Went fishing yesterday and brought some big swimbaits to try out (2-6oz) using 30lb Berkley Big Game mono. The knot i use for almost every lure and every type of fishing is the palomar knot, except for the clinch knot when fly fishing. Instead of doing the palomar knot around the whole large swimbait i just tried to tie it to a snap. Tried to tie it several different times, used water on the knot to help and even had to try using gloves to get it to synch, but the 30lb mono is so thick i couldnt get the knot to synch down. Kept retying it over and over, but then tried using a clinch knot, which actually worked. Threw some of the lighter swimbaits for a little bit but didnt want to cast to hard or use the heavier swimbaits, because i am not sure the clinch knot will hold up to lures that heavy.

 

Question number 1. Is the clinch knot strong enough to hold up to the weight and casting of these lures?

Question number 2. When using heavy and expensive lures, what knot/knots would be strong enough for the weight but also be able to be tied with such thick line?

I certainly don't know the answer to Q1, but I can confidently say that the san diego jam knot has worked for me on big baits without failure.  It is easy to tie correctly and has all but replaced my other direct to lure knots.  When using really heavy line, 4-5 turns is plenty, all other line gets 7.

 

scott

I haven’t tried it on line that heavy but I use a Eugene knot  It’s easy to tie and when you tie it correctly, you can feel it “pop” into place

11 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

 

I certainly don't know the answer to Q1, but I can confidently say that the san diego jam knot has worked for me on big baits without failure.  It is easy to tie correctly and has all but replaced my other direct to lure knots.  When using really heavy line, 4-5 turns is plenty, all other line gets 7.

 

scott

Ben Milliken recommends the San Diego Jam Knot IIrc, I've been meaning to learn it.

 

OP, I'm just a redneck, but knock on wood a properly done clinch knot and inspected afterwards has worked excellent for me.    I haven't thrown much over 3.5ozs though.   

 

The clinch knot is about 60% but many people swear by it. The trilene knot is solid and also used by Oliver Ngy. I used it right up until I learned this one…

 

Ive landed quite a few stripers over 30lbs with an improved clinch in heavy tide on 20lb Ande.  As long as you tie the knot correctly you shouldn't have issues.  

San Diego Jam knot is easy to tie on lures like swimbaits. 
You put the line through the lure tie eye and pull through about 10”

of line. Pinch the line and tag end about 4” above the lure creating a double line.

Next using the lures weight wrap the tag end around the double line 6 times. Put the tag end through the loop next to the line tie eye and back up through the upper loop next to where you are holding the pinched line and pull the tag end up snug. The final step is pulling the main line sliding the jam knot down against the hook /lure eye and clinch tight until you hear a click. Trim the tag end.

Swimbaits and most lures are heavy enough to swing the lure around the double line in lieu of wrapping it.

Mono line has 100% knot strength with several knots tied correctly.

25 lb Armilo is only .016 dia and strong enough for swimbaits to 10 oz.

Tom

Outside of the ones listed, I use the Trilene knot with 20lb-25lb cxx or Fluoro 

I like 20 lbs big game.  It's like a 30 lbs of normal line.  20 lbs big game is some serious stuff.  I would absolutely trust it over a 30 lbs flouro.  Anyway I use a uni even though I shouldn't.  I use it for all my terminal knots and have never "broken off" on a hookset or anything like that in the 10+ years I have been using it so I have had no incentive to learn the weird spinny bait knot everyone uses.  

Uni.

I use 20 pound test Sufix Siege from throwing big Rapala Jointed Shad swimbaits and tied with a palomar knot I Can't break it.  i have to cut it

 

you could probably downsize to 20 pound Big game, use the palomar knot and never look back. 

Use 25lb Pline cxx, but next choice would be Maxima. San Diego works fine. We use 5 wraps, don't use the Trilene knot on anything under 130lb as the San Diego holds and easy to tie. If worried you can tie a double San Diego by doubling the line and tying the knot. But I've  gone to the San Diego for everything now other then flipping when I snell the braid.

 

I've used and use the SDJ knot for big baits on lines up to 30 lb Big Game and 30 lb CXX with zero failures. 

I've used the trilene knot with 30-40lb flouro leaders, just use 3-4 wraps instead of 5-6.  Hasn't been an issue.

I use the San Diego Jam knot. It works great for swimbaits. My only thing with it, is that you have to remember to pull the knot up then down to tighten it. 

3 turn Uni and I dont cinch it tight to the eye.

Up to 50# mono

I’ve used improved clinch on every fishing knot I’ve ever tied (except dropshot) with no issues including 50lb mono on saltwater gear. 

SDJ for baits up to 3 oz. Double SDJ if over.

SDJ has never failed me. And Ditto to what Tom posted.

On 3/29/2023 at 8:38 AM, MediumMouthBass said:

Question number 2. When using heavy and expensive lures, what knot/knots would be strong enough for the weight but also be able to be tied with such thick line?

I do double Pitzen and cast my mother chaser with no problem, you can do pitzen as well(I recommend,end double pitzen like swindle).

 

 

 

Uhh, don't use 30lb test. I run 17lb for tossing a Deps 250

Clinch will be fine

Uni knot. 100% knot strength. Easy to tie.