I have been using the figure 8 knot for many years now and need a change as that one has lost me many fish. Which knot would you recommend? I have lots of structure where I fish and need a very strong and reliable knot. 

What kind of line are you tying?  I only use palomar for braid.  I have used improved clinch for 40 years for mono and fluoro, but I have lost confidence in it this year and am switching to San Diego jam.  Now.

I'm generally tying on mono. I grew up using the clinch knot, now don't get me wrong it's reliable but it's time for something new. I like to change tactics to improve myself in other ways, such as knots. 

For mono I prefer the improved clinch or San Diego jam knot. 

Welcome aboard, Lanier!

Trying something new is always fun, but not
always necessary. Tying a knot well is critical.

I have no issues with the clinch, and most 
often tie it except when tying on a clip, or a
drop shot rig, where I'll tie a Palomar, unless
it is fluorocarbon, then it's a clinch.

I tie a Palomar knot, always even with florocarbon.

Palomar for braid and improved clinch for everything else for me.

I tie a palomar knot for everything. Granted 99%of the time on all my setups (besides flipping/pitching) I have co-polymer spooled up.

Palomar knot.

San Diego Jam

I'll jump in with the Palomar knot crew. I've never had a knot issue using it and it simplifies things when I use the same knot on all of my rigs.  I even use it when I'm tying hooks on my four year olds rod to catch bluegill. He almost has it perfected himself now. Can't tie his shoes, but he can almost tie a hook on a line. 

Except for connecting two lines together, I'm down to using one of two knots; Palomar and SanDiego Jam. Both are simple knots to tie and offer little loss of line strength.

I love the San Diego Jam Knot. Only 1 downside, If you get hung up better cut the line because breaking it will be nearly impossible if your using 15# and up... 

Palomar for single hooks, 16/20 also known as a Duncan Knot or Pitzen Knot for everything else.

 

I use san diego jam for every line type...never had an issue aa long as the line is wetted

palomar for drop shot, improved clinch for everything else. improved clinch knot hasnt failed me yet so i figure if it aint broke done fix it...if something works, im not gonna change it just for the sake of changing it...

SDJ all day

16 hours ago, Choporoz said:

What kind of line are you tying?  I only use palomar for braid.  I have used improved clinch for 40 years for mono and fluoro, but I have lost confidence in it this year and am switching to San Diego jam.  Now.

So....I spent about 2 1/2 hours practicing SDJ while watching TV with the wife last night.  I can do it with my eyes closed...maybe even in a pitching kayak.  I love it - screwed it up only once and at no other time could I break it, or make it slip with bare hands (8#YZ).  It's my new terminal knot for certain.  (Note: I have no idea why 5&6 turn improved clinch was slipping with newer spools of YZ.  Never had that problem in the past.  I can only guess that it is a little slicker than it used to be...or there's a newer (or thicker?) coating.  The line is still great, but just needed a new knot.

I use palomar for braid and the clinch knot for everything else; never had a problem with either of them that wasn't my fault.

Either the Uni, Palomar, or Improved Clinch for tying lures. FG for leaders. Sometimes snell for hooks. 

Second the welcome aboard.  I use the Uni Knot for everything but splicing lines.  Alberto for that.  Both are exceedingly strong.  I've got to try the San Diego Jam and Duncan Knot.

Palomar for braid and SDJ for flouro or poly lines. Don't use mono at all. 

 

Mike

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

Second the welcome aboard.  I use the Uni Knot for everything but splicing lines.  Alberto for that.  Both are exceedingly strong.  I've got to try the San Diego Jam and Duncan Knot.

They're basicaaly the same knot. Only difference is that the SDJ requires passing the tag end through the loop on top, after passing through the loop above the eye of the hook.

 

Mike 

 

Thank you for all the great answers! I'll most definitely be looking into the knots you have suggested for me to use. 

3 hours ago, Mike L said:

Palomar for braid and SDJ for flouro or poly lines. Don't use mono at all. 

 

Mike

They're basicaaly the same knot. Only difference is that the SDJ requires passing the tag end through the loop on top, after passing through the loop above the eye of the hook.

 

Mike 

 

Thanks, Mike.  Should make it easier for me to learn.  At my age memorizing takes times.......................lots of time.