howsthebite · Knots · Improved clinch knot
How to tie the Improved clinch knot
Ties mono or fluoro to a hook, swivel or lure. The knot most anglers learn first.
Also called: Clinch knot, Fisherman's knot
Why this knot
Quick to tie and easy to inspect. The extra tuck of the improved version is what keeps it from slipping.
Tie it
Step 1 of 5
- 1 Pass the tag end through the hook eye and pull about 6 inches through.
- 2 Wrap the tag end around the standing line five times. Keep the wraps neat and side by side.
- 3 Pass the tag end back through the small loop just above the eye.
- 4 Now pass it through the big loop you just created. This tuck is what makes it improved.
- 5 Wet the knot and pull the standing line slowly until the wraps seat tight against the eye. Trim the tag.
That's the knot. Wet it, seat it, and pull against it before you cast.
Getting it right
- Five wraps for lines up to about 12 pound test, four for heavier.
- If the wraps overlap each other, back off and start again. Overlapping wraps cut into each other.
- Skip this one for braid. Braid is slick and the clinch will slip.
What goes wrong
- Forgetting the second tuck. That leaves a plain clinch, which slips under load.
- Too many wraps on heavy line. The knot bunches instead of seating.
Knots that go with it
