Fish Texas: A Basic Guide for the Beginning AnglerTexas Parks and Wildlife Department (tpwd.texas.gov)
- MinnAqua Leader's Guide, Chapter 5, Lesson 1: Freshwater Rods and ReelsMinnesota Department of Natural Resources (files.dnr.state.mn.us)
- Knot-Tying GuideIllinois Department of Natural Resources (dnr.illinois.gov)
- Knot Tying (I FISH NY lesson plan)New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (extapps.dec.ny.gov)
- Learn to fish: tying the knotUtah Division of Wildlife Resources (wildlife.utah.gov)
- Tying better knotsOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com)
- Chapter 3: Knots and Casting TechniquesOklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (wildlifedepartment.com)
- "Knotes" on KnotsPennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (pa.gov)
- Fishing KnotsVermont Fish & Wildlife Department (vtfishandwildlife.com)
- Improved Clinch Knot: Fishing Knot Tying StepsTake Me Fishing (Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation) (takemefishing.org)
- Best Fishing KnotsTake Me Fishing (Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation) (takemefishing.org)
- Fishing knots 101Berkley (Pure Fishing) (berkley-fishing.com)
