06-24-2010, 10:44 PM
The clinch knot is adequate for small lure and bait applications and for use with smaller fish and it is an extremely easy knot to tie. However, the knot is weaker then the line itself which means that you have to retie often if you are catching fish left and right because the knot will weaken to the breaking point considerably faster then stronger knots like the palomar. There is always the possibility that something large will take whatever you are throwing and then you have to back off the drag and hope for the best. You may not be able to apply enough pressure to turn the fish, especially in swift current, without breaking the line.
The clinch knot also doesn't have much abrasion resistance and I don't recommend using it when fishing rock structure or heavy cover such as submerged brush. You can get away with using a clinch knot in snag prone places using heavier line but if you can use a stronger knot to do the job then put the odds in your favor.
If you have gotten good at tying clinch knots and prefer using them as your primary method then I have a suggestion that you may find useful. If you are using a hook large enough you can put a loop in your line, double it up, put the loop through the eye of the hook, and then tie a clinch knot or improved clinch knot. Then you clip off the tag ends and you're ready to fish. This doubles the strength of the knot.
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The clinch knot also doesn't have much abrasion resistance and I don't recommend using it when fishing rock structure or heavy cover such as submerged brush. You can get away with using a clinch knot in snag prone places using heavier line but if you can use a stronger knot to do the job then put the odds in your favor.
If you have gotten good at tying clinch knots and prefer using them as your primary method then I have a suggestion that you may find useful. If you are using a hook large enough you can put a loop in your line, double it up, put the loop through the eye of the hook, and then tie a clinch knot or improved clinch knot. Then you clip off the tag ends and you're ready to fish. This doubles the strength of the knot.
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