Stream Time: Improved Trilene Knot (step-by-step)

There are plenty of knot sites on the web these days, and Killroy's, Orvis & Knots by Grog are some of the good ones I've visited recently. While these sites contain most of the common knots, the one illustrated below is one that I have yet to come across. I do not claim any creative rights to this knot, but it's not widely known about. Since stumbling across it some time ago I've use it with mono, fluorocarbon and copolymer tippets and to date it has been by far the strongest and most stable knot I've used.

I came on this fly after reading about the Trilene Knot and reports on that knot's relative strength (approaching 100%). The only reported problem with the Trilene Knot is that it had the tendency to loosen and slip unless the tag was kept long. The simple solution (liked the improved clinch) was to tuck the tag back through the larger loop. Both knots probably owe their strength to the double pass through the hook eye as this spreads the pull load across a wider surface area.

Before we get to the photos, I want to clear up some knot terminology for the beginner. A "tag" is the cut end of the rope or fishing line, while the "standing" line or end is the uncut portion. Line-to-line knots will almost always have two tags and two standing lines, but this knot uses only a single line with one tag and one standing end. Clear as mud? Then let's get started...

Step 1: Components. I'm using a nylon cord in place of the tippet or leader, and a brass drawer pull in place of a hook eye.

Step 2: Thread the tippet through the eye initially leaving a tag of about 7-10cm.

Step 3: Pass the tag again through the eye leaving a loose lower loop.

Step 4: Wrap the tag around the standing line between three and six times. For heavy tippet material (12lb+) fewer wraps and for lighter material more. Too many wraps with the heavy material will leave a massive knot and there doesn't seem to be any noticable strength loss with the lower number of wraps.

Step 5: Pass the tag back through the lower loop you created in step 3 above. If we tightened the knot at this point we would have a Trilene knot, but there is an additional step (#6) which increases the knots stability.

Step 6: Pass the tag back through back through the upper loop.

Step 7: Now the only tricky part. Lubricate the knot with saliva (or water). Tighten by first pinching the knot and pulling gently on the standing end to snug the knot against the eye. Finish tightening by pulling on the tag, hook and standing line simultaneously.