For joining mainline to shock leader 

This knot was developed after a losing a bass on a surf beach. The lead became snagged on a submerged rock and after pulling for a break the leader knot gave out, the mainline coming back with a tell-tale pigs tail curl. I retreived the leader, trace and fish when the tide had fallen far enough and sure enough the knot (albright) had failed. At home I tied up some well used leader knots to test strength and was shocked to find out that they all gave out at well under the breaking strain of the mainline. The mainline used was 15lb test (0.33mm) Penn Super Surf tied to Penn Tuff Stuff 50lb (0.60mm) shock leader.

I was determined to come up with a knot as strong as the mainline and ideal for beachcasting, having a smooth profile which would glide through the rings with no protruding tags to catch weed or rip the thumb on the cast. I experimented for some time and invented this knot.

I would be really interested to learn about the results you have tying this knot on your own combinations. I am determined to make my gear as strong as is humanly possible because I hate to lose fish and I reckon a good leader knot for the sea angler, which wont fail under duress, is long overdue.

Tying the Knot

• Cut the leader to length.

• Form a loop in the leader trapping the overlap between thumb & forefinger.

• Loop the leader 3 times around the loop (possibly 4 times for other diameters, though with my combination the three turn is stronger) .

• Tuck the tag back through the trapped end of the loop under the thumb and forefinger ensuring that the tag is parallel to the leader and that both exit the loop together.

• Release the knot and gently pull it into to a loose noose.

• Tie a Palomar Knot through the noose. Make sure that the Palomar tag is quite long.

• Pull the whole leader through the end loop of the Palomar.

• Lubricate the whole knot with saliva .

• Grip the leader noose tightly and gently pull the Palomar Knot fairly tight but not fully closed by pulling on both mainline and Palomar tag. Do not close the leader knot, if it has tightened then it must be loosened.

• Rock the leader loop in the Palomar to ensure that it can move freely. If not the Palomar is too tight and will be subject to too much friction on the next step.

• Hold the mainline and Palomar tag together tightly and pull the leader (but not its tag) until the leader knot flips over the Palomar. Make sure this happens fully with the whole of the leader knot over the mainline and Palomar tag.

• Pull the knot gently but firmly together ensuring that the whole thing looks neat and tidy, the leader tag should protrude at right angles to the knot and the Palomar should be quite tight and should not have trapped any of the leader knot loops

• Pull the knot tight. Some force is necessary to close the knot fully and trap the leader tag hard.

• Trim the leader tag as close to the knot as possible. It should be flush with the surface of the leader loops.

• Trim the Palomar tag as close as you want. There should be no protruding tags to catch weed, the knot will not slip so tags are unecessary.

• Destruction test the knot!!

Like all knots it takes time to master

Be patient with it and I am sure it will work for you!

Our thanks to:- Jeff Hatt for submission of this knot

All images Copyright 2002 Jeff Hatt (Permision granted to Beach-Caster.Com)