Fishing Knot Strength Database

Compare knot strength retention across monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided line. All 30 knots in our library, ranked, filterable, and ready for the field.

30
Knots in Database
17
Knots ≥ 95% Strength
4
100% Strength Knots
3
Line Types Tested
Filter by Type: All Terminal Leader Loop Line-to-line
Show Best For: Any Line Monofilament Fluorocarbon Braid
≥ 95% strength (excellent)    88-94% (good)    < 88% (acceptable)    — = not recommended for that line type
Knot ↕ Type Overall ↕ Mono Fluoro Braid Best For
Spider Hitch Loop 100% 100% 98% — Quick alternative to Bimini Twist for doubled lines Guide
FG Knot Leader 100% — 98% — Braid to fluorocarbon leader — strongest connection in fishing Guide
Non-Slip Mono Knot Loop 100% 100% 95% — Lures requiring free-swinging movement Guide
Bimini Twist Line-to-line 100% 100% 100% 100% Doubled-line for big game — 100% line strength Guide
Palomar Knot Terminal 98% 95% 92% 98% Universal — strongest knot for braid; excellent on all lines Guide
San Diego Jam Knot Terminal 96% 95% 96% 94% Heavy mono and fluoro — West Coast favorite Guide
Improved Clinch Knot Terminal 95% 95% 93% 75% Mono and fluoro — not recommended for slippery braid Guide
Surgeon's Loop Knot Loop 95% 95% 93% — Fast doubled loop for fly leader connections Guide
Rapala Knot Loop 95% 95% 93% — Hard baits and lures — maximum action Guide
Trilene Knot Terminal 95% 95% 93% 80% Mono and fluoro — improved double-wrap clinch Guide
Australian Braid Knot Line-to-line 95% 90% 90% 95% Braid-to-braid and braid-to-mono Guide
Surgeon's Join Knot Line-to-line 95% 95% 93% 88% Quick line-to-line — easiest joining knot Guide
Slim Beauty Knot Leader 95% — 95% — Braid to heavy fluoro leader — slim profile Guide
Snell Knot Terminal 95% 95% 95% 90% Bait fishing — perfect hook alignment Guide
Bristol Knot Leader 95% 93% 95% — Loop-to-loop and braid-to-leader connections Guide
Alberto Knot Leader 95% — 95% — Braid to fluoro/mono leader — fast and reliable Guide
Berkley Braid Knot Terminal 95% — — 95% Braided line only — Berkley proprietary design Guide
Orvis Knot Terminal 93% 93% 90% — Mono and fluoro — clean low-profile fly fishing knot Guide
Double Davy Knot Terminal 93% 93% 91% — Improved Davy with extra security pass Guide
Uni Knot Terminal 92% 92% 90% 88% Universal versatile knot for all line types Guide
Albright Knot Leader 90% 88% 90% — Joining lines of different diameters Guide
Nail Knot Leader 90% 90% 88% — Fly line to leader — smooth low-profile connection Guide
Blood Knot Line-to-line 90% 90% 88% — Joining mono or fluoro lines of equal diameter Guide
Davy Knot Terminal 90% 90% 88% — Speed tying — competition fly fishing Guide
Perfection Loop Knot Loop 90% 90% 88% — In-line loops for fly leaders Guide
Egg Loop Knot Terminal 90% 90% 88% — Mono and fluoro — salmon and steelhead bait rigs Guide
Double Turle Knot Terminal 85% 85% 83% — Fly fishing — keeps fly in-line with leader Guide
Dropper Loop Knot Loop 85% 85% 83% — Mid-line loops for dropper hooks Guide
Turle Knot Terminal 80% 80% 78% — Traditional fly fishing — replaced by stronger modern knots Guide
Arbor Knot Terminal — — — — Reel-to-arbor connection — strength not measurable (anchor knot) Guide

The Strongest Knots — Quick Picks

Strongest for Monofilament

  1. Spider Hitch — 100%
  2. Non-Slip Mono Knot — 100%
  3. Bimini Twist — 100%
  4. Rapala Knot — 95%
  5. Snell Knot — 95%

Strongest for Fluorocarbon

  1. Bimini Twist — 100%
  2. Spider Hitch — 98%
  3. FG Knot — 98%
  4. San Diego Jam Knot — 96%
  5. Slim Beauty Knot — 95%

Strongest for Braided Line

  1. Bimini Twist — 100%
  2. Palomar Knot — 98%
  3. Berkley Braid Knot — 95%
  4. Australian Braid Knot — 95%
  5. San Diego Jam Knot — 94%

How to Read This Data

What Does "Knot Strength %" Mean?

Knot strength percentage represents how much of your line's rated breaking strength the knot retains. A knot rated at 95% on 20-lb test line will fail at approximately 19 pounds of load.

Why Strength Varies by Line Type

The same knot can perform very differently on different line materials:

  • Monofilament is stretchy and forgiving — most knots grip well as the line slightly deforms.
  • Fluorocarbon is harder and less stretchy — some knots can slip, and tight bends can crack the line.
  • Braided line is slick and has zero stretch — many traditional mono knots slip out (e.g., the Improved Clinch loses strength on braid). Use Palomar, FG, or San Diego Jam instead.

Important Caveats

  • Values represent typical results when tied correctly. Poor technique can drop strength by 20-40%.
  • Always wet the knot before final tightening — friction heat damages line.
  • Old, sun-damaged, or nicked line will fail well below rated strength regardless of knot.
  • These are aggregated values; individual tests vary by ±5-10%.

Methodology

Strength values are aggregated from multiple sources including line manufacturer test data (Berkley, Seaguar, PowerPro), independent fishing publications (Sport Fishing Magazine, Field & Stream), and practical field testing by the Sportfishing Report team. Where sources differ, we report a conservative average. All values assume properly tied knots with line wetted before tightening.

Data Sources

Strength values are aggregated from these public sources:

Sportfishing Report Field Testing
https://www.youtube.com/@sportfishingreport
Berkley Line Strength Specifications
https://www.berkley-fishing.com/
Sport Fishing Magazine — Knot Strength Tests
https://www.sportfishingmag.com/strongest-fishing-knots-braid-to-leader/
Field & Stream — Strongest Fishing Knots Tested
https://www.fieldandstream.com/stories/fishing/tie-the-strongest-fishing-knots/
Knots For Fishing — Berkley Machine Test Data
https://www.knotsforfishing.com/knot-strength-chart/

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