How to Tie an Improved Clinch Knot

The improved clinch knot is a strong and reliable terminal knot that you can use when attaching a hook or swivel to your leader or fishing line. Many anglers like to use this knot when light tackle fishing because it’s best suited for lines that are 20-pound test or lighter.

Steps to Tie an Improved Clinch Knot

Follow the below steps and learn how to tie an improved clinch knot :

1. Pass the tag end of the line through the eye of the fishing hook, leaving about 5 or 6 inches of length on the tag end.
2. Wrap the tag end of the line around the standing end five or six times.
3. Pass the tag end of the line through the first loop of line that is just above the eye of the hook. Then pass it through the larger loop that you just created.
4. Moisten and pull the tag end and standing end so that coiled line tightens up against the eye of the hook.
5. Trim the tag end.

If you’re wondering what the difference is between the standard clinch and the improved clinch, the difference is just that the improved clinch knot includes the final extra step of bringing the tag end of your line back through the larger loop before tightening. Once you practice the improved version a few times, you’ll see how easy this knot is to tie and how strong it is when tied correctly.