After first tying the over knot, when the loop is brought over the hook or swivel, when tightened does the bottom of that loop rest on the underside of the hook shank or does it cinch up around the leader section? (Hope I've explained it).

Clear the hook shank. Cinch up around the leader section. Great knot.

Like Scott said...clear the hook and cinch up on the underside of the knot. Best if the double lines around the hook lay parallel and don't cross.

Agreed...great knot...one of the best and easiest. Great for braid...won't slip.

Jay

no knot is worth a spit without spit, and I generally tighten up the double loop until it is somewhat snug pulling on both the main/leader and the tag lines then I pull only on the tag line and any kinks will be pulled out and then trimed, leaving only straight virgin leader going into the knot

Here's an animated illustration [www.animatedknots.com]#

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Tim,
When I tie the Palomar Knot I use a little saliva and it will draw up the knot snug up on the top radius of the hook eye. This is the best method of tying a hook to your shock leader. Down here where I fish for a living, I only use the palomar on all my hooks. It is a very reliable and durable knot. I use it for Speckled Trout and even on Redfish down here. I have never had a failure on the knot itself. You just need to check the line above the knot to check for fray after you catch a few fish or tie into a extremely large fish. The only failure you will encounter is a break if you do not check the line after a solid fish is hooked up and landed.
Capt. Marvin Engel

One word of caution. Many people like to use the palomar knot for tying their drop shot hooks and the tying the weight to the tag end and this works great. However to change things up, some people will use a light jig for the weight (jig on bottom tied to the tag with DS hook just above). If you try this, or are in any situation where you somehow utilize the tag for some kind of multiple bait presentation, you will find that if you pull the tag end hard enough (in a direction away from or against the main line) the knot will fail. Been there. Done that. Otherwise, best knot going IMHO, especially for braid.

TJ

It is a great knot. I usually tie it well above the hook(two finger) then moisten it and slide it into place which more often than not allows the two strands that wrap the eyelit to parallel like they need to be. Quick and very strong however almost all knot tying contests out here are won by the San Diego Barrel Knot aka San Diego Jam. Very similar to the inproved cinch but the line forms a barrel around itself. Izorline usually puts on a contest at the Fred Hall shows. Also I have had the same problem with drop shotting as described above.

I read where knot doesn't hold up well when tied with fluorocarbon. Said it cuts into itself. I found this interesting because I thought it was a good knot for all lines. ED

I've found it to work well on fluorocarbon. Because it doesn't slip, it doesn't tend to cut into itself.

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I've never heard of the palomar cutting into itself. Probably people that didn't tie it correctly. It will usually fail if your loop cinches above the knot instead of below it...very easy to tie correctly.

Jay

I have had more problems with the Flourcarbon and the palomar than any other knot/line combo. However, if you take your time and tie the knot right, it is not a problem. The other thing that is most helpful with most lines and in my opinion, ESSENTIAL with the flouro, is to MOISTEN the line before you cinch it up...regardless of the knot of choice.

TJ

Always moisten the knot before cinching...vital tip that often gets overlooked.

Jay