Best Knot For Crank Baits? 2025
Brett Strohl reply :
I've been trying to use palomar knots, but they're a little too difficult to do for large crank baits. What is the best knot or knots for crank baits? (Preferably something reasonably simple)
BobP reply :
If you're using regular nylon fishing line, the traditional Improved Cinch Knot or the Trilene Knot do just fine. I use the San Diego Jam Knot and it also works great. It really boils down to which knot you know how to tie quickly and effectively.
tholmes reply :
On 6/19/2015 at 2:05 AM, BobP said:If you're using regular nylon fishing line, the traditional Improved Cinch Knot or the Trilene Knot do just fine. I use the San Diego Jam Knot and it also works great. It really boils down to which knot you know how to tie quickly and effectively.
Yep! There are any number of knots that will work just fine. I use the old Improved Clinch for darn near everything because I've been tying it for nearly 50 years and can tie it fast, in the dark, etc. without thinking about it.
Tom
Brett Strohl reply :
I'm using braid, is there a better knot for that?
SDbassin reply :
double uni knot, its the only knot I use now, It will take you a while to learn it, but I've never had it fail on me once, super strong, and I can't stand the palomar
Brett Strohl reply :
what don't you like about the palomar knot?
junyer357 reply :
I prefer a rapala knot on my cranks unless im using a snap or floro. If i have a snap its an improved trilene. If its floro its a "shaw grigsby" knot. Idunno the name but he hasna utube video showing how to tie it.
fishballer06 reply :
I use the Trilene knot almost exclusively for braid. It never fails.
*Hank reply :
Ya great knot.On 6/19/2015 at 5:02 AM, fishballer06 said:I use the Trilene knot almost exclusively for braid. It never fails.
tnt2671 reply :
improved cinch , easy to learn easy to tie correctly , strong and works on everything , the only knot i ever use for any line any lb , never had one fail , only exception obviously if I'm tying leader on or backing to main line then it's 100% alberto. i have tried pretty much all the latest and greatest along with the established popular knots and always go back to the cinch because it doesn't care if its braid , fluoro or mono or what lure your tying it to
hatrix reply :
For me it's a San Diego Jam for everything or a Uni. I have been using the Uni more lately just to mix it up and tie something different. They are both excellent knots and are easy to tie. They work on any kind of line and any diameter.
iceintheveins reply :
Rapala knot!
RAMBLER reply :
Snap
Todd2 reply :
On 6/19/2015 at 2:17 AM, SDbassin said:double uni knot, its the only knot I use now, It will take you a while to learn it, but I've never had it fail on me once, super strong, and I can't stand the palomar
Double uni....aka fishin fool knot is what I use too. I switched when I saw it beat the Palomar in Knot Wars a few years ago.
Frenchman83 reply :
I use the Canoe Man Loop for crankbaits.
SDbassin reply :
On 6/19/2015 at 6:55 PM, Todd2 said:Double uni....aka fishin fool knot is what I use too. I switched when I saw it beat the Palomar in Knot Wars a few years ago.
I've never had any luck with the palomar, a lot of people use it, but I seemed to break off quite a bit. So far I haven't had one break off with the double uni and feel I can really smash on them with that knot
slimshad reply :
Palomar for mono and Eugene for floro. I dont worry about knot strength as much as you guys. I worry about my drag. I haven't had a fish break off at the knot much I don't think. Find a knot you feel comfortable with and set your drag good and go catch some hawgs!
hatrix reply :
On 6/20/2015 at 2:01 AM, SDbassin said:I've never had any luck with the palomar, a lot of people use it, but I seemed to break off quite a bit. So far I haven't had one break off with the double uni and feel I can really smash on them with that knot
Well that is probably because a palomar is actually a knot and a uni is a slip. I would like to see how a palomar compares in a strength test vs other knots after fishing it for a while and not right after it wa tied. I am pretty sure it get weaker and weaker as stress it applied to it. I am sure all knots do but even more so in the case of a palomar.
paulrobinson318 reply :
I always tie an Improved Clinch for cranks and most things other than worm hooks.
BobP reply :
In knot failures, braid most often slips through the knot when it fails. Fluoro most often breaks due to a kink in the knot somewhere. Both lines tend to do better with knots that have multiple wraps around the main line to cushion the line. Even better are knots that wrap through the hook eye twice before knotting. There are lots of knots that do this, so choose one, learn to tie it, and you'll have fewer breakage problems. I've broken braid tied with a Palomar knot at the knot when I applied a very snappy hookset. The instantaneous strain on the line went right to the knot and broke it. A multi-wrap knot also helps with that problem.
WRB reply :
+1On 6/19/2015 at 6:41 PM, RAMBLER said:Snap
Use a good quality snap, not a snap swivel! You can tie whatever knot you are comfortable with and have confidence with.
Tom
Jtrout reply :
I tie a palomar knot for everything lol never had a knot fail on me ever when I tie a palomar knot with braid I make sure I wet the knot before pulling it tight.
FishinDaddy reply :
On 6/21/2015 at 10:44 AM, WRB said:+1
Use a good quality snap, not a snap swivel! You can tie whatever knot you are comfortable with and have confidence with.
Tom
+2
RoLo reply :
On 6/21/2015 at 10:44 AM, WRB said:+1
Use a good quality snap, not a snap swivel! You can tie whatever knot you are comfortable with and have confidence with.
Tom
I'm pretty sure the OP is asking which knot "you are" most comfortable with.
Adding a snap to the equation only introduces a second weak link, where there was only one.
Particularly in saltwater or wherever there's jarring shock, a snap is often the weakest link.
Roger
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 6:11 AM, RoLo said:I'm pretty sure the OP is asking which knot "you are" most comfortable with.
Adding a snap to the equation only introduces a second weak link, where there was only one.
Particularly in saltwater or wherever there's jarring shock, a snap is often the weakest link.
Roger
Roger I respectively agree that a 2nd link increases the chance for failure. I am a very strong advocate of quality snaps for a long time fishing for many different species. I use snaps for all jerkbaits, almost all topwater & all crank baits and all musky & pike baits. I can honestly say I have never had a failure from a snap. I use quality duo lock snaps & most recently owner hyper welded snaps. I do use snaps rated higher in breaking strength than my main line rated breaking point.
If you look at all the Luhr Jensen baits they come from the factory with duo snaps installed. Many other bait manufactures do as well including JDM baits like Gan Craft jointed claw.
I personally like tying to a snap so I can change baits quickly without reting. I do often retie my snap as the progresses. I usually replace the snap based on the size & strength of the target species.
RoLo reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 9:01 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Roger I respectively agree that a 2nd link increases the chance for failure. I am a very strong advocate of quality snaps for a long time fishing for many different species. I use snaps for all jerkbaits, almost all topwater & all crank baits and all musky & pike baits. I can honestly say I have never had a failure from a snap. I use quality duo lock snaps & most recently owner hyper welded snaps. I do use snaps rated higher in breaking strength than my main line rated breaking point.
If you look at all the Luhr Jensen baits they come from the factory with duo snaps installed. Many other bait manufactures do as well including JDM baits like Gan Craft jointed claw.
I personally like tying to a snap so I can change baits quickly without reting. I do often retie my snap as the progresses. I usually replace the snap based on the size & strength of the target species.
Thanks for the info Dwight, I'll be giving Owner hyper-welded snaps a shot.
Most of my negative experience with terminal snaps occurred in saltwater (the New York Bight).
After using a number of different terminal snaps I eventually settled on Coastlock snaps which were very excellent.
I always used terminal snaps rated higher than the tackle class, so the snap normally outperformed the line,
that is, except for one condition. In the cushion of water the snap was always stronger than the line,
but when the fish was in the air, the snap became vulnerable to the shock of an abrupt jolt.
Most of my snap failures took place when the fish was jumping, when swinging it over the rail,
or when it was thrashing on the deck. With a fish in the air, the line was superior to the snap due to its elasticity.
I should add, most of my snap failures were caused by Atlantic Bluefish, which also snap treble hooks in two 
Roger
Mattfrom_NJ reply :
I like lefty's loop with 3/5 turns
BASSPATROL247 reply :
On 6/19/2015 at 3:08 AM, junyer357 said:I prefer a rapala knot on my cranks unless im using a snap or floro. If i have a snap its an improved trilene. If its floro its a "shaw grigsby" knot. Idunno the name but he hasna utube video showing how to tie it.
I also use this method for knot selection...direct tied is rapala knot and tied to a quick snap or a split ring wich i hardly ever do,split ring that is the shaw knot is money with fluro..
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