What knot is the strongest for minijig

[Tony6469]

Hey every one I have been losing some trout not sure if it’s my knot. Was wondering what knot you guys use for minijig and clips?

[camobass]

San Diego knot, no clips. Always wet your line (spit) before you sinch. Check your line and knot every so often and especially after hookup. Retie as needed

Make sure your drag isn’t too tight, can’t horse fish in, especially with 2-4lb test

[Gotfish?]

1st, make sure it is the knot failing. A failed knot will (usually) have a curly tail at the end due to the knot slipping. If the line doesn't have a curly tail and is roughened at the end, then abrasion did it in. A clean break with no abrasion could indicate bad line.

Any of the top 20 knots at https://www.knotsforfishing.com/knot-strength-chart/ will work well for mono or fluorocarbon.

With all knots, it is important that they be tightened down correctly. For example, the Palomar knot is very good but it is easy for the line to cross itself or catch on the hook shank.

Personally, I mostly use the Fish N Fool knot. My opinion is that knots will fatigue with enough casts and fish caught and the knots that run the line thru the eye twice fatigue less. Or it could be they are just less critical to tighten correctly. And Camo is right that the knot should be moistened before tightening, this helps it tighten fully and correctly so it doesn't slip under load.

Note that old fishing line is weaker. Usual recommendation is to replace every year. I don't do it that often but I can attest that it does get weak after a few years. Sunlight (UV) is especially damaging.

Check the drag on your reel too. It needs to be nice and smooth with no jerkiness when starting to slip. If it isn't really smooth, take the drag washers out, clean them and the reel up, regrease and reassemble. New Carbontex washers would be even better although I don't know if you can get them for a trout reel. One reason a lot of fishermen prefer baitcasting equipment to spinning is that the baitcasting reels usually have smoother drags.

[professionull]

Always have used the San Diego jam knot and know it holds up to forcing fish in whether it be from a pond to the offshore game. Now there are instances where if I am fishing live bait and worried about the fish seeing a large knot I will fish a 3 turn improved uni or 2x2 knot to keep down on size. Also if I want more action out of a lure like a mini-jig or a fish trap, a perfection loop/rapala knot will help significantly with the action

[Gotfish?]

Always have used the San Diego jam knot and know it holds up to forcing fish in whether it be from a pond to the offshore game. Now there are instances where if I am fishing live bait and worried about the fish seeing a large knot I will fish a 3 turn improved uni or 2x2 knot to keep down on size. Also if I want more action out of a lure like a mini-jig or a fish trap, a perfection loop/rapala knot will help significantly with the action

If by the improved Uni you mean the Fish N Fool knot, 3 turns is lower than recommended. 5-6 is needed to ensure maximum strength. https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/fish-n-fool-knot . I don't know what a 2X2 knot is. Again, if your line has a curly tail to it, it means that it broke at the knot. San Diego Jam knot will need more than 3 turns with light line as well.

https://www.animatedknots.com/san-diego ... ch%20other.

If you have a peak hold scale, you can practice tying knots and seeing where they break. This doesn't test for fatigue but gives you a good idea if your knot choice and tying technique is good. I have done this for the more slippery superlines (e.g. Nanofil) that require special knots (more turns and/or doubled line).

[professionull]

If by the improved Uni you mean the Fish N Fool knot, 3 turns is lower than recommended. 5-6 is needed to ensure maximum strength. https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/fish-n-fool-knot . I don't know what a 2X2 knot is. Again, if your line has a curly tail to it, it means that it broke at the knot. San Diego Jam knot will need more than 3 turns with light line as well.

I think you replied to the wrong person but the improved uni is yes, the "fish n fool" knot except less wraps. Also I can't recall that I have tied less than 4-5 turns on an SDjk

[bendopolo 44+]

I’ve used the Improved Clinch Knot for 55 years. I’ve caught line Class Record Bonito, Halibut, Corbina, Spotfin Croaker on 2 pound test. Giant Broodstock Rainbows, and Steelhead on 6 pound test. I like it because it doesn’t use much line to tie, it’s quick, and it holds.

[Gotfish?]

I’ve used the Improved Clinch Knot for 55 years. I’ve caught line Class Record Bonito, Halibut, Corbina, Spotfin Croaker on 2 pound test. Giant Broodstock Rainbows, and Steelhead on 6 pound test. I like it because it doesn’t use much line to tie, it’s quick, and it holds.

It's probably the best knot for fly fishing as it has about the strongest strength for a single loop thru the eye (important for fly fishing with small hooks) and it doesn't use a lot of line from the tippet.

[Neuroshima]

I’ve used the Improved Clinch Knot for 55 years. I’ve caught line Class Record Bonito, Halibut, Corbina, Spotfin Croaker on 2 pound test. Giant Broodstock Rainbows, and Steelhead on 6 pound test. I like it because it doesn’t use much line to tie, it’s quick, and it holds.

It was one of the first knots I learned and is my go-to. I've read that the "improved" part can actually weaken the knot, so I've gone back to a just a 5-turn clinch knot and can't remember any recent failures.

[Neuroshima]

I’ve used the Improved Clinch Knot for 55 years. I’ve caught line Class Record Bonito, Halibut, Corbina, Spotfin Croaker on 2 pound test. Giant Broodstock Rainbows, and Steelhead on 6 pound test. I like it because it doesn’t use much line to tie, it’s quick, and it holds.

It's probably the best knot for fly fishing as it has about the strongest strength for a single loop thru the eye (important for fly fishing with small hooks) and it doesn't use a lot of line from the tippet.

Davy knot is the smallest, and it seems strong when I've tied it and pulled with my hands, but I haven't taken the chance on an actual fish. Maybe if I'm pan- or trout-fishing.

[Gotfish?]

I’ve used the Improved Clinch Knot for 55 years. I’ve caught line Class Record Bonito, Halibut, Corbina, Spotfin Croaker on 2 pound test. Giant Broodstock Rainbows, and Steelhead on 6 pound test. I like it because it doesn’t use much line to tie, it’s quick, and it holds.

It's probably the best knot for fly fishing as it has about the strongest strength for a single loop thru the eye (important for fly fishing with small hooks) and it doesn't use a lot of line from the tippet.

Davy knot is the smallest, and it seems strong when I've tied it and pulled with my hands, but I haven't taken the chance on an actual fish. Maybe if I'm pan- or trout-fishing.

It looks like about the quickest to tie and takes up the least amount of line so that is good. Not quite as strong as the top 10 knots in the Knot War list though. https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/davy-knot

[camobass]

Honestly just learn the San Diego knot. It’s proven and is fished in million dollar tournaments. Very hard to make mistakes in tying it unlike a “simple” knot like the palomar, which if you inspect closely, more times than not, it’s tied wrong where the double line crosses.

The most important thing is learn the knot you want to tie and master it. Tie it with your eyes closed, in the dark. You really only need a few knots unless you are offshore big game fishing.

I recommend these knots for terminal tackle and lures
San Diego knot
Double San Diego knot
Palomar
Rapala knot.

[Gotfish?]

In the Fred Hall show (now Bart Hall) contests, the Double San Diego usually won. I think the line used was 60 lb Izoline mono. Runner up was usually the Double Uni Knot (Uni Knot with doubled line). Some of the other knots might work slightly better with lighter line and would certainly be quicker to tie and consume less line.

In a hot tuna bite, many of us will use the Palomar knot to a live bait hook just to get a bait back out into the water as fast as possible, even though we sometimes mess up and get the line crossed.

If you tie a good knot and the line breaks, it will usually be where the line has frayed rubbing against the fish or something else. That is one reason a circle hook is popular for tuna fishing, it hooks in the corner of the jaw and doesn't rub against the tuna's jaw and fail for that reason. They are also less likely to pull out of hooked fish. Downside is that they don't hook as many fish.

[professionull]

Honestly just learn the San Diego knot. It’s proven and is fished in million dollar tournaments. Very hard to make mistakes in tying it unlike a “simple” knot like the palomar, which if you inspect closely, more times than not, it’s tied wrong where the double line crosses.

The most important thing is learn the knot you want to tie and master it. Tie it with your eyes closed, in the dark. You really only need a few knots unless you are offshore big game fishing.

I recommend these knots for terminal tackle and lures
San Diego knot
Double San Diego knot
Palomar
Rapala knot.

What's your take on the Rapala knot vs the Perfection loop?

[camobass]

Both are great. Perfection loop is the Baja staple. We used to tie knots on long hauls and snap them on the igfa scale for fun. Never compared those two.

[twin22s]

old line will break way easier than fresh line, replace mono often, once it starts to lose its transparency and springiness its no good. most knots, even good ones are still weaken the line to 85-75% of what it would be without a knot in it, but will still be around the rating on the spool. SD Jam knot is my go-to for line to lure/hook, test your drag with a lure tied on and secured to something, then walk backwards with the rod bent as if fighting a fish, the drag should give and the line shouldn't break, if it does you've got it too tight. use thin hook with light line and dont set very hard, it doesn't take much to set a thin hook. most times i break off are due to fishes teeth or the line rubbing a rock or dock post... just pay attention to all the details and you should have more success in the future.