Skill drill
How to Tie a Palomar Knot
A 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, 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 line to a hook, lure or swivel, and the knot most guides suggest for braided line. Take Me Fishing puts its strength at 95 percent of the line and recommends it for line up to 20-pound test. Pennsylvania's guide says it is not a good knot for crankbaits or lures with lots of hooks.
The steps
- Double it through the eye
- Tie an overhand
- Loop over the hook
- 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
Double it through the eye
Double several inches of line to make a loop, and push the loop through the eye of the hook. Guides range from about 4 inches to about 6.[1, 5, 6]
Everything that follows is done with both strands together, and the loop needs to be long enough to pass over the whole hook later.
- 2
Tie an overhand
Tie a loose overhand knot in the doubled line, letting the hook hang in it. Keep the two strands side by side, not twisted, and do not tighten it yet.[1, 3, 6]
Texas Parks and Wildlife and Berkley both warn against twisting the doubled line, and the knot stays loose because the loop still has to go over the hook.
- 3
Loop over the hook
Pull the loop far enough to pass it completely over the hook, so it goes round the hook just behind the eye.[1, 3, 6]
This is the Palomar's defining step. Every guide passes the loop over the entire hook, lure or swivel before the knot is tightened.
- 4
Wet it
Wet the knot with water or saliva before you tighten it.[1, 3, 5]
Take Me Fishing says to moisten the line to prevent friction, and Utah's guide wets the Palomar before pulling it tight.
- 5
Pull it tight
Hold the hook and pull the standing line and the tag end together, slowly, until the knot draws up snug against the eye.[1, 3, 6]
Both strands go through the eye, so both ends are pulled together. Texas Parks and Wildlife and Utah both say to pull slowly.
- 6
Trim the tag
Trim the excess tag end, leaving a short stub. Never cut it flush against the knot.[2, 4, 6]
A long tag catches weeds. Cut flush and the clippers can nick the line.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
Twisting the doubled line
Keep the two strands side by side through the overhand.[1, 6]
Not passing the loop all the way over
The loop goes completely over the hook, lure or swivel before you tighten.[1, 3, 6]
Using it on a lure with lots of hooks
Pennsylvania's guide says it is not a good knot for crankbaits or lures with lots of hooks.[4]
Watch & learn
Palomar 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 the Palomar Knot (and when NOT to use it!)
Just The Lip Fishing
0How 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
0
Keep practicing
Other knots
Start hereImproved clinchThe 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
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.
- Fish Texas: A Basic Guide for the Beginning AnglerTexas Parks and Wildlife Department (tpwd.texas.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)
- "Knotes" on KnotsPennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (pa.gov)
- How to Tie a Palomar KnotTake Me Fishing (Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation) (takemefishing.org)
- Fishing knots 101Berkley (Pure Fishing) (berkley-fishing.com)
