Improved clinch for mono only. I've had it slip on fluoro. I probably tied it incorrectly but it's a problem I haven't seen on mono. For fluoro I use a palomar. I don't use copoly. I've never really given the trilene knot a shot and I'm inconsistent at tying a uni so I don't use it.

Palomar for braid

SDJ for the rest

 

Switched to SDJ 4-5 years ago after 40+ years using improved clinch....or, as my father called it, Fisherman's Knot.  I spent maybe an hour or two tying SDJ one night while watching TV.  Became almost automatic that quick.  Hasn't let me down yet. 

I agree with what others have said, the best knot is the one you can tie best. Or for me I can tie in the dark.  My main knot is the  improved clinch knot, I've been using it since I was a kid.  If its light line I always do a simple knot on top and there's no slip.  Drop shot knot is of course the Palomar knot.  If I'm using light cheap line I'll use the double Palomar knot I saw someone use for Grouper.  It gives two loops of line around the eye hook.  Then I use the Albright knot for line to line.  I know a lot of people online say the best is the FG, but like others say the Albright knot is my best knot I can tie and is stronger than my FG knot.  

Trilene knot with mono. I don't use fluoro.

5 hours ago, PBBrandon said:

Mono/Fluoro to lure: improved clinch

braid to lure: palomar

braid to leader: alberto

This is the way.

Palomar knot or Uni knot depending on what I'm tying to.

Mono: Improved Clinch knot

 

Braid-to-Leader: Lefty Kreh knot

 

Mono backing to braid: double Uni knot

I've done some testing(with the mono I use)   The strongest knot I know of is a Palomar.   It's easy enough to tie, but that's not what I want.   With a Palomar knot my normal 12 pound test will break at around 14 or 15 pounds........anywhere on the line.   With an improved clinch not it breaks around 12 to 13 pounds, at the knot.  If I have to break something off I won't leave a BUNCH of line in the water.   My results are the same with a Trilene knot as an Improved Clinch.   Improved clinch is easier for me to tie.   I can tie an Improved Clinch or Palomar knot is seconds.   I tend to fumble with a Trilene knot a little.  A sloppy knot of any kind is a weak knot.  

 

I'm not familiar with the San Diego Jam knot.  I'll have to look it up, but won't be changing.  

 

I rarely use braid, but I use a Palomar knot with it.  Occasionally I can get other knots to slip with it.   

Braid - Mono/Fluoro - Modified Alberto knot (two passes in the mono eyelet, when finishing it, to avoid it untying under heavy jerking/slashing).

Mono/Fluoro to lures/swivels - Clinch knot and sometimes, the palomar knot.

I like the IC because I can tie it without taking up too much leader.  If its tied right, you shouldn't have any breakage issues.  

I use a Kreh knot on the majority of my swimbaits.  Simple loop knots arent strong compared to other terminal knots, but again Ive never had breakage issues.

For Braid to terminal I used to use a Palomar, but for the past 10 years I started using a double uni.  Its been put to the test and never failed.

The connection knot I use most is the Alberto.  Again as long as its tied and trimmed correctly its very strong.

 

Uni knot for mono,FC and braid. 

Trilene with monofilament and floro  . Palomar with braid . 

3 hours ago, Woody B said:

I've done some testing(with the mono I use)   The strongest knot I know of is a Palomar.   It's easy enough to tie, but that's not what I want.   With a Palomar knot my normal 12 pound test will break at around 14 or 15 pounds........anywhere on the line.   With an improved clinch not it breaks around 12 to 13 pounds, at the knot.  If I have to break something off I won't leave a BUNCH of line in the water.   My results are the same with a Trilene knot as an Improved Clinch.   Improved clinch is easier for me to tie.   I can tie an Improved Clinch or Palomar knot is seconds.  

The twice around the eye uni knot will out test the palomar (ever so slightly) is easy to tie, and leaves a short tag end. I mostly use a regular uni or a palomar for most things.

 

37 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

The twice around the eye uni knot will out test the palomar (ever so slightly) is easy to tie, and leaves a short tag end. I mostly use a regular uni or a palomar for most things.

 

Double improved clinch knot is one of the strongest that I’ve used. Only knot that seems to outlast my FG knot, when used. That’s on spinning gear nowadays

48 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Double improved clinch knot is one of the strongest that I’ve used. Only knot that seems to outlast my FG knot, when used. That’s on spinning gear nowadays

 

Yes I agree. When tied correctly, it is over 95% of the line tensile strength.  IMO the reason that other less strong knots also work for FC lines, it's because anglers tend to use thicker line than what the situation requires, e.g. using 15/17lb test when 12lb would suffice.  But when I use light FC line on spinning reels, double improved clinch knot is the only knot that I use. 

9 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Double improved clinch knot is one of the strongest that I’ve used. Only knot that seems to outlast my FG knot, when used. That’s on spinning gear nowadays

That is a 100% knot but it's ugly, has 3 tag ends, and gets caught in the salad. It is actually the original Crazy knot...

Been using the Trilene knot for mono- and fluoro for years.  I've tried most other knots but I don't anymore.  The Trilene knot is tried, true, and reliable.  I only use the Palomar for braid.  Alberto for leader line on spinning gear and an FG for leaders on baitcasters.  Done and Done.  

There are videos on Youtube , look em up , called knot wars . The man ties knots , attaches weights until they break . 

 

 

Mono- Clinch.

FC- Uni.

Braid - Uni.

 All- Palomar.

I use the Trilene Knot for my line-to-lure knot for ALL line types. Mono, copoly, FC, braid. I can tie it easily, I can tie it quickly, I can tie it perfectly.

For all things bass: improved clinch

Braid to leader: back to back uni

Catfishing( octopus hooks): snell

palomar for me 

Palomar for braid.

 

I used to always use the Trilene knot for mono and copolymer and San Diego Jam for fluoro. But starting last year I began using the Trilene knot with my fluoro as well with zero issues. Easily the quickest, easiest knot to tie (for me, anyways). 

On 1/12/2023 at 7:22 AM, LrgmouthShad said:

Palomar

 

I will tie an improved clinch if in a hurry or if my lure has lots of trebles.

 

The palomar was hard for me to learn for some reason but I’ve gotten better. The upside is I have an awfully hard time breaking off while using it on trilene big game

I pretty much use the improved clinch knot and palomar. Just curious, what is it about the palomar you find hard? I ask genuinely as my “weakness” is the double uni. I get it at home, memorize it and by the time I’m on the lake, I just can’t remember how to tie it and I can’t risk losing with a knot tied half guessed.  I truly experience a Beevis and Butthead moment 100%. ?

Flouro…SDJ

Braid…Palomar

Punching…Snell

 

Don’t use mono or tie leaders

 

 

 

 

 

Mike