Why the Right Knot Makes All the Difference
When you're chasing tarpon—especially on fly—the smallest details can mean the difference between a bite and a refusal.
One of the most overlooked variables?
👉 The loop knot you use to connect your fly.
If your knot causes the fly to swim unnaturally, it can spook the fish or throw off the presentation just enough to lose interest. A clean, well-tied loop knot allows your fly to move freely and naturally—exactly what tarpon respond to.
I’ve tested dozens of knots in real-world conditions, and in this video, I compare three of the most common loop knots for tarpon:
To catch the most tarpon it is important to pay attention to the details. Having a knot that makes the fly swim unnaturally can result in less bites and getting fewer tarpon to the boat. Let's take a look at three of the most commonly used loop knots for tarpon.
Here are three of the most common loop knots used for tarpon: Uni KNot, Homer Rhode ad Steve Huff Double Figure 8
1. Uni Knot
The Uni Knot is popular and quick to tie, but it’s not ideal for heavy fluorocarbon leaders:
❌ Can be hard to cinch down cleanly with thick leader
❌ Tends to kink off to the side, making the fly swim crooked
⚠️ When tied sloppily, it’s prone to failure under pressure
Bottom line: Not my first choice for tarpon.
2. Homer Rhode Loop Knot
The Homer Rhode is a classic, and many guides have used it successfully for years. It’s:
✅ Easy to tie, even in windy conditions
✅ Good option for medium-weight mono
❌ But it also kinks off to the side, causing unnatural movement
⚠️ Strength is only about 50% of the leader
It’s solid, but I think we can do better.
3. Steve Huff Double Figure 8 (My Go-To Knot)
This is the loop knot I trust the most for tarpon—and I’ve tied a lot of them.
Why it stands out:
✅ Lays perfectly smooth
✅ Cinches down cleanly even with heavy fluorocarbon
✅ Keeps the fly aligned and swimming straight
✅ Extremely strong and reliable
If you want maximum confidence when connecting to the fish of a lifetime, the Steve Huff Double 8 is the knot to use.
The Difference Is Real
When I switched to the Steve Huff knot, I immediately noticed better fly action and fewer lost fish due to knot failure. That tiny improvement in presentation often results in more eats and more fish to the boat.
You can see the difference side-by-side in the video above.
Comparing different loop knots used for tarpon
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To catch the most tarpon it is important to pay attention to the details. Having a knot that makes the fly swim unnaturally can result in less bites and getting fewer tarpon to the boat. Let's take a look at three of the most commonly used loop knots for tarpon.
Bonefish, permit, and tarpon all in one day. Watch Tom Rowland, Rich Tudor, and Captain Nick Labadie land a Grand Slam in Big Pine Key using Daiwa TD Sol Inshore rods, BG MQ spinning reels, and J-Braid. See why this Daiwa saltwater setup dominates Florida Keys flats fishing.
It’s about 6:30 am, just as the sun is beginning to peek over the horizon and Capt. Labadie is charging ahead to the crew’s first destination. Since tarpon are the easiest of the three to catch in low light conditions, this is where Labadie opts to start. Rowland and Tudor remark that they were somewhat surprised at first by the guide’s choice to fish right in front of the coastline resorts and houses. On a day that they were purely targeting tarpon, the Saltwater Experience hosts would tend to go somewhere a little more remote. Labadie chose this spot because he knew the fish would be there, but, more importantly, it was on the way to their other targets, eliminating the need to backtrack later and burn up precious time. Read more on Waypoint…
S15:E2 - “Key West Birthday Slam” (2020)
Captains Tom Rowand and Rich Tudor are joined by Key West guide Nick LaBadie.
S14:E10 - “Yellowjacks Of Home” (2019)
Tom & Rich don't have to travel far for yellowjack & other desirable fish in the Middle Florida Keys
S14:E6 - “Everglades Snook And Reds” (2019)
Captains Tom Rowland & Rich Tudor head to the fertile grounds of the Everglades to target game fish.
S14:E4 - “Lower Keys Tarpon” (2019)
Tom & Rich fish the Lower Florida Keys for tarpon and find the jackpot.
Daniel Andrews of Captains for Clean Water discusses the state of the Everglades with Tom Rowland and Rich Tudor on Saltwater Experience Television show. As seen on the Discovery Channel, Waypoint and Sportsman Channel.
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Located on Duck Key, Hawks Cay Resort is a perfect location for fishing, sight-seeing, and diving. Only a mile away offshore, fishing at Hawks Cay is an easily accessible activity to do at the Florida Keys. Though there is a great variety out in the water, here are my top five favorite fish to catch near Hawks Cay:
Tarpon are the ultimate gamefish. They are big and athletic, they jump when hooked and make insane drag screaming runs. People from all over the world descend on the Florida Keys to try to catch them. They are called the Silver King and that name stuck for a reason. They are the King of the gamefish found in the Florida Keys for several reasons:
S13:E8 - “Doctor Tarpon” (2018)
Olympic Champ Steven Holcomb Turner Rowland and Dr Boxer Wachler wrestle tarpon and beat Keratoconus
S13:E6 - “Tarpon Invasion Bahia Honda” (2018)
Tom & Rich visit a key Tarpon migration spot, Bahia Honda, where they experience an epic Tarpon show
S13:E5 - “Baby Tarpon And Bones” (2018), Tom & Rich check on the status of Baby Tarpon and Bonefish fishing after Hurricane Irma.
Renown Middle Keys fishing guide Jeff Malone (Tarpon Time Charters) took us out for baby tarpon and he did not disappoint. We have always heard great reports from anyone who has fished with Jeff, and it was not just dock talk. He knows his stuff he is a true guide on the water every single day.
August 2, 2018 - Marathon, Florida Keys Captain Jeff Malone heads out in the morning to catch Tarpon on live mullet and crabs with customer Miles and his daughters. Landing one Tarpon and breaking another off at the boat the girls caught their first Tarpon in only a couple hours. Stay tuned next week for Part 2 when they head to the back country to do some "fun fishing"..
July 11, 2018 - Marathon, Florida Keys (PART 1 of 2) Join Captain Jeff Malone and customers as they set out to catch Tarpon on live pilchards.The day started out great going 2 for 4 on Tarpon and gets even better in part 2 next Thursday when Jeff gets them on some nice permit on live crabs.
March and April 2018 - Islamorada, Florida Keys. Highlights from this past month in Islamorada, fishing with Captain Rich Tudor. Tarpon, Snook, Sharks, Snappers, Barracuda and more.
April 7, 2018 - Islamorada, Florida Keys Captain Rich Tudor takes his friend Matt and family out for some exciting Tarpon fishing and then tucks away in the mangroves to catch big Mangrove Snappers for dinner!
April 5, 2018 - Islamorada, Florida Keys Captain Rich Tudor takes his sons Reed and Austin out for some sunset Tarpon fishing using live mullet at the bridges.
Jesse Simpkins of St Croix Rods comes down to visit and test some St Croix Mojo Salt and Mojo Inshore rods on the giant tarpon of the Florida Keys. Mission accomplished!
Check out this SLO MO tarpon jump right next to the boat.
St Croix Rods are the perfect tool for the Florida Keys Tarpon. We like so many of the models, but it is hard to beat the Mojo Salt and Mojo Inshore for outstanding quality, incredibly durable boat rods for a charter boat. Day in and Day out, these things stand up to the abuse of these giant fish and (sometimes) the abuse of the clients.
March 26, 2018
Its a windy day in late March and Captain. Rich Tudor explores new spots along the mangroves catching Snook and juvenile Tarpon on live crabs in Islamorada, FL.
WEBSITE: http://www.saltwaterexperience.com
Rich Tudor of Saltwater Experience takes his boys fishing for tarpon after school in the 3rd episode of Saltwater Experience Weekly.
Using crabs and mullet the Tudors go out in search of some early season tarpon in the Florida Keys and find some big fish.
Check out the very first episode of our new project Saltwater Experience Weekly. We will put out a weekly show on Facebook and Youtube that will show exactly what is happening in the Florida Keys and beyond.
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