Best way to Tie a Trilene Knot

Trilene Knot Overview

Hi all, Warren here from Toit Fishing. Today, we’re going to take a look at the Trilene Knot. Before diving in, I recommend checking out our previous content on the clinch knot series to better understand how the Trilene Knot evolved to this point.

The Trilene Knot was developed by professional anglers Jimmy Houston and Ricky Green in the late 1970s, right around the early years of disco. The knot was born from experimentation during promotional events for Trilene, a brand of fishing line developed by Berkley. While both men initially wanted to name the knot after themselves, Trilene ultimately branded it with its own name.

The Trilene Knot has been around for as long as I’ve been blessed to walk. The key difference between the Trilene Knot and its predecessors is the introduction of a secondary wrap around the hook eye with an amended tuck at the end.

Knot Terminology

Just a few reminders on the knot terminology if you haven’t seen any of our earlier content:

• Tag End: The end of your line, which you will use to create the knot.
• Standing End: The remainder of the line that runs up to the rest of the mainline or the next knot.
• Turn (Wrap): A turn typically refers to the tag end passing completely around the standing end or another detail within a knot. A full 360-degree revolution.
• Cinch: The act of tightening the knot until it binds down to its completed state.

Step-by-Step Guide to Tying the Trilene Knot

Let’s check out the steps to tie this specialized knot:

1. Pass the Tag End Through: Pass the tag end through the eye of the hook or the item you are tying, and pull through about 8-10 inches.

2. Secondary Wrap: Pass the tag end through the eye of the hook again, creating 1.5 wraps around the hook eye. Keep this loop loose for now.

3. Pinching and Holding: Pinch the hook eye and loop with your left fingers. Use your right ring finger and pinky to grab the standing end, leaving your thumb, index, and middle fingers free for knot tying.

4. Creating Wraps: Wrap the tag end around the standing end 4 to 5 times.

5. Through the Loops: Pass the tag end back through the two loops closest to the hook eye.

6. Preparing for Cinch:
   • Hold the tag end and hook end as shown, pulling the standing end until you have a length of loose knot that will fit in your mouth.
   • Wet the entire knot with saliva to keep the line lubricated.

7. Slow Tightening:
   • Hold the standing end in one hand and the hook in the other. Slowly pull these opposing ends apart, forcing the knot towards the loop end until it begins to gather and cinch down. Use your left thumb nail and index finger to help compact the knot down. Ensure to do this slowly to avoid heat damage.

8. Final Tightening:
   • Hold the hook with the hook eye and knot held with your left thumb nail and index finger. Grab the tag end with pliers and tighten the lower end of the knot – not too hard, as this can distort it.
   • Revert back to holding the hook and standing end and cinch down hard.

9. Trimming the Tag End:
   • Trim the tag end about 1/8 inch from the knot.

Additional Tips and Observations

It’s crucial to understand this knot, especially concerning line thickness and types. The Trilene Knot’s strategy for securing the tag end relies on a single wrap around the item you are tying.

With monofilament and fluorocarbon, this knot can struggle to cinch down properly. The tag is often prevented from moving because the band around the eyelet stops the actual knot from cinching on itself. After tying, check the line exiting the knot leading to the mainline. If it appears crinkled or warped, heat has likely compromised the integrity of the fishing line.

You’ll also need to ensure the tag does not wander to the rear side of the knot, as this can cause failure.

Adapting the Trilene Knot for Modern Lines

This knot was originally designed before the evolution of braided lines like Spectra and Dyneema. Consequently, it needs to be adapted when used with these modern lines to avoid failing. If you use only four wraps, it’s very likely to fail. Add varying amounts of wraps depending on your line type.

Conclusion

Assuming you have reviewed the clinch and both improved clinch knots, is the Trilene better than all three of those? I’m certain it’s better than two, but it might fall slightly short of the improved clinch with the same direction tag tuck, especially regarding tag length being cut short. We’ll discuss this in more detail in our overview, and also cover why tightening the tag end is problematic for this knot.

Hope you enjoyed this ‘How To’ tutorial and thank you for reading. We appreciate your support and hope you’re learning new techniques. Until next time, happy fishing! – Wozza

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