Here’s advice on how to tie the strongest braided fishing line knots from a seasoned veteran angler with fresh water and saltwater fishing experience.

In my opinion, there are only four fishing knots I would trust when it comes to braided fishing line. Two of the knots would be used for tying braided fishing line to braid fishing line and monofilament/fluorocarbon fishing line to braid fishing line. The second set would be used to tie terminal tackle – snaps, swivels etc. or directly to the lure with braid fishing line. The fishing knots I prefer, in order of what I feel is strength and ease of tying are as follows: Palomar, Double Uni Knot, Albright and Trilene Knot. You may have heard of these knots, or you may have heard of others, but the bottom line is these four will work, are easy fishing knots to learn how to tie and to tie them once you see how, and will meet all your fishing needs.

For this piece, let’s look at all four fishing knots, but more importantly, make a decision on what I feel you should be using. All four knots are good, but the two I like are a lot easier to tie. And are just as strong. Remember, the most important item in fishing knot tying is to slightly wet the line before pulling it tight, and then to make it even stronger, add a small drop of Fisherman’s or Crazy Glue to the knot.

Why Tie Line to Line?

When I am fishing there are very few times I will tie a lure directly to braided fishing line. Braid line is very visible in the water, and even if I am fishing murky/cloudy water, I am always afraid of spooking a fish. There are some lures I will tie directly, but even then, it is not always done! The first would be while using topwater frogs, buzzbaits or Whopper Plopper type baits. These baits are making a lot of commotion, and a bass or other predator is going to lunge quickly without hesitation or trying to see what it is actually attacking. The second would be a jig as I feel as the jig falls, most times a predator will hit it the same way as a "noisy" topwater bait.

For all other times while fishing braided fishing line, I want a leader of some form in between the braided fishing line and my lure, whether it is fluorocarbon leader or monofilament leader  line. And, without any hesitation, the only knot I use, and I feel it is the best, is the double uni knot.

Double Uni-Knot

The double uni-knot is not difficult to tie, can be used various diameter fishing lines, and is a very strong knot. What I like most about the double uni-knot is the way it glides through the guides, without catching on the guide, hampering the cast. For tying, see the diagram below. Follow the steps closely. If you are using super slick or very thin line, increase the wraps on the braided fishing line side to 8-10. After the knot is complete look closely at the wraps and make sure they are neat. Sometimes the line will jump, causing an uneven knot, which will not go through guides smoothly, but more importantly, be very weak.

Braided Fishing Line to Lure

As stated above I rarely will tie braided fishing line directly to a lure or hook, but there are times when I will.

Palomar Knot

The knot I prefer, is also the knot I use tying monofilament and fluorocarbon line to baits and lures. The best part about this knot is the ease of which it can be tied and what I feel is the strongest knot for braided line to lure/bait as well as for all other lines. The knot is the Palomar knot, and tying it is super simple.

The Best "Other" Knots

The first two knots are without question my favorite two for braided fishing line. They are both extremely strong and easy to tie, but what about other knots?

There are two more knots I will recommend, and on occasion I may use. They are the Albright and Trilene knots. Again, very easy to tie (not as easy as the Palomar or Double Uni) and super strong.

Albright Knot

The first is the Albright knot, which is another fishing knot used to tie braided fishing line to either monofilament of fluorocarbon fishing lines. Where this knot excels is on heavier line diameters. This is also why I do not use it that often as I usually stay under 30-pound test braid, and never higher than 40 pound leader. When tying 40-pound leader to braided fishing line, the double uni-knot will work, but I feel it really makes a cumbersome knot that does not slide through the guides easily. The Albright knot is a little more compact, and ties well with heavier fishing lines. It is, in my opinion, a much tougher knot to tie, but with practice it will be a breeze.

Trilene Knot

The last secondary fishing knot is the Trilene knot. The Trilene knot, just like the Palomar knot, gives you two loops of line on the lure/bait eye, making for a strong knot. This knot, which I use very rarely is a solid choice regardless. The knot is relatively easy to tie, but not as easy as the Palomar. It works well with all diameters and is strong.

Conclusion

The bottom line with tying knots in any fishing line, and especially with braided fishing line, is your comfort level of tying, the strength of the knot, and how well it works for "You."

Over the years I have experimented with a lot of fishing knots. No matter what knot I try – Bimini Twist, Alberto Knot, Clinch Knot, San Diego Jam Knot or Rapala to name several others, I always go back. I use other knots for different applications, but for tying braided fishing line to braided fishing line or to monofilament or fluorocarbon, I always use a Double Uni-Knot. Like I said, the only exception would be heavier line diameters where the Albright will serve you better.

For tying braided fishing line directly to the lure/bait, I will always use a Palomar Knot. The Palomar knot is super easy to tie – you can do it in the dark – and is very strong. This knot will "never" fail you, and has proven the test of time to be the best knot for braided fishing line!

I hope you have enjoyed this article about how to tie the strongest braided fishing line knots.

Tom Melton is an expert in all aspects of inshore saltwater fishing and freshwater fishing. As an authority on angling he strives to excel while teaching others, and in his own outdoors adventures. Whether it is a freshwater bass fishing tournament, or recreational fishing with family, his skills and knowledge always shine. Tom has been an outdoor writer for more than three decades.